Summary Lead

Summary lead- It's the opening paragraph that summarizes the article by giving the most important of the 5W's. It is usually one sentence in length and focuses on giving the end result of the story. Specific as possible! Be concise!

New York Times Examples of Summary Leads

1."AT 9 o’clock on a recent morning Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band were already half an hour into a rehearsal at the rock club Terminal 5 in Manhattan. As N.F.L. executives and a television production team watched, they were tightening their miniset of four songs — dropping verses, streamlining segues — to fit their 12-minute slot as the halftime entertainment Sunday at Super Bowl XLIII, expected to reach tens of millions of viewers. " -New York Times

-offers who, what, when, why and where.
-good lead because it flows well
-back to back eye-catching words that bring people to the action.


2."PEANUT butter has long been the salvation of the harried parent and the budget-minded. A spoonful straight from the jar has gotten many a student through a long study session. A peanut butter sandwich is one of the first snacks a young person can make, and it is the rare baker who doesn’t have a peanut butter cookie in repertory." -New York Times


-specific, lets the read know what the subject is; Peanut Butter
-grabs people attentions
-I think though it could show the importance of this article better in the lead, how peanut butter is in a downfall right now, show that better.


2. "WASHINGTON — The House gave final approval on Wednesday to a bill extending health insurance to millions of low-income children, and President Obama signed it this afternoon, in the first of what he hopes will be many steps to guarantee coverage for all Americans."

-Short, simple and to the point
-Who, what, when, why and where clearly stated
-Interesting to the reader because who doesn't want to know what the President has done for our Country.