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​​Journalistic Feature

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​​Purpose ​🎯​

​​ Features form an important of writing content for magazines, newspapers and online sites. Through this assessment you will learn how complete research and write content  in clear, logical, and convincing manner.  

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​​Task Description ​✏️​

​​For your Feature, you must: 

• ​​Develop a clear narrative that is introduced early, elaborated on in the body and returned to at the end of the story

• ​​Have a strong primary interview subject, conventionally this would be who the feature is about. NB you must have at least 1 interview subject but you can have more

• ​​Include a direct quote from the interview subject

• ​​Include an angle

• ​​Good use of detail and create a sense of place through words

• ​​Not have an spelling or grammar errors 

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​​Additional Information ​📚​

​​To help you complete this task successfully, the following resources are provided:

• ​​Marking Rubric — refer to this to understand how you will be assessed

• ​​Example: Feature — review this to see a completed example of the task

• ​​Checklist: How to write a Feature — use this to help you complete the task

• ​​Consent Form — use this to get consent for your piece

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​​Checklist: How to write a Feature ​✅​

​​Please copy + paste this checklist into your Notes, ticking off each task as you go. 

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​​Step 1: Task Understanding

​​To help you understand what you need to do for this task and how will be assessed, you must:

• ​​Read the Instructions and Checklist carefully

• ​​Read the Marking Rubric

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​​Step 2: Choose Topic

​​To help find a compelling story, you should: 

• ​​Read the news (to see what’s happening) and talk to people to find interesting stories

• ​​Select your topic and start researching. 

• ​​TIP: you’re looking for background information to help with your angle and identify subjects 

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​​Step 3: Type of Feature

​​To help you focus your feature, you should: 

• ​​Decide on the type of feature you want to write: e.g. human interest, profile, instructional, historical, seasonal, and behind the scenes

• ​​Consider your audience — asking yourself, who will read this? What kind of angle will appear to these readers?

• ​​Consider the type of publication you want to write for: e.g. gardening magazine

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​​Step 4: Interview Subject

​​To help you complete the interview, you should: 

• ​​Prepare for the interview:

• ​​Identify your subject/s 

• ​​Schedule a time and place convenient to the interviewee (for 30-45 minutes)

• ​​Tip: be respected of their time, flexible (in case they need to reschedule) and make sure you confirm a few days before. 

• ​​Know your interviewee’s background and experience, and if possible their views of your topic

• ​​Write a list of compelling questions (have a long list)

• ​​ You may want to tell the interviewee some or all of your questions in advance, so they can be prepared. But remember only do this if you want to, you have no obligation to show them the questions.