Date post: | 06-Jan-2018 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | laurel-thompson |
View: | 221 times |
Download: | 0 times |
Profile/Feature Writing
Prof. Vaccaro * Hofstra University
Today’s Roadmap0News Quiz
0Go over Assignment No. 3 obituary
0Lecture on profile / feature writing
0Prep for Assignment No. 4 feature
Purpose of features
0Feature articles are detailed pieces of writing which explore a range of issues, opinions, experiences and ideas.
0Longer in length, text, space, etc.
0Should appeal to the particular audience the article is targeting.
Storytelling structure
0 Stage 1: Tease me, you devil. Give the reader a reason to continue reading.
0 Stage 2: Tell me what you’re up to. What is the story really about?
0 Stage 3: Oh yeah? Prove what you just said. Use evidence to support your theme.
0 Stage 4: Help me remember it. Make it clear and forceful and give it a memorable ending.
Steps to writing
0 Before you begin writing, develop a focus/theme0 Use descriptive techniques
0 Cut down on use of adjectives, can present opinion if they’re used too much
0 Use analogies – compare vague concept to something familiar to readers0 Limit physical descriptions – i.e. you don’t need to talk about someone’s
suit at a court case0 Use lively verbs – i.e. flinch, wince, sprint, scramble, yank, spy, glare,
rattle0 Use foreshadowing – give a clue to something that will happen later
in the story0 Create tone – mystery, happiness, sadness, excitement, etc.
Beginning of feature
0 The first paragraph outlines the subject or theme of the article, it may also:
0 Provoke the reader's interest by making an unusual statement.
0 Provide any necessary background information.
0 Invite the reader to take sides by making a controversial statement.
0 Heighten the drama of an event or incident to intensify its appeal.
0 Establish the writer's tone.
0 Create a relationship between the writer and the reader.
Heart of feature0 The middle section consists of a number of paragraphs that expand the main topic of
the article into subtopics. The usual components are:
0 Subheadings.
0 Facts and statistics which support the writer's opinion.
0 Personal viewpoints.
0 Opinions from authorities and experts.
0 Quotes and interviews.
0 Anecdotes and stories.
0 Specific names, places and dates.
0 Photographs, tables, diagrams and graphs.
Wrap the feature story
0The concluding section should leave a lasting impression by:
0Reminding the reader of the article's main idea
0Suggesting an appropriate course of action.
0Encouraging a change of attitude or opinion.
Thinking about the big picture
0What kind of additional things should you look for?
0 Follow-up stories. Can this be a series?
0 How can you present this story on the web?
0 Photos/video
0 Social media updates/marketing for feature
Reporting techniques
0 Establish chronology
0 Gather detail, detail, detail
0 Ask sourced questions to construct a scene, relive moments
0 Research, research, research
0 Features are not built on fancy writing, but more on strong in-depth reporting
Writing techniques
0Organize the story by sections
0Short sentences
0Pacing
0Dialogue
0Narration
Read some features
0Everyone read 1 or 2 features in class right now
0Pulitzer prize feature stories
0Best magazine articles ever written
0NY Times Magazine
Key takeaways
0Gather details and take notes of your observations
0Use show-in-action techniques. Describe what people are doing.
0Use vivid action verbs.
0For narrative writing, try to envision yourself at the scene.
0Get a chronology to reconstruct events as they occurred.
Key takeaways
0Think of your story as a plot with a beginning, middle and climax.
0Envision your sources as characters in a book, make your reader see, hear and care about them.
0To write well, read well. Read as much fiction and nonfiction as you can, and study the writing styles.
Assignment No. 4
0Due Thursday, Nov. 27
0750-1,000 words
0Using what you learned today, combined with a newsworthy topic, construct a feature story about something that interests you
Next Class
0Next class is Tuesday, Nov. 27
0Assignment No. 4 due Thursday, Nov. 29
0News Quiz