Feature Writing

Feature Perfect By Ms. Inee A. Martinez 2009 NSPC Champion-Pagsulat ng Lathalain Winner, Philippine Star’s #DearClass, Essay Writing Contest. October 2016 Former News Editor- NTC-Fiat Lux Former Staffer, UST Education Journal- Panitikan/Literary Department School Paper Adviser, San Roque Elementary School, Marikina City

• The cliché says a picture paints a thousand words, but a good feature story is worth a million pictures.

Feature is a work of fiction based on facts.  Maaring ito'y produkto ng malawak na imahinasyon ng manunulat ngunit hindi dapat ito nawawala sa katotohanan. 1. Gawing pasabog ang lead. There are different ways to start a feature article. 2. As much as possible, focus on one angle based sa binagay na topic.Kailangan may Emphasis, Coherence ang mga paragraph ninyo. 3. Avoid using too much dialogs. Minsan kasi nasosobrahan sa palitan ng lines, thus, nagiging short story na.  4. Avoid lenghty paragraphs. Okay lang na madaming talata, na may 2-3 pangungusap. Kaysa sa konting talata pero sobrang haba naman.

• 5. Don't show. Let the readers feel what you are talking about. 6. Kung kabog ang opening, kailangan mas kabog ang ending. There are also different ways on ending it. 7. Think of a catchy title. 8. Wag kalimutan ang social relevance ng topic. 8. MAGBASA. WAG PURO JADINE! 9.Gumawa ka ng sarili mong style. Yung komportable ka.

10. PUSO!

What is a Feature Story?  A feature story is an essay written by a journalist on a varied subject of human interest.  It provides the writer’s interpretation of a story, widen reader’s analysis of a certain topic unlike a news story, which simply provides the facts.

Stresses accuracy News provides informati Provides story andon Not just dry A truth form of Differs from news and Features interpret, add information from a depth color, instruct Never sacrifices inand its intent or unique angle entertain reporting facts accuracy for creativity

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Structure Title

Lead (Intro)

Grabs the reader's attention

Best leads anecdotal in nature, 3 paragraphs long,

Highlights main idea

A microcosm of the bigger story

Includes keywords

A good lead beckons, invites, informs, attracts and entices.

Nut Graph (Angle)

The entire article in a nutshell , illustrates how that individual case is actually representative of a bigger trend or how it fits into a bigger overall picture

a well-worn formula that’s still used by the Wall Street Journal and countless other publications today.

“a paragraph that says what this whole story is about and why you should read it.

Body (Blocks )

History Scope Cause Impact Action of contrary force

Future

Conclusion (Ending)

Sense of Closure Ends the story with a punch The best kind either sums up and/or reinforces the central message of the story

Different Titles 1. Question  Bakla, Bakla Paano ka Ginawa?  Are We There Yet? 2. A word  Asin  Journalost 3. A phrase

 Anak ng Kumander  A Life Less Ordinary

4. A sentence

 Red ang Luha ni Michael  The Year I Became Sweet

5. Symbolism

 Red ang Luha ni Michael  Papertowns

6. Inday Style  http://www.com.ph

Different Leads 1. Narrative/ Conventional Lead Justin Greer’s 2,800 friends have never seen him cry. His father has seen him cry only once — the day last October when doctors told the 16-yearold football player that what he thought was a bad case of the flu was actually leukemia.

 UAAP MVP. Spiking machine. Superstar.

You can name it all but she still keeps her feet on the ground and believes that volleyball would be her forever love.

2. Song “ Wala ka bang napapansin Sa iyong kapaligiran? Kay dumi na ng hangin, Pati na rin ang ilog natin”

3. Letter Dear Friend, This is happening. I am here and I am looking at her and she is so beautiful. I can see it. This one moment when you know you’re not a sad story, you are alive.

Dear Ate Charo, Tawagin niyo na lang ako sa pangalang Imbeng. Sumulat ako upang ipagbigay alam sa inyo ang aking karanasan sa nagdaang bagyong Yolanda.

3. Quote “We have to break our own walls of Jericho.” “Ang mahirap ang mas lalong dapat magsikap.”

4. Inday Style d2 na me. Wer na u? I kennat.

Choosing an Angle (Nut Graph) • Think of an angle (point or theme) as you approach your story. • Is the story of interest to the audience? • Does the story have holding power? (emotional appeal) • What makes the story worthy of being reported? • The theme answers the question: So what?

Five Different Approaches You Can Take On A Topic

Smoking

Profile Explanatory Pieces

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People who have suffered diseases as a result of smoking

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How smoking leads to diseases

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The rise of smoking among women in urban areas

Issues/Trends Issues/Trends

● ● Investigative Investigative

Narrative

How cigarette companies use innovative strategies to target teens

The story of the first person to sue a cigarette company for causing him to develop cancer

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Language and Style

A personal tone through the use of informal, colloquial and first person narrative

Use of relevant jargon to add authenticity to the information & opinions

Facts to validate the writer’s viewpoint

Language and Style

Use of exaggeration & generalization to add humor

Use of rhetorical question to involve the reader

Anecdotes to hold the reader’s attention

Language and Style

Emotive words to evoke a personal response in the reader

Effective use of imagery and description to engage reader’s imagination

Use of direct quotes to personalise the topic

IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF A BODY

• Voice ⁻ The "signature" or personal style of each writer • Voice is the personality of the writer and can be used to inject color, tone, subtle emotional commentary into the story.

The ending/conclusion

• End your story imaginatively. • A summarizing statement or a wrapping up of highlights of the story. • A punch line or the highest point of interest. • A restatement of the lead or a tie-up to come out with the whole article. • The ending will wrap up the story and come back to the lead, often with a quotation or a surprising climax. .

The fault(s) in our…

Feature story

A. Boring- It does not grab the reader’s attention. There is little or nothing fresh about it and perhaps everything is said the same old way with clichés. B. Verbosity- The use of too many words for the required effect which includes weariness.

c. Lack of clearness- This involves long phrases, sentences and ideas that are badly arranged. The reader makes no swift favorable response, not knowing what the story is all about. d. Lack of dramatic quality- No awakening of reader’s curiosity. e. Abstractness- No vivid pictures with concrete verbs and nouns. Leaves no impression.

FEATURE WRITING TIPS 101 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

Brain storm ideas. What’s the purpose? Research the topic. Grab the reader’s attention. Keep that attention. Leave an impression.

THANK YOU SO MUCH AND GOD BLESS!  Facebook: https:// www.facebook.com/aynieeeee Twitter: @ineemartz