1. What is a Feature Article?
Creative
Deals with real events, issues, and trends
Unlike news articles, it places emphasis on the people involved rather than on the facts
Written to a specific audience
Author writes to persuade readers to adopt his opinion on the topic
Organized in columns with headings, bullets

2. How can I be creative & engage the reader?
Anecdotes
Vignettes
Foreshadowing
Descriptions
Flashbacks
Tables
Comparisons
Sketches
Examples
Pictures
Quotes
Reasons/facts

3. Be Creative with Text HEADINGS “Subheadings” FONTS Italics Bold print
Bullets
COLOR ink

4. The Human-Interest Feature
Most common feature article
Reports success in spite of great odds
Recalls tragic predicament
Shares continuing struggles supported only by hope and fate.

5. Features of “The Best” Articles
Personal experience with the situation
Proof, along with examples, to explain your ideas
Mix of formal and informal language for effect – not by accident!
Conclusion that brings reader back to beginning
Catchy title

6. Gather Information (Research)
The Library
The internet?
Encyclopedias
Card Catalog
Newspapers
Magazines

7. Keep a record of all your sources on a sheet like the one below

8. Organize the Information - Structure
Headlines
By-line (writer’s name)
A short ‘blurb’ paragraph before the first paragraph
Catchy titles
Subheadings
Bullets
Quotes throughout
A concluding paragraph will state a definite point of view

9. Language Features Emotive language
Varied sentence length ranging from short and simple to long and complex.
Short paragraphs
Direct speech is used with “…”

10. Layout of Feature Article
BIG eye-catching headline
Several style and sizes of font
Narrow column format
First paragraph may start with a dropped capital
Sections of the text may be highlighted to attract attention
May include a photo with caption