DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

1 FEATURE WRITING

FOCUS: Establishing Goals and Choosing Subjects

Developing Effective Leads and Endings
OBJECTIVES
At the end of the training session, trainees should be able to:

1. Establish goals of feature

2. Choose subjects for their features
3. Develop catchy/interesting leads
4. Construct appealing endings

INSTRUCTIONS
The purpose of this exercise is to review trainees’ knowledge on how to write an
effective lead and ending.

1. At the beginning of the training-session, discuss the basic structure on how write a
feature article. Also, assist the trainees to establish their goals and choose subjects for
their feature.
2. Discuss different types of novelty leads. Remind the trainees to understand how novelty
leads help to create an inviting impression to their feature write-ups. Also, discuss
different ways on how to end the feature article with a bang.
3. Show samples of feature articles showcasing the effective use of leads and endings. Let
the trainees analyze and evaluate each sample. Let them discuss with their co-trainees
the strong points and weak points they may see in the feature sample.
4. Ask the trainees to write a feature article about the given topic.

WORKSHOP
1. Spearhead the writing workshop by evaluating the trainees’ outputs. Encourage
everybody to be part of the critiquing process.
2. Each output shall be evaluated using the Official Rubrics used in the RSPC.
3. Trainees shall be ranked based on their performance.

OUTPUT
1. Feature Article (with emphasis on the effective use of lead and ending)
Topic: Shamcey Supsup (see attached Fact Sheet)

1|Page Prepared by Alvin B. Hizon, Division Journalism Trainer I

 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

SETTING GOALS FOR FEATURE

Establishing goals for your draft before you begin writing will enable you to make decisions and
work more confidently. Consider the following questions now, and keep them in mind as you write
features.

1. How can I present my subject vividly and memorably to the readers?

a. Should I rely on dialogue to present people and relationships?
b. Or should I concentrate on presenting action rather than dialogue?
c. Can I use visual or other sensory details to give readers a vivid impression of the person
and place while also establishing the significance of the subject?
d. Should I narrate the event or refer to surprising discovery?
e. Should I create an imaginary dialogue?

2. How can I help my readers imagine the subject?

a. In addition to describing visual details, should I evoke other senses?
b. Should I characterize people by their clothes, facial expression, and talk?
c. Should I use surprising metaphors or similes?

3. How can I help my readers understand the meaning and importance of subject?
a. Can I build the suspense?
b. Can I show how I changed?

4. How can I engage my readers?

a. Should I begin with vivid image?
b. Should I begin with arresting statements or with surprising statements?
c. Should I introduce the person?

5. How can I avoid superficial or one-dimensional presentations?

a. How can I satisfy the readers’ expectations?
b. What contradictions, paradoxes, or ironies exist in my own story?

6. How can I present and distribute the information?

a. Should I present some information through dialogue from interviews?
b. Should I present information I gathered from direct observations?

7. How can I organize and present the information?

a. Should I organize it topically by groups of related information?
b. Should I arrange it in a chronological narrative order?
c. Should I alternate between a narrative and a topical organization?

8. How can I convey a dominant impression?

a. Should I select information that focuses on one primary aspect of the subject?
b. Should I use my own experience as participant observer or as a guide to focus on what I
think is important?
c. Should I insert my own insights?

9. How can I develop my reflections?

a. Should I include brief and extended examples?
b. Should I use comparison and contrasts?
c. Should I refer to history?

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 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

10. How can I maintain topical coherence?

a. Can I use topic sentences to make clear connections between my ideas or insights and
the examples that develop them?

11. How can I engage and hold my readers’ interest?

a. Should I reveal the human interest and social significance of my subject by beginning my
article with dramatic event?
b. Should I start with personal observation or familiar dialogue?
c. Should I reveal my personal commitment to the subject?
d. Should I attempt to inspire my readers to think deeply about their own lives?

CHOOSING SUBJECTS FOR FEATURE

Rather than limiting yourself to the first subject that comes to mind, take a few minutes to
consider options. By listing subjects as many as you can, you will have a variety of topics to choose for
your feature article. LIST THE MOST PROMISING SUBJECTS YOU CAN THINK OF.
Choose a subject that you feel comfortable sharing with your classmates. The subject should be
one that you want to try to remember in detail and to think about in terms of what it means to you. You
may find the choice easy to make, or you may have several equally promising possibilities. In making a
final choice, it may help to think about your readers and what you would want them to learn about you
from reading about the event or person.

