Journ-111 Feature Writing Class Tuesdays 9am-12nn
Manila Times School of Journalism
- The principles of concise and vigorous feature writing
- Required reading: “The Elements of Style” by Strunk and White
- Finding samples of excellent features and deconstructing why they work
- Reading as a writer: differentiating between excellent and terrible writing and noting what works
- Breaking down the feature article into its parts
a. Hooking the reader with the lead paragraph
b. Following through with detail and consistency
c. Ending where you began
- On-the-spot writing assignments
- Writing a minimum number of words under time pressure
- Filling a feature with more information instead of just more words
- Finding your story, your angle and your voice
- Why there is no such thing as writer’s block
- Feature writing assignments that include interviews and research
- Balancing viewpoints
- Attributing sources
- Firsthand information
- Mastering the art of the interview
- Blogsite writing
- Accountability and readership response
- Against indulgent and self-promotional writing
- Writing for an interactive medium
- Class workshops
- Constructive criticism of each other’s work
- Editing one’s own work: good writing is rewriting
- Weekly Q&A
- Real world experiences and anecdotes
- Ideals vs. reality: how budgetary constraints, the reliance on public relations materials and advertising considerations affect journalistic integrity
- Attendance
On assignments and workshop materials:
Always print enough copies for all your fellow students, yourself and the professor.
Always email a soft copy in word document.
Post all assignments on your feature writing class blog.
Email format:
Subject: student_(full name)_(assignment)
Attach word file
Word file format:
student_(full name)_(assignment).doc
12 pts, Times New Roman
Single space
No paragraph indentions
Line space between paragraphs
Black text no highlights
No all caps
No images
Normal view
100 percent zoom
Blog format:
Distinct from personal blog
No background music, animation or videos
Commentable and viewable to the public
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