Structuring Our Features

8/13/2019 Structuring Our Features

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Unit 19: Writing for the creative media

Reach magazine

Working towards our contributions


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Creating a workingdocument

A step by step guide to creating your article

Working from idea to production

Yourresponsibility to make sure all of theelements are in place


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Tools for the o A creativeapproach

AProfessional approach ommunication with your team


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Step One

Get a memory stick for storage and

submission

Create a step by step production log (Word

document with numerical list of what youve

done)

Create a PDF as your working document


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Step Two

Create a workingtitle/headlinefor your

feature

Headlines are created to attract the reader

Sub headings could help structure your article

(not essential)Make headlines key to the topic

Make them short and punchy


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Step Three

Begin a list of contentsE.G:

Page 1: Feature topic

Page 2-4: ResearchPage 4: Introduction

Page 5: Main body

Page 6: ConclusionPage 7: Extras (E.G: Pictures; audio files;interviews; animation; sub-headings)


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Step Four

Write a summary of your feature topic

Narrow your topic down to meet youragenda. Too much information will

weigh your article down

If your topic has been thoroughlyresearchedit should be easier to

summarize


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Step Four

Example Summary

Fizz to biz is an article concerned with the widespread use of mass marketed

energy drinks by young people today. This feature will focus on some of the most

recognizable brands and is written to investigate their growing popularity and the

associated effects on the people who buy them. Fizz to biz aims to educate, raise

awareness and debate by delivering first hand accounts of suggested health and

dependency issues. In doing so well call to account the responsibilities of the

drinks companies and the consumers alike in asking questions such as: Are energy

drinks simply replacing the demand for coffee and other energy sources for anew generation? Or are they being irresponsibly marketed for a consumer base

convinced they need the fizz to function fully with an ever demanding lifestyle?


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Step Five

Research

Compile a working list of the research

sources that youve gathered to informyour topic

EG: Primary, Secondary, Websites,

Newspapers, books, mags, surveys,

questionnaires


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How To StructureA Magazine Article

structure (strkchr)n.1. Something made up of a

number of parts that are held or put together in

a particular way: hierarchical social structure.

2. The way in which parts are arranged or put

together to form a whole; makeup: triangular in

structure.

3. The interrelation or arrangement of parts in a

complex entity:political structure; plot structure.

4. Something constructed, such as a building.


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Tell your reader a story

Youll need a beginning,

a middle and an end.

It also means you need to think about whereyoure taking your reader and create a logical path

to that end point.


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BeginningYour Magazine Article

Its about

Getting people to read your article

Finding a way to grab their attention

Will you use

Quotes? Anecdotes? Sub-headings?Introductory paragraphs?... Find examples


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Introduction

GRABthe attention of your reader

Write clearly the basic aim of the article and

the conclusion you want to reach

Use just a few sentences to sum up what the

article will be about


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The Middle

Provide factsand ideasthat developand explain

your opening section

Provide sub-headingssuch as key words, phrases

or questions to break your points up


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The Middle

Avoid long drawn out chunks of writing.

Instead concentrate on keeping it tightand

punchywith key info

Use quotations from witnesses,

victims, experts, opinions etc


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Ending Your Magazine Article

End with a bang. This could be an important point,a revelation, or another anecdote or quote.

Besuggestive/thoughtful aboutpossibilities/reactionsto the point that youve

made


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Top tips

Write a first draft to include everything you

think you might need, then edit out irrelevant

info.

Write your article in clear, understandable and

plain language. (Using a pompous language,

using obscure words and making long

sentences are not the features of a good

article.)


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Top Tips

Try making the first sentence of each

paragraph the main ideas of that paragraph.

Try to avoid excessive mistakes with spelling,punctuation and grammar, even though well

edit mistakes before upload.


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Key steps to a successful feature

Research

Plan

Write

Edit

Write

Proofread

Submit


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By Wednesday 26thFebruary(Week after half term)

COMPLETEa first draft of your feature, takinginto account what weve discussed to date.

Collecta file of potential images toaccompany your feature

Be prepared to edit one anothers work

Structuring Our Features

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