http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/01/opinion/01sun4.html
http://econrsss.anu.edu.au/~aleigh/pdf/OpEd_Tips.pdf- this link gives good tips for writing opinion pieces
Monday, March 2, 2009
feature/entertainment article - sample
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/arts/television/02watch.html?ref=arts
Feature articles are different than news articles in that they aren't as timely. They are a little more descriptive and don't need to be as straight to the facts. They also don't need to use the inverted pyramid
Top tips for writing feature articles taken from
©Econnect Communication, 2002
http://www.econnect.com.au/pdf/quicktips/writing_features.pdf
A feature story differs from a straight news story in one respect – its intent. A news story provides
information about an event, idea or situation. The feature does a bit more – it may also interpret
news, add dept h and colour to a story, instruct or entertain.
Structure :
· The introduction is the most important part - entice your reader, hook them in. Use
drama, emotion, quotations, questions, descriptions
· The body of the article needs to keep any promises or answe r any questions raised in
the introduction - try and maintain an "atmosphere" throughout the writing
· While the introduction draws the reader in, the conclusion should be written to help the
reader remember the story - use a strong punchline
Some points to keep in mind:
· Focus on human interest - the feel and emotion you put into the article are critical. Don't
think about writing a "science" story - think about writing a "human interest" story.
· Be clear about why you are writing the article. Is it to inform, persuade, observe,
evaluate, or evoke emotion?
· Write in the active voice. In active writing, people do things. Passive sentences often
have the person doing the action at the end of the sentence or things being done “by”
someone.
· Accuracy is important - you can interpret and embroider but not fudge.
· Keep your audience clearly in mind - what are their desires, what really matters to them?
· Avoid clichés (cutting edge, world beating, revolutionary ) and sentimental statements -
especially at the end of your article.
· Interviews for features usually need to be in-depth and in person rather than over the
phone - this enables you to add in colour and detail.
· Use anecdotes and direct quotes to tell the story - try not to use too many of your own
words.
· Talk to more than one person to provide a more complete picture – but don’t just add in
sources to show how much work you’ve done. Be ruthless about who you put in and who
you leave out!
· Don't rely on the computer spell-checker - especially those with a U.S. dictionary.
· Decide on the ‘tense' of your story at the start and stick to it. Present tense usually works
best.
· Avoid lengthy, complex paragraphs. Your article will appear in columns, so one or two
sentences equals a paragraph.
· Ideas come from everywhere - watch, read, listen, keep up to date, take notes. Talk to
people outside the field of science to find out what interests and concerns them.
Feature articles are different than news articles in that they aren't as timely. They are a little more descriptive and don't need to be as straight to the facts. They also don't need to use the inverted pyramid
Top tips for writing feature articles taken from
©Econnect Communication, 2002
http://www.econnect.com.au/pdf/quicktips/writing_features.pdf
A feature story differs from a straight news story in one respect – its intent. A news story provides
information about an event, idea or situation. The feature does a bit more – it may also interpret
news, add dept h and colour to a story, instruct or entertain.
Structure :
· The introduction is the most important part - entice your reader, hook them in. Use
drama, emotion, quotations, questions, descriptions
· The body of the article needs to keep any promises or answe r any questions raised in
the introduction - try and maintain an "atmosphere" throughout the writing
· While the introduction draws the reader in, the conclusion should be written to help the
reader remember the story - use a strong punchline
Some points to keep in mind:
· Focus on human interest - the feel and emotion you put into the article are critical. Don't
think about writing a "science" story - think about writing a "human interest" story.
· Be clear about why you are writing the article. Is it to inform, persuade, observe,
evaluate, or evoke emotion?
· Write in the active voice. In active writing, people do things. Passive sentences often
have the person doing the action at the end of the sentence or things being done “by”
someone.
· Accuracy is important - you can interpret and embroider but not fudge.
· Keep your audience clearly in mind - what are their desires, what really matters to them?
· Avoid clichés (cutting edge, world beating, revolutionary ) and sentimental statements -
especially at the end of your article.
· Interviews for features usually need to be in-depth and in person rather than over the
phone - this enables you to add in colour and detail.
· Use anecdotes and direct quotes to tell the story - try not to use too many of your own
words.
· Talk to more than one person to provide a more complete picture – but don’t just add in
sources to show how much work you’ve done. Be ruthless about who you put in and who
you leave out!
· Don't rely on the computer spell-checker - especially those with a U.S. dictionary.
