Contents

A. What Is Youth Communication?

**1. Mission Statement
**2. The History of the Organization
**3. What Is Youth Communication and
****What Do We Mean by Nonprofit?
**4. A Sample Budget
**5. Adult Staff & Publishing Schedules

B. Rules & Standards

**1. Office Rules
**2. Standards for Participating in
****New Youth Connections
**3. Standards for Participating in Represent
**4. Attendance Requirements for Credit Interns
**5. Article Payment Policy At Represent
**6. Internships for Senior Writers at Represent
**7. Standards for Artists
**8. Conduct Resulting in Dismissal
**9. Youth Communication Policy Regarding Copyright,
*** Reprints, and Student Payments

C. Why NYC and Represent Are Important

**1. Why a Teen-Written Magazine?
**2. How Our Articles Inform Readers
**3. Your Responsibilities As a Staff Writer
**4. The Skills You Will Learn Here
**5. Evaluations

D. What Is Journalism?

**1. Where NYC & Represent it In
**2. Truthfulness & Accuracy

E. The Writing Process

**1. Writing to Be Read
**2. Writing Is Rewriting
**3. Editing a First Draft: A Look at Jamel’s Peer Pressure
*** Story
**4. What an Editor Should Do
**5. An Editor’s Job
**6. Peer Editing
**7. Common Writing Terms

F. What Is Good Writing?

**1. Good Writing Has
**2. Writing Leads
**3. Writing Endings
**4. Descriptive Writing
**5. Adding Dialogue
**6. Using Your Own Voice
**7. Your Writing Style

G. The Personal Story

**1. What Is the Personal Story?
**2. An Example of a Personal Story: “Slave to Love”
**3. An Example of a Personal Story: “A Short Cut to
****Independence ”
**4. How to Come Up With Ideas for Personal Stories

H. The Reported Story

**1. What Is the Reported Story?
**2. An Example of a Reported Story: “Raise Your Voice
****Against Violence”
**3. An Example of a Reported Story: “From the Frying Pan
****Into the Fire”
**4. Interviewing
**5. Translating Your Notes: Paraphrase, Direct Quote &
****Anecdote
**6. How to Come Up With Ideas for Reported Stories

I. Grammar, Punctuation & Style: A Brief Guide

**1. Common Grammar & Spelling Blunders
**2. Some Basic Grammar Rules
**3. Common Punctuation Blunders
**4. Some Basic Punctuation Rules
**5. Test Your Grammar and Spelling
**6. Youth Communication Style
**7. Proofreaders’ Marks

J. Instructions for Using the Computer

**1. How to Use Microsoft Word
**2. Basic Computer Commands
**3. How to Type Your Story
**4. Computer Cheat Sheet

K. Resources Galore

**1. For Your Reading Pleasure
**2. Where to Call for Help