Feature

Writing
May Reah Pasayloon-Carel
Master Teacher, MRVNHS, Tabango, Leyte
-Abloom, Abundant, Amazing, Aromatic, Arranged, Artful,
Artistic, Assorted, Attention-getting.
-Beautiful, Blooming, Blossom-filled, Blossoming, Blushing,
Bold, Botanical
Bountiful, Breathtaking, Bright, Brilliant, Budding.

Captivating
- , Charming, Cheerful, Cheery,
Cherished, Chic, Choice, Classic, Clustered
Color-Infused, Colorful, Combined, Complementary,
Contemporary, Country, Creative.

-Darling,Dazzling , Delicate, Delightful, Designed,

Distinctive, Divine, Dramatic
Dreamy.

-Elegant, Enchanted , Enchanting, Exotic,

Expressive, Exquisite, Extravagant

Eye-catching.
-Fanned, Farm-fresh, Fashionable, Festive, Floral, Florist-delivered, Flowering
Fragrant, Fresh, Fresh-cut, Freshly picked.
-Garden-fresh, Gathered, Glorious, Gorgeous, Graceful.
-Hand-selected, Heartfelt, Heavenly.
-Idyllic, Impressive.
-Jewel-toned, Joyful.
-Kissed
-Large, Lasting, Long-lasting, Long-stem, Lovely, Luminous, Luxurious.

Magical
- , Magnificent, Majestic, Mesmerizing, Mixed, Modern, Multicolored,
Musky.
-Nestled
-One-of-a-kind, Open, Orchard-fresh, Ornamental, Over-sized
-Pastel, Personal, Petite, Playful, Pollinated, Precious, Premium, Pretty, Pristine, Prized.

Radiant
- , Ravishing, Ready-to-bloom, Regal, Rich, Romantic, Rustic.
-Scented, Seasonal, Sensational, Sentimental, Showy, Silky, Silky-smooth, Soft,
Sophisticated, Special, Spectacular, Striking, Stunning, Styled, Stylish, Sublime, Sun-
kissed, Supple.
-Timeless, Touching, Traditional, Treasured, Tropical.
-Unforgettable, Unique, Unusual, Uplifting.
-Vibrant
-Whimsical, Wonderful.
-Year-round, Young.
The Journey
“You'll remember me somehow
Though you don't need me now
I will stay in your heart
And when things fall apart
You'll remember one day.
One day in your life
You will find that you're always waiting
For the love we used to share
Just call my name and I'll be there.”
 Those lines from the song,
“One Day in your Life” by
Michael Jackson seemed to
pierce my soul, while I was
sitting inside a bus that
resembled that of a forlorn
hearse to carry me to my grave.
Before me was a wide, long and
winding road to nowhere.
 I wished I could have an
ounce of courage to see you
for the last time and bade
you goodbye, but my
towering pride drowned my
senses to look ahead of me
without turning back.
 The once narrow highway
seemed a huge photo album
of our bitter-sweet memories
that kept on crisscrossing in
my mind - those lousy talks
and crazy jokes that made us
laugh our heart out. But all
the sweet moments were
gone, what was left was the
bitter part of it.
 I was hurt, so badly hurt by
your chain of lies that strangled
me to death. I told you I did no
longer love you, that what you
did was beyond forgiving, and
that my life would be much
happier away from you. But all
of those hurting words were
painful lies, for deep in my
heart, I knew, I didn't know how
to live my life without you.
 But I had to go while the pain of
leaving you was lesser than the
pain of holding on you. I had to
accept the fact that I could never
let things happen the way I wanted
them to, that there were some
good things that never really last. I
felt one day, I would be losing you
and I had to accept it no matter
how it would hurt, because that
was the only way I knew that I
could let go and move on to pick
up from where I had left my life
off.
 Suddenly, I saw the door
slowly closing like a cover of my
own coffin. The bus heaved
forward. I closed my eyes to
brace the stubborn tears from
falling. I was dying, when I felt
somebody sat beside me. I
opened my eyes to see you
offering your crumpled hankies
and with remorseful eyes
whispered, "Can I still go with
you?” (GEA)
A 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 Feature Articles

1.It deals with any topic

2. It usually entertains more

often than it informs,
instructs or advises.
3. It may be long or short as long
as it covers the subject
adequately and keeps it
interesting to the readers.
4. It may be light or serious,
depending on its purpose.