· Decide on the ‘tense' of your story at the start and stick to it. Present tense usually works
best.
· Avoid lengthy, complex paragraphs. Your article will appear in columns, so one or two
sentences equals a paragraph.
· Ideas come from everywhere - watch, read, listen, keep up to date, take notes. Talk to
people outside the field of science to find out what interests and concerns them.
Sample news article -
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/nyregion/03storm.html?_r=1&hp
notice the objective tone...
lead
quotes both direct and indirect
short paragraphs
very informative
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/news/step3.htm - this is a great link for news writing tips
notice the objective tone...
lead
quotes both direct and indirect
short paragraphs
very informative
http://teacher.scholastic.com/writewit/news/step3.htm - this is a great link for news writing tips
Early years poem - sample
The Early Years Blues
Born in Joplin, my parents loved me
But couldn’t get along with each other
Said I was born in Joplin, got lots of love
But my parents couldn’t get along
Mom went to look for stable work
Daddy hightailed it to Mexico feelin’ he was wrong
Raised by grandma until I was 12 in Kansas
She wanted what was best for me
Said I was raised by grandma ‘til I was 12
She wanted all the world for me
Grandpa died at that point
Mom came and took me to Illinoi
Homer Clark and Mom moved from place to place
We went from Illinois to Ohio and I began to write
Said Homer and Mom took me all over
Traveling the Midwest and I began to write
Moved through nine cities before I graduated high school in Cleveland
And took some time for delight
Headed down to Mexicali
Wanted a change of atmosphere
Said I headed down to Mexicali
Wanted a change of atmosphere
Started teaching English
Only lasted but a year
Headed North again seeking smarts
And some change
Said I headed to New York City seeking smarts
And some change
Enrolled at Columbia U
Far from my roots on the range
Success was coming
I could feel it in my bones
Said success was coming
I could feel it in my bones.
My big break happened when Lindsay read my poems
Shocked and surprised, his mind was blown.
Born in Joplin, my parents loved me
But couldn’t get along with each other
Said I was born in Joplin, got lots of love
But my parents couldn’t get along
Mom went to look for stable work
Daddy hightailed it to Mexico feelin’ he was wrong
Raised by grandma until I was 12 in Kansas
She wanted what was best for me
Said I was raised by grandma ‘til I was 12
She wanted all the world for me
Grandpa died at that point
Mom came and took me to Illinoi
Homer Clark and Mom moved from place to place
We went from Illinois to Ohio and I began to write
Said Homer and Mom took me all over
Traveling the Midwest and I began to write
Moved through nine cities before I graduated high school in Cleveland
And took some time for delight
Headed down to Mexicali
Wanted a change of atmosphere
Said I headed down to Mexicali
Wanted a change of atmosphere
Started teaching English
Only lasted but a year
Headed North again seeking smarts
And some change
Said I headed to New York City seeking smarts
And some change
Enrolled at Columbia U
Far from my roots on the range
Success was coming
I could feel it in my bones
Said success was coming
I could feel it in my bones.
My big break happened when Lindsay read my poems
Shocked and surprised, his mind was blown.
Sample Statement of Process
Statement of Process
Over the course of my research, I have read many articles, many of which retold many of the same anecdotes. I found myself driven by all kinds of information.
- For the birth certificate, I did a Google search on birth certificates to find out what a Missouri certificate looks like. I found out what Langston Hughes’ real name was and who his parents were. I then fabricated a doctor’s signature for authenticity and as well as witness’s signature. I tried to make it as authentic as I could.
- The Early Years poem was based on much of the research that I found… mostly the internet articles mentioned in the bibliography. I tried to keep the style of the poem in the jazz tradition that Hughes was known for writing in.
- The skit was based on a blurb that I read about when Lindsay and Hughes met. The whole conversation is fabricated, but it gets the point across.
- The Negro Speaks of Harlem was based on the style of “Negro Speaks of Rivers” and the content was based on information provided by the historical articles on Hughes’ time in Harlem.
- The letter to Charlotte Mason came from an article that stated she was his financier and wouldn’t move forward with him due to differences of opinion. She also worked with other famous people during that time.
- The journal entry is a fabrication that just retells many of the events that happened and what I believed Langston’s closing thoughts would be after finding out he had cancer
- The timeline was taken from Exxon Mobile’s Masterpiece theater. It was condensed and paraphrased.
