Teaching Feature Writing

Journalism Centre

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ReadWriteThink couldn't publish all of this great content without literacy experts to write and review for us. If you've got lessons plans, videos, activities, or other ideas you'd like to contribute, we'd love to hear from you. Find the latest in professional publications, learn new techniques and strategies, and find out how you can connect with other literacy professionals. Handouts must be printed separately. At the heart of all feature stories is human interest.

This lesson asks students to write a profile of a classmate, with a particular focus on a talent, interest, or passion of that classmate.

As an introduction to the feature article, students compare the characteristics of a hard news story to those of a feature story. They then practice writing about the same event in the two different styles. Next, they list and freewrite about their own talents and interests.

Feature Story: Definition, Format & Examples

These topics then become the focus of a feature story as students randomly select topics noted by classmates and write interview questions based on them. Finally, students interview a classmate, write a feature story, and share it with the class. This lesson enables students to practice interviewing techniques, develop voice, learn to write for an audience, and perhaps most importantly, celebrate their individual strengths. Qualities of a Feature Story: How are you going to hook your audience?

Don't just concentrate on facts in the paragraph; make the reader want to continue reading. The opening paragraph should also set the stage for the rest of the story. What or whom is the feature story going to focus upon? If you're planning to talk about why pizza is your favorite food, then you have to tell your reader up front so they know what to expect. The opening paragraph also sets the tone for the rest of the piece. Is your feature tongue-in-cheek and light-hearted? For example, if you're writing a humorous story about your love affair with chocolate and the lengths you will go for a cocoa fix, it is obviously going to have a much different tone than if you were writing a feature story on the Charles Manson murders.

The middle paragraphs will represent the meat of your feature story. Unless your teacher or editor has given you a word count, there is no set limit on the number of paragraphs for your story. Remember, this is not a news story; features are known to be more elaborate, their pace more leisurely.

You should continue to paint a picture for your reader. Your narrative should flow smoothly from paragraph to paragraph, and like all good stories, it should not be dull. Continue to use interesting facts or anecdotes in these paragraphs to help illustrate your topic. If you're writing about why Peyton Manning is your favorite football player, you should, of course, throw in all the quarterback's impressive stats.

However, anyone can look up statistics. One way to tackle telling a story about Manning would be to weave an interesting tale about one of his impressive victories.

Use practice lessons to teach kids about magazines and features

Remember, you're painting a picture with words, details matter. How much time was left on the clock?

Were there extreme weather conditions? Did he have an injury that he fought through? Conflict and obstacles are vital in telling a story; you will need to build tension throughout your feature, without drama there are no heroics. Also, try to keep your writing tight and crisp. You can do this by avoiding long sentences and paragraphs. Writing is like anything else, it needs to be pleasing to the eye.

Once you've written your feature story, you will need a strong concluding paragraph that neatly wraps up your work. This is your last chance to make a final impression on your reader. Unlike a traditional persuasive essay, you don't need to recount all your points in order to support your thesis statement.

Writing a Newspaper Article | Scholastic

Many feature stories effectively use a literary device called a circular narrative , which means the story ends in exactly the same place where it began. For example, if I was writing a story on the impact that my ninth grade English teacher had on my life, I may choose to both start and end my story with this sentence: Revere told me on the first day of freshman English that reading could change my life; I didn't truly believe her until I published my first book.

Feature stories are not like typical news stories that concentrate on the who, where, when, why, and how. Instead, they are about human interests and are often called people stories. However, not all features are about your favorite relative or pet. They can also be hard-hitting and written to raise awareness about a particular issue or cause. Features are not just about facts; instead, they are narratives and should be written in a creative style to hook the reader and keep their attention with interesting details and anecdotes.

Feature stories should end with a powerful conclusion that leaves a lasting impression. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.

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Students in online learning conditions performed better than those receiving face-to-face instruction. Explore over 4, video courses. Find a degree that fits your goals. We'll learn about the elements and structure of a feature story, and then you can test your knowledge of this subject with a quiz. Try it risk-free for 30 days.

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Feature writing: Crafting research-based stories with characters, development and a structural arc

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FTCE English In this lesson, we will learn about feature stories and how to write effective human interest pieces that leave a lasting impression. What's a Feature Story? The Beginning Let's take a look at the structure of the feature story, starting with the beginning.

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