Writing

Features
 F e a t ur es D e f i ned

❖ Feature is an essay based on facts. Its main purpose is to entertain or present

human interest stories.

❖ It is hard to define a feature article because it can take many forms and can
cover many subjects. However, a reader may easily distinguish feature stories
from news stories through its different characteristics.
 Table of Contents
Main Objective of Features
The main objective of news is to inform, while feature article aims to
entertain. Feature articles may also instruct, advise, inform, and
entertain at the same time.

Features and News Compared

A Feature article may be of any length ranging from a rather long

magazine article publishes. They may not be timely. Side by side with
an earthquake news story may be a feature article on past earthquake
that had hit the country. This is called a sidebar.
A Feature article aims to entertain rather to entertain, although it may do
both at the same time.

Suppose a school celebrates its Foundation Day. A straight or featurized

news story about this will say how the occasion was celebrated, who the
guest speaker was and what his message was about, the highlight of the
activities, and the different contests held.
 A brief history about the school may be published as a sidebar to the
banner news. This is the feature article. Another feature article may be
about the namesake of the school, usually a national hero, which may be
published in the features section.
Topics for
Feature Stories
1. Personalities
This feature article, sometimes called a character sketch, is
usually short. It may be about a student leader, a successful
alumnus, a teacher, a school staff member, or even about an
industrious janitor.

In writing a character sketch, the emphasis should be on the

person, what he says and thinks, and what he does for
development. His date of birth and the bundle of certificates
he has accumulated for attending seminars should take the
back seat.
 Miss Niña Cruz – The Unsung Heroine
Time was when the classroom teacher was known to be a cranky, elderly maestra who
seldom smile. Hers was nothing but discipline, which to her was almost an obsession.
Miss Niña Crus of the English class, has completely erased this century-old concept and
represents the new image of today’s modern, blithe, and friendly teacher.
Ma’am never sits in one corner. Neither does she raise her voice, too, in anger. She
moves around gracefully with such magnetic efficiency and boundless enthusiasm that her pupils
can’t help but study their lessons so as not to displease her.
A graduate from the Philippine Normal University where she majored in English. Miss
Cruz typifies the perfectionist who believes that a student have a well-rounded education.
Our favourite teacher has a knack for writing, too. There’s no reason why she should not,
because when she was in the high school, she was a regular contributor to The Torchbearer, the
official organ of PNU Laboratory School.
This, probably, is the reason why pupil journalists are very close to her heart.
2. Experience and adventure
Suppose a group of science students had
attended a national science camp. Each one of them has an
interesting story to relate – the workshop seminar, the
feasibility studies, the field trips, the socials, and the putting
out of the newsette. These may be summarized as one big
adventure story or may be written as separate featurettes.
To make each story interesting, the student should be made
to write his story himself in the first person point of view. In
such a case, the story should appear with his byline. If he
can’t do this, a reporter writes the story for him. The byline
wold then be written this way:
By Warner Castro
(as told by Clarence Manuel)
 The Last Agonizing (?) Hours at the Press Confab
Soon the awarding of the prizes came. The Director of Public Schools was delivering the
