1. WRITING FEATURES Sharon Caringal Gherson Mae Yamaro

2. Feature Article O Aims to entertain. O May instruct, advise, and entertain at the same time. O May be of any length ranging from a rather long magazine article published to the short human interest story. O May be written in any form and style. And it usually begins with a novelty lead. O They may or may not be timely. 3. O May be written in any style and form. It usually begins with a Novelty Lead. O It can start in almost any manner and it usually appears with the authors by-line. 4. Example on how a feature article differs from a straight news story or from a news feature. Suppose a school celebrates its Foundation Day. A straight or featurized news story about this will say how the occasion was celebrated, who the guest speaker was and what his message was about, the highlight of the activities, and the different contest held. 5. In a feature article, a brief history about the school may pubished as a sidebar to the banner news. Another feature article may be about the namesake of the school, usually a national hero, which may be published in the feature section. 6. Topics for Feature Stories For campus writing the following broad topics are suggested to feature editors, for their feature sections: 1. Personalities sometimes called a character sketch, is usually short. I writing a character sketch, the emphasis should be on the person. 2. Experience and adventure should be based on the students experiences. Like for example, a group of students had attended a science camp. Each of them has an interesting story to tell or relate. Their stories may be summarized as one or may be written as separate featurettes. - First person point of view. 7. 3. Description the writer should as much as possible be factual and original. Aside from this, he should use simple and concrete words that are understood by the layman or by Mr. Average Reader. 4. Narratives there are interesting stories to relate, especially historical ones. Not all personal stories are on adventures and experiences. 5. Backgrounders there are feature articles that explain the history or the background of a certain event. 8. 6. Developmental Feature Articles student editors should keep in step with developments that affect mankind and should steer away from routine reporting. 7. What to Do and How to Do Articles some of this articles can develop the subject either by a series of rules starting with Do" or by having the writer describe or explain the process in his own words. Usually, these kinds of feature articles are accompanied by pictures or illustrations. 9. How to introduce the Feature Article 1. Rhetorical Question Example: Who says the age is an obstacle to education? 2. Startling Statement Example: Hindi pa kami Laos! 3. Narrative Opening Example: Mrs. Adelfa Prado, a fourth year evening student, sends herself and her six children to school, acting as mother and father at the same time. 10. 4. Quoted Marks Example: I earn while I learn. He smiled at me as the interview reeled off. How can you work, have a part time job, and at the same time go to school? I asked. 5. An old Maxim, an Aphorism, or a Salawikain Example: Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. 11. 6. History or Background of the subject Example: Muslims throughout the world, including our Filipino Muslim brothers, observe the holy month of Ramadan starting Sept. 17. Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of the Muslim Calendar. It is observed by Muslims just as the Lenten Season is commemorated by Christians. 7. Problems to be discussed in the article or fact to be established Example: There is an answer on the rising cost of vegetables: raise your own. 12. Ending the Feature Article O A summary of the whole article Example: Take it from the experts: Smoking is definitely harmful to health. Smoking makes you manly, but you may not live long enough to be one. O An announcement of the main point for the first time Example: Therefore, a major part of the development communication effort should be directed at strengthening the character of the people. O A question left in the readers mind Example: The hands of the new Filipino toil for the love of creation. They Do you have these kinds of hands? 13. O Suggested results or significance Example: Let us conserve our forests now if we want to save the future of our country and of our children. O A forecast or prophecy Example: In six and a half centuries for now, if the population explosion would not be checked, there would be one person standing on every square foot of land on earth. By that time, people would be devouring one another for there would no be more space for plants to grow. 14. O A repetition of the introduction Example: Asked if he had any formal training in photography Donato Arellano finally answered, Ah, it is now the reverse. It is here where I enjoy while I earn, not I earn while I enjoy. O A repetition of a sentence or a slogan, or a reference to the title. Example: After four years of working as a houseboy, working during the day and going to school at night, Jose Fallar will soon graduate as a first honor student. 15. O An appropriate quotation Example: Ana claims that she is poor. But when asked why she gave her last centavo to the old woman, she answered: Not what we give, but what we share For the gift, without the giver is bare, Who gives himself with his alms feeds three Himself, his hungering neighbor and me. 16. Qualities of a feature writer O A keen observer O Intellectually curious O Ability to find features in everyday happenings O Cupboards of descriptive words and everyday idioms O The skill to weave words into interesting sentences and paragraphs O The ability to write 17. con. O knows how to look for features from beneath the surface of every days event O investigates every angle before starting to write in order to get behind the story O a keen observer O has varied interests O has ability to write features interestingly 18. Characteristics of a Good Feature Article A good feature article should have the following characteristics: O it may inform, instruct, or advise, but its primary purpose is to entertain. O it may be of any length O it may or may not be timely O it may be written in any form or style O it usually uses novelty lead rather than the summary lead O reporter may use any of the following devices suspense, dialog, description, narration, exposition, argumentation, climax and the like in presenting the story 19. Con. O Although the writer applies his imaginations to the facts, the features story is not fiction. It is based on facts O it uses specific nouns, adjectives and verbs to create vivid images, sound, and feeling for the readers O it applies the principles of effective writing to achieve unity, coherence and emphasis which are essential to all good writing. O it is written with friendly simplicity