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Learning About Feature Articles

This lesson plan introduces students to feature article writing by having them compare an encyclopedia entry to a feature article on the same topic. The teacher will read passages from each to the class, emphasizing the dry, factual style of the encyclopedia entry versus the more engaging voice of the feature article. Students will discuss the differences they noticed, such as the feature article addressing the reader directly and having the author's perspective on the topic. The lesson aims to help students understand that feature articles inform readers about a specific angle on a subject rather than stating every fact.

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Sage Capinlac Olajay
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151 views3 pages

Learning About Feature Articles

This lesson plan introduces students to feature article writing by having them compare an encyclopedia entry to a feature article on the same topic. The teacher will read passages from each to the class, emphasizing the dry, factual style of the encyclopedia entry versus the more engaging voice of the feature article. Students will discuss the differences they noticed, such as the feature article addressing the reader directly and having the author's perspective on the topic. The lesson aims to help students understand that feature articles inform readers about a specific angle on a subject rather than stating every fact.

Uploaded by

Sage Capinlac Olajay
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Focus Lesson Planning Sheet

Focus Learning About Feature Articles: Big Ideas


Lesson Not Just Facts
Topic
A well-written feature article (for example, the middle
Materials article from a Time For Kids), copied for every student
(will be used again in unit)
An encyclopedia entry about the same topic (just 1
teacher copy)
Chart paper
Some other examples of feature articles, either copied
or available in original format, for students to read and
immerse in prior to actual writing (see below for possible
sources for feature articles)

We are beginning a new genre of writing today, one that is very


Connection much present in the world around us. We are going to examine what
this type of writing is like and some of the characteristics that are
included in this type of writing. Then you are going to write a piece
of this type of writing. The type of writing I am speaking of is a
type of nonfiction called “feature articles.” Let’s begin by looking at
what a feature article is and is not.

Explicit I am going to read some nonfiction to you. It is about ____. Read


encyclopedia entry (first few paragraphs) emphasizing the dry,
Instruction somewhat voiceless quality of the writing). Turn and talk to a
partner. Briefly tell each other what you learned about _____ from
what I just read to you. Allow for brief discussion of some
information learned from entry, then lead discussion to style of
writing. It seems like this entry fulfilled its purpose of giving you
some information, but would you want to keep reading it once you
learned what you needed to learn from it? Elicit answers. Can you
tell anything about the author of this piece? Discuss. This kind of
writing could be written by anyone since it is only a restating of
facts. There really isn’t any voice. The personality and ideas of the
author don’t come through. It’s not bad writing. It just isn’t meant
to go beyond simple facts.
Now I am going to read a feature article about the same topic.
Notice some similarities and some differences between this and the
encyclopedic writing we just read and be ready to discuss them when
I am finished. Read first few paragraphs of feature article, having
students read along silently. Read with expression and voice so that
students can begin to differentiate between the types of writing.

Guided I’m going to stop reading now, but would you like me to continue if we
had time? Does this writing make you want to keep going? Elicit
Practice positive responses to this question. You have begun to notice that
this writing, which also is meant to inform us about the same topic,
Anchor Chart is written in a different way than the encyclopedic writing we read
Qualities of earlier. Turn and talk to a partner and think of some of the ways
Feature Article
this writing is different. Allow for time to talk and then have a
Writing (May
include the discussion about these differences. Begin an anchor chart listing
following some of the qualities of feature article writing that students
-reader may be discussed. The most important quality for students to see is that
addressed as the author does not attempt to tell every fact about the topic (as
“you”
encyclopedic writing aims to do). Rather the author has a certain
-asks questions
of reader perspective, or “spin” on the topic that he/she is trying to
-written with communicate. For example, a feature article would not tell every fact
expression and about Antarctica, but may try to inform readers why Antarctica’s ice
voice shelves are melting and why that’s important.
-author has a
certain
perspective on
the topic and
doesn’t try to tell
all the facts
about the
topic(!!!!!)

Send Off Today during WW you are going to familiarize yourself further with
feature articles. Read some of the feature articles that have been
[for collected for you. Notice some of the qualities we have talked about,
Independe especially how the author doesn’t try to restate to you all the facts
nt about the topic but rather has a certain perspective or angle or
“spin” on the topic that he/she is trying to inform you about.
Practice]
Group In groups or whole class, students could share some of the qualities
they noticed in the feature articles they read.
Share
Possible sources for feature articles:
Time For Kids (especially the cover story or middle article)
Ranger Rick (some articles)
National Geographic for Kids (some articles)
Sports Illustrated for Kids (some articles)
Muse (many articles)
Cobblestone (many articles)
Faces (many articles)
Odyssey (many articles)
Dig (many articles)
(It is important that sample feature articles support the concept that feature articles are not broad, general
surveys of a topic—All About Antarctica—but rather a focused look at a particular angle of information
about that topic—Scientists Are Concerned About Antarctica’s Disappearing Ice Shelves.)

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