5. It could be formal or informal

and written in any form and style,
but well organized.

6. It may or may not be timely.

7. It begins with a novelty lead.

8. It is written in ascending
interest.
9. It is based on facts. Though
sometimes, the writer uses his
imagination to play up the
details, it is still anchored on
facts.
10. It can be garnished with
adjective, figures of speech,
dialogue, anecdote, local color
and idiomatic expressions.

11. It can be written in the first,

second or third person.
 Kinds of Feature

1.Human interest feature

2. Personality feature

3. Historical feature

4. Analytical feature

5. Seasonal feature
 Kinds of Feature

6. Travelogue

7. Entertainment feature

8. News feature

9. Informative feature

10. “How-to” feature

 Sources of Feature Articles
1. Experience
2. Observation
3. Reading materials like books, newspapers,
magazines and others
4. Special events like anniversaries, holidays
5. Advertisements
6. Speeches and commentaries
7. Movies
8. Casual conversation
9. Travel
10. Tourist spots
11. Fads
12. Interview
13. Imagination
Steps in Writing Feature Articles

1. Choose topic, which you

know very well.
2. Limit your subject to just
one specific area.
3. Think of a more
interesting and fresh
angle of the topic.
Steps in Writing Feature Articles

4. Make a tentative title.

5. Make an outline.
6. Use appropriate and
striking novelty lead.
7. You can garnish your
article with anecdote,
dialogue and local color.
Steps in Writing Feature Articles

8. Use graphic description.

Don’t just tell, show it to
the reader through the use
of senses.
9. Place direct quotation in
the beginning.
10. Use simple words and
shorter paragraphs.
11. Avoid being wordy.
Steps in Writing Feature Articles

12. Make sure the feature

article contains dramatic
quality.
13. Give examples to make
your article convincing or
easy to understand.
14. Tie up ending with the
opening paragraph.
15. Make a striking title.
Structure of Feature Article

The novelty lead has two objectives:

1. To draw the reader into the story
2. To set the stage for the material to
follow
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
The following are the kinds of lead often used in
writing a feature stories:
. Narrative lead. It draws the reader into the story by
allowing him to relate himself with the character of
the story.
Example:
In the old days, before the coming of the earth
satellite, my college professor told me, weather
forecasting was done by intrepid pilots, who flew
their one-engine small planes into the eyes of the
approaching storm to measure wind direction and
velocity.
Once inside the eye of the typhoon, however, the
pilot experienced an eerie calm while the winds
swirled outside.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
2. Descriptive lead. It illustrates a mental
picture of the subject to the reader. This is
effective in writing a personality sketch.
Example:
The raging rain fell outside of the
dilapidated house. For the past 14 hours,
no one could ever hear anything other
than raindrops. Not one from the members
of the family uttered a single word, but
deep within themselves, they knew the
gnawing shadow of fear that slowly crept
into their senses. For it was the same
ambience when a lethal flood besieged
their town two years ago, killing hundreds
of people.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
3. Quotation lead. This statement uttered
by well-known speaker or celebrity in
the community.
Example:
“I don’t care if I burn in hell for
as long as the people I serve live
in paradise.”

President-Elect Rodrigo R.
Duterte said in one of his
campaign materials during the
recently concluded Presidential
Election 2016.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
4. Question lead. A thought-
provoking question to capture the
interest of the reader and lead
them to find the answer provided
by the succeeding details of the
article.
Example:
When was the last time I told
my father I loved him?
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
5. Teaser. A device to deceive the reader
in a jesting manner to arouse his curiosity
and gently lead him into the story. It is
generally short, crisp and witty. Riddles
are often used and they do not give the
readers any clue on the nature of the
story. They are mostly suggestive and
humorous.

Example:
What comes first, the hen or the
egg? Well, egg could not be made
possible without the hen. But where does
the hen come from?
 Kinds of Novelty Lead

6. Punch lead. It is short, striking

one-sentence lead
Example:
Hungry farmers are selling
not only their plows and
carabaos, but also their children.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
7. Astonisher. It uses an exclamatory
sentence.
Example:
NSPC 2006 Champion!

