1. By Michael Flax: compiled from Jeanne Acton
Feature Writing
By Michael Flax: compiled from Jeanne Acton

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Feature Writing
Tells the reader ____________.
It has a ___________________ __________________________.
It uses __________________ and _________________________________________________ ______ through _______________ and _____________________
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3. Transition/ Quote Formula And so on. . . Until the story is complete
______: Most interesting information, grabbing the readers attention.
What is the FOCUS of the story?
___________: A summary of what the story is going to be about. Why the story is important.
_______________: Connects to the nut graph. Can use more than one sentence. It should show the emotion of the story.
_____________: Next important fact. Use transitions words to help the story flow. They can be facts, indirect quotes or partial quotes.
______________: Connects to the transition. Do not repeat the transition in the quote. It should elaborate transition.
____________: Next important fact.
___________: Connects to the transition.
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Pre-Writing
Before starting your story, you must first decide what the ___________ of the story will be.
What is the story really about.
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Focus
It is different for every story.
Every story can be written along different focuses.
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Leads
The opening sentence must grab and hold the reader’s attention by using ________________________________________________ ______.
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Leads
The lead must catch the ______ of the story and ___________________________: serious, sarcastic, ironic, flippant, melancholy, etc.
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Feature Story Leads
Can be and often are longer than ____________________.
Your chance to grab the reader’s attention.
Should be ________ to your story.
Should be in the _____________.
Must fit the _________________ __________________________.
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9. Types of Feature Story Leads
__________________________
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Narrative
_______________
She thought he was going to kill her. He had been angry before, even punched his hand through a window once, but he had never threatened her, never scared her like this.
Now he was out of control. He pushed her into a corner and then shove her back down when she tried to escape.
“All I could think was ‘I have to get out of here.’ I just started crying,” Julie, a senior, said.
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11. Descriptive ______________________________________________________.
He smokes Camel Lights. He wears Harley Davidson boots. He worships Jim Davidson.
Greg DeCour is a 16-year-old James Dean who doesn’t dig America. He is ready to go home.
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12. Direct Quote
___________________
___________________________
“Don’t be mad. I took some pills,” Karen Keaton cried as she stooped over the toilet.
A few hours later, the 14-year-old freshman died after a series of coronary arrests.
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Startling Statement
___________________
She never knew she had it.
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Twist
________________________________________________ _________________________________
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The Lead should ___________________________ ___________________________ ____________________.
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16. Writing Devices for Leads
__________________
______________________________
_____________________
Mixing _________________________ _______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________
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17. Avoid lead writing pitfalls
___________________________
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18. Once you have gotten past the Lead . . .
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Nut Graph
It is a _____________________ ________________________________________________ _________________________________.
It’s the thesis statement of your story.
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20. How do you end a Feature Story?
Either
_________________ Or
_________________________ ___________.
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21. To help out, think of this acronym when your done
____________
G __________
Q __________
S ____________________
T ____________________________
U ____________________
D ____________________________
D ____________________
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22. Pitfalls to avoid in Feature Writing
___________________________
______________________________________________________
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