concluding address at the grandstand of the Lucena City Athletic Grounds.
The audience was very quiet and the minds of the delegates seemed to be wandering far, far
away. I, myself didn’t mind what the Director was talking about. What was uppermost in my mind was the
question – “To win or not to win?” – in the national press contests.
Even our adviser, Mr. CJ Cruz, was nervous. He whispered to Chief Editor Jose Lina Jr., “We
would be lucky if we could get even the 15th place. One-hundred-fifty-two school papers are competing in
the group contests and 304 delegates in the individual writing contests,” he sighed with pessimism.
“Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” consoled Associate editor Arthur Cruz. I looked around me.
Many contestants were sweating despite the cold wind that blew from Mt. Banahaw standing proudly in
the distance.
Then came the announcement of winners. We held our breath expecting to hear our first
disappointment.
“Jose Lina Jr.” called Miss Hortencia Benoza, Publication Divisionn Chief, “Second place,
newswriting in Filipino.
 The Last Agonizing (?) Hours at the Press Confab
“Hindi na bokya,” remarked the adviser. “Salamat sa Maykapal!” Silence reigne again among us
while shrieks and ah’s were heard at random.
“Wala na yara,” sighed Ely Haute who looked more nervous than the rest.
“Corazon Mendoza, second place, interview writing.”
“Yeyyyy!” chorused the group. “Strike two,” counted the adviser. The first smile crept out from
his parched lips which were as dry as dry ice.
Then Jose Lina’s name was called again in a row – first for winning second place in sports
writing and third place in the essay writing contest in which he received P 100 cash.
“May pam-blow-out na” chuckled Managing Editor Melchor Magat.
The announcement of the results of the groups contests came next. A cheer here and a cheer
there were heard from different parts of the grandstand. We made two big “Yebas” when we received two
big trophies – one for the best layout and the other for the feature page.
“Naku, wala tayo sa Filipino,” our adviser said. Someone in the group shed tears. But when Ang
Bulalakaw was called out as the second best Filipino section, the Filipino adviser almost collapsed.
 The Last Agonizing (?) Hours at the Press Confab
Our loudest cheers were heard when another trophy was awarded to the The New
Horizons as the third best high school newspaper in the country.
After the awarding ceremonies, we had our pictures taken, in difference O.A. pooses of
course.
But before going home to our quarters, we did not forget to enter the chapel of Our Lady
of Lourdes where we had prayed every morning the whole week before the start of every session.
3. Description
There are many significant events and
special festivities in the school and in the community
worth writing about. Also, there are interesting
projects made by the students in the laboratory and
their vocational and academic classes and by the
community members in their respective homes that
need playing up. But in his description, the writer
should as much as possible be factual and original.
Aside from this, he should use simple and concrete
words that are easily understood by the layman or by
Mr. Average Reader.
 Welcome to Picturesque Philippines
Above the having bosom of the warm Pacific is an archipelago of 7,093 islands
washed by the tropic seas… extending for more than a thousand miles from north to
south.
it is here where life flows sweetly. It is here where winter is unknown… where
primitive life still lingers… where culture is rich… and where flowers bloom all year round.
She is a great jade necklace, no scenes more beautiful than she. Her vast
variety of attractive scenery, of plains and mountains, palm trees at her seashores, seas
full of numerous fishes and of unique pearls, verdant rice fields, forests, swamps, rivers,
and falls.
Yet, this is picturesque Philippines.
4. Narrative

