HARVEY KURT D.

IBE
MODULE 5
FEATURE WRITING
Time Table: 3 hours
Topic Learning Outcomes:
A. develop an interesting, easy writing style;
B. identify the similarities and differences between a news story and a feature article;
and between a news feature and a feature article;
C. introduce and end a feature story;
D. embody the qualities of a good feature writer.

Your Turn
TASK 1: DIRECTIONS: Using a graphic organizer, make a comparison of news and feature stories.

NEWS STORIES FEATURE STORIES

 Time-sensitive and always
about current events
 It reports the facts: who,
what, where, when, why,
and how.
 A news story is written in a
straightforward, concise
reporting style.
 A news story starts by giving
all the details in a lead so
that the readers can easily
acquire the ideas.
 Inverted pyramid style
 Its contents are not
fresh when you read it
after a long time after
it’s already published.
 Not time-dependent and
 Both are used for
information sharing.
 Both can be shared through
reporting and through written
communication like newspapers.
 Both needs proper and good
communication skills to deliver
new/feature stories.
 They both have target
audience/readers.
 Both are for human
interest (human’s interest
to learn and know.
contain no urgent content.
 A feature article is a
human interest story about
a person, event, or place.
 A feature story is written
with full details discussing
with related cues & quotes.
 A feature story starts by
hanging the information so
that the readers keeps on
reading until the last.
 Pyramid writing style
 Its contents are
evergreen and can be
read overtime for it is
an article with
flexibility of time.

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 Make a collection of good features clipped from the dailies and look for feature stories that are
TASK 2:
introduced by the following leads: rhetorical question, startling statement, narrative opening,
quoted remarks, old maxims and background of the subject. Compile them in the most
creative way. It is your own option on how you will compile them.

FEATURE STORIES
HARVEY’S COMPILATION
of feature story leads

Police
The New iPad: Is It Worth It? presence
Narrative Opening Written by Indira Anne C. Sowy in online
It’s that time of the year when Apple starts
revealing new editions to their gadgets. This
platforms:
month, Apple plans to release its new iPad
in its eighth generation, starting at Php
Fighting
18,990 for its Wi-Fi-only connectivity version
and Php 24,990 for both Wi-Fi and cellular
fake news,
connectivity. For this device, in particular,
Apple seemed to be focused more on
preventing
improving, or even maintaining, existing
features found in previous iPads rather than
scams
introducing completely new ones.
Rhetorical Question
https://mb.com.ph/2020/09/29/the-new-ipad-is-it-worth-it/

Gretch Mary of Coast Guard: The

voice that drove away Chinese ships
Quoted Remarks Aaron Recuenco
https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/11/gretch-mary-of-coast-guard-
the-voice-that-drove-away-chinese-ships/
Who has not heard of the words
“fake news” and how it affects
By Richa Noriega the lives of many people?
When a Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) vessel spotted a group Only in the recent days, fake
of foreign ships inside the country’s Exclusive Economic Zone news became big news as
(EEZ) on April 27, a commanding voice reverberated in the area thousands of people created
to declare that they were in the Philippine territory–a powerful mass gatherings around
voice that eventually drove the intruding vessels away: “This is vaccination centers pushed by
PCG BRP Cabra (MRRV-4409). You are within Philippine the loud rumors that the
exclusive economic zone. You are requested to provide the unvaccinated cannot claim the
following: name of vessel, intention, last and next port of cash assistance from the
call on Channel 16.” That voice belongs to PCG Probationary government.
Ensign Gretch Mary Acuario.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/08/13/police-presence-in-
online-platforms-fighting-fake-news-preventing-
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 by Betheena Unite
“More than being stiffly called the provider and protector
The small things fathers of the family, fathers actually play the roles as their
children’s real-life hero, role model, and a reliable support
do that make them system.”

memorable While fathers ultimately play a huge part in their son’s and
daughter’s lives, it is usually the constant small things they do
that make them memorable.

