Please answer the questions below over the blog or on a piece of paper:

1) What did you like about writing feature stories?
2) What did you find most challenging about it?
3) Would you want to write a feature story again? Why or why not?
4) Would you have changed your topic if you could have? Why or why not?

5) What did you like about writing editorials?
6) What did you find most challenging about it?
7) Would you want to write an editorial again? Why or why not?

8) Which article did you like writing more? Editorial or feature? Why?

I would also like each of you to present a small summary of your feature story. What was it about? How did you interest the reader? Why did you choose this topic? (You may stand up by your seat for this, you do not have to come up to the front of the room)

This summary can be 2-5 minutes, it does not have to be long.

*Remember that comments on the articles are due tomorrow=-)

Your final draft of your feature story will be due by the end of the period today!

Please put your papers in the following order:

1) Interviews on bottom
2) On top of that put your peer-editing sheets
3) On top of that put your rough draft
4) On the very top (this should be the first paper I see) will be your final draft.

Do not forget to comment on the articles posted on the blog=-) (due Thursday)

I am going to give you one more day to complete your final!

I would like you to thoroughly complete the peer-editing sheet that I have posted on the blog before completing your final draft. So please have that done by today if it is not done already.

Final draft will be due at the end of the period tomorrow 4/28


Please comment on one of the articles below by Thursday:

Iraqi leader: U.S. raid breached accord
Race Against Unknown? Containing Swine Flu
Can We Control the Weather?
Can America Afford to 'Go Green'?
Can Cuba Handle American Tourists?
Would You Kick Your Kids Out of the Car?

I hope you all had a fantastic weekend=-)

New Due Dates

Your rough draft should be done for today!

Please have your paper peer-edited today! Complete the peer-editing sheet that I have posted on the blog. This will count as credit towards your grade so please make sure you have the peer-editing sheet completed.

Monday 4/27 your final draft will be due by the end of the period.

I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend=-) Enjoy the weather!

Your rough draft should be done today.

Make sure you have your rough draft peer-edited by the end of the period.

As of now final drafts will be due tomorrow 4/24.

Please fill out this peer-editing sheet on a separate piece of paper and hand it in to me by the end of the period. (Do not type)

Peer- Editing Worksheet

Writer's Name:
Editor's Name:

· Exchange papers with a partner; read through your partner’s article carefully.
· Correct any grammatical errors as you read the article.
· Complete the questions below. Avoid "yes" or "no" answers to the questions; instead, make specific suggestions that will help your partner revise the paper effectively.
· Once the worksheet has been completed pass it back to your partner and discuss the points you have made. Keep in mind that the comments on the worksheet are suggestions by your partner and that you need to decide what to change.

What is the topic of the paper?


What do you think of the article's title? If it's too general or bland, or if there isn't one, suggest a good one.


Is the lead interesting? Does it catch your attention? Why or why not?


What is the topic sentence in the lead? Is it effectively stated?


Is the topic introduced clearly? Do the sentences run smoothly? Suggest alternative
phrasings.


Does each paragraph connect with the main idea of the article? Does the writer stay focused?


Which paragraph seems to have the most interesting and convincing details? Why?
Has the writer used effective sources (i.e. to support, illustrate points made)? Where can support (quotes, examples, facts, figures, etc.) be added? Where does the writer need to explain the supporting details more clearly?


What is the best part of the article? Why?



What is the weakest part? Why?



What mood has the writer set for the audience?


Does the feature story end effectively? Does it wrap up the writer’s ideas? If not suggest some ways that the writer could improve his/her conclusion?

Feature Writing

You should begin your rough draft of your feature story today!

All outline sheets are due today. Make sure you hand them in to me for credit! If I do not check it today you will receive a zero.

Here are the due dates for this article:

Thursday 4/23: Your rough draft is due for peer- editing.

Friday 4/24: Final drafts of feature story will be due by the end of the period.

Today I will hand back your editorials. You all did very well for the most part!

After passing back the editorials you must make sure you return them back to me because I have not yet entered your grades in the computer.

Your outline sheet will be due today at the end of class.

Tomorrow you will begin writing your rough drafts of your feature stories.

A feature story is a human interest piece. Make sure that your topic will catch your reader's attention.

Your topic must include research! Please try to write about something that you can relate to. This will make it easier for you to come up with ideas for your feature story.

Today we will start off by taking a quiz on feature writing.

After you have finished please do something else quietly until everyone has completed the quiz.

I will then pass out an outline I would like you to complete as you are beginning to work on your feature story.

I hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! Good luck on the quiz!

Feature Writing Quiz
Please answer the following questions. Answer the questions thoroughly and completely with more than two sentences for each short answer.
1) Name the three main characteristics of feature stories and describe each one.
2) Define the term “evergreen”. How does this term relate to feature writing?
3) What language can be used in a feature story that cannot be used in a straight news article?
4) Describe a personality profile. What constitutes a personality profile?
5) What is your main goal when writing feature stories?

