Feature Writing-dvision Seminar

8/11/2019 Feature Writing-dvision Seminar

1/71

FEATURE WRITING

LYN R. CATOLICOResource Speaker

Division Training for School Paper Advisers and Journalists

August 22-23, 2014


2/71


3/71


4/71


5/71


6/71

-According to GeneGilmore in his book, InsideHigh School Journalism,the best way to describe afeature is to say it is a news

story written like a shortpiece of fiction.


7/71

Like a short story writer, afeature often use literarydevices like color, wit,

humor, dialogue,anecdotes and emotive

sayings to capture humaninterest.


8/71

It may also instruct,

inform and advise butthe main objective is

to entertain.


9/71

Figuratively, we can say

that while straight newsappeals to the physical,

editorial appeals tointellect, feature storyappeals to the emotion.


10/71

QUALITIES OF FEATUREARTICLES

1. It deals with any topic.2. It usually entertains more

often than it informs, instructor advises.3. It may be long or short aslong as it covers the subjectadequately and keeps it

interesting to the readers.


11/71

4. It may be light or serious,depending on its purpose.5. It could be formal or

informal and written in anyform and in any style but well

organized.6. It may or may not betimely.


12/71

7. It begins with a novelty lead.

8. It is written in ascendinginterest.

9.It is based on facts. Thoughsometimes, the writer uses hisimagination to play up the

details, it is still anchored onfacts.


13/71

10. It can be garnished withadjective, figures of speech,dialogue, anecdote, local

color and idiomaticexpressions.

11. It can be written in thefirst, second or third person.


14/71

KINDS OF FEATURE STORY

1. HUMAN INTEREST FEATURE

- A story that involves people and

their troubles failures and

successes.

2. PERSONALITY SKETCH

FEATURE

-it offers a semi-biographical

account of a newsworthy person.


15/71

3. HISTORICAL FEATURE

- it narrates the evolution of

something like the name of a

particular place origin of a

celebration and others.

4. ANALYTICAL FEATURE

- it dissects problem such as

school vandalism student

cheating and describe how people

would try to solve the difficulty.


16/71

5. SEASONAL FEATURE

- it presents new angles ofan old theme with some

fresh insights ofinformation.6. TRAVELOGUE- itdescribes a place and thekind of people the writer

has met durin his travel.


17/71

7. ENTERTAINMENT FEATURE

- a story with wit and humorand aims to entertain thereaders not only of theunusual topic, but also in thestyle of writing and the kind of

language used. It also includescrosswords, puzzle, maze andothers.


18/71

8. NEWS FEATURE

- it takes its material from arecent event. Unlike the newsstory, its focus is less in theinformation, but on the deepermeaning of the incident. It

adds variety and contrast andto play up the substance ofnews.


19/71

9. INFORMATIVE FEATURE

It emphasizes the giving ofinformation with the element of humaninterest. It is usually taken frominterview or research materials, suchas drug problems, street children,victims of calamities and other current

issues. It also deals with scientificfacts presented in non-technicallanguage.


20/71

10. INTERPRETATIVE FEATURE

It instructs, informs ormakes clear to the reader

the backgroundsignificance of social,

economic, political andother problems of everydaylife.


21/71

11. HOW TO FEATURE

It aims to explain a

process or how acertain product or

service is made orrendered.


22/71

12. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

FEATURE

It deals with any

unusual experience,usually written in first

person.


23/71


24/71

ELEMENTS OF GOOD FEATURE STORY

1. Creativity- Unlike newswriting, feature writing allows a

reporter to create a featurestory virtually at will. Althoughhe is expected to observe

accuracy, he is allowed to usehis imagination to enhance thereadability of the story.


25/71

2. SUBJECTIVITY

Feature articles can be writtenin the first person allowing the

writer to inject his own thoughtsand emotions. The use of exactfacts can be more readable,

informative and entertaining eventhough the writer is trained in

objective reporting.


26/71

3. INFORMATIVE- the feature story,while lacking in hard news value, can

constructively inform the reader of asituation that may escape coveragein hard news story.

4. ENTERTAINMENT- the feature is awelcome break in the monopoly ofnerve- chilling news of murder,scandal, disaster, corruption andcontroversy, which comprise muchof the hard news.


