Teaching Feature Writing: An Eight Week Lesson Plan
()
About this ebook
Do you need an eight-week lesson plan for teaching feature writing? Or news writing?
This book covers everything you need to become a successful news writer and feature writer. If you have students who want to explore feature writing as a means of improving their research and writing skills, then this is the book for you. If you want to pursue a print journalism focus in the communication major will find this course valuable.
Valerie Hockert, PhD has taught journalism courses at a college level for many years, and has written many courses for various colleges in journalism, including news writing and feature writing.
Valerie Hockert, PhD
Valerie Hockert, was born in the Midwest where she has lived all her adult life. She has had much life experience through her various entrepreneurial life. She has a Master's Degree in Liberal Studies, and a PhD in Literary Studies. Dr. Hockert has been teaching at a college level for many years. She was the first publisher of the Writers' Journal and Today's Family, two national publications. She is also a certified personal trainer, great chef, and the Publisher of an e-magazine: www.realitytodayforum.com.
Read more from Valerie Hockert, Ph D
Teaching Creative Writing: A Sixteen Week Lesson Plan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching English LIterature Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Teaching Literature Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide for Commercial Real Estate Agents Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Learning Creative Writing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Whole Body Tone Up Book Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Philosophy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Humanities Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Composition Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Teaching Creative Writing A Teaching Handbook with Weekly Lesson Plans Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsRecipes from the 70s and 80s Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Idea a Day: 365 Writing Ideas Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Writing for the Media: An Eight Week Lesson Plan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide for Residential Real Estate Agents Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhat If...?: A Book of Questions for Thinking, Writing, and Wondering Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Composition Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Business Writing: A Good Refresher and Quick Reference Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReality Today Forum 2012 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsKnowledge Before College Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide for Home Sellers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching American Literature Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStar Tales: a collection of short stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Guide for Commercial Real Estate Agents Second Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClassified Relationships Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAs I Sit Here Fishing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAs I Stand Here Ironing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Game of Job Hunting Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhere is Ralph? Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Teaching Feature Writing
Related ebooks
Teaching Writing for the Media: An Eight Week Lesson Plan Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTeaching Creative Writing A Teaching Handbook with Weekly Lesson Plans Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBecome a Freelance Writer: Your complete guide to the business of writing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Write and Give a Speech: A Practical Guide for Anyone Who Has to Make Every Word Count Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNews Writing The Gathering , Handling and Writing of News Stories Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Associated Press Guide to News Writing, 4th Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow To Write a Feature Article Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Types of News Writing Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWriting Like a Journalist Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrint Journalism: A Complete Book of Journalism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Beginner's Guide to Journalism & Mass Communication Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Writing Articles About the World Around You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fundamentals of Writing: How to Write Articles, Media Releases, Case Studies, Blog Posts and Social Media Content Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCreative Writing In Prose Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsJournalism: A Beginner's Guide Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPrecise Edit Training Manual Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Complete Article Writer: How To Write And Sell Magazine Articles: The Practical Writer, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSpeaking of Journalism: Twelve Writers and Editors Talk About Their Work Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Universal Journalist Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Proofreading Companion: Tips, Tools & Strategies for the Professional Proofreader Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5How To Write Special Feature Articles Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings10 Core Practices for Better Writing (Adventures in Writing) Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5So You Want To Be A Freelance Writer?: Writing for Magazines, Newspapers and Beyond Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Only Writing Book You'll Ever Need: A Complete Resource For Perfecting Any Type Of Writing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Editing - 10 Steps: Write, Read, and Then Edit to Successfully Submit All Types of Writing to Audiences Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Elements of Style Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Media Ethics: A Guide For Professional Conduct Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBroadcast Journalism Street Smarts: The 2012 Survival Guide for Today's Television Newsroom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWriting Quick Press Releases Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Study Aids & Test Prep For You