What is the purpose of a feature story lead?
a) To grab the reader’s attention.
b) To introduce facts.
c) To state your opinion.
d) To introduce your topic.

Which words CAN you use in a feature story?
a) Only “I” sparingly
b) “You” and “I” sparingly
c) “We” sparingly
d) Contractions

Today you will be finishing up your assignments.

Please complete the workbook pages that I have assigned and the newspaper article assignment if you have not already finished.

If you have finished both of these please think about what topic you would like to do for your feature story.

Brainstorm five possible topics you would like to do. I would like you to do some research on each topic. Write a sentence or two summarizing the information that you have found through your research. This should help you figure out what you would like to do for your writing assignment. The topic with the most background information will be the best topic to write about. Please submit this to me by the end of class.

You will be having a quiz on feature writing Monday 4/20. Please study your notes over the weekend. The quiz will be on the information taken from the PowerPoint I presented.

Have a fantastic weekend=-)

Today your comments on the articles are due! I would like to discuss the articles today.

After discussing the articles on the blog we will be doing some exercises from your workbook in class.

I would like you to complete exercise 1 on page 138 in your workbook on a separate piece of paper. You may type or write these answers. You will receive credit for the completion of this work.

After you have completed this exercise I would like you to choose to complete one exercise from 3 ,4, 5, or 6. You may do any of these as long as you complete one of those exercises listed. These exercises require you to create a feature story using the information the workbook gives you. This will help you understand the characteristics of feature writing and will help you apply this knowledge to your own writing.

After you have completed these exercises I will put you into groups to discuss the strategies you used when you were creating your feature story. In what ways did you transform the information given into a feature story? Was it difficult to do this? Did the story change at all? Make sure the facts of the story are still the same! Remember feature stories must be accurate and objective!

Have fun with this! This is your chance to let loose and be creative=-)

We will do a quick review of feature writing through a PowerPoint I have created.

I suggest you take notes! We will be having a quiz on this information soon.

After we review the characteristics of feature stories please take a newspaper and look through the articles for a feature story that you are interested in reading.

After reading one, evaluate the author's prupose in writing it. Write up your response and the answers to these questions on a seperate piece of paper (written or typed) and clip it to a copy of the feature. Please cut out the feature you have choosen.

1) Who was the intended audience?
2) In what specific ways did the writer try to reach that audience?
3) How might the article have been improved?

Feature writing

Today we will start off by reviewing the chapter you read on feature stories.

I would like you to partner up with someone next to you and brainstorm the main ideas of feature writing.

I will then ask volunteers to write their ideas on the smart board. We will then discuss the main ideas you came up with.

We will then discuss the differences between editorials, features and straight news writing using a Venn diagram.

Time permitting I will have you complete an activity in your workbook.

Please comment on one of the following articles by Thursday 4/16
Found on Facebook: Sleuthing 2.0
11-Year-Old Hangs Self Over Gay Slurs
Date Rape in Comedy: Funny or Offensive?
2010's Family Vacay Destination: Cuba?

Today you will be working on your own for the class period.

You will read pages 247-252, which introduces feature writing.

Please take notes on these pages and hand them in to the substitute at the end of class.

Make note of the examples mentioned on pages 247 and 248. Notice the risks that these reporters take in order to write their stories

Also take note of the differences between straight news writing and feature stories. They are completely different from one another, yet both extremely important contributions to the newspaper.

When you are finished reading and taking notes please complete Feature writing Exercises 1 and 2 in your workbook.

Remember the purpose of a feature lead is to catch the readers attention and interest rather than blatantly introducing your topic or issue. Have fun with your leads! Make them creative, detailed and colorful!

Great job on the editorials they were all excellent and I enjoyed hearing about them!

Have a wonderful break! Relax and have fun=-)

Feature Writing

*Today we will finish up the last of the presentations. Then I will talk to you about our next article we will be writing.

*I will be introducing feature writing. We will read a couple of examples of feature stories and talk about them. I would like you to take note of the differences between the feature stories and straight news stories.

*Tomorrow you will be having a substitute. I will let you know what you will be expected to do for tomorrow.

Presentations

Your final editorials should have been handed in yesterday! If you did not hand your editorial in yesterday I will be taking 10 points off for every day it is late. So please turn it in as soon as possible. The comments on the blog were due yesterday as well.

Today you will give a brief presentation on your article to the class.

Give a short summary of your article. You could also read it to the class if you would like.

Why did you choose your topic?

What is your main argument?

This is part of your grade. I am excited to hear about your editorials!

Do not be nervous! All of you have wonderful ideas=-)