cha11icincy,
This is the project I am working on right now! (It is my first time as well) This technique of gardening called a lasagna gardening. Look for my post (i think its called "im starting a lasagna bed") or something to that end. The post should be near the top right now...

Anyway, I will be making a detailed presentation when I finish the project and have time to put all of the pictures together, so maybe that will help you!

I too would suggest you review all the info on building a lasagna bed - multiple thick layers of various components such as cardboard, composted manure, grass clippings, compost, shredded leaves, straw, soil, etc. and allowed to cook down over the winter then planted in in spring. Just do a search using "lasagna garden".

I'm not sure what you mean by the "shredded newspapers covered with black plastic" approach but I can't see how it would provide you with any growing medium and there sure wouldn't be any nutrient value. ;)

Dave

I had heard that you can kill grass by laying down layers of newspaper and covering it with black plastic or a tarp or something. I have already gotten some cardboard to start the lasagna bed....thanks for the tips!
Channin

Do not use plastic over soil. Plastic over soil will cut off the exchange of air that is necessary to keep the Soil Food Web in good health.
You are right that the simplest way to prepare that area is to cover it with newspaper and cover the newspaper with some mulch material to hide it and hold it in place, but this is not Lasagna gardening. Lasagna gardening is much more involved than simple plunking some newspaper and mulch down.
In addition contact your local office of the Ohio State University USDA Cooperative Extension Service, http://extension.osu.edu/counties.php about having a good, reliable soil test done for base nutrient and soil pH levels and dig in with these simple soil tests to see what you do have and learn, from what you do have what you need to do to turn that into good, healthy soil;
1) Structure. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. A good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer you soil will smell.

5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Lasagna Gardening 101

I would smother the area with leaves. Fall is just around the corner.