Bold letters printed on a three-meter

long streamer was hung over the gate of
Irineo L. Santiago National High School
of Metro Dadiangas when the 2006 issue
of Ang Metrian, won as overall Best
School Paper (Bracket A-
Filipino/Secondary) during the National
Schools Press Conference held in
Kalibo, Aklan on February 19-23, 2006.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
8. One word lead. I uses a very
significant word to capture the interest
of the reader.
Example:
BANG!
Sprinters from the different
divisions of Region XII zoomed like
bullets to the finishing line during the
100-meter dash of the Cotabato
Regional Athletic Association (CRAA)
Meet, held at Antonio C. Acharon
Sports and Development Center,
Calumpang, General Santos City on
April 1-5, 2005.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
9. Parody lead. It consists of a parody of a
well-known quotation, song, poem, book or
movie film title.
Example:
“Morn mri as mri as da win mru
As mri as da ngras ngru
Morn mri to faro yur ngrem”

These were the lines of the song I heard

from a very beautiful lady, who almost broke
not only my eardrum, but also my love
struck heart.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
10. Background lead. It describes an
event in which the background
overshadows the individuals who
participate in it; often use for stories
about carnivals, festivals, dances and
others.
Example:
It was like the school was put
in a time machine and was led back to
the past, when teachers and students
who participated in the culmination
program of the Buwan ng Wika,
gathered in front of the four-storey
building garbed in old Filipiniana
costumes.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead
11. Freak lead. This kind of unique lead
uses typographical effects to enhance
appeal.
Example:
For sale: a kidney
Ruben Tocal, 28, resident of
Taguig and a father of seven
children said yesterday that he was
forced to sell his kidney to provide
his family a bright future.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead

12. Contrast lead. It is used to point

up opposites and extremes.
Example:
In the 1960’s, a ten-centavo
coin was already a treasure.
Today, nobody wants to give it a
second glance on the ground.
 Kinds of Novelty Lead

13. Staccato lead. A series of words

or phrases, punctuated by
periods, commas, or dashes.
Example:
Neglected. Denuded.
Abused. Abandoned. This is
the real picture of our forest
today.
 The Body
After you have finished writing the
lead, you are now ready to organize your
materials and develop the body of your
story.
Development of the story is
sometimes the most difficult of all,
because it involves the arrangement of
the story materials in a manner that will
sustain or hold the reader’s interest and
flow smoothly from the introduction to
the end.
While hard news stories are written in
inverted pyramid, formal feature story is
in pyramid structure with conclusion.
Some Types of Feature Ending

Dr. Crispin C. Maslog, during

his lecture in the National
Training Program for School
Paper Advisers at Teachers
Camp, Baguio City has given the
following types of feature
endings:
Some Types of Feature Ending

1. The Summary Ending. It

simply ties up the loose end of
the story with that of the lead.
Example:
With a contented sigh, the
great man closed his eyes in
death fully aware that he did
what he had to do.
Some Types of Feature Ending
2. The Stinger. A surprising
ending that jolts the reader.
The writer uses the body of
the story to set up the readers
for the unexpected conclusion.
Example:
Ramon, the shy, lovable
Ramon, who couldn’t hurt a fly
turned out to be the ruthless,
vicious rapist wanted by law in
five provinces.
Some Types of Feature Ending
3. Climax. It stops at the point
where the outcome of the story
is clear.
Example:
After belting the last note of the
song, “Too Much Love will kill you,”
Jovit Baldivino, a former siomai
vendor from Batangas, stood
petrified in the midst of a
thunderous ovation. In his heart, he
knew he had finally arrived.
Some Types of Feature Ending
4. Unending. An open-ended
conclusion, leaving the reader
room to speculate on the ultimate
ending.
Example:
And so the Operation
OPLAN X ended on a limbo. The
police were positive that
Bungisngis was the brain behind
the murder syndicate. But they
had no shred of evidence
against him.
Other Types of Feature Ending

1. A thought-provoking question
Example:
If we are not going to
save our seas for our
children’s future, who would?
And if we are not going to
start it now, when is the right
time?
Title: Our Seas, Our Life
Other Types of Feature Ending

3. Suggested results or significance

Example:
So, take a hearty bite for a
healthier you.

