Microsoft Publisher Tutorial: How To Create A Newsletter

by Dr. Data

Planning the Content

Remember that you are creating your sample as if you were a student.

Think about what you want to include in your publication and list your ideas below. Consider the age of students you are working with and the type of content you would be expecting them to present. As you develop the publication, think about how your targeted student learning objectives will be achieved.

Overall goal:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Title of my student publication:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Elements necessary to address the Essential and Unit questions:

________________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________________

Topics and reference materials I will research on the internet:

_________________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Other resources I will use in the creation of my student publication:

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

To achieve targeted student learning objectives, my student newsletter will include:

     Letter to the editor

     Public Opinion poll

     Survey

     Point/Counterpoint

     Inventions, discoveries, or theories

     Spotlight Interviews

     Puzzles or trivia questions

     Upcoming and local events

     Appropriate advertisements or want ads

     Entertainment

     Sports

     Business

     Weather

     Travel

     Advice Column

     Comics/Satire

     Scanned student-created illustrations or computer-assisted graphics

     Charts or graphs

     Works cited (bibliography)

       Other:_______________________________________________________________________________

       Other:_______________________________________________________________________________

              Step 3: Creating a Newsletter Storyboard

Remember that you are creating this sample as if you were a student. Use the storyboard and outline to plan the content and layout of your newsletter.

Newsletter Title:_____________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Lead Story Headline:___________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

Secondary Story Headline:___________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Featured Articles (Inside Story Headlines):________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

           Step 4: Using Publisher’s Newsletter Wizard

1. Click the Start button

2. Point to Programs, and then click Microsoft Publisher. This starts the program.

              Note: You may need to look in the Office Folder

3. Click the Publications by Wizard tab.

4. In the Wizards pane, click Newsletters, and in the right pane, scroll to view a variety of newsletter styles. Double-click a newsletter of your choice to start the Wizard.

5. A Personal Information dialog box may appear. Click Cancel

6. To begin answering the Newsletter Wizard questions, click Next.

7. Select a color scheme. Click Next.

8. Select the desired number of columns. Click Next.

9. Under Customer Address, click Next. (No is the default)

10. Under One- or Two- Sided Printing, click Next. (Double sided is the default)

11. Under Personal Information, select Other Organization. Then click Finish.

12. Click Hide Wizard.

13. You may return to the wizard at any time to change or add design elements in your publication by clicking Show Wizard. The Wizard then automatically updates your publication.

Saving a Newsletter

1. On the File menu, click Save.

2. Locate your Program folder. Open the student_samples folder. Open the student_publication folder.

3. Name your file. Publisher automatically saves it with the (.pub) file extension.

4. Click Save.

5. As you continue to enhance your newsletter, frequently save your work.

Step 5: Customizing a Newsletter

Publisher creates a layout for your newsletter by using placeholder text and graphics. With a click of the mouse, you can replace titles, articles, and clip art into existing frames.

Working with Existing Text Frames

The newsletter wizard creates placeholder text frames. Typically, the text describes what you may want to include within that particular text frame. To change the suggested text, click anywhere in the text frame and begin typing your own text. Your text replaces default text.

To change the dimensions of the text frame, and thereby change the text margins, click the text area. Place the mouse pointer over any of the black squares, or handles, that are located on the perimeter of the text frame. When the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow, drag a handle to enlarge or shrink the frame to the desired size.

1. Click Zoom In to zoom to at least 66 percent, so that you have a larger image with which to work.

2. Click the placeholder text Lead Story Headline, and type a headline for your feature article.

3. Read suggestions in the Lead Story. Click the text frame to add your own lead story.

4. Save your publication (remember to save often)

Connecting and Disconnecting Text Frames

1. If the text does not fit into the text frame, it automatically flows into the next frame. A chain of connected text frames can span multiple pages and have numerous columns.

2. If text frames are connected, they have the Go to Previous Frame and Go to Next Frame buttons in the upper left corner or lower right of the frames.

3. Disconnecting two connected frames is like breaking a link in a chain. To disconnect and reconnect text frames, click the text frame to select the first frame.

4. On the connect frames toolbar, click Disconnect Text Frames.

5. Publisher places the text from the disconnected box in the Text Overflow area of the selected frame. If you see the A..., it means that some of your text is hidden. You must either make the text frame bigger or flow it into another text frame.

6. To have a story continue into another text frame, first click the frame that has overflow text.

7. On the Connect Frames toolbar, click Connect Text Frames.

8. The mouse pointer changes to a pitcher of text.

9. Click anywhere inside an empty text frame to “pour” the text into the second frame

10. If you import a text file and all of the text does not fit into the text frame, Publisher asks you if you would like to use autoflow. If you respond by clicking Yes, Publisher flows the text throughout your publication, connecting the text frames for you.