EVENTS
o A difficult situation, such as when you had to make a tough choice, when someone you admired
let you down, or when you struggled to learn or understand something.
o An event that shaped you in a particular way or that revealed an aspect of your personality you
had not seen before, such as your independence, insecurity, ambition, or jealousy.
o An occasion when something did not turn out as you thought it would, such as when you expected
to be criticized but were praised or ignored instead, or when you were convinced you would
succeed but failed.
o An event in which a single encounter with another person changed the way you view yourself,
changed your ideas about how you fit into a particular group or community, or led you to consider
seriously someone’s else point of view.

PEOPLE
o Someone who helped you develop a previously unknown or undeveloped side of yourself.
o Someone who surprised or disappointed you.
o Someone who made you feel you were part of a larger community or had something worthwhile
to contribute or someone who made you feel alienated or like an outsider.
o Anyone doing work that you might want to do.
o Anyone with unusual job or hobby.
o Famous personality.
o Someone recently recognized for achievement.

PLACES
ACTIVITIES
o An unconventional sports event – dogs’ Frisbee tournament, amateur wrestling or boxing meet,
fishing contest, Olympics with PWD.
o A community improvement project – tree planting, church painting, cleanup drive.
o Special courses –rock climbing, folk dancing, dog training, truck driving.

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 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

WRITING THE BEGINNING

Unlike a straight news story, a feature article may begin in any form and in any style. This
depends on the topic or purpose of the writer.
To engage your readers’ interest from the start, consider beginning with compelling graphic
description, startling action, or a vivid memory or by creating a sense of expectation. You might have to
try two or three different beginnings before finding a promising way to start, but do not agonize for too
long over the first sentence. TRY OUT ANY POSSIBLE BEGINNING, AND SEE WHERE IT TAKES YOU.
Most features, however, may be introduced by any of the following:

1. RHETORICAL QUESTION
Who says that age is an obstacle to education?
Take it from Danilo Marcelo of Arayat, Pampanga who stopped going to school seven years ago
after finishing the elementary grades. This year, at 24, he enrolled as a first year evening student
at Abada High School.

2. NARRATIVE
It was 9:20 in the evening. The family was watching TV with the house helpers in the sala except
me. I locked myself in our study room because I had to finish my book report, which was due the
following morning.

3. DESCRIPTIVE
From behind the closed door came the frantic buzz of excited insects. Then, something else came
squeezing out –the nauseating stench of rotting flesh. Suddenly, the door opened and in front of
me, stood a large cage covered in wire mesh. The buzz rose to high-pitched, zinging, whine, and
inside the cage a cloud of blowflies rose into the air, leaving behind a lump of what appeared to
be white meat.

4. TEASER
Where do women grow their curliest hair? Of course, it is in Africa. But is it?

5. PUNCH
A man, who attempted thrice to die by hanging, finally died of cardiac arrest.

6. ONE WORD
Khorosho!’
Replied Dennis Tito, the first tourist to the outer space, when asked by a ground comptroller of
what he felt inside the Soyus-TM capsule. It is the Russian word for ‘great’.

7. PARODY
“Morn mri as mri as da win mru…”
This was the line of the song I heard from a very beautiful lady, who almost broke not only my
eardrum but also my lovestruck heart.

8. FREAK
For Sale: A Kidney
Ruben Tocal, 28, resident of Taguig and a father of seven children said yesterday that he was
forced to sell his kidney to provide his family a bright future.

9. CONTRAST

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 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

In the 1980’s, a 25-centavo coin was already a treasure. Today, nobody wants to give it a second
glance on the ground.

10. STACCATO
Terrorism. Insurgency. Corruption. Too much political bickering. And uncontrolled oil price hiked.
These are but few of the maladies that crippled our economy.

11. OLD MAXIM/APHORISM/SALAWIKAIN

‘Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink.’
This quotation from the Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Coleridge does not hold true
anymore. Today, even flood water can quench the thirst. How?

12. PROBLEMS TO BE DISCUSSED

There is an answer to the rising cost of vegetables: raise your own.

There is no end to interesting, effective openers of feature stories. There are still many other ways.

ENDING THE FEATURE

Again, as important as the lead, is the ending. The last word or words impress the reader as
strongly as the opening sentences.

It may be any of the following:

1. SUMMARY (PABUOD)
Take it from experts: Smoking is definitely harmful to health. Smoking may make you feel manly,
but you may not live long enough to be one.

