"Special Leads Homework"

"Scottsdale retiree Ken Coleman doesn't know how to play the guitar that took 15 weeks for him to build. But you wouldn't know it by the way he lovingly holds the sleek, finely-tuned instrument that seems almost a work of art."
-azcentral.com (The Arizona Republic)
by Georgann Yara - Oct. 1, 2009 12:00 AM

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2009/10/01/20091001abg-smallbiz1001.html

Type of lead: Direct Address Lead

•Is this the best lead for this story?
Yes. By incorporating "you," the piece becomes more "personal" and draws the reader into why this man decided to build guitars even though he doesn't know how to play one. (It also provides a good intro into describing George Leach's guitar making shop).

•Can this lead be improved?
No, I think this lead fits this feature perfectly as it shows why some people decide to take one of Leach's guitar building classes.

•Is a summary more appropriate?
No, a summary lead might take away from the "humanistic" elements that this particular piece offers.

•Would one of the other special leads work better?
A quotation lead might have also been appropriate for this story, since it focuses on Coleman, his love of guitars and the guitar building class Leach teaches.

"Every time Druann Letter sees a teenage boy full of energy and a glowing smile, she wonders, "Is that what Weston would have looked like?""
-azcentral.com (The Arizona Republic)
by Ofelia Madrid - Sept. 30, 2009 12:31 PM

http://www.azcentral.com/community/scottsdale/articles/2009/09/30/20090930sr-pools0930.html

Type of Lead: Narrative lead/quote lead/question lead

•Is this the best lead for this story?
Yes, this lead incorportes a few different approaches that effectively address the issue of child drowings in Arizona.

•Can this lead be improved?
No, I really like the writers approach because the reader becomes interested to read into the story to find out why Letter asks herself this question.

•Is a summary more appropriate?
No, like the last lead, a summary lead might take away from the "humanistic" aspect that this particular piece offers.

•Would one of the other special leads work better?
No, I believe this lead is perfect as it incorportes a few of the different lead techniques.