Writing a Feature Article:

‘Feature’ articles focus on one topic, issue or theme. They may comment in depth on a current issue reported in the news; other subjects may be an issue of social importance or a general issue such as sport, health, travel or history. Feature articles intend to INFORM, ENTERTAIN AND PERSUADE. They are often controversial and can be subjective. Feature articles are not as urgent as news articles, which mean the writer has to attract the readers’ attention and hold it.

FIVE ELEMENTS OF THE FEATURE ARTICLE:

1) THEME: This is the main idea of the article. It is reinforced throughout.

2) FACTS: Through research and interview, facts are gathered and used in the feature to support the writer’s main ideas. They give validity and authority to the writer’s viewpoint.

3) QUOTES: They are used extensively by the writer as proof or to suggest objectivity. They also make the article seem more authentic. There are two types of quotes:

Direct quotes: which appear objective but may not be, depending on the way they have been used (for example taken out of context)

Indirect quotes: quotes which summarise what an individual or a group has said. They are quite subjective as they are the writer’s interpretation of what has been said.

4) ANECDOTES: A short narrative about an incident or event, an anecdote maintains the interest of the reader by giving real-life examples of the theme

5) PERSONAL COMMENT: The writer’s individual opinion that expands the main theme. This develops from the evidence provided. It gives the article its individual style.

STYLISTIC FEATURES INCLUDE:

HEADLINE:

Should be striking, often clever, headline to engage the reader.

BYLINE:

A by-line is supposed to be saying who wrote the article.

FIRST PARAGRAPH:

Background information; in the first paragraph to inform the reader of important facts, set the context and draw attention to the purpose of the article. The first paragraph also sets the tone, and is often meant to be provocative. The first paragraph must be thought-provoking and raise the issues or the writer’s thesis (argument/viewpoint)

STYLE:

• Emotive, dramatic and descriptive language to achieve the writer’s persuasive purpose.
• Personal style and approach.
• Informal/colloquial language.
• Humour/exaggeration to prove a point.
• Comments by experts or important people.
• Rhetorical questions.
• Relevant jargon.
• Selective use of facts to persuade or entertain.
• Clear opinion and line of argument with a high degree of confidence making him or her sound like an expert on the subject.
• Variation of sentence length to provide interest and highlight key ideas
• Short paragraphs
• Sometimes subheadings.
• Present tense or often future tense at the end of the article.

CONCLUSION:

Often an open-ended or a catchy concluding sentence, which gets readers to make a judgement on the issue.  A simple catchy conclusion, often with a rhetorical question about the ideas raised in the text is good; it may include possible outcomes or recommendations.

FEATURE ARTICLES ARE NOT AS URGENT AS NEWS ARTICLES SO THEY MUST GRAB AND HOLD THE AUDIENCES’ ATTENTION.

Thank you for reading, I hope this helps! Please comment back!

All the best,

Larriken21.