The 48 Laws of Power: by Robert Greene | Conversation Starters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finish What You Start: The Art of Following Through, Taking Action, Executing, & Self-Discipline Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Man's Search for Meaning: by Viktor E. Frankl | Conversation Starters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Secret History: by Donna Tartt | Conversation Starters Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Take Smart Notes. One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/512 Rules For Life: by Jordan Peterson | Conversation Starters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5One Hundred Years of Solitude: A Novel by Gabriel Garcia Márquez | Conversation Starters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Behold a Pale Horse: by William Cooper | Conversation Starters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Verity: by Colleen Hoover | Conversation Starters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Seduction: by Robert Greene | Conversation Starters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Barron's American Sign Language: A Comprehensive Guide to ASL 1 and 2 with Online Video Practice Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Do the Work: The Official Unrepentant, Ass-Kicking, No-Kidding, Change-Your-Life Sidekick to Unfu*k Yourself Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer | Conversation Starters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Circe: by Madeline Miller | Conversation Starters Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain | Conversation Starters Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5The Power of Habit: by Charles Duhigg | Conversation Starters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts.by Brené Brown | Conversation Starters Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Only Writing Series You'll Ever Need - Grant Writing: A Complete Resource for Proposal Writers Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How To Change Your Mind: by Michael Pollan | Conversation Starters Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Everything Career Tests Book: 10 Tests to Determine the Right Occupation for You Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Reviews for Teaching Feature Writing
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Teaching Feature Writing - Valerie Hockert, PhD
Teaching Feature Writing
An eight week lesson plan
By Valerie Hockert, PhD
Valerie Hockert
CollProf@aol.com
Copyright 2014, 2012 by Valerie Hockert
All rights reserved
Smashwords Edition
No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without prior written permission of author.
Table of Contents
Week One
Where and How to Get Ideas
Overview of Final Project
Week Two
A Good Title
A Great Lead
Week Three
Paragraph Development
Smooth Transition
Being Concise
A Satisfying Ending
Week Four
Getting Started
Getting Many Writing Ideas from One Trip
Colorful Descriptions
Week Five
Getting the Great Interview and Interviewing
Writing an Obituary
Writing Profiles
Week Six
Writing the Press Release
Quoting Government Officials
Week Seven
Effective Editorial & Opinion Writing
Writing about Weather, Tragedies, and Statistics
Peer Review Questions
Week Eight
Online Journalism
Code of Ethics
Libel and Invasion of Privacy Laws
Introduction
This course is for students who want to explore feature writing as a means of improving their research and writing skills or to pursue a print journalism focus in the communication major. Students will learn how to develop and organize ideas, adapt their writing for specific audiences and revise and polish their prose style.
Week One
Ideas for Stories
Where and how to get ideas is important for a writer's success, because without new and interesting ideas, it's hard to spark a reader’s interest. We will talk about where and how to get ideas for that great feature story.
Where and How to Get Ideas
As a great feature writer, you will want to spark a reader’s interest with a new and interesting topic. Some places to look for fresh ideas are listed.
Yourself. A special job, a unique personal experience you've had, special interests, hobbies or places you've been, are all good sources for ideas.
Other People. Their special skills, hobbies, how problems can be solved, or an outstanding achievement, can be great topics to write on.
Family. Your family may be a great source for ideas. Many of you may have families that you could use as a basis for a human interest feature story.
Television. Soap Operas are a great source for ideas and characterizations. Not that you need to get hooked on the soap operas, but even watching one episode can help, whether daytime or evening as you can get ideas for dialogue, learn what subjects are of great social concern (such as chemical dependency), and how people really do handle difficult situations, as well as actual related dialogue.
Movies. Movies can also be a good source. Even though some movies are quite unrealistic, watching them can give you ideas that can help portray a different world.
Work. Many people have work situations, or work with people who have great accomplishments and successes, or work with very unusual people. These people can also be great sources for stories, articles, and books.
Newspapers. There are many ideas that can surface by reading news stories. A follow-up could be written, or perhaps you could present the other side of the issue.
Many times when reading through a newspaper, you may think that the writer or reporter didn't say anything about________. You could probably present that side of the issue. You could also write follow-ups to many stories. For example, a house fire. We always hear about the fire, but what happens to the occupants six months later? How do they piece their lives back together? A follow-up could be written on that, and would be a great human interest feature story
Magazines. After reading an article, you may want