a quick help for campus journalists

1. Feature writing Mrs. Draizelle Cruz - Sexon

2. Question no. 1 What is a feature story?

5. It does not follow the inverted pyramid style. X

6. It may be of any length.

7. It may or may not be timely.

8. It uses specific nouns, adjectives and verbs to create vivid images, sound and feeling for the readers.

9. It can be opinionated.

10. It can be flashy and informal.

11. It uses the hour glass structure.

12. Question no. 3 WHY DO WE HAVE TO WRITE FEATURES?

14. Question no. 4 What are the types of feature stories?

15. 1. News behind the news stories An in-depth look at the stories behind a current news PASIG CITY WELCOMES NEW BISHOP A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF BISHOP MYLO VERGARA

16. 2. Personality Sketch / Profiles Also called a character sketch THE MIRACLE IN THE FACE OF A BOY

18. 3. Science and Technology Stories Concentrate on the latest advancement in science and technology with the aim of informing the readers and arousing their interests HOW TO DO COMPUTER ANIMATION

20. 4. Human Appeal Stories Also called “concerned stories” Highlight the dramatic condition and experiences of certain groups of people BROKEN BY A BROKEN FAMILY

21. 5. Historical and Cultural Features Provide readers a sense of identity PCC: 99 YEARS AGO

23. 6. How-to and what-to-do features Provide knowledge about a process or an activity A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE IN IMPROVING YOUR GRADES

25. 7. Life style Features Changing fashion trends and lifestyles make an interesting reading. HOW TO SELECT DRESSES FOR APPROPRIATE OCCASIONS

27. 8. Entertainment features Main goal is to entertain and give relief to people THE HIGHEST PAID HOLLYWOOD ACTORS AND ACTRESSES

28. 10. Seasonal Themes Magnify the significance and relevance of holidays, anniversaries and special events HOW IS CHRISTMAS WITHOUT THE SNOW?

29. 9. Hobby Features Interest the readers that are into exceptional hobbies THE BEAUTY OF READING

31. 11. Travel Features Highlight the beauty of interacting with people and places THE HIDDEN CAVES AND BEACHES OF PALAWAN

33. 12. Insider Features Sensitive in nature and are accomplished using in-depth, investigative journalism CORRUPTION STRATEGIES OF PUBLIC OFFICIALS REVEALED

34. Question no. 5 How do we choose the theme?

35. 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?"

36. Question no. 6 WHAT ARE THE WAYS TO INTRODUCE A FEATURE STORY?

37. Rhetorical question Who says school is only for the young?

38. Startling statement “Hindi pa kamilaos!”

39. Narrative opening Everyday, Mrs. Adelfa Prado divide her time as half-time tindera tending her sari-sari store during the day and as half-time student studying at night.

40. Quoted remarks “I earn while I learn.”

41. An old maxim, an aphorism, or a salawikain Rain, rain go away, come again another day…

42. History or background of the subject In 1913, the Belgian missionaries came and started a catholic school in the heart of Pasig.

43. 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.

44. Question no. 7 How can we end a feature story?

45. A summary of the whole article An announcement of the main point for the first time A question left in the reader’s mind Suggested results or significance A forecast or prophecy A repetition of the introduction A repetition of a sentence or slogan, or a reference to the title An appropriate quotation

46. Question no. 8 How can you be a good feature writer?

48. Know how to look for features from beneath the surface of everyday event. Investigate every angle before starting to write in order to get the story behind the story. Be a keen observer. Have various interests. Be able to write features interestingly.

49. Question no. 9 What are some tips to enhance good feature writing?

50. The tone of your piece is vital. Sprinkling some rhymes will make the feature more readable. But be aware not to overdo it, or your write-up will end up as a poem.

51. Using figures of speech is an effective tool in enhancing your feature writing. Make use of them frequently.

52. If unfamiliar or too uncommon words are inevitable, make sure to inject context clues for your reader’s better comprehension.

53. If using elementary words can not be avoided, use it with purpose — to avoid redundancy, or merely stating/describing a simple idea.

54. LITERARY WRITING

55. For some, it is a joy; something that is done for the sheer pleasure of putting beautiful words to paper. POETRY WRITING

56. ELEMENTS OF POETRY

57. considers diction, vocabulary and level (whether simple or connotative) LANGUAGE

58. Tone --- poet’s way of looking at his subject

59. Imagery --- total sensory suggestion of poetry

60. Sound and Rhythms --- kind of foot patterns in each line

61. Thought or meaning --- “How does a poem mean?”

62. use of a word or words diverging from its usual meaning. It can also be a special repetition, arrangement or omission of words with literal meaning, or a phrase with a specialized meaning not based on the literal meaning of the words in it

63. FIGURES OF SPEECH

64. the substitution of a word for a word whose meaning is close to the original word

65. SYNECDOCHE substitution of part for whole, genus for species, or vice versa

66. IRONY expressing a meaning directly contrary to that suggested by the words

67. LITOTES deliberate understate-mentor denial of the contrary

68. exaggerated or extravagant statement used to make a strong impression, but not intended to be taken literally

69. CHIASMUS reversal of grammatical structures or ideas in successive phrases or clauses, which do not necessarily involve a repetition of words EXAMPLE: But O, what damned minutes tells he o'er/ Who dotes, yet doubts; suspects, yet strongly loves.---Othello, 3.3.169

70. APOSTROPHE a diversion of discourse from the topic at hand to addressing some person or thing, either present or absent

71. ALLITERATION The repetition of an initial consonant sound EXAMPLE: "a peck of pickled peppers

72. SIMILE A stated comparison (usually formed with "like" or "as") between two fundamentally dissimilar things that have certain qualities in common.

73. ONOMATOPOEIA The use of words that imitate the sounds associated with the objects or actions they refer to. EXAMPLE: "I'm getting married in the morning!Ding dong! the bells are gonna chime."(Lerner and Loewe, "Get Me to the Church on Time," My Fair Lady)

74. A figureofspeech (generally considered a type of metaphor) in which an inanimate object or abstraction is given human qualities or abilities.

75. Thank you for listening!