Adding Text Frames

1. Click A on the Objects toolbar.

2. Drag to draw a text frame, beginning at the upper left area where you want you text to begin and dragging to the lower right area where you want your text to end.

3. Click anywhere in the text frame to enter edit mode.

4. Change the text style (font, size, style) if desired, by using the Formatting toolbar, and then begin typing your text.

Entering Your Information

1. Click the placeholder text Newsletter Date in the upper right corner, and then type the date

2. In the Table of Contents frame, select titles, and replace with your own.

3. Click the Secondary Story Headline and replace it with your own headline.

4. On the status bar at the bottom of the screen, click the page navigation icon to got to page 2.

5. Click the text Inside Story Headline and replace it with your own headline.

6. Save your publication

Turning Off Automatic Hyphenation

1. Click the text or table frame.

2. On the Tools menu, point to Language, and then click Hyphenation.

3. Click the Automatically Hyphenate This Story check box to remove the check mark.

4. Click OK.

Step 6: Enhancing a Newsletter

Changing Graphics

1. Go to page 1 of your newsletter

2. To change an image in your newsletter, double-click the image and Publisher automatically opens its location.

3. Click the Pictures tab in the Insert Clip Art window.

4. Click All Categories to go to the main category window.

5. Click a category, and then maximize the screen to view all clips.

6. Click and image to insert into your newsletter.

7. Click Insert Clip to insert it into the picture frame in your newsletter.

8. Save your publication

Entering Captions For Graphics

Captions add information to a graphic by describing the image. To update or change the caption, follow the next set of directions.

1. Click the text frame below the graphic to highlight the text.

2. Zoom in to get a closer look at the caption.

3. Type a caption for the image.

4. Click outside the text frame.

5. Zoom out

6. Save your publication

Deleting Extra Pages

If your newsletter contains more pages than you need, deleting them is easy.

1. Go to page 3 , for example.

2. On the Edit menu, click Delete Page

3. Click Right page only, and then click OK.

4. If the goal is a two-page publication, repeat steps 1-2 as necessary

5. If you do no want to delete this page, on the Edit menu, click Undo Delete Page to restore page 3.

Inserting Drop Cans

Sometimes a Drop Can or fancy first letter in a paragraph catches the reader’s attention or helps fill a page that only has a small amount of text.

1. Select a paragraph of text.

2. On the Format menu, click Drop Can

3. If necessary, click the Drop Can tab, and then select one of the available Drop Cans

Note: You may change the Drop Can options on the Custom Drop Can tab.

4. Click OK

5. Save your publication

Saving a Publication with Pack and Go

When you want to take your publication to another computer or to a commercial printing service, you can use the Pack and Go Wizard to pack your publication. The Wizard packs all of the files and fonts used in the publication and puts then on a disk or network location. If you want to make changes to your publication after you use the Pack and Go Wizard, just run the wizard again to update the package.

Note: Unlike Microsoft © PowerPoint ® , you will not be able to open this file on computers without Microsoft© Publisher 2000

1. On the File menu, point to Pack and Go and then click Take to Another Computer.

2. Click Next

3. If you are taking your publication on a disk to another computer, when the Wizard asks you to choose a location for saving your file, click A:/ . If you are putting your files on an external drive, on a network, or on your computer’s hard disk, click Browse, choose the drive and folder you want, and then click OK.

4. Click Next

5. To embed True Type fonts and to create links fo embedded graphics, click to add a check mark next to the options you want. To not include linked graphics, click to remove the check mark.

6. Click Next.

7. Click Finish

8. Insert another disk if publisher prompts you, and then click OK.

Note: It is a good idea to number the disks so your printing service knows which disk to insert first when they unpack your files.

9. Click OK.

Creating a Student Brochure

Step 1 : Viewing Sample Brochures

View sample brochures located in the Module 4, Activity 1 folder on the Program CD - ROM.

You may want to check the following Web sites for additional brochure ideas. Some of these sites are also available on the Program CD - ROM in the Module 4 folder for offline viewing:

Create a Brochure Describing a Place or Organization

http://desktoppub.about.com/computer/desktoppub/library/weekly/aa0828b1.htm

Create a Brochure Describing a Place or Organization

http://desktoppub.about.com./computer/desktoppub/library/weekly/aa0828b2.htm

Battlefield Brochure

http://www.stclaire.k12.il.us/services/scilit/pbl/mday.html 

Step 2 : Planning the Content

Remember that you are creating your sample as if you were a student . think about what you want to include in your publication and list your ideas below. Consider the age of the students you are working with and the type of content you would expect them to present. As you develop the publication, think about how targeted objectives will be achieved.

