FF ee aa tt uu rr ee

Feature
Feature Writing
Writing
An in-depth take on the common news story
A more detailed approach or may look at an
ongoing story from a different angle

PURPOSE
Serves the same purpose as a news
story which is to inform. It also may:

Interpret OR add depth and color to

the news
Instruct
Entertain
versus
versus
 CONTENT INTRO/ LEAD
Feature Writing: Timeless; Any issue Feature Writing: Delayed leads

News Writing: Recent or breaking news; News Writing: Summarizes the story in a
Time sensitive nutshell

SOURCES AND ANGLE STRUCTURE

Feature Writing: Always contains a variety Feature Writing: More flexible; Conclusion is
of sources and angles important

News Writing: Can but doesn’t always News Writing: Inverted pyramid. Lead is
contain more than one source and angle important
 STYLE LENGTH
Feature Writing: Up to 2000 words
Feature Writing: Wordy and has a
(Magazine/Broadsheet);600 words (BD)
creative structure

News Writing: Content over form News Writing: About 500 words
(Broadsheet); 300 words (BD)

LANGUAGE PRODUCTION
Feature Writing: Uses more description and Feature Writing: More time is spent on
colorful language research and analysis

News Writing: Written as fasts as

News Writing: Simple and factual possible
Structure
OF A FEATURE ARTICLE
THE INFORMATION IN FEATURE
ARTICLES SHOULD STILL BE
FASHIONED LOGICALLY AND
COHERENTLY. THIS ALLOWS
THE READER TO FOLLOW THE
FLOW OF THE WRITE-UP.
 Lead
Lead
THE INTRODUCTION — THE FIRST
SENTENCES — THAT SHOULD PIQUE
YOUR READERS’ INTEREST AND
CURIOSITY.

THE BEST LEAD IS THE LEAD THAT IS

RELEVANT, GRABS THE READER'S
ATTENTION AND FITS THE MOOD OF
THE STORY
Lures the reader in with a descriptive Setting the scene for the piece and use
narrative that focuses on a specific language that taps into the five senses in
minor aspect of the story order to paint a picture for the reader

Anecdotal lead Descriptive Lead

Relates a person or event to some Relates a person or event to some

character or event in literature. character or event in history.

Literary Allusion Historical Allusion

A novelty that uses a pun to quirk the Consists of a series of jerky, exciting
reader's attention phrases, separated by dashes or dots

Pun Staccato

Places the reader in the midst of action Shows progress over time

Sequence or Narrative Then and Now

 Nut
Nut Graf
Graf
CONNECTS THE LEAD TO THE
OVERALL STORY AND CONVEYS THE
STORY’S SIGNIFICANCE TO THE
READERS..

WHAT THE STORY IS ABOUT AND WHY

THEY SHOULD CARE
 Body
Body
THIS IS WHERE ALL THE DETAILS OF
WHO, WHAT, WHY AND HOW ARE
REVEALED. IT IS THE EXPLANATION
AND THE PROOF.

INCLUDE ALL YOUR FACTS AND

STATISTICS
 Conclusions
Conclusions
THE FINAL STATEMENT THAT BRINGS
TOGETHER ALL YOUR IDEAS
 Refers back to the feature Reminds the reader of the
angle used in the lead story's purpose by restating it

Startle the reader

Lead replay with your conclusion
Restatement

Uses a play on words that

leaves a lasting impression in Uses a striking or memorable
the readers mind. quote

Surprise ending

Word play Quote

 Learning
Learning
Experience
Experience
 Personal
Personal
Takeaway
Takeaway
EXPAND YOUR VOCABULARY BUT KEEP IN MIND
YOUR AUDIENCE
DON'T REPEAT THE IDEA, BUT STRENGTHEN
IDEA
EVIDENCE AND RESEARCH IS A MUST
DON'T SETTLE FOR THE EASY (CHALLENGE
YOURSELF)
USE LITERARY DEVICES (FIGURATIVE SPEECH)
(MOSTLY DESCRIPTIONS)
SUBJECTIVE WRITING VS OBJECTIVE WRITING
Any Questions?
Activity