This document discusses the key characteristics and components of feature articles. It notes that feature articles aim to entertain while potentially instructing or advising readers. They can vary in length and may or may not be timely. Feature articles typically begin with a novelty lead and use descriptive writing styles and quotes to engage readers. The document provides examples of opening and closing techniques for feature articles and lists qualities of effective feature writers such as being keen observers and having the ability to find interesting angles in everyday events.

1. WRITING FEATURES
Sharon Caringal
Gherson Mae Yamaro

2. Feature Article
O Aims to entertain.
O May instruct, advise, and entertain at
the same time.
O May be of any length ranging from a
rather long magazine article published
to the short human interest story.
O May be written in any form and style.
And it usually begins with a novelty lead.
O They may or may not be timely.

3. O May be written in any style and form. It
usually begins with a Novelty Lead.
O It can start in almost any manner and it
usually appears with the author’s by-line.

4. Example on how a feature article
differs from a straight news story
or from a news feature.
Suppose a school celebrates its
Foundation Day. A straight or featurized
news story about this will say how the
occasion was celebrated, who the guest
speaker was and what his message was
about, the highlight of the activities, and
the different contest held.

5. In a feature article, a brief history
about the school may pubished
as a sidebar to the banner news.
Another feature article may be
about the namesake of the
school, usually a national hero,
which may be published in the
feature section.

6. Topics for Feature Stories
For campus writing the following broad topics are suggested to
feature editors, for their feature sections:
1. Personalities – sometimes called a character sketch, is usually
short. I writing a character sketch, the emphasis should be on the
person.
2. Experience and adventure – should be based on the student’s
experiences. Like for example, a group of students had attended
a science camp. Each of them has an interesting story to tell or
relate. Their stories may be summarized as one or may be written
as separate featurettes.
- First person point of view.

7. 3. Description – the writer should as much as
possible be factual and original. Aside from this,
he should use simple and concrete words that are
understood by the layman or by Mr. Average
Reader.
4. Narratives – there are interesting stories to
relate, especially historical ones. Not all personal
stories are on adventures and experiences.
5. Backgrounders – there are feature articles that
explain the history or the background of a certain
event.

8. 6. Developmental Feature Articles – student
editors should keep in step with developments
that affect mankind and should steer away from
routine reporting.
7. What to Do and How to Do Articles – some of
this articles can develop the subject either by a
series of rules starting with “Do" or by having the
writer describe or explain the process in his own
words. Usually, these kinds of feature articles are
accompanied by pictures or illustrations.

9. How to introduce the Feature Article
1. Rhetorical Question
Example:
Who says the age is an obstacle to education?
2. Startling Statement
Example:
“Hindi pa kami Laos!”
3. Narrative Opening
Example:
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.

10. 4. Quoted Marks
Example:
“I 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.
5. An old Maxim, an Aphorism, or a
“Salawikain”
Example:
“Water, water everywhere, but not a drop
to drink.”

11. 6. History or Background of the subject
Example:
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.
7. Problems to be discussed in the article or fact to
be established
Example:
There is an answer on the rising cost of
vegetables: raise your own.

12. Ending the Feature Article
O A summary of the whole article
Example:
Take it from the experts: Smoking is definitely harmful to
health. Smoking makes you manly, but you may not live long
enough to be one.
O An announcement of the main point for the first time
Example:
Therefore, a major part of the development communication
effort should be directed at strengthening the character of the
people.
O A question left in the reader’s mind
Example:
The hands of the new Filipino toil for the love of creation.
They …
Do you have these kinds of hands?

13. O Suggested results or significance
Example:
Let us conserve our forests now if we want
to save the future of our country and of our
children.
O A forecast or prophecy
Example:
In six and a half centuries for now, if the
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 no be
more space for plants to grow.

14. O A repetition of the introduction
Example:
Asked if he had any formal training in
photography Donato Arellano finally answered,
“Ah, it is now the reverse. It is here where I enjoy
while I earn, not I earn while I enjoy.
O A repetition of a sentence or a slogan, or a
reference to the title.
Example:
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.

15. O An appropriate quotation
Example:
Ana claims that she is poor. But when
asked why she gave her last centavo to the old
woman, she 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, his hungering neighbor and me.”

16. Qualities of a feature writer
O A keen observer
O Intellectually curious
O Ability to find features in everyday
happenings
O Cupboards of descriptive words and
everyday idioms
O The skill to weave words into interesting
sentences and paragraphs
O The ability to write

17. con.
O knows how to look for features from beneath
the surface of every day’s event
O investigates every angle before starting to
write in order to get behind the story
O a keen observer
O has varied interests
O has ability to write features interestingly

18. Characteristics of a Good Feature Article
A good feature article should have the
following characteristics:
O it may inform, instruct, or advise, but its primary
purpose is to entertain.
O it may be of any length
O it may or may not be timely
O it may be written in any form or style
O it usually uses novelty lead rather than the
summary lead
O reporter may use any of the following devices –
suspense, dialog, description, narration,
exposition, argumentation, climax and the like in
presenting the story

19. Con.
O Although the writer applies his imaginations to the
facts, the features story is not fiction. It is based on
facts
O it uses specific nouns, adjectives and verbs to
create vivid images, sound, and feeling for the
readers
O it applies the principles of effective writing to achieve
unity, coherence and emphasis which are essential
to all good writing.
O it is written with friendly simplicity