Overall goal:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Title of my student publication:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Elements necessary to address the essential and Unit Questions:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Topics and reference materials I will research on the Internet:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Other resources I will use in the creation of my student publication:

(For example: Encarta, textbooks, other printed resources)

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

To achieve targeted student learning objectives, my student brochure will include:

□            Proposal for plan for:_____________________________________________________

□            Promotion of:___________________________________________________________

□            Propaganda for: _________________________________________________________

□            Explanation of: __________________________________________________________

□            Analysis of: _____________________________________________________________

□            Evaluation of: ___________________________________________________________

□            Comparison / contrast of: __________________________________________________

□            Event program for: _______________________________________________________

□            Scanned student - created illustrations or computer - assisted graphics

□            Charts or graphs

□            Works cited (bibliography)

□            Other

               _______________________________________________________________________

□            Other

               _______________________________________________________________________

Step 3: Creating a Brochure Storyboard

Remember that you are creating this brochure as a student. Use the storyboard and outline to plan the content and layout.

As you develop the publication, think about how targeted student learning objectives will be achieved.

Title of Brochure:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Back Panel Heading:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Main Inside Heading:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Secondary Headings:

____________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Saving A Brochure

1. On the File menu, click save

2. Locate your Program folder. Open the student_samples folder. Open the student_publication folder.

3. Name your file. Publisher automatically saves it with the (.pub) file extension.

4. Click Save.

5. As you continue to enhance your brochure, frequently save your work.

Step 4: Using Publisher’s Brochure Wizard

1. Click the Start button.

2. Point to Programs, and then click Microsoft Publisher. This starts the program

              Note: You may need to look in the Office 2000 folder

3. Click the Publications by wizard tab.

4. In the Wizards pane click brochures and then in the right pane, scroll to view a brochure of your choice. Double-click your selection to start the wizard.

5. A Personal Information dialog box may appear. Click Cancel.

6. To begin answering the Brochure Wizard questions, click Next.

7. Select a color scheme. Click Next.

9. Under customer address, click Next

10. Under Form, click Next.

11. Under personal information, click other organization. Then click Finish.

12. Click Hide Wizard.

13. You may return to the wizard for further revisions by clicking show wizard. It will automatically update your publication.

Step 5: Customizing a Brochure

Publisher creates the layout for your brochure by using placeholder text and graphics. With a click of the mouse, you can replace titles, text, and clip art in the existing frames.

Working with Existing Text Frames

The Brochure Wizard creates placeholder text frames within your brochure with text already inside. Typically, the text describes what you may want to include within that particular text frame. To change the suggested text, click anywhere in the text frame and begin typing your own text. Your text replaces the default text.

To change the dimensions of the text frame, and thereby change the text margins, click the text area. Place the mouse pointer over any of the black squares, or handles, that are located on the perimeter of the text frame. When the pointer changes to a double-headed arrow, drag a handle to enlarge or shrink the frame to the desired size.

Entering Titles

1. Click Zoom In to zoom to 66 percent, so that you have a larger image with which to work.

2. Click the placeholder text Product Service Information, and type a title for your brochure.

3. Read suggestions in the Back Panel Heading. Click Zoom in to increase the text size, or print the page for reference. Click the placeholder text Back Panel Heading, and then type a headline for your back panel.

4. Click the Your Organization tag line frame on the right side to replace the text with your own tag line. A tag line , or motto, is a brief, memorable statement that summarizes the purpose of an organization or emphasizes an important aspect of a product or service.

5. On the status bar at the bottom of your screen, click the page navigation icon to o to page two.

Entering Information

1. Click the Main Inside Heading on the top of page 2. Type a new heading.

2. Read suggestions in the Main inside heading. Click the text frame to add your own text.

3. Save your publication.

4. On the status bar located at the bottom of the screen, click the navigation icon to go to the next page of your publication.

5. If the text doesn’t fit into the first text frame, it automatically flows into the next frame. A chain of connected text frames can span multiple pages and have numerous columns.

Connecting and Disconnecting Text Frames

1. If the text does not fit into the first text frame, it automatically flows into the next frame. A chain of connected text frames can span multiple pages and have numerous columns.

2. If text frames are connected, they have the Go to Previous Frame and Go to Next Frame buttons in the upper left corner or lower right of the frames.

3. Disconnecting two connected frames is like breaking a link in a chain. To disconnect and reconnect frames, click the text frame to select the first frame.