- The obituary was modeled after a New York Times obituary on famous people. I just took major events and publications and put it in one place.
sample birth certificate - see original that I made in class... this is just to give you an idea
Missouri Department of Health Bureau of Vital Records
P.O. Box 570
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0570
Certification of Live Birth
This certifies that James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902 .
Carrie Langston Hughes James Nathaniel Hughes
Mother Father
Weight: __ lbs __oz
Length: __ inches
Official Seal of Missouri
______________________ _______________________
Delivering doctor date Witness date
Certification of Live Birth
This certifies that James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1, 1902 .
Carrie Langston Hughes James Nathaniel Hughes
Mother Father
Weight: __ lbs __oz
Length: __ inches
Official Seal of Missouri
______________________ _______________________
Delivering doctor date Witness date
Official Seal of |
Sample skit - exemplar
The “Busboy” Poet is Discovered
Fade in: Washington D.C. in 1925. We are at the Wardman Park Hotel restaurant where Langston Hughes is currently working as a busboy. The already famous poet, Vachel Lindsay is dining at the restaurant. Hughes sees Lindsay eating from across the room.
Hughes: (curiously staring) Hey! Do you think that is The Vachel Lindsay?
Busboy 1: Who’s that?
Hughes: You know, the poet. He’s written “The Gospel of Beauty” and “Rhymes to be Traded for Bread.”
Busboy 1: Never heard of him.
Hughes: (Walking slowly toward Lindsay’s table, searching for the right words to say. He digs up a napkin from his pocket and writes down one of his poems “The Weary Blues.” He continues to walk toward Lindsay’s table and holds his breathe.) Are you done, sir?
Lindsay: You can take this plate. (He doesn’t even look at Hughes when he answers.)
Hughes: (Places the napkin in front of Lindsay and takes the plate.) Anything else I can do for you, sir?
Lindsay: What’s this? (He seems irritated that his meal is being intruded upon by another want to be poet, but he still takes the time to read the poem. He slows down and doesn’t seem so annoyed anymore; he is intrigued by Hughes’s poem.) Did you write this young man?
Hughes: Yes sir. I have been writing for a while now. (He is confident, yet humble and truly amazed that Lindsay is interested in his work. The two become deeply engaged in conversation.)
Lindsay: How long did it take you to write it? What was your inspiration?
Fade out: Lindsay and Hughes discuss poetry through the rest of the night. Vachel later calls him the “busboy” poet because this is how he is discovered. Lindsay gives Hughes much valuable advice, which later helps Hughes win high accolades for his poem “The Weary Blues” which helped put him on the map as a writer. Unfortunately, Lindsay goes on to commit suicide.
Fade in: Washington D.C. in 1925. We are at the Wardman Park Hotel restaurant where Langston Hughes is currently working as a busboy. The already famous poet, Vachel Lindsay is dining at the restaurant. Hughes sees Lindsay eating from across the room.
Hughes: (curiously staring) Hey! Do you think that is The Vachel Lindsay?
Busboy 1: Who’s that?
Hughes: You know, the poet. He’s written “The Gospel of Beauty” and “Rhymes to be Traded for Bread.”
Busboy 1: Never heard of him.
Hughes: (Walking slowly toward Lindsay’s table, searching for the right words to say. He digs up a napkin from his pocket and writes down one of his poems “The Weary Blues.” He continues to walk toward Lindsay’s table and holds his breathe.) Are you done, sir?
Lindsay: You can take this plate. (He doesn’t even look at Hughes when he answers.)
Hughes: (Places the napkin in front of Lindsay and takes the plate.) Anything else I can do for you, sir?
Lindsay: What’s this? (He seems irritated that his meal is being intruded upon by another want to be poet, but he still takes the time to read the poem. He slows down and doesn’t seem so annoyed anymore; he is intrigued by Hughes’s poem.) Did you write this young man?
Hughes: Yes sir. I have been writing for a while now. (He is confident, yet humble and truly amazed that Lindsay is interested in his work. The two become deeply engaged in conversation.)
Lindsay: How long did it take you to write it? What was your inspiration?
Fade out: Lindsay and Hughes discuss poetry through the rest of the night. Vachel later calls him the “busboy” poet because this is how he is discovered. Lindsay gives Hughes much valuable advice, which later helps Hughes win high accolades for his poem “The Weary Blues” which helped put him on the map as a writer. Unfortunately, Lindsay goes on to commit suicide.
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