E9B4

e9b4

Year 9 Advanced English Feature Article

Week 4, Term 1

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Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

Prime Education

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Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

Prime Education

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The Feature Article form

A feature article is not the same as a news report. Whilst a news report intends to provide facts on a

recent event, a feature article is more subjective (opinion based). A feature article is found in

newspapers but appears further into the paper or in supplements. Feature articles may also appear in

magazines.

A feature article often pursues a topic that is of interest to the readers. It may be an

exposition (the writer's point of view) or a discussion that considers different viewpoints.

FEATURE ARTICLE

Feature articles usually: ☻ have a headline

☻ a graphic

☻ a by-line

Feature articles may: ☻ have a sub-heading

☻ be written in first or third person

☻ be in formal or colloquial language

☻ have a caption for the graphic

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Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

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The following diagram shows some of the key features of the form.

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Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

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Feature Articles - Features

Newspapers and magazines contain a wide range of feature articles. The word 'feature' suggests the

main concern of the article, i.e. to focus on a single issue or personality. Feature articles may

comment in depth on a current issue reported in the news; other subjects may be an issue of social

importance or any general issue such as sport, fashion, travel, gossip about a well-known

personality, history or health. Feature articles aim to inform, entertain and persuade. They are often

highly subjective and controversial.

Stylistic features of this text type include:

• striking headlines to engage the reader

• background information found in the opening paragraph which outlines the issue

• `tear-out' section (a section from the article in large print giving the key points of the article)

• graphics with story appeal

• emotive language to achieve the writer's persuasive purpose

• colourful language

• selective use of facts to persuade and entertain

• clear line of argument or opinion

• variation of sentence length to avoid monotony in structure

• use of first person to involve reader and win their support

• short paragraphs

• sub-headings

• narrow column format

• writer's name or by line

• publication details.

The following extract is an example of a newspaper sports feature article. Sports feature

articles provide interesting facts about a popular personality, presented in a persuasive and often

entertaining manner.

Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

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writer’s name

trendy image

established-

love of life in

the fast lane

opening

paragraph

presents main

idea of article

specialized

vocabulary

familiar to

tennis follow

quote from

Agassi gives

article a sense

of immediacy

colloquial

language

writer’s

opinion

exaggeration

to give a pro-

Agassi bias

eye-catching

headlines-bold

print,

exclamation and

use of a

colloquialism

brackets

personalise the

sub-heading

dramatisation to

make events

seem exciting-

creates a

subjective tone

vivid verb

personal opinion

Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

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Study the sports feature article from the Sun-Herald and answer the following questions:

a. Do the headlines engage the reader's attention?

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b. What is the focus of the article?

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c. How effective is the opening paragraph in outlining the main idea in the article?

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narrow

column

format

precise

adjective

short

paragraphs

quote

personalises

the article

colourful,

imaginative

language

publication

details

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d. Does the article contain a line of argument or opinion? Summarise it.

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e. Find two examples of emotional language and comment on their effectiveness.

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f. Give an example of colourful, imaginative language. Is it effective?

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g. Does the writer's use of sentence length help to keep the reader's interest?

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h. What facts are given in the article? Have they been presented objectively or subjectively?

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i. Is this a successful example of sports journalism? Explain.

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Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

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Newspaper report

Newspaper reports tell us what is happening in the world around us. They have a headline, such as

'Dolphins save four from shark', and often a picture that accompanies the text. Journalists compile

and submit the stories then the editor decides what will be printed in the newspaper. Readers want

the stories to be accurate and interesting.

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Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

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Responding to the text

1 Why does the headline seize your attention?

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2 Why has the photograph of the beach and a great white shark been included in the news

report?

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5 Why is the first paragraph important?

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7 Why do you think the journalist has quoted the words of Rob Howes?

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9 What information does the article give you about the habits of dolphins?

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10 Why do you think the editor decided to publish this article in the newspaper?

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Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

Prime Education

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Newspaper article

One of the very serious problems for modern day society is that of road safety. Every day, lives are

lost because of car accidents. Despite stringent government safety measures, the accidents continue.

In the article that follows, a journalist describes the aftermath of a driver losing control of a car after

it has hit a median strip.

Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

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Responding to the text

1 What first attracts your attention in this newspaper article? Why?

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2 How does the journalist gain the reader's attention in the first paragraph?

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3 Explain why the headline is appropriate for this article.

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4 What is the journalist's purpose in this article?

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5 Who is the journalist's intended audience? How do you know?

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6 What message is conveyed by the final paragraph?

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7 What feelings does this article create in the reader and how?

Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

Prime Education

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8 Do you think this article would help to reduce road accidents? Explain.

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Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

Prime Education

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Week 4, Term 1

Feature Article • Year 9 Advanced English

Prime Education

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