1. Picking a Topic— Determining the Point Today’s Objectives Objective #1: Search in your brain or writer’s notebook for topics for a feature article. Objective #2: Learn the differences between a topic that is too broad versus one that has a purpose.

2. Picking a Topic— Determining the Point In American Idol the contestants have to find the “right” song to perform. The judges always talk about how a song choice was good or bad for the performer. The same is true for WRITING!!! Writers make choices about topics the way singers make decisions about songs.

3. Picking a Topic GOOD topics are those that the writer feels strongly about usually because of personal interests and experiences. Think of all the topics from the American Idol Feature Article finalists.  Why do you think the authors chose those specific topics? (i.e. Boogers & Snot, The Greatest, Cinco De Mayo, Pull and Click)  ANSWER: Because they were the writer’s personal interests or experiences!

4. Picking a Topic You are going to search through your writer’s notebook to look for any entries or lists could generate ideas for good topics. For example:  An entry about a bike accident could become a feature article on “bike safety.”  An entry about a sibling could generate a topic about babysitting or bullying.

5. Picking a Topic— Determining the Point Make a “Top 5” list of topics you would like to write a Feature Article on.  Things I enjoy doing.  Places I like to go or don’t like to go.  Things I’ve learned never to do.  Things I’ve been scared, joyful, or embarrassed.  Skills I have (i.e. skateboarding, cooking, doing hair, babysitting, etc.) For example, “I learned to never mess with a bee” could generate an article focusing on stinging insects, different kinds of bees, how bees are helpful, etc.

6. Determining the Point Final Two: Pick two potential topics you will use to write your Feature Article. Remember the article entitled Dogs? The article Dogs is a broad topic—like a whole pizza. A whole pizza is too big to put in your mouth like a broad topic is too big for a feature article. But like a pizza, a broad topic can be sliced into pieces that are “just right” for a feature article.

7. Dogs How to take care of a puppy. Dalmatians make good pets. How dogs communicate.

8. Determining the Point (Pitfalls) When doing a “how-to” article:

9. Is it a “ Whole pizza ” or a “ Slice ”??? AntsAnts hard at work NASCARSafety precautions at the races Rick PitinoRick Pitino is the best coach ever RainforestsAmazing rainforest insects SkateboardingThe best skateboarders in the US NASCARNASCAR basics Haunted HousesThe ghosts at Waverly Hills FootballFootball greats from the past SkateboardingSkateboarding sites in Louisville TOPIC Possible Feature Article Topic **Name a topic from your Top Two list and let the class help you decide if it’s W or S?

10. Plan Your Feature Article: The Purpose and Main Idea Today’s Objective: Decide on a focused purpose and plan main ideas for your feature article. Let’s get started! First, pick your #1 Top Pick!  Which topic do you MOST want to write about? (i.e. Something that you care about or you think others might like or need to know about it.) Then, start “thinking” about what your main ideas could be about for your topic.

11. Plan Your Feature Article: The Purpose and Main Idea After selecting your #1 Top Pick and started thinking about potential main idea paragraphs, you will partner up! Your job as a partner will be to:  help, assist, and check your partner’s topic.  See if it is focused enough OR too focused?  Give them suggestions or ideas on ways they could get the topic “More focused” or ways they could do their main ideas.

12. Plan Your Feature Article: The Purpose and Main Idea Using a blank Write to the Point planner. Fill in your Intro and try to do 2 – 3 main ideas. Be prepared to share with a partner.  PARTNERS: Check to see if their topic has a “focused purpose” and…  Did they followed the 3 Must’s for Main Ideas? Share with the class.

13. Exercise The benefits of daily exercise. How exercising makes you healthy. Exercises you could do everyday. What is exercise?

14. Develop Main Ideas—Using the EX-Team Objective: Learn how to develop main ideas with the EX-Team. Let’s look at the EX-Team! (Next slide) How will the EX-Team help you when developing your main idea paragraphs?  It will make your “deflated” paragraphs into “inflated” ones!!!  The EX-Team will pump-up your main ideas! **Let’s look at the article: Pull and Click  What is the purpose of this piece?

16. Develop Main Ideas What kind of idea development (which EX-Team member) did the writer use in the introduction?  EXPERIENCE On pg. 2 of the article, first sentence - last paragraph. “Many important people have died…” What kind of idea development did the author use in the 2 nd and 3 rd sentences?  EXAMPLE Did the author use any EXPERT information (statistics, quotes, facts)?  YES! The author put their references at the end. Locate where the statistics are used in this article?

17. The EX-Team There are many places in this article where the writer gives EXPLANATIONS. Explanations are important because they give readers more information and answer their questions about “how” and “why.” Look at the section with the subheading “A Car’s Force” on pg. 3. “A car has its own force, just like everything else.” What word in that sentence might need some explanation for the reader?  The writer knew “force” would need some explanation. Read the rest of the section to find out how the author explained “force.”