Feature Articles

1. Feature Articles • They focus on one issue or topic. • They comment in depth on one current issue or other subjects that might have an issue of social importance. • They could also be about general issues such as sport, fashion, celebrities, history or health. • Feature articles aim to inform, entertain and persuade. • They are highly subjective.

2. How is a feature article different from a hard news story? • It explores an issue in-depth • It is less time sensitive than a hard news story • There is more room for creativity in the writing style • Feature articles are highly descriptive • It demands an intimacy and interaction in reporting not present in hard news writing. • You can take a stance- it does not have to be completely objective.

3. Issues and Trends Feature Article • Also known as a short information based feature article, it examines a topic from a specific angle. • Content: • 1. A critical look at the angle helping the readers better understand the issues and the stakes. • 2. It is based on research materials (facts, statistics, interviews etc.) • 3. It explores different points of view and therefore includes quotations. • 4. Examples or anecdotes are often provided to help explain or illustrate issues or concepts. • 5. It also has a “human touch”. It can describe how people react to and deal with the situation.

4. Issues and Trends Feature Article • Things to have in an Issues and Trends Feature Article • Topic: It is the broad theme addressed in the examination (e.g. genetically modified organisms, space exploration etc). • Guiding Question: Will help you take notes (only used during introductory task). • Angle: A.K.A. focus, it narrows the scope of the topic considerably. It corresponds to the perspective from which students will approach the topic. (it will be given to you for the exam. You HAVE to follow it.)

5. Issues and Trends Feature Article • Additional examples of topic and their angles. • Topic: Extreme sports • Angles: • Extreme sports involve a high level of personal risk. • Extreme sports are the cause of many health issues. • Extreme sports attract a new generation of fans to the Olympics. • Activity one: Read the feature Article Water, Water everywhere? Then in groups of two find the topic and angle of the text.

6. Issues and Trends Feature Article • Topic: Canada’s freshwater supplies • Angle: Canada’s freshwater supplies are not unlimited

7. Issues and Trends Feature ArticleStructure: • 1. A beginning, a middle and an end. • 2. An introduction that is significant, catchy and engaging. • 3. A clear purpose. • 4. Appropriate paragraphing. • 5. Transition between ideas and from one paragraph to another to ensure flow.

8. Issues and Trends Feature ArticlePurpose and Audience • The purpose is the student’s goal. • The audience is the person to whom you are addressing your text (the person who will read your text). • Your purpose will be to provide the target audience with a critical overview of the topic addressed in the examination from the angle prescribed in the writing book.

9. Issues and Trends Feature ArticleStructure: • Find the following in the text: • 1. Beginning, middle and end. • 2. According to you, what makes the introduction catchy. • 3. Purpose of the feature article. • 4. transition words (discourse markers) at the beginning of new paragraphs.

10. Issues and Trends Feature ArticleExample 1: • It is very important to have clean drinking water. • Many people around the world do not have access • to safe water, and as a result many children get sick, • even die. The water can be in short supply, • dirty and filled with parasites. The World Health • Organization estimates that over 10,000 kids • get sick every day from drinking dirty water. • Some even die.

11. Issues and Trends Feature Article Example 2 Zoila Andres, a young mother, left the house long before dawn to fetch water. She had to trudge through the brush, and dig through the soil to bring home a bucket of dirty brown water. She hopes her children won’t get sick from it. But her children probably will get sick. Over 10,000 do every single day.  Many do not survive.

12. Issues and Trends Feature Article • Why is example 2 better than example 1? • Example 2 is more creative • It is written in a more personal way, it involves a person • The structure is narrative (telling a story) and also anecdotal • It is showing, not telling.

13. Issues and Trends Feature ArticleText Components • Text Components must be used to structure and enhance the article. They are also used to engage the target audience. • Their mere presence is not sufficient; they must be purposeful and be an asset to the article. • Text components include: 1. the headline 2. the secondary headline 3. the controlling idea 4.the lead 5. quotation 6. pull-quote 7. sidebar. • Can you find the above in the text?

14. Structure Introduction • It aims is to attract attention and provide a focus or foretaste of the story to follow. It uses suspended interest. It could include: • A teaser • Description of an individual • Personal narrative

15. The body • It is arranged in declining order of importance. • May contain anecdotes • Descriptive language that allows the reader to make their own judgements • Interviews – direct or indirect quotations. The journalist will choose quotes that support their argument

18. The conclusion • A final opinion • A logical outcome of an extended argument • A question that re-orients the reader to investigate further • A call to action • A link to the introduction and ‘angle’ of the article