Paper #2: Feature Article
7-8 pages
Your second paper of the course is a feature article. You will rank these magazines in order of preference (Rolling Stone, Elle, National Geographic, Vogue, The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker) and you will be put into small groups based one of your top selections. Each group will be responsible for creating a similar magazine, keeping audience, tone, and presentation (fonts, images, etc.) in mind. You will give your magazine an appropriate title and design the cover. You will also create two to three appropriate advertisements for your magazine. You will each write one feature article independently for your magazine based on something that personally interests you, but the articles must fit the magazine you are creating as a whole. Once you have determined the publication audience for this essay, make sure your readers know why you are interested in this topic—what engages you. Remember that as you research your topic, you must leave your room, leave your desk, and go talk to someone and/or reference outside sources. Feature articles typically involve at least ten interviews (some that won't make it into the final draft) as well as 7-10 outside sources. As I read your article, I want to see you. I want to know why you are interested in this topic—why it engages you. We will work together to help you narrow and focus your topic and write an article that explores a topic you find interesting. You are expected to include at least seven reputable sources, two of which may be Internet sources, personal interviews, etc. You should use a variety of different types of sources—for example, magazines, books, journals, Internet sources, personal interviews, etc. You will create two versions of the paper—one inside the final magazine that your group turns in, and one with MLA citations that you turn in yourself.
Since feature articles in magazines do not typically include parenthetical documentation or a works cited page, but instead refer to the sources in the body of the paper, you will adhere to this style in the ready for print magazine version of your article. You should use columns, graphics, sidebars, and a typeface suitable for your magazine of choice. Don‘t worry if you‘ve had no previous experience using some of these features. Each group will be encouraged to visit the Digital Studio for help with this process. You must also include advertisements in your magazine that you will work on together as a group. These advertisements, including whatever you choose for the cover, must be appropriate for your target audience. The second version of your paper will look more like a traditional researched essay that you would typically be required to write in your college courses. This version should be 7-8 pages, in 12-pt. font, and include parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited page adhering to MLA documentation guidelines. Be sure to reference The Curious Researcher so that you correctly document your sources using MLA guidelines. Essentially, the two versions will be the same, except for differences in formatting and the inclusion of parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited page in the second version. This assignment will be due in sections as follows:
- Group Presentation: As part of your assigned group, you will present to the class on your magazine and each of your articles.
- First Draft: You’ll share this draft with your peer workshop group-- the other members of your magazine team. This draft serves as a research proposal: You will hand in a 1-2 page research proposal showing me your paper topic based on the magazine your group was assigned. You must also include a sample article from the magazine you were assigned with the same style and tone.
- Second Draft/Working Works Cited: You will share this draft with members of your peer response group and receive feedback on both the content of your paper and your adherence to MLA documentation guidelines. (If you need help with MLA guidelines, see the Owl Purdue website: (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl or The Curious Researcher) You should be careful to lead into any direct quotes you use, include quotation marks around direct quotes, and include parenthetical documentation. Each work to which you refer in your paper must be listed on your Works Cited page.
- Third Drafts/Works Cited Page: You will be required to workshop with me in an individual conference two versions of the paper—one in a style suitable for your particular publication and another in a format suitable for a traditional researched essay. The second version of your paper must include parenthetical documentation and a draft of your works cited page.
- Two Final Drafts: One version of your article will be formatted as a feature article in the magazine your group creates, and the other version will be formatted in a traditional researched essay style with MLA documentation (Works Cited page and parenthetical documentation).
Here is a helpful link describing different types of ledes: http://teachers.ewrsd.k12.nj.us/savedoff/journalism/features/Basic%20feature_leads.htm
Lede Due: Thursday 2/7/13
First Draft Due: Tuesday 2/12/13
Second Draft Due: Thursday 2/21/13
Final Draft Due: Tuesday 3/5/13
Grading Rubric:
FEATURE ARTICLE EVALUATION SHEET
Evaluation Areas (out of 25)
Lede and Title (out of 2) Presenting the Main Issue/Problem/Question - The lede draws the reader in and begins to express the central issue/problem/question clearly, so that a reader can grasp the purpose and relevance of the essay from the beginning. The lede should be done in one of the feature article styles.
Organization and Structure (out of 3) The article is not confusing to follow, and follows a cohesive narrative arc. The article shows that the writer has a well thought-out idea of what storytelling is, and chose to place specific sections in specific places for rhetorical reasons.
Strength of Your Topic (out of 5) The article is based on an issue/problem/question that is meaningful and researchable (i.e. lends itself to inquiry), and is defined enough to be addressed conclusively (i.e. in 7 to 8 pages, rather than a book). The article also deals with the “So What?” factor, and teaches me something I didn’t know. Additionally, the article is situated into a larder social, cultural and/or political context that is timely and relevant. The topic is also geared toward the appropriate audience.
Balance of Research/Strength of Sources (out of 5) Opposing views and/or essential background information is included when applicable. Opposing views are examined judiciously. I want to see that you researched multiple sides to your argument or statement, and that the writer is knowledgeable of many aspects of this topic, even if you choose to take one specific stance.
Strength of Writing (out of 2) The writing itself is original, precise and SPECIFIC. The details are also not general, but specific. The writer displays an understanding of tone.
Sources and Documentation (MLA) (out of 2) The MLA version of the article incorporates a variety of credible sources. The sources are always identified, correctly documented and introduced smoothly with attributive tags and lead-in phrases. All of the sources are cited in alphabetical order and correct MLA style in the “Works Cited” list.
Readability/Grammar: (out of 2)
- Paragraphing and paragraph transitions
- Verb forms, tenses and agreement
- Sentence fragments, run-ons, fused sentences
- Page numbers
- Stapled!!!