2. STINGER (DI INAASAHAN)

Ramon, the shy, lovable Ramon, who couldn’t hurt a fly turned out to be the ruthless, vicious
rapist wanted by law in five provinces.

3. CLIMAX (KASUKDULAN)
When the song ended, Alondra stood petrified in the midst of the thunderous ovation. In her
heart, she knew she had finally arrived.

4. UN-ENDING (NAKABITIN)
And so the Operation Oplan X ended on a limbo. The police were postive that Bungisngis was the
brain behind the murder syndicate. But they had no shred of evidence against him.

5. THOUGHT-PROVOKING QUESTION
The hands of the new Filipino toil for the love of creation. They turn the wheels of progress and
hold high the torch of freedom –freedom from want and hunger.
Do you have these kinds of hands?

6. PROVERB (SALAWIKAIN)
Indeed, I have proven to myself what I believe is true from the very start of my nerve-breaking
climb to where I am now that “Behind the dark clouds, the sun is still shining.”

7. SUGGESTED RESULTS OR SIGNIFICANCE (MUNGKAHING BUNGA O KAHALAGAHAN )

Let us conserve our forest now if we want to save the future of our country and of our children.

8. FORECAST/PROPHECY (HULA)

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 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

Someday if we will keep on selfishly denuding the dwindling forest of our Mother Earth, we will
be wallowing in the midst of water, for all the continents will be devoured by ocean brought
about by global warming.

9. QUOTATION (TAHASANG SABI)

Ayon nga kay dating Pangulong Corazon C. Aquino, “Nasa pagkakaisa ang lakas; nasa pagkilos
ang tagumpay.”

10. REFERENCE TO THE TITLE (PAG-UUGNAY SA PAMAGAT )

Mama, see, I was alive but not anymore. So, please let my baby brother live. He could also be as
wonderful as me. His life wouldn’t be like mine –a life that never was.

11. REPETITION OF THE INTRODUCTION

Asked if he had any formal training in photography, Domingo Layson finally answered, “Ah, it is
now the reverse. It is here where I learn as I earn, not I earn as a learn.” (The lead of the feature
article is, “I learn while I earn.”)

WRITING EXERCISE
Write a feature article about how it feels to be a Filipino after Shamcey Supsup won 3 rd runner up in the
Ms. Universe 2011.

My personality is the only thing I can hold on to. I won’t change for anything, even for the crown."
- Shamcey Supsup

Shamcey Supsup (born on May 16, 1986) is a Filipina beauty titleholder who represented the Philippines in the Miss
Universe 2011 pageant, in which she was declared as the third runner-up. She is also a licensed architect and topped
the Architecture Licensure Examination in July 2010 in the Philippines.

Question-and-answer portion

During the question-and-answer portion for the top 5 contestants of the pageant, American actress Vivica A.
Fox asked Supsup, "Would you change your religious beliefs to marry the person you love? Why or why
not?"

Supsup answered, "If I have to change my religious beliefs, I would not marry the person that I love.
Because the first person that I love is God, who created me."

"I have my faith and my principles, and this is what makes me who I am. If the person loves me, he'll love
my God, too," she added.

Supsup was the only one among the top 5 contestants who answered the judge's question in English. The
other gave their replies in the own languages and were aided by an interpreter.

Supsup was also a consistent fan favorite during the pageant, where online fan votes were given weight in
the competition for the first time.

The Filipina beauty was the online voters' question-and-answer favorite with 7.5. She ranked second in the
swimsuit and evening gown votes.

REFERENCES:

Warriner, Alison, Cooper, Charles, Axelrod, Rise. Reading Critically, Writing Well (Eight Edition).
2003. New York/Boston: BEDFORD/ST. MARTIN’S

Cruz, Cecilliano-Jose. Campus Journalism and School Paper Advising (Fourth Edition). 1997.
Manila, Philippines: REX Book Store.

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 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

Hizon, Alvin. Feature Writing: The Art of Telling Stories. (Lecture). 2011. Calamba City,
Philippines: DepEd Office, Calamba.

SHAMCEY SUPSUP
“‘I have reservations with the results. If the only basis is
the Q and A portion, after having been trimmed down
to 5, Ms. Philippines deserved to win. What made her
different from the rest is that she had no seconds to
rethink of her answer as she had no interpreter to break
the ice. The rest had their interpreters and having
breaks on seconds to think about their answers. Hands
down, Ms. Philippines answered straight to the point.”
– Oprah Winfrey

Shamcey Supsup may not have bagged the elusive

international beauty title but to a lot of Filipinos, she still
is a true winner.

