Lecture 4 in a series of lectures on Feature Writing

1. Sturcture of a feature

2. Feature writing process
1. Finding the idea (topic and angle)
2. Planning, background research (->synopsis)
3. Fieldwork (=collecting materials)
4. Organizing materials
5. Writing (1st draft)
6. Re-writing, editing, proofreading...

3. ORGANIZING
1. Inventory of material
2. Writing you premise
3. Selecting relevant material
4. Writing an outline (-> structure)

4. STURCTURE
How to organize your materials in
the text: observations, quotes from
interviews, collected facts etc.?
In which order and how do you
present the various material?

5. Quote 1
Quote
4
Quote
5
Quote 2
Quote
3
Observation:
Description
of the scene
Observation:
Description of a
person
Obsevation:
Description
of action
Observation:
Description of
action
Fact
Fact
Fact
Fact
Anecdote
1
Example
Fact

6. Quote 1
Quote
4
Quote
5
Quote 2
Quote
3
Observation:
Description
of the scene
Observation:
Description of a
person
Obsevation:
Description
of action
Observation:
Description of
action
Fact
Fact
Fact
Fact
Anecdote
1
Example
Fact

7. BASIC STRUCTURAL
ELEMENTS
BEGINNING
MIDDLE
END
Headline
Lead
Main Body
Ending
"Nut graph"

8. Some structural
options
Cronological structure
Narrative structure
Suspended interest strucure
Spatial sturcture
Alternating viewpoints/distance structure
Scene by scene structure
Parallel narratives structure

9. STRUCTURAL
ELEMENTS
IN FEATURE ARTICLE

10. lEAD
Introduction to the story
Sets the mood of the whole story
The first paragraph(s) of the story.
" A Narrative hook", something
interesting that "hooks" the reader to
read the rest of a story.

11. lEAD
What makes a lead interesting?
Focus on something specific, rather
than the general context/issue.
Choose a dramatic example.
Highlight tension: conflict,
contradictions, problems...
Creat mystery

12. lEAD
Lead can be for example:
A descriptive lead: a detailed description of a scene, a
person, an action...
A direct quote or a piece of dialogue
A startling statement
A surprising twist
An interesting anecdote
A question
* For examples, see e.g. Feature Writing by Jeanne Acton
(in the course blog)

13. LEAD - EXAMPLE 1
"The boldness in her face is
striking, dressed with a genuine
smile as she moves her legs to the
sides, hands in the air as she crafts
the amazing swings from her light
body.
Khalila Mbowe is an alumnus of
Taylor's University, Malaysia and an
entrepreneur. She is the mother of a
four-year-old boy, Pharell, and
also one of few amazingly
multitalented young women in
Tanzania."
(The Citizen 12.4.2013)

14. LEAD - EXAMPLE 2
"The family had lived in the
rundown rental house for
almost three years when
someone first saw a child's face
in the window.
A little girl, pale, with dark
eyes, lifted a dirty blanket
above the broken glass and
peered out, one neighbor
rememberred."
(Tampa Bay 31.7.2008)

15. "NUT GRAPH"
Summarizes what the story is all about: your
premise, the main statement/point of your feature.
Often immediately after the lead.
Typically answers What? Where? When? Why? and
How?
BUT: In feature you don't necessarily need to reveal
everything at this point! It can be better to retain
the mystery and to build tension until the end.

16. MAIN BODY
Typically direct quotes and transitions alternate.
Transitions can include
- descriptions of your own observations,
- facts related to the topic,
- parafrasing what the interviewee has told you
("She could not believe it... When she first..."),
- indirect quotation from the interviews ("He says
it's a matter of... /According to her it was...").

17. ENDING
Ending can be for example
a powerful quote,
a summary ending: sums up the story,
a circle ending: ties the end to the beginning,
a "snapper" : a shock, a surprise, or a revelation,
a resolution / solution to the issue/problem.

18. ENDING
End may provide a closure or
leave things open, unresolved.
End is usually somehow connected
to the beginning!

19. EXAMPLE
"Is she okay?
Danielle is better than
anyone dared hope. She has
learned to - -.
In her new room, she has a
window she can look out of.
When she wants to see
outside, all she has to do is
raise her arms and her dad
is right behind her, waiting
to pick her up."

20. REMEMBER:
Feature is not just
about convaying
information, it is about
TELLING STORIES!

21. Analysing feature
Read the example feature story and pay attention to the followin things:
What is the topic and the angle/focus of the story written?
What type of a feature is it?
Is there a main character in the story?
Through whose eyes is the story told (whose point of view)?
Which interviewees, other sources?
What kind of a basic sturcture (e.g. cronological, suspended interest,
parallel narratives, varying distance...)
How does the story begin? Is the beginning (lead) powerful?
Is there a "nut graph" in the story? Where? Can you tell, what is the main
point of theh story (premise)?
How does the story end? Is there a closure in the story or not?