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1. Does the feature “grab” you with an engaging lead? Why or why not? Be specific.
2. Is the point or the “nut graf” of the feature clear? Is it engaging enough to keep tension in the writing? Is it timely and relevant?
3. Does the Feature Story have some of the aspects of the Editorial? (secondhand/library research; ethos, pathos, logos of argument; focus/thesis)
4. Does the Feature Story have some of the aspects of the Interview? (firsthand/”beat” research; reporter’s questions)
5. Identify any use of the narrative elements (character, plot, setting, etc.). Are there points where more use of the narrative elements could be effective?
As we work towards the final draft of the Feature Story (due in Module 15), we should keep in mind the power of research. Although the Feature Story takes a narrative form and relies on the charm of good storytelling, it can also engage and inform an audience through thoughtful and strategically placed research. Remember that your goal as a reporter is not just to entertain, but also to educate and empower in a responsible and fair manner.
In the body of your story, you make points or discuss the issues at hand. These details must come in a logical order, one leading sensibly to the next. Most writers accomplish this by outlining the information they wish to present, either on paper or mentally.
A newspaper or magazine story may be organized along any of the standard lines you should have learned in freshman composition. You may compare and contrast issues. You may develop an argument inductively (working from particular facts to a general conclusion) or deductively (reasoning from the general to the specific, or from a familiar principle to the unfamiliar). You can build a chronological narrative, presenting events in the order they occurred. You can show cause and effect, or write a story that is an extended definition of some abstract concept.
Your approach to your story’s organization should fit your purpose. Chronological ordering works effectively with how-to-do-it stories and straight reports. Deduction — leading the reader from something familiar to new, unfamiliar concepts — is especially useful in science writing, where you have to present bizarre, difficult ideas. Induction — drawing general conclusions from specific, concrete facts — helps clarify economics, sociology, and business issues, and it also works well in writing profiles.
And, as was mentioned in the last session, be sure to read as much as possible to improve your writing. For example, Dave Eggers, a local writer (“Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius”) and founder of 826 Valencia and McSweeney’s publishing, recently published a “one-time” newspaper called Panorama. It was an interesting attempt to revitalize the print industry, as Eggers explained:
“We started this six months ago with an eye to reinventing the form,” said best-selling author Eggers, who fell in love with papers and print while working on his college newspaper. “When I was hearing about the death of newspapers, it hit me viscerally: What if I don’t have a newspaper in the morning? If newspapers are going to survive, they’re going to have to do things the Internet cannot do.”
“The Tragedy of Mendocino County” in Panorama is a great example of feature writing. If you can get your hands on a copy, it’s a great read!
the Feature Story needs a strong resolution in order to stand on its own and last as a permanent comment rather than just become “yesterday’s news.” Your first drafts may not have the resolution you’d like, so take time during the next two modules to review your notes and think about the final moment you want to leave the reader with. Consider possible titles and important themes raised in your feature story. And, as with any story, consider a “showing” ending that will ignite the imagination of readers and let them make their own conclusions.
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