Engl.

119 –
Campus Journalism

FEATURE
WRITING
WORKSHOP

OCTOBER 21, 2020

 Feature is an essay based on facts
 It’s main purpose is to entertain and must be
interesting
 It takes many forms and covers many
subjects
 It may also instruct, advise, inform and
entertain at the same time
 Written to hook the reader and draw
them into the story
 May be of any length ranging, can be the long
ones like those that can be seen in
magazines or short ones like those that are
in campus publication
 May or may not be timely
 It may be written in any form and style
 It uses specific nouns, adjectives and verbs to
create vivid images, sound and feeling for the
readers.
 Also a news feature is different
from a feature article.
 News feature aims to inform
but with more explanation,
backgrounds and impression.
But a feature aims to
entertain
TOPICS FOR
A FEATURE
ARTICLE
 also called character sketch
 usually short
 The achiever, the builder or the
innovator.
 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 the certificates he has
accumulated for attending seminars should
take the back seat
 Interesting stories about different
experiences such as workshop
seminar, the field trips, the socials
and such.
 Significant events in the school and
community, interesting project and
such. The writer gives his description
that should be factual and original.
Should use simple and concrete words
that can be understand by average
readers
 They are articles that gives
instruction that you must follow on
some circumstance. Some are
giving tips. And some are just for
entertainment.
An in-depth look at the stories behind a current
news

Concentrate on the latest advancement

in science and technology with the aim
of informing the readers and arousing
their interests
Also called “concerned stories” Highlight
the dramatic condition and
experiences of certain groups of
people

Magnify the significance and relevance of

holidays, anniversaries and special events
Narratives
These are interesting stories to relate,
especially historical ones.
Backgrounders
These are articles that explain the history
or background of a certain events
Developmental Feature Articles
Articles the deal with the development
happening in the community. Things such
as projects that will help for certain
developments might catch the interest
of some readers.
There are also feature
articles about current
trends. There are also
book, movie and play
reviews.
 STEPS IN
WRITING A
FEATURE
ARTICLE
 Has the story been done before?
 Is the story of interest to the
audience?
 Does the story have holding
power (emotional appeal)?
 What makes the story worthy of
being reported?
 The theme answers the
question, "So what?"
OPENING A FEATURE ARTCLE

A new writer often finds himself in a

dilemma: "How should I start my feature
article?" Sure, he has a clear idea of what
he wants to write about.
The lead is an important part to consider.
Aside from a catchy title, the lead will either
hook the readers to continue reading the
article or turn the page to another piece.
 A summary may not be the best lead.
Instead, use novelty leads
 A lead block of one or two
paragraphs often begins a
feature
 Rather than put the news elements of
the story in the lead, the feature
writer uses the first two or three
paragraphs to set a mood, to arouse
readers, to invite them inside
Contrast Lead – opening with opposites or
differences
“Mayweather is unbeaten, still many consider Pacquiao to
be better than him despite Manny’s imperfect record.”
Figurative Lead – an opening figure of speech
“Manny Pacquiao is the Pambansang Kamao…”

Allusion Lead – an opening reference to

literature
“Like a diamond in the rough, Manny Pacquiao was plucked
from the slums.”
Suspense Lead – an open ended beginning
“The only thing Manny lacks to be considered as the best
boxer ever is…”

17
 “Hindi pa kami laos!”

Thus exclaimed the young once

teachers, administrators, parents,
community and barangay
members as the 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.
 Snapshot Lead – Creates a picture
of the setting or the person in the
reader’s mind

 Factual Lead – Uses statistics and

hard facts at the outset to gain
immediate interest.

 Anecdotal Lead – Shares one’s or

somebody else’s story or just a part
of the experience.
 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.
 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 tinder
tending her sari sari store during
the day and as half-time student
studying at night.
 “I can 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 s easy,” he explained.
“I don’t do all of these at the
same time.”
 “Water, water, everywhere,
but not a drop of drink.”
This quotation from the Rime of
the Ancient Mariner by
Samuel
Coleridge does not true
hold anymore. Today,
water caneven quench flood
the How?
thirst.
 Muslims throughout the world,
including our Filipino Muslim brothers,
observe the holy month of
Ramadan starting Sept. 17.
Ramadan is the ninth lunar month of
the Muslim calendar. It is observed
by Muslims just as the Lenten season
is commemorated by Christians.
 There is an answer to the rising
cost of vegetables: raise your
own.
 Provides vital information while it
educates, entertains, and
emotionally ties an audience to
the
 subject. components include:
Important
› Background information
› The “thread” of the story
› Dialogue
› Voice
Feature writers seldom use the inverted
pyramid form.

The Commonly used styles are:

• chronology that builds to a climax at the
end,
• a narrative, or
• a first-person article about one of their
own experiences or a combination
of these.
Write in ACTIVE VOICE & if
possible, present tense

ACCURACY IS IMPORTANT. You can

interpret and embroider but do not fudge.

Keep your AUDIENCE clearly in mind.

Avoid CLICHES…

AVOID LENGTHY and COMPLICATED

paragraphs.
 Usingfigures of speech is an
effective tool in enhancing your
feature writing. Make use of them
frequently.

 Thetone of your piece is vital.

Sprinkling some rhymes will make
the feature more readable.
 Sprinkledirect quotations, observations
and additional background
throughout the story. Paragraphs can
be written chronologically or in order of
importance. Be creative, watch, &
listen

 Read & Research

 Keep up to date, take notes and play

with words!
ENDING A
FEATURE
ARTICLE
Leave a lasting impression by
concluding it effectively.

–How to end the article with an impact:

 Remind the reader of the

article's main point or focus.
 Suggest an appropriate course
of action.
 Encourage a change of attitude
or opinion.
 Pose a challenge to the reader.
 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.
 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.
 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 want
and hunger.
Do you have these kinds of
hands?
 Let us conserve our forest
now if we want to save the
future of our country and of
our children.
 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 no more plants to grow.
 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, not earn as I learn.”
 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 first honor
student.
Now, who says that poverty
is a hindrance to education?
 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, this hungering neighbor,
and me.”
WRITE THE TITLE.
What makes an effective headline:

 Something that sticks and

persuades the reader to peruse
the article.
 Something that encapsulates into
very few words the main idea of
the article.
 Something that includes key
words that revolve on the focus
 Qualities of a Well-Written
Feature Story
 Well-researched
 Catchy  Emotional
 Descriptive  Engaging
 Exciting  Neutral
 Reflective  Thorough
 Although the writer
applies his imagination to the
facts. The feature story is not
fiction. It is based on facts
3 Principles
Unity
Coherence
Emphasis
 A keen observation
 An intellectual curiosity
 Ability to find features in everyday happenings
 Cupboards of descriptive words and everyday idioms
 Skill to weave words into interesting sentences and
paragraphs
 The ability to write effectively
 Has various interest
 Investigates every angle before starting to write in order
to get the story behind the story
WORKSHOP
Write a feature article
– You can choose one from the list of ideas for your
feature article that is related to your journey or
experience in the campus.
– You can also write a feature story/article about a
timely idea, such as Online Classes, Moodle, Tuition
Fee, etc.

– You are free to use any style in writing the feature article

The deadline is on or before October 25, 2020, Sunday.