• 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 colour to a story, instruct or entertain.
Structure :
1. A catchy – clever – attention grabbing and visually
interesting headline!
2. The introduction is one of the most important part –
grab the attention of your reader, hook them in.
1. Use drama, emotion, quotations, rhetorical questions,
descriptions, allusions, alliteration and metaphors.
3. The body of the article needs to stick to the ideas or
answer any questions raised in the introduction
1. Try to maintain an "atmosphere“ / tone / distinctive voice
throughout the writing
4. The conclusion should be written to help the reader
remember the article. Use a strong punch-linecopyright: coolstuffschool.com
Catchy, visually-interesting
headline
this one uses an allusion to
Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit
Attention-grabbing
“hooks” which set
tone and ideas of
the article
1st paragraph
expands on the main
“hook” which sets
tone and focus of the
article
“time-line” of images
– with captions and
“hook” heading
“text box” quote pasted into article – a “hook” to grab more
attention and can be found in the body of the article
Visually-interesting image/photograph which matches the
tone and content of the written text
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
Some points to keep in mind:
0Focus on human interest - the
tone and emotion you put into
the article make it either
interesting or boring.
0Be clear about why you are
writing the article. Is it to
inform, persuade, observe,
evaluate, or evoke emotion?
0Write in the active voice. In
active writing, people do things.
(Passive sentences often have the
person doing the action at the
end of the sentence or things
being done “by” someone).
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
For inspiration… check-out
other feature articles!
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
0Don't rely on the computer
spell-checker - especially
those with a U.S. dictionary.
0Decide on the ‘tense' of your
story at the start and stick to
it. Present tense usually
works best.
0Avoid lengthy, complex
sentences
0Avoid lengthy, complex
paragraphs.
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
0 Accuracy is important - you can
interpret and “embroider” but not
lie!
0 Keep your audience clearly in mind
- what really matters to them?
0 Avoid to many clichés (“cutting
edge”, “world beating”,
“revolutionary” ) and sentimental
statements - especially at the end of
your article.
0 Use anecdotes and direct quotes to
tell the story - try not to use too
many of your “own” words.
0 Research / consider more than one
point-of-view to provide a more
complete and balanced reportcopyright: coolstuffschool.com
Some examples of what feature articles look like…
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
copyright: coolstuffschool.com
Layout of a feature article: template
copyright: coolstuffschool.com

Top tips for "how to" write a Feature Article

  • 1.
    • A featurestory 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 colour to a story, instruct or entertain.
  • 2.
    Structure : 1. Acatchy – clever – attention grabbing and visually interesting headline! 2. The introduction is one of the most important part – grab the attention of your reader, hook them in. 1. Use drama, emotion, quotations, rhetorical questions, descriptions, allusions, alliteration and metaphors. 3. The body of the article needs to stick to the ideas or answer any questions raised in the introduction 1. Try to maintain an "atmosphere“ / tone / distinctive voice throughout the writing 4. The conclusion should be written to help the reader remember the article. Use a strong punch-linecopyright: coolstuffschool.com
  • 3.
    Catchy, visually-interesting headline this oneuses an allusion to Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit Attention-grabbing “hooks” which set tone and ideas of the article 1st paragraph expands on the main “hook” which sets tone and focus of the article “time-line” of images – with captions and “hook” heading “text box” quote pasted into article – a “hook” to grab more attention and can be found in the body of the article Visually-interesting image/photograph which matches the tone and content of the written text copyright: coolstuffschool.com
  • 4.
    Some points tokeep in mind: 0Focus on human interest - the tone and emotion you put into the article make it either interesting or boring. 0Be clear about why you are writing the article. Is it to inform, persuade, observe, evaluate, or evoke emotion? 0Write in the active voice. In active writing, people do things. (Passive sentences often have the person doing the action at the end of the sentence or things being done “by” someone). copyright: coolstuffschool.com
  • 5.
    For inspiration… check-out otherfeature articles! copyright: coolstuffschool.com
  • 6.
    0Don't rely onthe computer spell-checker - especially those with a U.S. dictionary. 0Decide on the ‘tense' of your story at the start and stick to it. Present tense usually works best. 0Avoid lengthy, complex sentences 0Avoid lengthy, complex paragraphs. copyright: coolstuffschool.com
  • 7.
    0 Accuracy isimportant - you can interpret and “embroider” but not lie! 0 Keep your audience clearly in mind - what really matters to them? 0 Avoid to many clichés (“cutting edge”, “world beating”, “revolutionary” ) and sentimental statements - especially at the end of your article. 0 Use anecdotes and direct quotes to tell the story - try not to use too many of your “own” words. 0 Research / consider more than one point-of-view to provide a more complete and balanced reportcopyright: coolstuffschool.com
  • 8.
    Some examples ofwhat feature articles look like… copyright: coolstuffschool.com
  • 9.
  • 10.
  • 11.
  • 12.
  • 13.
    Layout of afeature article: template copyright: coolstuffschool.com