1. Headline Variation (12 marks) Using the article from Part A, Question #1, you are to create three (3) different headlines. Each headline must emphasize a different headline element discussed in class. (3X4=12 Marks)
For each headline:
a) Include the Headline
b) Explain your reasoning
c) Reference specific class concepts
“How to Stay Healthy in Old Age by Skateboarding”
When writing this headline I made use of the “How To” headline writing technique. I am promising readers health in their old age. This is relevant to the author of the article who speaks about currently using skateboarding as his primary form of exercise in his 60’s. Growing old is a fear for everyone, generally making health a bigger priority for people the older they get.. The mentions of skateboarding create curiosity within the reader.
My headline also makes use of psychological biases by associating old age and skateboarding two things that aren’t usually associated with each other. Skateboarding has been a primarily youth – young adult activity for most of its lifespan. By telling people they can stay healthy in old age by skateboarding it makes them curious as to how because they wouldn’t normally associate skateboarding and old age. I’m creating a curiosity gap within the reader to where they have enough info to be interested but not enough info to be fully satisfied. They will still want to seek out the additional article content.
“13 Amazing Things I learned while skateboarding into my 60’s.”
When writing this headline I used the word amazing to describe the benefits of riding a skateboard into old age. This is a powerful adjective that creates excitement and anticipation for the reader making them wonder what lessons they could learn for themselves while skate boarding.
I’m providing the user with a unique rationale: These amazing lessons can only be learned through skateboarding into your 60s, something very few people can say they have done. So the only way for the reader to get these lessons would be to read the article my headline is attached too. My content is also organized numerically in a list making it easy for the viewer to digest the material and enjoy it.
Finally, I’m using an odd number at the start of my headline to attract attention, and to better help people digest and recall information. The number is odd making it easier for readers to recall the headline associated with the number. I also included the number 60 to exaggerate the curiosity behind the headline.
“A 60 Year Old Man Says He Will Never Stop Kickflipping.”
I used a number at the start of this headline to attract attention and build curiosity. Human eyes are naturally drawn to numbers especially in walls of text. People generally associate numbers with proven statements of facts. The general consensus is that “Numbers Don’t Lie”: People are more likely to trust your content if you can include numbers in the headline. The number also reveals the age of the man kickflipping. People usually associate skateboarding with youth culture, my headline subverts these expectations by associating a 60 year old with skateboarding which will build curiosity from the reader.
By mentioning the act of a 60 year old skateboarding in creating a picture in the mind of the reader that doesn’t make sense. This creates a curiosity gap or a void in the reader that will make them want to know how or why a 60 year old wont stop doing kickflips. People are naturally curious and will want to fill these voids in their knowledge by interacting with my headline.
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