There are interesting stories to relate,

especially historical ones. Not all personal stories are
on adventures and experiences. An old person in the
community may be asked to narrate how the district
got its name or how in the olden days people fished or
washed clothes in a polluted estero nearby.
 Brownout
Poetry Class by Candlelight
Nothing can be more romantic than to listen to a woman read Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet
form the Portugese in a dimlit literature class.
The IV-A night students were reading love poems when the lights went out.
Liberacion Lapus was reading the lines: “I love thee to the level of everyday’s most quiet need by sun
and candlelight.” They were an answer to Romeo Cruz who had just read Ben Johnson’s Song to Celia.
Other poems read were Christopher Marlowe’s The Passionate Shepherd to His Love and Sir Walter
Raleigh’s The Nymph’s Replay.
Victoria Asuncion played the part of the nymph, while Reynaldo Malonzo, the part of the shepherd.
The class ended by singing Percy Shelley’s Indian Serenade as the candlelight slowly flickered out just
before the bell rang for dismissal.
Meanwhile, at the journalism room candlelight was not altogether romantic as backdrop for hard work.
Staffers groped in the dark as they raced against time to meet their deadline for the first issue of The New
Horizon.
5. Backgrounders

There are feature articles that explain the

history or the background of a certain events. Say for
example, that the model platoon of a certain school
wins first place in a district competition. A feature
story about the organization of the pioneer is a
backgrounder.
 Bayanihan: A Filipino Cultural Heritage
The effectiveness of the bayanihan spirit was best shown by groups of students,
thousands of them as they took to the streets in support of the Metro Manila clean-up and
beautification drive.
Bayanihan is an ancient Filipino custom, symbolic of the Filipino way of grop work.
as found in the Vocabulario de la Lengua Tagala (1754) by P. Juan de Noceda and P.
Pedro de Sanclucar, the word bayanihan is derived from the rootword bayani, meaning obra comun
or group work.
Another related word magpabayani, is a request for help by one who wants a job done for
him and evoked response from neighbors who come in groups to offer their services in all forms
and in their own simple ways. In return, the nagpabayani gives them free breaksfast, lunch, or
merienda as a token of appreciation and gratitude.
6. Development Feature Articles

Student editors should keep in step with

developments that mankind and should steer away
from developments that affect mankind. They should
help advance national, social, economic, and
educational programs such as those in social action,
food production, fight against dope addiction,
criminality and all kinds of vices, and the
implementation of the Green Revolution, CLEAN and
beautification drives, and other kinds of community
service.
6. Development Feature Articles

There are also the latest fads and fashions,

book, movie and play reviews, and the “How to”
articles. The last one explains a process or a method
like “How to Raise Mushrooms.” It tells, for example,
how to conserve energy, how to fight pollution, or how
to raise poultry in the backyard.
 Planting Trees and men
It was tree-planting day for thousands of school children in Metro manila last week.
In Osmena High School, first ear students planted ree seedlinigs not to reforest, but to beautify the
community.
“We have nothing to reforest, but at least we can beautify the community in particular and the city in
general”
This was what Mr. Emilio Mendoza, heada teacher of Yangco Annex said when interviewed.
“By planting trees, we are planting men. The children get involved in our program of national
development,” he continued.
The tree planting activity was part of the government’s reforestation drive, the major aim of which is
to minimize if not to stop entirely floods in Metro Manila.
Danilo Dagdayan, president of the Freshman Council headed the tree-planting activity.
Tree seedlings were provided by the Reforestation Administration through the initiative of Mr. Emilio
Mendoza.
7. What to Do and How to Do Articles

There are also “What to” articles. There are

those that tell what to do during an earthquake, a
typhoon, an emergency, or the like. Some of these
articles can develop the subject either by a series of
rules starting with “Do” or by having the writer
describe the process in his own words. Usually, these
kinds of feature articles are accompanied by pictures
or illustrations.
 Tocino, Anyone?
“Tocino” is a delicious-tasting meat preparation excellent for the early morning meal. The meat stays
longer, too, without refrigeration.
The U.P. College of Agriculture meat processing specialist, Naploleon M. Dagdagan, gives the
following procedures:
Material: one (1) kilo of bacon or liempo strips (1/2 inch thick), sugar, salt, saltire, vetsin, and plastic
bags.
Procedure:
1. For every kilo of meat, measure and mix three (3) tablespoon sugar, one (1) tablespoon salt, one-
half (1/2) teaspoon vetsin.
 01
How to Introduce the
Feature Article
 1. Rhetorical Question

Who says that age is an obstacle to education?

Take it from Danilo Marcelo of Arayat, Pampanga who

stopped going to school seven years ago, after finishing the elementary
grades. This year, at 24, he enrolled as a first year evening student at
Abada High School.
 2. Startling Statement

“Hindi pa kami laos!”

Thus exclaimed the young once teachers, administrators,

parents, community and barangay members as they set aside one
special day during the school’s celebration of Community Week to have
a share of the festivities, and of course to display their hidden talents.

Title: Hindi Pa Kami Laos

 3. Narrative Opening

Mrs. Adelfa Prado, a fourth year evening student, sends

herself and her six children to school, acting as mother and father at
the same time.
Every day, Mrs. Prado divides her time as half time tindera
tending her sarisari store during the day and as half-time student
studying at night

Title: Half Here, Half There

 4. Quoted Remarks

“I earn while I learn.” He smiled at me as the interview reeled

off. “How can you work, have a part-time job, and at the same time go
to school?” I asked.
“Well, it is easy,” he explained. “I don’t do all of these at the
same time.”

