Creating A Classroom Newspaper Page 16
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35Lesson #3
Writing Feature Stories
Teacher background:
Feature stories are different from news stories in several ways. They generally are not late-breaking
news, but cover subjects that are timely. They often present another way of looking at a current
event. Feature stories do not follow the inverted pyramid style of writing. They may be written in
different styles – and at times use a first- or second-person approach. Feature stories are “people”-
oriented. They cover topics such as social trends, health and wellness, fashion, food, “slice of life”
views of situations, travel stories, consciousness-raising stories, personality profiles and “behind the
headline” stories. They are more descriptive than news stories.
Purpose:
Students will
1. identify the characteristics of feature writing
2. discover the differences between feature writing and news writing
3. select feature topics for the class newspaper
4. write a feature story
Before you start:
Help students think about interesting topics that might make good feature stories.
1. Ask students to suggest topics about current ideas or situations that interest them
2. Write suggestions on the board
3. Have students select the three topics they think would be most popular with many
readers.
Learning Activities:
Level I
1. Explain the differences between feature stories and news stories
2. Read examples of each to the children. Discuss similarities and differences.
3. Ask children to tell a story in feature story format.
4. Guide students to select an appropriate topic for their feature stories. List some of the ideas
on the board.
Level II & III
1. Compare news writing and feature writing. Establish the following comparison:
CONTENT
BEGINNING
MIDDLE
ENDING
NEWS
5Ws
4 Ws
W & H
W & H
STORY
NEWSWORTHY
FEATURE
Narrative or
Sequences
Reaches
Catchy, exciting
STORY
Expository
Information
conclusion
2. Divide students into groups. Have the groups locate feature stories in the newspaper.
Remind them that news stories and opinion columns are not feature stories.
3. Ask students to share findings; list topics of the features on the board.
4. Let students read the opening paragraphs of several feature stories. Compare these with the
lead paragraphs of news stories.
5. Have students locate and share examples of such feature writing techniques as descriptive
words and phrases, colorful language, idioms, or first- and second-person viewpoints.
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