Journalism: Headlines & Subheads Worksheet & Answer Key | Grades 9-12

Students can usually tell when a headline is weak. What they can't do yet is fix it. This 7-page worksheet moves them through five types of practice — revision, construction, fit checking, self-diagnosis, and stem completion — so they leave with skills they can actually use on deadline. What's Included:

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Part A — Bad to Better: students tighten five vague headlines and write matching subheads that add new information, not a repeat Part B — Facts to Headline + Subhead: short fact sets lead to a 5–9 word headline and a 10–16 word subhead with context, impact, or next steps Part C — Count Rules: simple character counting to estimate fit for a single-line space Part D — Analyzer Checklist:

quick checks for concrete subject, active verb, helpful number/name/date, no duplication, and house style Part E — Fill-a-Stem: students complete headline and subhead stems with plausible details for their beat Answer key with model headlines and subheads, brief "why it's better" notes, and approximate character counts Printable PDF, 7 pages How to Use It: Works as follow-up practice after the headline workshop, a standalone sub plan, or targeted review before a publication deadline. The analyzer checklist in Part D transfers directly to peer editing — students can run it on each other's stories, not just worksheet exercises.

This worksheet is part of the Journalism: Headline and Subhead Toolkit — Super-Bundle, which pairs it with the workshop slideshow and quiz at significant savings. It's also included in the News Writing Professional Bundle and the Complete High School Journalism Curriculum Bundle. If this resource saved you prep time, please leave a rating under My Purchases Provide Feedback.

Every review earns you TpT Credits toward future purchases — roughly $1 in credits for every $10 reviewed. Follow Starmaker Tools for Teachers to be notified when new resources launch or go on sale. Keywords: journalism headlines worksheet, subhead writing practice, headline and subhead, journalism worksheet, high school journalism, news writing practice, headline writing, journalism grades 9-12, student journalists, fit check, headline stems, journalism answer key, news writing unit, journalism curriculum, expository writing

Designed for grades 9-12.

See it on Teachers Pay Teachers — $2.80