What is a feature article?

1. What is a feature article? • A feature is a creative article that deals with REAL events, issues, and trends. • Unlike straight news articles, it emphasizes people rather than facts.

2. Creative Deals with real events, issues, and trends Unlike news articles, it places emphasis on the people involved rather than on the facts Written to a specific audience Author sometimes writes to persuade readers to adopt his opinion on the topic It is organized in columns with headings, bullets What is a Feature Article?

3. Some Feature Article Types • Human Interest • Personality • The “Best” • How to (skill or product) • Past Events • Informational • There are many others

4. Start with an Effective lead • Dialogue • Scene • Startling argument • Contrast • Generalization • Question • Detail • Quote • What if • Effect

5. Engage the Reader • Examples • Charts • Riddles • Snapshots • Pictures • Graphs • Quotes • Reasons/facts • Anecdotes • Vignettes • Foreshadowing • Descriptions • Flashbacks • Tables • Comparisons • Sketches

6. Be Creative with Text • HEADINGS • “Subheadings” • FONTS • Italics • Bold print • Bullets • COLOR

7. Write an Effective Conclusion • Replay the lead • End at the ending • Restate the purpose • Quote • Anecdote • Summary • Editorial comment

8. Human-Interest Feature • Most common type of feature article • Reports success in spite of great odds • Recalls a tragic predicament • Shares a continuing struggle supported only by work, family, community, hope, etc.

9. The Personality Feature • Is a character sketch • Usually shows how a person gained recognition • The main character may be known or unknown but has done something of interest to others

10. “The Best” Feature Articles • Personal experience with the product • Proof, along with examples, that this is the best of its kind • Where to get the product • Cost of the product • Catchy title

11. The How-To Feature • Analyzes a process • Gives detailed steps • Written from viewpoint of informed writer to less informed reader

12. Past Events Feature • Might focus on a historical event • Might focus on a historical celebration • Stems from library research and serves as a human interest history lesson

13. The Informational Feature • Insightful coverage of topic • Detailed information focused on one aspect of a given topic • Makes personal connection to the topic and shows “voice” • Often refers to research sources

14. Identify Topic and Audience • Choose topic • Why ? • Who would want to read this article? • Who is the primary audience?

15. Prewriting: Organize the Feature Article

16. Analyze the Audience • Does the audience know anything about this topic? • What does the audience need to learn after reading the article?

17. Gather Information (Research) • Legitimate web sources • Look for .edu, .org, etc. • CultureGrams • Encyclopedias • Books • Newspapers • Magazines

18. Word Process the Article • Before any designing: • Prewrite, draft, revise, edit • Use spell check • Use grammar check • Keep list of sources, photos, graphs, etc. for inclusion in the final design

19. Design in Pages • Organize the Information for effect - NO CLUTTER • Check rubric for requirements • Use Headlines • Subheadings • Bullets • Bold print, italics • Vary fonts • Use charts, illustrations… • Graphics