Title: I Earn While I Learn

5. An Old Maxim, an Aphorism, or a Salawikain

“Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”

This quotation from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by
Samuel Coleridge does not hold true any more. Today, even flood
water can quench the thirst. How?

Title: Drinking Flood Water, Anyone?

 6. History or Background of the Subject

Muslims throughout the world, including our Filipino Muslim

brothers, observe the holy month of Ramadan starting Sept. 17.
Ramadan is the night lunar month of the Muslim calendar. It is
observed by Muslims just as the Lenten Season is commemorated by
Christians.

Title: Knowing Our Muslim Brothers

7. Problems to be Discussed and the Article or
Fact to be Established
There is an answer to the rising cost of vegetables: raise your
own.

Title: Backyard Gardening

 01
Ending the Feature
Article
 1. A Summary of the whole article

Take it from experts: Smoking is definitely harmful to health.

Smoking may make you feel manly, but you may not live long enough
to be one.

Title: Don’t Smoke Your Life Away

2. An announcement of the main point for the
first time
Therefore, a major part of the development communication
effort should be directed at strengthening the character of the people,
and developing in them moral values, particularly self-discipline, self-
reliance, strength of character, and fortitude.

Title: Development Communication

 3. A question left in the reader’s mind

The hands of the new Filipino toil for the love of creation. They
turn the wheels of progress and hold high the torch of freedom –
freedom from what and hunger.
Do you have these kinds of hands?

Title: The New Filipino

 4. Suggested results or significance

Let us conserve our forests now if we want to save the future

of our country and of our children.

Title: The Rape of the Forest

 5. A forecast or prophecy

In six and a half centuries from now, if population explosion

would not be checked, there would be one person standing on every
square foot of land on earth. By that time, people would be devouring
one another, for there would be more space for plants to grow.

Title: A Tale of Horror – Population Explosion

 6. A repetition of the introduction

Asked if he had any formal training in photography, Domingo

Layson finally answered, ‘Ah, it is now the reverse. It is here where I
learn as I earn.”

Title: I Learn as I Earn

7. A repetition of a sentence or slogan, or a
reference to the title
After four years of working as a houseboy, working during the
day and going to school at night, Jose Fallar will soon graduate as a a
first honor student.
Now, who says that poverty is a hindrance to education?

Title: Poverty Not a Hindrance

 8. An appropriate quotation

Nestor claims that he is poor. But when asked why he gave

his last centavo to the old man, he answered:
“Not what we give, but what we share
For the gift, without the giver is bare,
Who gives himself with his alms feeds three
Himself, his hungering neighbor, and me.”

Title: Love thy Neighbor

Qualities of a Good Feature Writer

1. He knows how to look for features beneath the surface of everyday

event.
2. He investigates every angle before starting to write in order to get
the story behind the story.
3. He is keen observer.
4. He has various interest.
5. He has the ability to write features interestingly.
 Characteristics of a Good Feature Article
1. It may inform, instruct, or advise, but its primary purpose is to entertain. It is
usually read after the news in a leisure moment.
2. It may be of any length – from a short human interest story to a rather long
magazine article.
3. It may or may not be timely. It is timeless.
4. It may be written in any form or any style.
5. It usually uses the novelty lead rather than the summary lead.
 Characteristics of a Good Feature Article
1. The reporter may use of the following devices – suspense, dialog, description,
narration, exposition, argumentation, climax, and the like in presenting his story.
2. Although the writer applies his imagination to the facts, the feature story is not
fiction. It is based on facts.
3. It uses specific nounds, adjectives, and verbs to create vivid images, sound and
feeling for the readers.
4. It applies the principle of effective writing to achieve unity, coherence, and
emphasis which are essential to all good writing.
5. It is written with friendly simplicity.