Part 1: Find three examples of poor headlines used as hyperlinks and provide their solutions.
Headline: Crash cancels school, closes major route
Problem: Readers don’t know which school or route are closed
Solution: Crash closes W.Va. 10, Hite-Saunders Elementary School
Source: Herald-Dispatch.com, September 20, 2012, http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/briefs/x1292102420/Hite-Saunders-Elementary-closed-today

Headline: Cato steps up after tough loss
Problem: It’s not specific for a web search. Unless you know who Cato is and that he plays for the Herd (Marshall University’s football team), this won’t mean much to you. The story is not packaged with another game story, so I think it’s the standalone game recap but that’s not clear with the headline.
Solution: MU’s distraught Cato vows to learn for game-losing mistake
Source: Herald-Dispatch.com, September 17, 2012, http://www.herald-dispatch.com/sports/x2050353516/QB-Catos-leadership-shines-through-after-Marshall-loss?r=p

Headline: Duke tries blitzing the flu
Problem: I don’t think “blitzing” works – it sounds like a military offensive. And the article focuses on the university’s efforts to complete a mass vaccination schedule. I don’t think the headline conveys the point is getting the shot. I’m not convinced my revision is the best but I like it better than the original.
Solution: Duke’s flu-shot efforts target 10,000
Source: Herald-Sun, September 19, 2012, http://www.heraldsun.com/view/full_story/20208056/article-Duke-tries-blitzing-the-flu?

Part 2: Find at least one article on the Web that you think could be improved by using lists. Submit the “before” and edited “after” versions, only the portion you’ve adapted.
Source: Herald-Dispatch.com, September 22, 2012, http://www.herald-dispatch.com/news/x876656261/Tomblin-touts-successes-of-state-region

Before:
He talked about the partnership between the city of Huntington, National Guard and Division of Highways to tear down more than 50 abandoned homes; how community and technical colleges statewide have been matched up with employers to offer industry-specific training; and the $5 billion invested in the state in the past two years that has resulted in the creation of 6,500 jobs. He also said exports are up 50 percent, with 125 countries receiving items produced in the Mountain State.

After:
He talked about:

• The partnership between the city of Huntington, National Guard and Division of Highways to tear down more than 50 abandoned homes,
• How community and technical colleges statewide have been matched up with employers to offer industry-specific training,
• And the $5 billion invested in the state in the past two years that has resulted in the creation of 6,500 jobs.
• He also said exports are up 50 percent, with 125 countries receiving items produced in the Mountain State.

Before:
But, Tomblin said there is room to grow. Among areas that have his attention are the coal market, education and the prison system.

Coal has been a big priority, considering the lawsuits filed against the Environmental Protection Agency. But Tomblin said the EPA isn’t entirely to blame for the market being down. A warm winter and economic problems abroad also have led to lower demand for coal. He also said a cold winter and resurgence in the European and Chinese markets could turn the industry around, noting coal is a necessary ingredient for producing steel.

In education, Tomblin said he is awaiting recommendations on the education audit from the West Virginia Board of Education and two teachers’ organizations, West Virginia Education Association and American Federation of Teachers-WV. He anticipates legislation will be introduced during the 2013 session stemming from the audit.

When it comes to the overcrowded prison problem, Tomblin said too many inmates are repeat offenders, meaning the recovery programs in place aren’t helping.

After:
Tomblin said there is room to grow.

• Coal has been a big priority, considering the lawsuits filed against the Environmental Protection Agency.

But Tomblin said the EPA isn’t entirely to blame for the market being down. A warm winter and economic problems abroad also have led to lower demand for coal. He also said a cold winter and resurgence in the European and Chinese markets could turn the industry around, noting coal is a necessary ingredient for producing steel.

• In education, Tomblin said he is awaiting recommendations on the education audit from the West Virginia Board of Education and two teachers’ organizations, West Virginia Education Association and American Federation of Teachers-WV.

He anticipates legislation will be introduced during the 2013 session stemming from the audit.

• Too many inmates are repeat offenders, meaning the recovery programs in place aren’t helping, Tombiln said.

“We’re probably not doing a good job of having them prepared to go back into society,” Tomblin said. “Getting them productive again (will cut the inmate population).”

Part 3: Re-write the headline for your week 2 writing assignment using Chapter 4 of WDM as a guide.
Original:
Summer on the shores

Revision:
Summer on St. Clements’ Shores means days spent casting pots for Maryland’s famous blue crabs

Part 4: Write three different headlines.
8 words:
Yanks’ closer Rivera vows return from knee injury

6 words:
Yanks’ Rivera: ‘I am coming back’

Headline (6 words) and subhead (8 words):
Yanks’ Rivera not ready to retire: Closer says he’s ‘coming back’ from knee injury