Just like the story of Jerome Vitug, a young book author, who
considers his father, Herminio, 59, as his real-life hero who
became a crucial piece of his success as an author today.
https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/20/the-small-things-fathers-do-that-make-them-
memorable/

Old Maxim (A usual statement/ truth about a father)

Gen Z thoughts on Independence Day: Show your love for country by voting
https://mb.com.ph/2021/06/12/gen-z-thoughts-on-independence-day-show-your-love-for-country-by-voting/
by Argyll Cyrus Geducos

Background of the subject

June 12 is one of the most colorful holidays in the Philippines

marking the country’s liberation from its Spanish colonizers in 1898.
Before the pandemic, it was a holiday people commemorated by
decorating public buildings with the colors of the flag. The parades
in the cities and towns drew people out of their homes giving the
streets a festive air of celebration.
Today, as the country celebrates its 123rd Independence Day amid
a pandemic, without parades and festive celebration, four students
from Generation Z (those born after 1996) share what Independence
Day means to them.
Vote!
With the surge
in COVID Startling Statement by Betheena Kae Unite
cases, are the Time flies.

It’s been a year since we first learned about

quarantine quarantine facilities.

facilities full It was during this time last year that we saw
many sports and entertainment arenas, event
too? halls, basketball courts, evacuation sites,
school buildings, hotels, and even empty cargo
https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/20/with- containers and ships converted into temporary
the-surge-in-covid-cases-are-the- isolation facilities for asymptomatic, and mild
quarantine-facilities-full-too/
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TASK 3: Write a feature story about the new normal education amid the COVID pandemic or any topic.

“Role of Heaven; a
Perfect Moment to
Learn?”
“The Five people you Meet in heaven”, by
Mitch Albom was published in 2003, is a 196
pages long, and it is a philosophical fiction. The
book is about Eddie, an 83-year old man, who
dies in an accident at Ruby Pier, an amusement
park. He then meets five people in heaven who
taught him something about his life. Mitch Albom used the character of Eddie to
portray life lessons that must be learned by the readers. Albom used the five
people Eddie met in heaven to give realizations about how we learn things we
should learn. At the beginning, Heaven symbolized a second life for Eddie, but
my confusion point in the novel is; why those lessons he learned happened
afterlife? Is there any certain allotted time, place, or situation for learning a
lesson? That’s what this piece argues. Is the concept of heaven really have
something to do with learning?

Heaven, is a place where we meet five people who will teach us lessons,
this what the story goes. Could the traditional Christian view of heaven wrong?
Albom gives us a very different picture of heaven. His idea that heaven is a
reunion with five people who explain the meaning of your life is pictured in this
work. Let me explain the concept first, with each encounter of the 5 characters,
Eddie is taught a new lesson that puts the pieces of his earthly life together so
that it begins to make sense. Some lessons bring joy, others bring remorse. If
heaven was a place similar to Albom’s story, we would be very disappointed for
it is small and shallow. Our souls are much bigger than this.

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 According to Pat Zukeran, “God is the main focus in heaven, but
unfortunately, in Albom’s story, God plays a very small role”. This makes sense
because the heaven described in the book of Bible is very different from this
earth. Our joy is not wrapped in repeating earthly pleasures, but is found in only
one person, our God who is the center of all creation. “Psalms 16:11 states, “You
have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your hand.” This implies that heaven is not a place
where we can continue our sadness, struggles, and problems from earth. While
we are on earth, we should finish our purpose, solve our problems, and create
things that will give us contentment and happiness. Learn from earth then live
eternal life in heaven.

Though Albom’s idea about giving lessons through the five people, is very
inspiring and it touches our lives, I can see that it does not suit the symbolism of
Heaven. Heaven is for peace and not a chance to realize something. Before we
die, we should’ve realized everything. Why the development of characters do
happened afterlife where it is place where it’s too late to learn and accomplish
because it’s all done in earth.

One suggestion that I want to impart is that: Eddie should have been made
alive; because what’s the use of those five lessons if he already died. Another
thing with that, the concept of heaven in his story is individual heaven, each soul
has their own heaven, and then what’s the use of learnings if there are no other
souls around your afterlife. I know this is a fiction, but the morals in the story
became not applicable, too late, and not existing.

