Elements of a feature article:
- Lead and conclusion: Explain the strategy that the writer is using
in the lead of this feature article. How long is the lead? Is it descriptive?
Anecdotal? Setting a scene? What is the reason for using a lead like this?
What does it accomplish? Similarly, examine the conclusion of the feature
article. Does it connect back to the lead in some way or not? Is it catchy or
dull? Where does the conclusion to the article begin and how long is it? Sum
up the overall effect and success of the lead and conclusion in this article.
What can another writer learn from the strategies used here?
- Content areas: Examine and name the different categories of content
that this feature article covers. For example, the section that details the
Buell motorcycle is one content area; the section that details Harley’s
attempts to appeal to novice riders is another. Are there too many content
areas (making the article too unwieldy), just enough content areas, or not
enough? Are there other content areas that could have been addressed but were
not?
- Background: Most features have some kind of background explanation
or an explanation of some history of the topic at hand. Describe the
background information featured in this article. Does it provide enough
information or not? Is there anything mentioned in the article that assumes
the reader understands it and its importance? What other kinds of background
information could have been featured?
- Number and quality of sources: How many different sources are in
this article? How would you categorize these different sources? How are they
authority figures? Are they appropriate or not? Was there too many of one type
of source, or were there any other types of sources that you expected to hear
from and didn’t? Is there a certain view or side to the story that you feel
should have been represented by a source that wasn’t? Or are all views and
sides covered?
- Quality of quotations: Examine the feature article for the
strongest and weakest quotations. Where do you find the strongest, most
memorable quotation? What kind of source does it come from? What does it add
to the article? Why was it used? Pinpoint what you feel to be the weakest
quotation. What kind of source does it come from? Why do you think it was used
if it is a weak quote? Discuss also what the quotations reveal about the
quality of questions asked by the writer.
- Lively writing: Keeping in mind that feature articles are designed
for informative pleasure reading, examine this article for uses of
particularly strong, vivid writing and vocabulary. Select several passages to
share with your class that you feel are written particularly well. They may be
descriptive and visual or merely explanatory and technical. They may make use
of unusual vocabulary that captures your attention. But be able to explain to
your peers why you think the writing works well in that section.