The Chrysalids

by John Wyndham

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For The Chrysalids, how would you write a newspaper article about the fleeing mutants, David, Rosalind, and Petra?

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There are many options for how to write a newspaper article about David, Rosalind and Petra. You could write an editorial that supports the three teens or one that condemns them. You could write an editorial that is critical of the current powers in place or one that supports their stance on Deviants.

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I would first decide which type of newspaper article you would like to write.  The previous answer gave a great description of how to write as neutral and factual of an article as possible.  This kind of article intentionally limits the opinion of the author; however, there are newspaper articles that are intentionally written to share the opinion of the writer.  These are called editorials.  

You could choose to write an editorial about David, Rosalind, Petra, and their escape.  An editorial opens up a bunch of different writing options for you.  You could choose to write a scathing article against the three teens.  Focus on how it is even more important than ever to identify Deviants like them at an early age.  Try to instill fear in your readers about the potential threat that David, Rosalind, and Petra represent.  Stress how important it is to hunt them down and...

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rid the gene pool of their deviant genetic code.  

An alternative editorial could be a scathing indictment against the authorities that are in charge of keeping Waknuk society pure.  This article is not necessarily for or against David and his friends.  It is geared to call into question the procedures that men like Joseph Strorm have put into place to detect and capture Deviants.  Your article would use David, Rosalind, and Petra as evidence that the current authorities and their procedures are inept and outdated.  That is how and why the telepaths have been able to hide their abilities for so long.  

A third editorial could be an editorial that supports the escape of David, Rosalind, and Petra.  The article could focus on how the three teens had no alternative to running away.  The editorial would call into question the entire concept of needing to fear Deviants.  You could present evidence that shows how all three kids have been wonderful members of society and do not pose a threat to anybody.  The article would stress the need for Waknuk society to perhaps review whether or not their stance on gene purity is still appropriate.  

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Newspaper articles generally adhere to answering the six journalistic questions Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? For The Chrysalids, an article reporting on the telepaths escape from Waknuk would use the names of the escapees in answer to Who?, and the fact of running away answers What?, while Where? has two answers. The first answer to Where? is Waknuk: the escaping individuals were in Waknuk to start with. The second answer is that they are running toward the Fringes. When? would include the day, date, and time of their flight from justice.

Why? might be more difficulty to answer and this is in some ways the heart of the news report. I say in some ways because in other ways, that they are going and where they are going is more important, it all depends upon whom the reading audience is. Why? would include that the fleeing group is composed of known mutants who, as deviants, will be subjected to punishment and the proper procedures. How? will be answered by the details leading up to their escape and their means of escape.

Your article might start something like this:

WAKNUK, (Date): David Strorm, Magistrate Strorm's son, and his friends have escaped authorities and are running toward the Fringe along a straight route. This occurred because the group was discovered to be deviants with a mutation away from acceptable standards.

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