Transcript Power Point: How to write a featured article

Feature Article Writing
MRS. FLANNIGAN
GRADE 6 ELA
HUDSON BEND MIDDLE SCHOOL
What is a Feature Article?
 Creative
 Deals with real events, issues, and trends
 Unlike news articles, it places emphasis on the
people involved rather than on the facts
 Written to a specific audience
 Author sometimes writes to persuade readers to
adopt his opinion on the topic
 It is organized in columns with headings,
subheadings, bullets, and text features
Some Feature Article Types
 Human Interest
 Personality
 The “Best”
 How to (skill or product)
 Past Events
 Informational
 There are many others
Human Interest Feature
 Most common type of feature article
 Reports success in spite of great odds
 Recalls a tragic predicament
 Shares a continuing struggle supported only by work,
family, community, hope, etc.
 Example
The “Best”: Feature Articles
 Personal experience with the product
 Proof, along with examples, that this is the best of its




kind
Where to get the product
Cost of the product
Catchy title
Example
Past Events Feature
 Might focus on a historical event
 Might focus on a historical celebration
 Stems from library research and serves as a human
interest history lesson
 Example
The Personality Feature
 Is a character sketch
 Usually shows how a person gained recognition
 The main character may be known or unknown but
has done something of interest to others
 Example
The Informational Feature
 Insightful coverage of topic
 Detailed information focused on one aspect of a
given topic
 Makes personal connection to the topic and shows
“voice”
 Often refers to research sources
 Example
The How-To Feature
 Analyzes a process
 Gives detailed steps
 Written from viewpoint of informed writer to less
informed reader
 Example
Where to begin…?
 Identify Topic and Audience: Who is going to read
this?
 Gather information: internet, books, encyclopedias,
newspapers, etc.
 Decide what your audience would want to know
about.
 Choose the facts you will use to support that
information. Record everything on your notecards!
Where to begin: Prewriting!
 Start with an effective lead
 Engage the reader
 Include facts to support information (2-3
paragraphs)
 End with an effective conclusion
 Decide how to organize your writing and where to
include your text features
 Decide what your headings, subheadings, and font
will look like.
Think of it as a three act play!
 The
first act is the introduction, in which you will
introduce the subject while capturing the reader's
interest.
 The second act of feature writing is the body,
which provides the information in an interesting,
logical manner. This is where you'll often see
quotes.
 The last act of your feature is the conclusion, in
which you pull everything together.
Identify Topic and Audience
 Choose topic
 Why?
 Who would want to read this article?
 Who is the primary audience?
 Short clip about Writing a Feature Article (scroll
down to the very bottom of the page)
Analyze the audience
 Does the audience know anything about this topic?
 What does the audience need to learn after reading
the article?
Gather Information (Research)
 Legitimate web sources
 Look for .edu, .org, etc.
 Library Database!
 Encyclopedias
 Books
 Newspapers
 Magazines
Start with an Effective Lead
 Dialogue
 Scene
 Startling argument
 Contrast
 Generalization
 Question
 Detail
 Quote
 What if
 Effect
Engage the Reader
 Anecdotes
 Vignettes
 Foreshadowing
 Descriptions
 Flashbacks
 Tables
 Comparisons
 Sketches
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Examples
Charts
Riddles
Snapshots
Pictures
Graphs
Quotes
Reasons/ facts
Be Creative with Text
 HEADINGS
 Subheadings
 FONTS
 Italics
 BOLD print
 Bullets
 COLOR
Prewriting
 How to organize the Feature Article
Write an Effective Conclusion
 Replay the lead
 End at the ending
 Restate the purpose
 Quote
 Anecdote
 Summary
 Editorial comment
Design in Pages
 Organize the information for effect – NO CLUTTER
 Check rubric for requirements
 Use headlines
 Subheadings
 Bullets
 Bold print, italics
 Vary fonts
 Use charts, illustrations
 graphics
Document Sources
 Include citations at the end of the feature article
 This can take the form of a sidebar with links, if
appropriate
 Use “BibMe” for help setting up sources
 MLA style
Type up your article
 Prewrite, draft, revise, edit
 Use spell check
 Use grammar check
 Keep list of sources, photos, graphs, etc. for inclusion
in the final design
Works Cited
 Use the BibMe website for help
 Use the MLA style
 Sources must be listed …
Works Cited
 This Power Point is adapted from another
PowerPoint:
 An Article By any Other Name: The Low-Down on
Feature Articles by Amy Flanagan, Media specialist
at the John Hardin High School Library Media
Center
 http::www.meade.k12.ky.us/teachers/lhawk/
More Help:
 Feature Article Video - Very helpful!