Chapter 10: Writing Features
Define Feature Writing
What is: A prominent news story written like a short piece of fiction; usually not related to a current event.
Define Editorial
What is: An article that states a newspaper’s ideas/opinions on a particular issue.
Define Column
What is: An article with a byline that expresses an opinion about something and that shows individuality
Define Backgrounding
What is: Finding out information about the sport, the team, the coaches, the events and the issues you’ll be covering
Define a Profile
What is: A short, vivid character sketch
The significance of editorial cartoons.
What is: A powerful form of expression, can grab the attention of readers in a single glance, reinforces editorial message.
Define a Specialized Column
What is: Columns that appear in specific areas of the newspaper, such as on the sports, travel or politics pages.
The most important thing to evoke in post game writings.
What is: Emotion.
The two types of feature writings.
What are: News features and Timeless stories.
The two ways one can give voices to their audience.
What are: Opinion Features and Letters to the Editor.
The three characteristics you should always try incorporate into your column writing.
What are: humanity, wit and freedom of approach
A practice you should avoid in Post-Game writings.
What are: Cliches
Name three (3) of the five (5) categories of story leads.
What are: Summary, Striking Statement, Descriptive Lead, Narrative, and/or Questions/Quotations
The three types of editorials one can choose to write.
What are: Editorials that persuade, that evaluate, that explain.
The most important aspects behind writing a beginning, middle, and conclusion to your column writing.
What are: Grab the reader's attention, back up your opinion without bombarding your audience with boring statements/use description, satisfy your readers in the end.
The three (3) steps behind backgrounding.
What are: Read articles, know the rules and statistics, know the coaches and players you'll be covering.
The four (4) questions to ask to keep your feature writing focused.
What are: "What is your subject?"; "What are you trying to say?"; "How will you say it?"; "Have you said it well enough?"
The four (4) steps to organizing an editorial.
What are: 1. State the subject and your position on the subject in the introduction. 2. Discuss opposing points of view. 3. Prove your position with supporting details. 4. Draw a conclusion.
Name five (5) of the seven (7) types of column writings on can write.
What are: Syndicated, humor, editorials, gossip, entertainment coverage and reviews, specialized, and blogs.
Should be included in every advance you write (4)
What are: The significance of the matchup, both teams’ records, key players/injuries, styles of play.