Week 4 - Feature Story Structure

During Week 4, we discussed the components of feature story structure. Unlike a basic news lead, which summarizes the key facts in the lead, a feature story lead can be more intriguing and creative.

Because you have the whole story to develop your idea and tell your story details rather than starting from the most important to the least important (inverted pyramid) facts, a lot more flexibility in structure is available to you. You are not tied to a set formula of how the information is presented. Instead, you just need to make sure, like all good stories, your article has a beginning (lead and nut graf), middle (“meat”) and end (kicker).

Once you’ve reviewed your compiled information for your story, the next questions include:

§  What’s the appropriate length for topic? (if not assigned)

§  How much depth does the topic need?

§  What deserves the most emphasis?

§  What’s expendable?

§  What’s the best way to make key points?

Then, you will begin to outline/arrange your order. This can be done in many ways (formal outline, bullets, bubbles, map “spokes,” etc.). Pick a method that works best for you. Longer stories will need more organizing.

We talked about two specific story structures: the kabob and the martini. Please review these in the textbook if you were not in class (page 50).

Thursday’s class mostly focused on tying together all the pieces in planning and producing a feature story in preparation for your first feature story assignment:

•       Generate story idea(s)

–      mapping, freewriting, brainstorming, research, etc.

•       Gather materials/background

–      Research

–      Interviews

–      Notes

•       Decide on style

–      Voice and tone of the story

•       Choose structure

–      Create outline

•       Write story

     

We walked through the example of coming up with feature stories on Valentine’s Day and looked at several possible outlines from the textbook, using the “kabob,” the “martini,” and basic narrative formulas.

The last part of class was spent talking about how to tackle Assignment #3 (due Tuesday). Here is a list of suggestions:

1. Review the list of notes
2. Highlight key components
3. Cross out non-essential information
4. Decide on the story focus and “hook”
5. Determine order of information
6. Develop outline
7. Write lead
8. Write draft of story
9. Review grading rubric
10. Revise and edit
11. Revise and edit some more
12. Polish and complete

Bring a hard copy of your Assignment #3 story to class on Tuesday.

Also, begin planning ahead for your profile piece (due a week from Tuesday). Review the instructions for Assignment #4 and begin thinking about who you want to profile and interview.