OBJECTIVE:
A caption is a short description accompanying a photograph.

Writing captions assumes a three part process for the reader. They look at the photograph, read the caption, and then return to photograph to see it in the context of the new information they learned from the caption.

YOUR CAPTION SHOULD:

• explain the photograph,
• identify the context from left to right,
• intrigue the reader / viewer to see the photograph anew.
• use present tense to describe action in a photo.
• give readers information they cannot get from just looking at a photo.
• complete the photograph.
• start from specific to general or general to specific.
• not use “Above” and “pictured here”.

We will learn how to write intriguing captions by using PIC-LITS.

MODEL PIC-LIT:

This caption explains what the man is doing, explains that there is water in the buckets, identifies where he is taking the water, and intrigues the reader to see the photograph in a new way.

GUIDED PRACTICE WRITING PROMPT:

1. Go to piclits.com
2. Sign in with your e-mail and password
3. Select a picture from the gallery of pictures
4. In DRAG-N-DROP mode, write a caption at the bottom of the photograph that explains the photograph, identifies the context, and intrigues the reader to see the photograph in a new way.