Feature Writing

FEATURE WRITING

WHAT IS A FEATURE ARTICLE? • It may be written in any form and in any style. • It may be of any length; and may or may not be timely. • Often exposes human emotion or feelings. • Focuses on the most interesting, not necessarily the most important, part of a story.

QUALITIES OF FEATURES

• It contains an introduction, body, and conclusion. • The contents are based on the writer’s development of ideas. • Offers insights about people, places, things or events that we encounter daily but to which we pay little attention • Often exposes human emotion or feelings.

QUALITIES OF FEATURES • Is always based on facts, not fiction • Presents and provides the human aspect to an event • It tends to be original and descriptive; original in ideas and writing skills • It is based on that mysterious ingredient in journalism called human interest---an event that appeals to us because we can relate to it.

QUALITIES OF FEATURES • It includes quotations from principal characters, experts, and variety of sources. • It can use the elements of fiction and informal writing. • It can use photographs, charts, sidebars or boxes, drawings, diagrams, among others to reinforce the message and bring life and color to the subject.

TYPES OF FEATURES PERSONALITY SKETCH/PROFILE

Profile stories of the rich and the famous. Readers want to know the hidden traits and lives of famous personalities.

TYPES OF FEATURES HUMAN APPEAL STORIES

They are also called “concerned stories.” They expose burning issues which need urgent solutions.

TYPES OF FEATURES HOW-TO AND WHAT-TO-DO FEATURES They are educational in essence. They provide knowledge about process or activity.

TYPES OF FEATURES SEASONAL THEMES

These articles magnify the significance and relevance of holidays, anniversaries, and special events.

TYPES OF FEATURES ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES Movie stars, pop singers, and show business events are common subjects. The goal is to entertain and give relief to people.

THE INTRODUCTION

Should be able to hook the readers. The body should sustain the interest. The conclusion should help the reader remember the story. AN INTRODUCTION WITH A PUNCH The introduction serves as a taste test for the rest of the article.

HOW TO INTRODUCE A FEATURE ARTICLE 1. Rhetorical question

Ex] Who says that age is an obstacle to education? Does anyone want to be a failure for the rest of their life?

What is the meaning of life?

2. Startling Statements

Ex]

We don’t answer to anyone!

There’s a shark! Watch out!

Basa ba ang ulan?

May Bomba!

Nadudumihan ba ang sabon?

Fake news iyan!

Nasasaktan ba ang tao?

Hindi kami papatalo!

HOW TO INTRODUCE A FEATURE ARTICLE 3. Narrative Opening Ex] The rocks in the cave were falling and the miners had been missing for several days before we came to understand what truly happened. Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.

HOW TO INTRODUCE A FEATURE ARTICLE 4. Quoted

Remarks

“I earn while I learn.” He smiled at me as the interview reeled off. “I have to do this for my family.” Those were his last words before he scaled the mountain.

“I want to show the world, the universe, rather, that I am confidently beautiful with a heart,” said Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach. Those were the words that won her the prestigious title of Miss Universe.

HOW TO INTRODUCE A FEATURE ARTICLE 5. Old Maxims, aphorisms or what is commonly known as salawikain o kasabihan. Ex] Huwag kang magtiwala sa ‘di mo kakilala. Never trust someone you don’t know. / Never trust a stranger. Ang hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan ay hindi makararating sa paroroonan. If you don’t know how to look back to where you came from, you will not reach your destination. Walang mahirap na gawa ‘pag dinaan sa tiyaga. Nothing’s hard to do if you pursue it through perseverance.

Ang kaginhawaan ay nasa kasiyahan, at wala sa kasaganahan. Well-being is in happiness and not in prosperity.

HOW TO INTRODUCE A FEATURE ARTICLE

6. History or Background A. How a town’s name came to be?

B. How was Northville 15 Integrated School founded? C. Why do we celebrate Semana Santa?

7. Problems to be discussed in

the article

A. Air Pollution in the city B. Starvation in villages C. Safety and Security in cities

HOW TO END A FEATURE ARTICLE 1.

A summary of the whole article.

2. An announcement of the main point for the first time 3. A question left in the reader’s mind

4. Suggested results or significance 5. A forecast or prophecy

6. Repetition of the introduction 7. End it with a proper quotation

• ENTERTAINMENT • TECHNOLOGY • ENVIRONMENT • YOURSELVES • HEALTH • FEELINGS (LOVE, HATE. LONELINESS, HAPPINESS, ETC) • EXPERIENCES