Afterlife, heaven, death; this criticism paper says that these are not the
perfect moments to learn, repent, achieve, and realize. It shouldn’t be five people,
it should be one God to make the readers about the concept of heaven. The
lessons should have been happened during the main characters’ life on earth

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 and not afterlife. The main purpose of Albom in the novel is about giving those
five lessons, but it contradicted the concept that everyone believes in. Even it is
a fictional story, critique says that it is a masterpiece of construction but it lacks
with the concept of “believability of belief” especially that readers believe that
heaven is where we find eternal piece, and earth is the place for us to learn
lessons; and I totally agree with that. I read from the novel itself that “You have
peace when you make it with yourself” but it all happened that he made his
realizations we he met the five people at their respective heavens. The moral
and the story contradicts itself.

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Feature Writing Rubric

CATEGORY 4 3 2 1

Title Grabs reader's Grabs the reader's No special quality No title

attention. Is attention to grab the
creative and reader's attention.
appropriate.

Word Choice Writer uses vivid Writer uses vivid Writer uses words Writer uses a
words and words and that communicate limited vocabulary
phrases that phrases that linger clearly, but the that does not
linger or draw or draw pictures in writing lacks communicate
pictures in the the reader's mind, variety, punch or strongly or capture
reader's mind, but occasionally flair. the reader's
and the choice the words are interest.
and placement used inaccurately
seems accurate, or seem overdone.
natural, and not
forced.

Lead The lead is The lead states The lead is not No lead, or very
inviting and the topic, and inviting to the weak lead.
draws the reader makes an attempt reader.
into the article. to draw the reader
into the article.

Focused There is one Main idea is clear, Main idea is The main idea is
Topic clear, well- but the supporting somewhat clear, not clear. There is
focused, defined information is or the writer tries a seemingly
topic. Main idea general. to bring in too random collection
is supported with much off topic of information.
detailed material.
information.

Expert An expert is The expert is The expert adds No expert quoted.

quoted in the quoted. The off topic
article. The purpose is clear, information.
purpose is clear, but it does not add
and of interest, to the text.
and adds
credibility to the
article.

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Text Features The writer used The writer used The writer used The writer used
text features to text features to text features to text features to
emphasize angle emphasize angle emphasize angle emphasize angle of
of article. The of article. The of article. The article. The writer
writer included at writer included at writer includes does not include
least 4 text least 2 -3 text text features but text features.
features that features that they do not
enhance the enhance the enhance the
reading of the reading of the reading of the
article. article. article.

Conclusion The writer draws The writer draws a The writer There is no
an appropriate conclusion, but it rambles in the conclusion.
conclusion and is not satisfying. conclusion.
writes it well.

Grammar & Writer made no Writer made 1-2 Writer made 3-4 Writer made more
Spelling errors in errors in grammar errors in grammar than 4 errors in
grammar or or spelling that or spelling that grammar or
spelling that distract the reader distract the reader spelling that
distract the from the content. from the content distract the reader
reader from the from the content.
content

Capitalization Writer made no Writer made 1 or 2 Writer made a few Writer made
& errors in errors in errors in several errors in
Punctuation capitalization or capitalization or capitalization capitalization that
punctuation, so punctuation, but and/or catch the reader's
the paper is the paper is still punctuation that attention and
exceptionally easy to read. catch the reader's greatly interrupt the
easy to read. attention and flow.
interrupt the flow.

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GRAPHIC ORGANIZER RUBRIC
DIRECTIONS: The following scale that reflects the assessment of your work.

1 = Weak 2 = Moderately Weak 3 = Average 4 = Moderately Strong 5 = Strong

1. The graphic organizer has an appropriate title and labels.

2. The graphic organizer’s lines, boxes, and text are neat and legible.
3. The information in the graphic organizer is accurate.
4. The spelling, grammar, and punctuation of the text on the graphic organizer are accurate.
5. The graphic organizer presents the information in a manner that is easy to follow.
6. The relationships presented in the graphic organizer are correct and clear.
7. The form in which the graphic organizer portrays the information is appropriate to the
relationships being represented.
8. The graphic organizer demonstrates an understanding of the topic, its relationships &
related concepts.
9. The graphic organizer fulfills all the requirements of the assignment.
10. Overall, the graphic organizer represents the student’s full potential.

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