4. On the connect Frames toolbar, click disconnect text frames.

5. Publisher places the text from the disconnected box in the Text in Overflow area of the selected frame. If you see A..., it means that some of your teckst is hidden. You must either make the teckst frame bigger or flow into another text frame.

6. To have a story continue into another text frame, first click the frame that has the overflow text.

7. On the Connect Frames toolbar, click Connect Text Frames.

8. The mouse pointer changes to a pitcher of text.

9. Click anywhere inside an empty text frame to “pour” the text into the second frame.

10. If you import a text file and all of the text does not fit into the text frame, Publisher asks you if you would like to use autoflow. If you respond by clicking Yes, Publisher flows the text throughout your publication connecting the text frames for you.

Adding Text Frames

1. Click A on the Objects toolbar.

2. Drag to draw a text frame, beginning at the upper left area where you want your text to begin and dragging to the lower right area where you want your text to end.

3. Click anywhere in the text frame to enter edit mode.

4. Change the text style (font, size, style), if desired, by using the Formatting toolbar, and then begin typing your text.

Turning Off Automatic Hyphenation

1. Click the text or table frame.

2. On the Tools menu, point to Language, and then click on Hyphenation.

3. Click the Automatically hyphenate this story check box to remove the check mark.

4. Click Ok.

Step 6: Enhancing a Brochure

Changing Graphics

1. Go to page 1 of your brochure.

2. To change an image, double-click the image and Publisher automatically opens its location.

3. Click the Pictures tab in the Insert Clip Art window.

4. Click All Categories to go to the main category menu.

5. Click a category, and then maximize the screen to view all clips.

6. Click an image to insert into your brochure.

7. Click Insert clip to insert it into the picture frame in your brochure.

Entering Captions for Graphics

Captions add information to a graphic by describing the image.

1. Click the text frame below the graphic to highlight the text.

2. Zoom in by clicking Zoom In to get a closer look at the caption.

3. Type a caption for the image.

4. Click outside the text frame

5. Zoom out by clicking Zoom Out.

Inserting Drop Caps

Sometimes a Drop Cap or fancy first letter in a paragraph catches the reader’s attention or helps fill a page that has only a small amount of text.

1. Select a paragraph of text.

2. On the Format menu, click Drop Can.

3. If necessary, click the Drop Cap tab, and then select one of the available Drop Caps.

   Note: You may change the Drop Cap options on the Custom Drop Cap tab.

4. Click OK.

5. Save your publication.

Deleting Extra Pages

If your brochure contains more pages than you need, deleting them is easy.

1. Go to page 2, for example.

2. On the Edit men, click Delete Page.

3. The Office Assistant displays a message. Click Ok.

4. If you do not want to delete the page, on the Edit menu, click Undo Delete page to restore page 2.

Saving a Publication with Pack and Go

When you want to take your publication to another computer or to a commercial printing service, you can use the Pack and Go Wizard to pack your publication.. The Wizard packs all of the files and fonts used in the publication and puts them on a disk or network location. If you want to make changes to your publication after you used the Pack and Go Wizard, just run the Wizard again to update the package.

Note: Unlike PowerPoint, you will not be able to open this file on computers without Publisher 2000.

1. On the File menu, point to Pack and Go, and then click Take to Another Computer.

2. Click next.

3. If you’re taking your publication on disk to another computer, when the Wizard asks you to choose a location for saving your file, click A:/. If you are putting your files on an external drive, on a network or on your computer’s hard disk, click Browse, choose the drive and folder you want, and click Ok.

4. Click next.

5. To embed TrueType fonts and to create links for embedded graphics, click to add a check mark next to the options you want. To not include linked graphics: click to remove the check mark.

6. Click next.

7. Click finish.

8. Insert another disk if Publisher prompts you, and then click Ok.

   Note: It’s a good idea to number the disks so your printing service knows which disk to insert first when they unpack your files.

9. Click Ok.

Activity 2

Evaluating Student Samples (10 minutes)

Description: During the activity, you will conduct a self-evaluation to ensure that your student publication aligns with the targeted student learning objectives. Does this activity enhance student learning because it integrates technology effectively, or could you easily present the information in some other way? Does you student sample support the Essential and Unit Questions? Is it possible to implement the activity in your classroom?

Keep in mind that although you have created a publication from a student’s perspective, it is important that it reflect solid learning objectives if it is to serve as a good example to students.

Use the Student Sample Evaluation Check List on the following page to review your student publication. Use the Comments section to not any needed revisions.

Evaluation Criteria              Check List Comments