Moni Basu Comments on How to Teach Students to Write Effective Nut Grafs

Moni Basu, University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Michael and Linda Connelly Lecturer for Narrative Nonfiction, is featured in “Nut Grafs: Triptich II – Pointed Questions, Including WHOGAS?” published on Neimand Storyboard on Oct. 28.

Basu describes how she teaches her students to write nut graphs, paragraphs that provide context or background for a news story. She asks them to consider why the story is relevant, what do the readers absolutely have to know, what is the context for telling the story and where should this information be included, and what is the essential theme of the story and how can it be conveyed.

If the student fails to write an adequate nut graf, she suggests they print the story and highlight three sentences that are crucial and then write, in eight words, what the story is about.

“I find that generally, this exercise brings clarity. Either they are able to write a nut graf or its equivalent with ease after this, or they realize they are lacking in their reporting,” said Basu.

Posted: October 28, 2021
Category: College News
Tagged as: Moni Basu, Storytelling