structuring our features
TRANSCRIPT
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Unit 19: Writing for the creative media
Reach magazine
Working towards our contributions
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Creating a workingdocument
A step by step guide to creating your article
Working from idea to production
Yourresponsibility to make sure all of theelements are in place
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Tools for the o A creativeapproach
AProfessional approach ommunication with your team
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Step One
Get a memory stick for storage and
submission
Create a step by step production log (Word
document with numerical list of what youve
done)
Create a PDF as your working document
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Step Two
Create a workingtitle/headlinefor your
feature
Headlines are created to attract the reader
Sub headings could help structure your article
(not essential)Make headlines key to the topic
Make them short and punchy
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Step Three
Begin a list of contentsE.G:
Page 1: Feature topic
Page 2-4: ResearchPage 4: Introduction
Page 5: Main body
Page 6: ConclusionPage 7: Extras (E.G: Pictures; audio files;interviews; animation; sub-headings)
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Step Four
Write a summary of your feature topic
Narrow your topic down to meet youragenda. Too much information will
weigh your article down
If your topic has been thoroughlyresearchedit should be easier to
summarize
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Step Four
Example Summary
Fizz to biz is an article concerned with the widespread use of mass marketed
energy drinks by young people today. This feature will focus on some of the most
recognizable brands and is written to investigate their growing popularity and the
associated effects on the people who buy them. Fizz to biz aims to educate, raise
awareness and debate by delivering first hand accounts of suggested health and
dependency issues. In doing so well call to account the responsibilities of the
drinks companies and the consumers alike in asking questions such as: Are energy
drinks simply replacing the demand for coffee and other energy sources for anew generation? Or are they being irresponsibly marketed for a consumer base
convinced they need the fizz to function fully with an ever demanding lifestyle?
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Step Five
Research
Compile a working list of the research
sources that youve gathered to informyour topic
EG: Primary, Secondary, Websites,
Newspapers, books, mags, surveys,
questionnaires
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How To StructureA Magazine Article
structure (strkchr)n.1. Something made up of a
number of parts that are held or put together in
a particular way: hierarchical social structure.
2. The way in which parts are arranged or put
together to form a whole; makeup: triangular in
structure.
3. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a
complex entity:political structure; plot structure.
4. Something constructed, such as a building.
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Tell your reader a story
Youll need a beginning,
a middle and an end.
It also means you need to think about whereyoure taking your reader and create a logical path
to that end point.
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BeginningYour Magazine Article
Its about
Getting people to read your article
Finding a way to grab their attention
Will you use
Quotes? Anecdotes? Sub-headings?Introductory paragraphs?... Find examples
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Introduction
GRABthe attention of your reader
Write clearly the basic aim of the article and
the conclusion you want to reach
Use just a few sentences to sum up what the
article will be about
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The Middle
Provide factsand ideasthat developand explain
your opening section
Provide sub-headingssuch as key words, phrases
or questions to break your points up
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The Middle
Avoid long drawn out chunks of writing.
Instead concentrate on keeping it tightand
punchywith key info
Use quotations from witnesses,
victims, experts, opinions etc
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Ending Your Magazine Article
End with a bang. This could be an important point,a revelation, or another anecdote or quote.
Besuggestive/thoughtful aboutpossibilities/reactionsto the point that youve
made
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Top tips
Write a first draft to include everything you
think you might need, then edit out irrelevant
info.
Write your article in clear, understandable and
plain language. (Using a pompous language,
using obscure words and making long
sentences are not the features of a good
article.)
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Top Tips
Try making the first sentence of each
paragraph the main ideas of that paragraph.
Try to avoid excessive mistakes with spelling,punctuation and grammar, even though well
edit mistakes before upload.
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Key steps to a successful feature
Research
Plan
Write
Edit
Write
Proofread
Submit
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By Wednesday 26thFebruary(Week after half term)
COMPLETEa first draft of your feature, takinginto account what weve discussed to date.
Collecta file of potential images toaccompany your feature
Be prepared to edit one anothers work