Title: Banana Mania

Other Types of Feature Ending
2. A proverb
Example:
Indeed, I have proven to
myself what I believe is true from
the very start of my nerve-
breaking climb to where I am now
that “Behind the dark cloud, the
sun is still shining.”
Title: Survivor
Other Types of Feature Ending
3. Suggested results or
significance
Example:
So, take a hearty bite for a
healthier you.

Title: Banana Mania

Other Types of Feature Ending
4. A forecast
Example:
Someday, if we will keep on
selflessly denuding the dwindling
forest of our Mother Earth, we will
be wallowing in the midst of water,
for all the continents will be
devoured by ocean brought about
by global warming.
Title: Reforesting the Future
Other Types of Feature Ending
6. A repetition of a sentence or a
reference to the title
Example:
Mama, see, I was alive but not
anymore. So please let my baby
brother live. He could be as
wonderful as me. His life wouldn’t be
like mine – a life that never was.

Title: A Life that Never Was

Qualities of a Good Feature Writer
1. Inquisitive
2. Eager to learn
3. Sympathetic towards other people’s
feelings
4. Capable of seeing beneath the surface of
ordinary event
5. Keen observer
6. Wide reader
 A Life that Never Was
By Marilyn Sanchez
1st Place in Feature Writing
NSPC 1999 – Ilagan, Isabela

Come to me, Mama. Come,

touch me and feel my pain. Don’t
be afraid now, Mama. You weren’t
when you killed me.
Here, touch this… can you
feel it now, Mama? The excruciating
pain that consumed my helpless
body, you inflicted that, remember?
 Look at my body, now a mass of
rotting flesh and coagulated blood - the
dregs of what was a tiny human body. A
body that was soft with a tiny head matted
with sheen of baby hair. A tiny body with a
tiny heart, that pulsated in time with yours.
These were my fingers and oh! …
Here’s my thumb, which I sucked while
snugly tucked inside you.
You see, I had long lashes just like
Dad’s. My sensitive mouth was just like
yours. And here are my ears, which heard
your quickening heartbeat when you’re
afraid.
 I could have been a wonderful
child if you’ve let me live.
I could have been a baby boy
just what Daddy wanted - a strong,
healthy and bubbly bundle in your
arms. My hypersensitiveness would
have exasperated you.
Daddy? Hmmm .. He could
have coached me in playing
softball. He’ll be the pitcher and I
the batter. I could have grown into
a writer. You would be proud of me
because I’m going to join contests.
 Mama, see I was alive but
not anymore. So, please let my
baby brother live. He could also
be as wonderful as me. His life
wouldn’t be like mine - a life that
never was.
 Why?
Who never dream to have a happy
family? I guess every child wishes to have a
perfect one with a very loving and responsible
father.

My father and I did many things

together. We used to play, if he had free time,
after his work. He accompanied me to the
park, bought me some ice cream, cotton
candy and balloon and took pictures of me
with my mother. We went shopping at the
mall, too. We dined together in a popular fast
food chain. He would buy me some toys,
clothes and anything I needed in school. I felt
so blessed having a father like him.
 Well, this was before she met his new
friend, a woman younger than my mother.
Since then, we were no longer playing
together, no going to the park, and no food trip
at the mall anymore. He was already
interested with his new found friend.
In silence, I asked, “Why, Father?” and I
cried.
One day, while my mother and I were at
the store to buy some groceries, I saw my
father carrying a newly born baby with his
woman friend. I called my mother and told her
what I saw. She tugged me by my arm and
hurriedly walked out of the cashier lane and
asked me to lead her to where my father was,
but we no longer found him there.
 My mother was so angry that when my
father got home at night, she was so mad at
him. She told my father that I saw him
carrying his child with his new friend. They
fought each other.

I ran to my room and cried. Then, I

asked God, “WHY?”

(Marlo Gel P. Alkuino, Grade IV, Dadiangas

South Central Elementary School, General
Santos City)