Out of 89 candidates, Supsup, 25, placed third runner-up

in the Miss Universe 2011 pageant held in Sao Paolo,
Brazil.

Malacanang praised Supsup for her "humility, intellect,

and grace" during the pageant, noting that she
"embodied the spirit of the true Filipina."

"In our eyes, that is the true victory today—that the

world stood witness to and found an appreciation for the
ideals, values, and beauty that has long characterized our nation," presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said in a
statement.

"May this triumph serve as a way for other nations to come to appreciate not just the beauty of our people, but
that of our country. On behalf of the Filipino people, we are proud of you [Shamcey]; and we see even greater
things ahead for you," Lacierda added.
Shamcey is the lone candidate who did not seek the help of an interpreter during the final Q& A.
Supsup's win is a huge achievement on top of her previous wins, including topping the 2010 Architect Licensure
Examination and graduating magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines.
In Twitter’s world-wide Trending Topic, "Ms. Philippines" was in 9th place, while in the Philippines' trending list,
"Go Philippines" was top two.

Supsup, who was described as having a "mega-watt smile" during the pageant also placed second in the
competition's online ranking for the evening gown.

In a Yahoo! Philippines OMG! poll, majority of the respondents believed Supsup would make it.

At least 58 percent of the respondents believed Supsup had a huge chance at getting the crown, 27 percent voted
that she would be among the Top 5, while five percent said she would be in the Top 10. A mere five percent said
she wouldn’t get into the final stages.

On the Yahoo! Philippines Facebook fanpage, Ed Hagamann said: "I thought Shamcey did her country good. she
represented Filipinos very well and I, for one, am proud of her."

BACKGROUNDER

After Miss Philippines Shamcey Supsup's fourth-place finish in the 2011 Miss Universe pageant on Tuesday,
the Philippines remains one of four Asian countries on the list of top 15 nations with the most number of
awards from the prestigious beauty contest.

Overall, 19 candidates from the Philippines made it beyond the preliminary round of the Miss Universe
pageant, with two of them taking home the title, four years apart:

1963 - Lalaine Bennett (3rd runner-up)

1969 - Gloria Diaz (Miss Universe, ten best in swimsuit)
1973 - Margarita Moran (Miss Universe, Miss Photogenic)
1975 - Rose Mari Brosas (4th runner-up)

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 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

1980 - Maria Rosario "Chat" Silayan (3rd runner-up)

1984 - Maria Desiree Verdadero (3rd runner-up)
1999 - Miriam Quiambao (1st runner-up)
2010 - Maria Venus Raj (4th runner-up)
2011 - Shamcey Supsup (3rd runner-up)

SAMPLE FEATURE
Tomorrow
By Pamela Joy Go, AdI-SMCS

HEAL the world,

Make if a better place
For you and for me
And the entire human race
There are people dying,
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place
For you and for me

I could only stare at the third-grade pupils as they interpret this Michael Jackson classic for their presentation
during the flag ceremony. They seem to be so full of life, so vibrant. Nothing in this world could seem to break the
unbeatable character they have glowing brightly inside them.

I sigh as my thoughts fall on the degrading society that we are having now. How long will these naïve tots have the
overwhelming spirit in them? How will they manage to smile?

Look around you, human. What do you see? The pressing issues concerning the destruction of Mother Earth is
too real…too hard to ignore.

The huge forest fires that terrorize countless of species both here and abroad. The perennial garbage problem that
embraces the government like a cold pack of harsh ice. The dwindling population of all sorts of mammals and
reptiles…the endangered species. The red list is getting longer and longer. Soon, I doubt if we’ll ever be able to
keep track of all the creatures that have disappeared from the face of the earth forever.

Yes, we want to escape from these enigmas. We really want to. But listen. It’s also we who are keeping ourselves
chained to the enslaving powers of material riches. We are blinded by the glitter of gold every time we cut down
trees.

However, there are better realities in this issue our ancient mentality should just think about. The contemporary
ambience of people all over the world getting more humane, more environment-friendly, more real is embracing
us. Any maybe, just maybe, we could start from here.

