Chap 6 - MCOM 3

 Once info is gathered and outline developed  How do you put your story together?  Common structures include ▪ Chronological ▪ Least-to-most-important ▪ Problem and solution ▪ Catalog ▪ Repetitive

 Chronological  Easiest to understand ▪ Story is told from beginning to end ▪ Acceptable elements for this structure include ▪ Flashback  Movement back in time ▪ Flash forward  Forward in time

 Least-to-most-important ▪ Opposite of news story’s inverted pyramid ▪ Story starts with simple details and facts ▪ Then builds to the most important and detailed elements

 Problem & Solution Structure ▪ Common structure in feature writing ▪ Often starts with anecdotes or examples of problems ▪ Then moves to solutions for that problem ▪ This structure often addresses questions from the story ▪ Such as Why,

 Catalog  This structure is essentially a list ▪ Where people, places or events are classified ▪ Then explained ▪ Can be effective when used for travel features

 Repetitive  Introduces a concept ▪ Then continues to hammer away at it until point is made ▪ Example ▪ Story about a blind boy who will make it in the world ▪ Stream of quotations and anecdotes that support it

 Combination  This is a structure that includes two or more of the common structures ▪ Repetitive & Chronological ▪ Least-to-most-important & Catalog  Multiple structures combined ▪ Can improve the creative element of a feature story

 Leads  Features have a beginning, middle, & end ▪ Leads are the beginning of your article  The lead should ▪ Intrigue the reader ▪ Set the tone for the story ▪ Prepare reader for transition to body of article ▪ Can be one sentence to several paragraphs  Depending on length of feature

 Lead categories  We’ll cover 12 categories of leads