27/71

5. UNPERISHABILITY-

Yesterday's newspaper is goodonly for wrapping dried fish.so the saying goes. Important

news element fades intohistory after 24 hours butfeature articles linger on thereader for quiet a long periodof time.


28/71

SOURCES OF FEATURE

ARTICLES1. Experience2. Observation

3. Reading materials likenewspapers, books,

magazines and otherprint media.


29/71

4. Special events like

anniversaries andholidays

5.Advertisements6. Speeches and

commentaries7.Movies


30/71

8. Casual conversation9. Travel10. Tourist spots

11.Fads12. Interview

13. Imagination


31/71

QUALITIES OF A GOOD

FEATURE WRITER1. Inquisitive2. Eager to learn

3. Sympathetic towards otherpeople's feelings

4. Capable of seeing beneaththe surface of ordinary event5. Keen observer


32/71

STEPS IN WRITING

FEATURE ARTICLES1. Choose topic, which youknow very well.2. Limit your subject to justone specific area.

3. Think of a more interestingand fresh angle of the topic.


33/71

4. Make a tentative title.5. Make an outline.6. Use appropriate and

striking novelty lead.7. You can garnish your

article with anecdote,dialogue and local color.


34/71

8. Use graphic description. Don'tjust tell, show it to the readerthrough the use of senses.9. Place direct quotations in thebeginning.10. Use simple words and shorter

paragraphs.11. Avoid being wordy.


35/71

12. Make sure the feature

article contains dramaticquality.13. Give examples to make

your article convincing oreasily understand.14. Tie up ending with

opening paragraph.15. Make a striking title.


36/71


37/71

KINDS OF NOVELTY

LEAD1. NARRATIVE LEAD. Itdraws the reader into the

story by allowing him relatewith the character of the

story.


38/71

Example of narrative lead

It was 9:20 in the evening. The fami ly w aswatching TV with the hou se helpers in the sala

except me. I locked mysel f in ou r study room

because I had to f in ish my book repo r t , which

was due the fol lowing morning.Suddenly, there was hurr ied knock on the doo r .

The twin tower is burning!said my youngersister. I rushed downstairs. I can't bel ieve it .

Fear crept in sid e me. I felt nauseated fo r I have

an unc le whose house is less than a m i le away

from the twin towers.


39/71

2. DESCRIPTIVE LEAD

It illustrates a mental

picture of the subject tothe reader. This iseffective in writing apersonality sketch.


40/71

From behind a closed door came

the frantic buzz of excited

insects. Then something came

squeezing out the nauseatingstench of rotting flesh. Suddenly,

the door opened and in front of

me, stood a large cage coveredwith wire.


41/71

3.QUOTATION LEAD

This statement is

uttered by well-known person or

celebrity.


42/71


43/71

4. QUESTION LEAD

A thought-provoking question tocapture the interest of the

reader and lead them to find theanswer provided by thesucceeding details of the article.

Example: How will you know if yourchosen career is suited for you?


44/71

When was the last time I told my

father I loved him?

This question has broughtback memories back into the pastwith my father, who never ceased

on loving me even at the timewhen he was no longer worthloving for.

5 TEASER LEAD


45/71

5. TEASER LEADA device to deceive the reader in a jestingmanner to arose his curiosity and gentlylead him into the story. It is generallyshort, crisps and witty. Riddles are oftenused and they do not give the readersany clue on the nature of the story. Theyare mostly suggestive and humorous.Examp le: Where do women grow their

cu r l iest hair? Of course, i t 's in A fr ica. Butis i t?


46/71

Where do womengrow their curliest hair?Of course in Africa, butis it?


47/71

6. PUNCH LEADIt is short, striking one

sentence lead.

Example: A man, who

at tempted to d ie by

hang ing , f inal ly d ied o f

card iac arres t.


48/71

A man who attemptedthrice to die by hanging,

finally died of a cardiac

arrest


49/71


50/71

8. ONE WORD LEADIt uses a verysignificant word to

capture the interest ofthe reader.Example:

Eureka!

9. PARODY LEAD


51/71

9. PARODY LEADIt consists of a parody of a well-

known quotation, song, poem,book or movie film title.Example:

Morn mri as mr i as ad winmru....This was the l ine of the song I

heard from a very beaut i fu l lady ,who broke not only my eardrum ,

bu t also m y overstruck heart .


