How the Captions Program Works

Middle School age student taking a photograph of a wild mushroom growing on a hillside in Nayarit, M

Step 1

Student takes a photograph or short video on her or his cellphone or digital camera, or downloads an image (citing the source) from the Internet.

Four samples of student handwriting. His text contains information concerning wild mushrooms.

Step 2

Step 1

Student writes a story or caption that goes with the image. The length of the story or caption could be as short as a few words, or as long as a 3-sentence paragraph.

Wild mushrooms growing on a hillside in Nayarit, Mexico.

Step 3

Step 1

Step 3

Student sends the image and caption to the captions editor. For images from the Internet, the editor helps the student compose a professional email to procure permission.

APA Stylebook to check student's writing.

Step 4

Step 3

The editor checks the caption for errors in spelling and grammar. The editor also checks for language consistency and, if necessary, offers suggestions to improve the writing.

Student's writing with teacher's corrections.

Step 5

Step 4

Step 5

The editor returns the student’s work with proofreaders’ marks and edits in the margin.

Student's writing with corrections from the teacher

Step 6

Step 4

Step 5

The student incorporates the corrections and optional edits.

Step 7

Step 8 (optional)

The editor prepares an individualized worksheet that reinforces correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, style, and vocabulary selection.

Mushrooms growing in a forest to teach children narrow depth-of-field

Step 8 (optional)

Students learn photographic techniques by looking at and analyzing examples of images from newspapers, magazines, museums, and photo banks.

Elements of an Effective Image in Photojournalism

Sharp Focus

Depth of Field

If customers can’t find it, it doesn’t exist. Clearly list and describe the services you offer. Also, be sure to showcase a premium service.

Depth of Field

Having a big sale, on-site celebrity, or other event? Be sure to announce it so everybody knows and gets excited about it.

Color Balance

Depth of Field

Color Balance

Are your customers raving about you on social media? Share their great stories to help turn potential customers into loyal ones.

Composition

Display their FAQs

Color Balance

Running a holiday sale or weekly special? Definitely promote it here to get customers excited about getting a sweet deal.

Lighting

Display their FAQs

Have you opened a new location, redesigned your shop, or added a new product or service? Don't keep it to yourself, let folks know.

Display their FAQs

Customers have questions, you have answers. Display the most frequently asked questions, so everybody benefits.

Context for Student Writings and Photos

Journalism That Reinforces Topics of Students' Greatest Interests

We start working with students by asking them to write about a topic which they enjoy or of which have deep knowledge.

Journalism That Reinforces School Topics

After developing an enjoyment of writing, we ask students to research and write about topics related to class assignments, and photograph a person or image related to that topic.

Multiple Types of Writing

We ask students to produce expository, descriptive, persuasive, and narrative writing.

Project-Based Assignments Beyond the Classroom

Students have extended opportunities to expand their photojournalism projects with field trips, designing, building, and writing about 3-D printing, using computers to post-process photographs, visiting giant telescopes, and participating in other activities.