A year ago, I came across this Reader’s Digest article that suggested a different view of this dilemma. While
countless others would rather stick to the old, hopeless sense of presenting these inevitable facts, the article
examined the optimism that, surprisingly, never left us.

We still have a chance. At least, that’s what the article said. People are becoming civilized. We are no longer a
heartless breed of warm bodies out for nothing but earthly wealth. Through time, we have evolved to be persons
with some sense. And Mother Earth is pretty much depending on it. Her whole life, her whole existence is actually
relying on this so-called sensitivity that we are starting to acquire.

These are not made-up facts, ladies and gentlemen. No, this isn’t escapism. We are not merely creating this news
for the sake of lessening the parables that grasp us by the throat. This is reality.

And this is where we could start. Instead of being a wet blanket, why not take a positive paradigm shift? This
maybe is the breakthrough we have been waiting for. And this could take us somewhere in renovating our home,
to say the least.

Yes, the predicaments around us are more than enough to last us a lifetime. There’s no way they’ll be solved the
moment we put our acts together. They may not even be solved in the entire life of this generation. They may not
even be solved at all. But let us begin. Let us start now.

In John F. Kennedy’s words, “United there’s little we cannot do. Divided, there’s little we can do.” If we hold hands
now, if we open our hearts to one another and disregard those barriers that keep us from being who we truly are,
then maybe we could still hang on to life.

As I watch the children hold hands and dance about the stage, I recognize in their eyes what we almost lost—
hope. The smiles pasted on their innocent faces spell a promise that there will be a tomorrow. And that tomorrow
will surely be better.

Tomorrow, the world will be healed.

Tomorrow, the world will be a better place.
8 | and
For you P a gfor
e me and the entire human race. # Prepared by Alvin B. Hizon, Division Journalism Trainer I
 DIVISION CLINIQUING AND RIGID TRAINING : FEATURE WRITING 2011

HALIMBAWA NG LATHALAIN

Pagdalaw sa Lawa ng Bulusan Pamagat

Perlegio Paderes
Unang Gantimpala, NSPC 1993

KUNG sinasabing ang pluma ay higit ha pakapangyarihan kaysa

anumang snadata, sa pluma man ay may higit pang
makapangyarihan. Ito ang ganda ng kalikasan.
Kahanga-hanga, makapitlag-puso, makalangit, kapita-pitagan
at walang pinag-iwan sa isang tunay na paraiso. Ito ang Lawa ng
Bulusan, lawa para sa sinumang nilalang na ibig mapag-isa upang
lasapin ang biyaya ng tunay na katahimikan sa buhay o dili naman
kaya’y upang lunasan ang hapdi ng puso sa pamamagitan ng walang
sawang pagmasid sa mapang-aliw at masaganang kagandahan ng
buong pusong inihain ng kalikasan.

Sa aking nasaksihan sa una kong pagdalaw sa lawang ito na

matatagpuan sa dakong timog silangan ng lalawigang Sorsogon na
may apatnapu’t limang kilometro mula sa punong bayan ay ang mga
sumusunod:

Isang likas na daan o pilapil na maaring mapagdaanan na

tuloy-tuloy sa buong paligid. Sa pampang naman ito ay nakapalibot
ang malilin na punong-kahoy na pawing nangayuko at animo’y
nahihiyang nagbubulungan.

Sa paligid pa rin ay ang mgaburol na siyang nagsisilbing muog

sa sinuman o anumang ibig magsamantala sa walang batik na
kagandahan nito. Sa libis naman ng burol ay para-parang inihasik and
naglalakihan at nag-papaligsahang mga magagandang bulaklak.

Tunay na kawili-wili at kahanga-hanga. Ang malamig na simoy

nghangin ay nakapagpapadama na waring ang buhay ay walang
katapusan. Ito ang mga pangunahing katangian ng lawa ng Bulusan
na may labing anim na hektarya ang lawak at may tatlumpu’t
dalawang metro ang lalim. Ang lawa ay tatlong daan at animnapu’t
limang taong gulang na. Ito’y maaaring marating sa pamamagitan ng
bus o anumang sasakyang pangkalsada sa loob ng may humigit-
kumulang sa dalawa at kalahating oras.

Ibig ba ninyong dumalaw doon? Kayo’y malugod na

inaanyayahan at buong pusong tatanggapin ng mapang-akit na
lawang nakahimlay sa tuktok ng higanteng bulkan. #

9|Page Prepared by Alvin B. Hizon, Division Journalism Trainer I