Feature
Writing
Daisy Mendoza-Barongan, EdD
Master Teacher II
Calasiao Comprehensive NHS
Session Objectives:
• Define a feature story;
• Discuss qualities of a feature story;
• Share examples of a novelty lead;
• Review the different kinds of feature article; and
• Share tips in writing a feature article;
Feature Writing
tells the reader a story. It has a beginning (lead), middle, and
end. It uses quotes liberally and allows the reader to see the
story through detailed description and vivid writing.
Feature Story
-- differs from a straight news story in one respect – its intent. A
news story provides information about an event, idea or situation.
The feature does a bit more – it may also interpret news, add depth
and color to a story, instruct or entertain.
Qualities of a Feature Story
1. It deals with any topic.
Qualities of a Feature Story
2. It usually entertains more often than it informs, instructs, or
advises.
Qualities of a Feature Story
3. It may be long or short as long as it covers the subject
adequately and keeps it interesting to the readers.
Qualities of a Feature Story
4. It may be light or serious, depending on its purpose.
Qualities of a Feature Story
5.It could be formal or informal and written in any form and in
style, but well organized.
Qualities of a Feature Story
6. It may be timely or not.
Qualities of a Feature Story
7. It begins with a novelty lead.
Examples of Novelty Lead
Narrative lead—
On New Year's Eve, Charles Curzio stayed later than planned
at his small TV repair shop to make sure his customers would
have their sets in time to watch the King Orange Jamboree
Parade.
His kindness cost his life.
Examples of Novelty Lead
Descriptive lead--
It’s 2 a.m. and Junior Carter Wade stumbles through his front
door. He’s hours past his curfew, and 20 milligrams of Xanax
past what his body can sustain.
Wade doesn’t remember being driven to a rehab center in a
cop car. He wasn’t aware his body was being loaded into an
ambulance after he became unconscious in the backseat. He
couldn’t process that his heart was about to stop.
Examples of Novelty Lead
Quote with Narrative Lead--
The end of a simple phrase changed the 13-year-old boy forever.
“Yes, it does last the rest of your life,” the doctor said.
On the day of his diagnosis, James Mapes was in the waiting room, grasping
his mother’s hand tight, hoping and praying the blood test results would be in
his favor.
The physician then broke the news that James had been fearing. He would be
stuck with his condition for life. Immediately, questions rushed through his
head.
“Why did this happen? What will people think? What will people say?”
Examples of Novelty Lead
Startling statement Lead--
His last meal was worth $30,000, and it killed him.
______________________________________
Junior Josh Duckworth has a fetish.
Qualities of a Feature Story
8. It is written in ascending interest.
Qualities of a Feature Story
9. It is based on facts. Though sometimes, the writer uses his
imagination to play up the detail, it is still anchored on facts.
Qualities of a Feature Story
10. It can be garnished with adjective, figures of speech,
dialogue, anecdote, local color and idiomatic expressions. Use
imagery.
Sample Visual Imagery
She accepted the bouquet. It was filled with her favorite flowers-
red roses, white daisies, purple irises, and soft sprays of baby’s
breath. The flowers swayed in the breeze, almost as if they were
dancing in her delight.
Kinds of Feature Article
Kinds of Feature Article
1. Human interest feature
- A story that somehow involves people and their troubles,
failures, and successes. It may evolve in some minor happenings
that deserve attention only because of some dramatic, humorous,
tragic, odd, or sentimental angle that appeals to the emotion. The
readers can relate to it as if, somehow, it happened to them, too.
Kinds of Feature Article
2. Personality feature
- It offers a semi-biographical account of a newsworthy person.
The information usually comes from interviews with successful
people or celebrities. Feature writers should prepare questions
that will shed light on the individual life.
Kinds of Feature Article
3. Historical feature
- It narrates the evolution of something like the name of a
particular place, the origin of a celebration, and others.
Kinds of Feature Article
4. Travelogue
- It describes a place and the kind of people the writer has met
during his travel.
Kinds of Feature Article
5. News feature
- It takes its material from a recent event. Unlike the news story,
its focus is less on the information, but on the deeper meaning of
the incident. It does not supplant the news, but add variety and
contrast to play up the substance of the news.
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Kinds of Feature Article
6. “How-to” feature
- It aims to explain a process on how a certain product or service
is made or rendered.
Kinds of Feature Article
7. Personal experience feature
- It deals with any unusual experience, usually written in the first
person.
Kinds of Feature Article
8. Unusual feature
- It deals with paranormal beings like witches, ghosts, and the
like.
Kinds of Feature Article
9. Interview feature
- It is in the form of question and answer with a little
introduction.
Kinds of Feature Article
10. Sports feature
- Any feature article related to sports.
Tips in Writing a
Feature Article
• Do some research on your topic
Tips in Writing a
Feature Article
• Create an outline for your article
Tips in Writing a
Feature Article
• Proofread your article
Tips in Writing a
Feature Article
• Ask yourself these questions: Is it interesting?
Do I hook the reader? Am I missing important
details?
Sample Feature article
RSPC guidelines in Feature Writing
Thank
you!
Daisy Mendoza-Barongan, EdD
Master Teacher II
Calasiao Comprehensive NHS
