Feature Writing

This course is designed to help you achieve competency in writing feature stories. You will study and write popular forms of the feature that commonly appear in newspapers, corporate newsletters and other publications. Following the basic news writing and reporting courses, this class becomes a bit more sophisticated. You are expected to produce work of a much higher and more professional caliber than in previous classes. We will look at feature writing as a unique means of approaching all topics in journalism. We will look at the types and forms of feature articles. We will study the ways to recognize feature article opportunities and how to get the story for newspapers, magazines, Web sites, and newsletters. We will review interviewing, observation, and other reporting skills relevant to producing news features. We will discuss research tools used for preparing feature stories. The course will give you an opportunity to write a number of different kinds of features under varying circumstances. This is not laboratory writing or a reporting class, so work must be completed outside the class sessions. Your assignments must be “live” and publishable.

You will be required to write four feature stories. Each must be 3-5 pages in length, double-spaced. Ideas must first be approved by the instructor. Emphasis will primarily be placed on stories that could be printed in The Wichitan. Work submitted in this class will be reviewed by The Wichitan editor for possible publication. Stories must be submitted in professional format and produced on a typewriter or computer. Times font, 12 point, is preferred. Stories must include names of persons interviewed, dates they were interviewed and their phone numbers. Put this information at the bottom of your story. Failure to do so will cost you one letter grade. You will still be required to furnish this information or you will receive the grade of ‘F’ for that assignment.

Since this class involves reporting, your work is expected to be accurate and factual. All stories are to be written for publication. Don’t make up stories or write about people or things that don’t exist and try to pass them off as true. Don’t quote real people you never interviewed. Don’t interview close friends, roommates, relatives or people with whom you’re involved in a relationship unless you consult with me first. Sticky situations have arisen by taking what you think might be the easy way out. If I find out a conflict of interest exists I will penalize you by dropping you a letter grade or by giving you an “F” for that assignment. If I discover you made up a story or made up quotes you will be given an “F” for the course.

Your writing will be judged according to:

               1.  Idea, content and style

         2.  Mechanics, spelling and punctuation

Admittedly, grading writing is a subjective process. Yet by looking at your work, I’m able to determine the quality of your interview, along with your organizational and writing skills. Ask yourself if you were thorough enough. Did you get good quotes and are they plentiful in your story? Did you capture any local color? Are your verbs powerful? Did you identify people by their titles? Is the story accurate?  The list goes on and as the semester progresses you’ll learn what to look for. Each story will count 1/4th of your final grade.  Grades will be given A,B,C, etc.

Publication (or not) in The Wichitan will not be a factor in a student’s grade so don’t worry if your work is not printed. Class participation and/or attitude will be considered in borderline grading situations. Please note that I do not give a mid-term or final. Most of your work is weighted on your writing.

Deductions will be made for mistakes in spelling, AP style and grammar.

Rewrites may be required. Don’t be offended because 99 percent of students do rewrites. Usually, additional information is needed or you need to change the style or slant of your story. Failure to rewrite a story within a week will result in a zero for that assignment even if it has a grade on it.

In the real world, writers must meet deadlines. I expect you to do the same. Work is due at the beginning of the class period on the due date when I call for it. Late work will not be accepted. Have your work printed out before class begins. I will not allow it to be printed on the classroom printer while I am having class. If your story is in the printer when class begins it will be the same as NO STORY. If you know you’re not going to be in class, email your work to me at randy.pruitt@mwsu.edu. Your email must get to me before the in-class deadline or it will not be accepted. I must be able to open it so paste it in rather than send it as an attachment.  Even though I have it on my computer you are expected to bring a hard copy to me the following day or a day we agree on. I don’t like wasting my paper and toner on your stuff. Getting the story to me is your responsibility. I do not want to hear tales about the computer crashing, dog-eating computer, etc. You may also put your story under my door but the deadline still applies.

No late work will be accepted.

Daily attendance is necessary in order to be able to produce good work. If you must miss class for a legitimate reason, let me know in advance. However, I’m the judge of what’s legitimate. Students who miss three times will be automatically dropped from class.

Please remember to turn off cell phones and beepers during class sessions. Better still, simply don’t bring them to class. If you can’t give me 50 minutes of your undivided attention then you should drop the course. I consider cell phones annoying and disruptive. If something does go off you are to immediately leave the class for that day. In addition, you will be dropped one letter grade from the final course grade each time a cell phone, iPod or other gadget goes off in class.