TYPES OF FEATURE ARTICLES

Feature Article  Is an article that deals with real events, issues, and trends.  It places emphasis on people involved rather than on the facts of the news.

1. Human-Interest Feature  Most common type of feature article.  Reports on someone’s success in spite of great odds.  Recalls a tragic predicament.  Shares a continuing struggle supported by hope/faith.

2. Personality Feature  The subject may be famous or not but has done something of great interest.  Shows how a person gained recognition.

4. The How-To Feature  Explains how to do something.  Tells the reader why it is important or beneficial.  Explains the steps of the process in detail.  Includes a list of materials.  Example: “How to Bake a Cake”

5. Past Events Feature  Focuses on a historical event or historical celebration.  Provides human-interest history lesson.  May provide added emotional impact on a historical event.  Puts a “human face” on history.  Makes connections between now and then.

7. “The Best” Articles  The Courier-Journal has a column that publishes reviews of the “best” products of all kinds.  Includes the writer’s personal experiences with the product.  Includes proof and examples that the product is the best of its kind.  Includes information about where to get the product and how much it costs.  Has a catchy title.

6. Informational Feature  Shows insightful coverage of a topic.  Gives information focusing on one aspect of a given topic.  Refers to sources of research, but is not like an encyclopedia report. Instead the writer makes a personal connection to the subject and includes his/her voice.

3. The News Feature  Brings human-interest focus to breaking news.  Adds personal involvement to current event. Ex. Man with double-arm transplant

Text Features Used to attract the reading’s attention and to help the reader understand the topic.  Titles/subtitles  Headings/subheadings  Pictures/captions  Graphs, maps, diagrams, and charts  Interesting fonts (bold, italics, underlining, capital letters)  Bullets/lists  Text boxes  Pronunciation guide/vocabulary box

Text Structures Feature articles can be written in one of the following formats:  cause/effect  problem/solution  compare/contrast  sequence/time line

Various Ways a Writer Includes Details in an Article  Anecdotes  Vignettes  Descriptions  Snapshots  Reasons  Flashbacks  Examples  Facts  Tables/Graphs/Charts  Comparisons  Contrast  Pictures/Drawings  Quotations  Foreshadowing  Expert of authority

Various Ways a Writer Includes Details in an Article  Anecdote-short, entertaining account of something happening  Vignette-a short, delicate literary sketch  Snapshots-written description of how something looks  Flashbacks-recalling something that has happened in the past  Quote-exact words spoken by someone

Various Ways a Writer Includes Details in an Article  Tables/Graphs-an arrangement of related facts, figures, values, etc. usually in rows and columns  Charts-a group of facts about something set up in the form of a diagrams  Foreshadowing- hints of what is to happen in the future  Expert authority- one knowledgeable about a specific subject