AGENDA:
QUIZ: Ch. 6
WRITING: Continue work on Feature Articles
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Feature Articles
AGENDA:
EQ: What are the characteristics of Feature Articles?
FEATURE ARTICLES
A feature article is a creative article that deals with real events, issues, and trends.However, unlike straight news articles, it places emphasis on the people involved rather
than on the facts of the news.
There are seven types of feature articles described on these pages. NOTE: Most feature
articles have elements of more than one kind.
THE HUMAN-INTEREST FEATURE
· This is the most common type of feature article.
· This type typically reports on someone’s success in spite of great odds.
· It may recall a tragic predicament.
· It may share a continuing
struggle supported only by hope and faith.THE PERSONALITY FEATURE
· The subject of the article may be famous or not so famous but has done something of interest
to others.
· This type usually shows how a person gained recognition.
· The personality feature is very much like a character sketch.
“THE BEST” ARTICLES
· The Courier-Journal has a column that publishes reviews of the “best” products of all kinds.
· This type of article usually includes the writer’s personal experiences with the product.
· It includes proof and examples that the product is the best of its kind.
· The article includes information about where to get the product and how much it costs.
· The article usually has a catchy title.
THE NEWS FEATURE
· This type of article brings a human-interest focus to breaking news.
· It adds personal involvement to what may otherwise be a distant, seemingly unimportant
event.
THE HOW-TO FEATURE
· This article explains how to do something – usually a complex process that most people
would not know how to do.
· The best how-to articles begin by telling the reader why it is important or beneficial for him
or her to know how to do this.
· The article explains the steps of the process in enough detail so that another person can do
this process.
· This article also includes a list of all of the materials needed to do this process.
THE PAST EVENTS FEATURE
· This article focuses on an historical event or historical celebration.
· The article typically includes research but is not like an encyclopedia report. The article
serves as a human interest history lesson.
· This type of writing is usually puts a “human face” on history. In other words, it lets the
reader know something about the people who were part of history.
THE INFORMATIONAL FEATURE
· This type of article shows insightful coverage of a topic.
· It gives detailed information focused on one aspect of a given topic.
· The article often refers to sources of research but is not like an encyclopedia report. Instead,
the writer makes a personal connection to the subject and includes his/her voice.
Various Ways to Include
Details in an Article:
Anecdotes Examples/Non-examples
Vignettes Tables/Graphs/Charts
Descriptions Facts
Comparison Contrast
Snapshots Pictures/Drawings
Reasons Quotations
Flashback Foreshadowing
Information adapted from Webster’s New World High School Writer’s Notebook
Types of Text Features:
Headings
Fonts
Subheadings
Bullets
Offsets
Text Boxes
Color Ink
Italics
Bold Font
Underlining
All Capital Letters
ACTIVITY: Using sections of the Sunday Times, find various feature articles and mark off the characteristics you from this list.
Continue working on your newspaper articles.
find used
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Newspaper articles/Writing Leads
AGENDA:
EQ: What is a lead and how to write it?
ACTIVITIES: Writing leads exercise
Work on newspaper articles for October newspaper
MINI-LESSON:
Writing leads:
WHY LEADS ARE VITAL: Don Frey, noted writing teacher, puts it well: The lead to a story "grabs the reader, informs the reader, and teaches the reader how to read the rest of the story." Author John McPhee says the lead is the "flashlight that shines into a story." One other key point: A newspaper reader is likely to spend only a few seconds deciding whether to read a story. If the lead does not grab the reader, the writer's work is in vain.
TYPES OF LEADS: There are two types of leads: direct (hard) and indirect (soft). Generally, use the direct lead for news stories, and the indirect lead for features. However, this is only a guideline. Whatever the form, the reader is looking for news; don't delay it long. There are other kinds of leads: the question, the quote, the one-word, the anecdote (made popular by the Wall Street Journal). They all have their places, but use sparingly.
START EARLY: While covering an event or interviewing a person, think about what is important. Strive to focus a story as your report it. Circle key elements in your notebook. As you return to the office, talk to yourself about the story and block out a lead in your mind.
SWEAT IT: Rewrite the lead until it's right, or at least the best that you can produce on deadline. Hang loose. Play with the words and the ideas. You can always rely on the 5 Ws, but can you be more imaginative?
BE HONEST: You want to hook the reader, but don't hype the lead, promising more than you deliver. "The lead is a contract with the reader," says Don Murray, an excellent writing coach. "The story must document the lead."
KEEP IT TIGHT: Short leads are more likely to snag a reader. If your lead is over 35 words, it probably is too long. Review the lead. Are you packing too much into it?
WHEN STUCK: Sometimes, the lead refuses to be born. Don't panic. Try some of these tricks:
• Review the basics. What, in simple, ABC terms, is the story about?
What is the main news angle? If you were telling the story to a friend,
how would you start it?
• Write an imperfect lead, give the piece a sense of direction, and repair the lead later. This ploy can work well.
• Skip the lead, and write it later. Most of us need a "top" on the
story to give it direction, but sometimes the delaying tactic can
work.
FINALLY: Don't be a slave to guidelines. They all can be
violated for good reason.
EQ: What is a lead and how to write it?
ACTIVITIES: Writing leads exercise
Work on newspaper articles for October newspaper
MINI-LESSON:
Writing leads:
WHY LEADS ARE VITAL: Don Frey, noted writing teacher, puts it well: The lead to a story "grabs the reader, informs the reader, and teaches the reader how to read the rest of the story." Author John McPhee says the lead is the "flashlight that shines into a story." One other key point: A newspaper reader is likely to spend only a few seconds deciding whether to read a story. If the lead does not grab the reader, the writer's work is in vain.
TYPES OF LEADS: There are two types of leads: direct (hard) and indirect (soft). Generally, use the direct lead for news stories, and the indirect lead for features. However, this is only a guideline. Whatever the form, the reader is looking for news; don't delay it long. There are other kinds of leads: the question, the quote, the one-word, the anecdote (made popular by the Wall Street Journal). They all have their places, but use sparingly.
START EARLY: While covering an event or interviewing a person, think about what is important. Strive to focus a story as your report it. Circle key elements in your notebook. As you return to the office, talk to yourself about the story and block out a lead in your mind.
SWEAT IT: Rewrite the lead until it's right, or at least the best that you can produce on deadline. Hang loose. Play with the words and the ideas. You can always rely on the 5 Ws, but can you be more imaginative?
BE HONEST: You want to hook the reader, but don't hype the lead, promising more than you deliver. "The lead is a contract with the reader," says Don Murray, an excellent writing coach. "The story must document the lead."
KEEP IT TIGHT: Short leads are more likely to snag a reader. If your lead is over 35 words, it probably is too long. Review the lead. Are you packing too much into it?
WHEN STUCK: Sometimes, the lead refuses to be born. Don't panic. Try some of these tricks:
• Write an imperfect lead, give the piece a sense of direction, and repair the lead later. This ploy can work well.
• Take a walk. Go for coffee
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Writing Feature Articles
Quiz on History of Journalism
1000, 500, and 300 word articles
300 Word Articles--the short and long of it!
There is a special kind of magazine article known as the 300-word article. Here is your next assignment and some articles about it:
theamericanscholar.org/the-300-word-challenge/
William Zinsser's article
300words.posterous.com/
www.arcticllama.com/blog/writing-tips/300-words-about-writing-300-words/
How-to
www.drostdesigns.com/how-to-write-a-300-word-article-in-30-minutes-or-less/
www.donna-warren.com/portfolio/seo.html
an example of a 300 word article
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