52/71

10. BACKGROUND LEAD

It describes an event inwhich the background

overshadows the individualswho participate in it; oftenuse for stories about

carnivals, festivals, dancesand others.

Example:


53/71

Example:Irineo L. Santiago National HighSchool of Metro Dadiangas wastransformed into a barangay

fiesta of the old days, when theSupreme Student Governmentofficers hung banderitas and

placed buntings in thesurrounding during the 1stMetrianFestival.

11 FREAK LEAD


54/71

11. FREAK LEADThis kind of unique lead usestypographical effects to enhanceappeal.Example:

For sale: a kidneyRuben Tocal, 28, resident of

Taguig and a father of seven

ch i ldren said yesterday that he was

forced to sel l his k idney to p rov ide

his fam i ly b r igh t fu ture.

12 CONTRAST LEAD


55/71

12. CONTRAST LEAD

It is used to point up oppositesand extremes.

EXAMPLE:In the 1990's , a ten -centavo

coin was already a treasure.

Today, nobody wants to g ive i t

a second glance on the

ground

13 STACCATO LEAD


56/71

13. STACCATO LEAD

This usually consists of aseries of words or phrases,punctuated by periods,commas or dashes.Example:

Terror ism . Insurgency . Corrup t ion .Too much pol i t ical bicker ing. Uncon tro l led oi l

pr ice h ike. These are but few o f the maladies

that cr ippled our economy.

B THE BODY


57/71

B. THE BODY

You are now ready to organize yourmaterials and develop the body of yourstory.

The development of the story involvesthe arrangement of the story materials ina manner that will sustain or hold thereader's interest and flow smoothly from

the introduction to the end.It follows the pyramid structure

usually with conclusion.

C G


58/71

C. THE ENDING

TYPES OF FEATUREENDINGS

1. THE SUMMARY ENDINGThe summary ending simply

ties up the loose ends of thestory and points back to thelead.


59/71

Example of SummaryEnding

With a con ten ted sigh ,

the great man closed h iseyes in deathbed, ful ly

aware that he did what hehad to do.

2 THE STINGER


60/71

2. THE STINGER

A startling, surprising endingthat jolts the reader. The writeruses the body to set up for theunexpected conclusion. Thestinger ending is similar to themodern movie trend where the

goodguy loses out the badguys.

Example:


61/71

p

Ramon,the shy,lovable Ramon, whocouldn't hurt a fly turnedout to be the ruthless,vicious rapist wanted bylaw in five provinces.

3 CLIMAX


62/71

It stops at the point where theoutcome of the story is clear.EXAMPLE:

When the song ended, Rosanna

stood petr i fied in the m idst o f a

thunderou s ovat ion . I her heart , she

knew she had finally arr ived.

3. CLIMAX


63/71

5 A THOUGHT- PROVOKING


64/71

5. A THOUGHT PROVOKINGQUESTION

If we are not go ing to save ou r

seas for our chi ldren's future,who wou ld? And if we are not

go ing to star t it now , when is the

r igh t time?

6. A PROVERB


65/71

6. A PROVERB

Indeed , I have proven tomyself what I bel ieve is true

f rom the very star t of mynerve-breaking cl imb to

where I am now that Beh ind the dark c louds, thesun is s t il l sh in ing.

7 SUGGESTED RESULTS


66/71

7. SUGGESTED RESULTS

OR SIGNIFICANCE

So, take a hearty bitefor a healthier you.

8. A FORECAST


67/71

Someday, if we will keepon selfishly denuding thedwindling forest of our Mother

Earth, we will be wallowing inthe midst of water, or all of

the continents will bedevoured by ocean broughtabout global warming.


68/71

10. A REPETITION OF A


69/71

10. A REPETITION OF ASENTENCE OR A REFERENCETO THE TITLE

Mama, see, I was al ive bu t no t

anymore. So, p lease let my baby

bro ther l ive. He cou ld also be as

wonderful as me. His l i fe wouldn 't

be l ike m ine- a li fe that never was.

Give the kind of novelty leadused in each of the following:


70/71

used in each of the following:

1. Wanted: Perfect President!2. General Santos City has

again proven that it is awellspring of winners!

3. Who says that fun andlearning cannot go together?


71/71

THANK YOU!

GOD BLESS...

Documents

Feature Writing-dvision Seminar