Evidence of Writing Process and Strength of the Magazine Layout (out of 4)
All drafts, revisions, peer reviews, were completed on time. Magazine has an appropriate title, and 2-3 advertisements for the intended audience. Your article is attractively formatted, like you would see in a print publication of the magazine your group is imitating.
Your second paper of the course is a feature article. You will rank these magazines in order of preference (Rolling Stone, Elle, National Geographic, Vogue, The New York Times Magazine and The New Yorker) and you will be put into small groups based one of your top selections. Each group will be responsible for creating a similar magazine, keeping audience, tone, and presentation (fonts, images, etc.) in mind. You will give your magazine an appropriate title and design the cover. You will also create two to three appropriate advertisements for your magazine. You will each write one feature article independently for your magazine based on something that personally interests you, but the articles must fit the magazine you are creating as a whole. Once you have determined the publication audience for this essay, make sure your readers know why you are interested in this topic—what engages you. Remember that as you research your topic, you must leave your room, leave your desk, and go talk to someone and/or reference outside sources. Feature articles typically involve at least ten interviews (some that won't make it into the final draft) as well as 7-10 outside sources. As I read your article, I want to see you. I want to know why you are interested in this topic—why it engages you. We will work together to help you narrow and focus your topic and write an article that explores a topic you find interesting. You are expected to include at least seven reputable sources, two of which may be Internet sources, personal interviews, etc. You should use a variety of different types of sources—for example, magazines, books, journals, Internet sources, personal interviews, etc. You will create two versions of the paper—one inside the final magazine that your group turns in, and one with MLA citations that you turn in yourself.
Since feature articles in magazines do not typically include parenthetical documentation or a works cited page, but instead refer to the sources in the body of the paper, you will adhere to this style in the ready for print magazine version of your article. You should use columns, graphics, sidebars, and a typeface suitable for your magazine of choice. Don‘t worry if you‘ve had no previous experience using some of these features. Each group will be encouraged to visit the Digital Studio for help with this process. You must also include advertisements in your magazine that you will work on together as a group. These advertisements, including whatever you choose for the cover, must be appropriate for your target audience. The second version of your paper will look more like a traditional researched essay that you would typically be required to write in your college courses. This version should be 7-8 pages, in 12-pt. font, and include parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited page adhering to MLA documentation guidelines. Be sure to reference The Curious Researcher so that you correctly document your sources using MLA guidelines. Essentially, the two versions will be the same, except for differences in formatting and the inclusion of parenthetical documentation and a Works Cited page in the second version. This assignment will be due in sections as follows:
- Group Presentation: As part of your assigned group, you will present to the class on your magazine and each of your articles.
- First Draft: You’ll share this draft with your peer workshop group-- the other members of your magazine team. This draft serves as a research proposal: You will hand in a 1-2 page research proposal showing me your paper topic based on the magazine your group was assigned. You must also include a sample article from the magazine you were assigned with the same style and tone.
- Second Draft/Working Works Cited: You will share this draft with members of your peer response group and receive feedback on both the content of your paper and your adherence to MLA documentation guidelines. (If you need help with MLA guidelines, see the Owl Purdue website: (http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl or The Curious Researcher) You should be careful to lead into any direct quotes you use, include quotation marks around direct quotes, and include parenthetical documentation. Each work to which you refer in your paper must be listed on your Works Cited page.
- Third Drafts/Works Cited Page: You will be required to workshop with me in an individual conference two versions of the paper—one in a style suitable for your particular publication and another in a format suitable for a traditional researched essay. The second version of your paper must include parenthetical documentation and a draft of your works cited page.
- Two Final Drafts: One version of your article will be formatted as a feature article in the magazine your group creates, and the other version will be formatted in a traditional researched essay style with MLA documentation (Works Cited page and parenthetical documentation).
Here is a helpful link describing different types of ledes: http://teachers.ewrsd.k12.nj.us/savedoff/journalism/features/Basic%20feature_leads.htm
Lede Due: Thursday 2/7/13
First Draft Due: Tuesday 2/12/13
Second Draft Due: Thursday 2/21/13
Final Draft Due: Tuesday 3/5/13
Grading Rubric:
FEATURE ARTICLE EVALUATION SHEET
Evaluation Areas (out of 25)
Lede and Title (out of 2) Presenting the Main Issue/Problem/Question - The lede draws the reader in and begins to express the central issue/problem/question clearly, so that a reader can grasp the purpose and relevance of the essay from the beginning. The lede should be done in one of the feature article styles.
Organization and Structure (out of 3) The article is not confusing to follow, and follows a cohesive narrative arc. The article shows that the writer has a well thought-out idea of what storytelling is, and chose to place specific sections in specific places for rhetorical reasons.
Strength of Your Topic (out of 5) The article is based on an issue/problem/question that is meaningful and researchable (i.e. lends itself to inquiry), and is defined enough to be addressed conclusively (i.e. in 7 to 8 pages, rather than a book). The article also deals with the “So What?” factor, and teaches me something I didn’t know. Additionally, the article is situated into a larder social, cultural and/or political context that is timely and relevant. The topic is also geared toward the appropriate audience.
Balance of Research/Strength of Sources (out of 5) Opposing views and/or essential background information is included when applicable. Opposing views are examined judiciously. I want to see that you researched multiple sides to your argument or statement, and that the writer is knowledgeable of many aspects of this topic, even if you choose to take one specific stance.
Strength of Writing (out of 2) The writing itself is original, precise and SPECIFIC. The details are also not general, but specific. The writer displays an understanding of tone.
Sources and Documentation (MLA) (out of 2) The MLA version of the article incorporates a variety of credible sources. The sources are always identified, correctly documented and introduced smoothly with attributive tags and lead-in phrases. All of the sources are cited in alphabetical order and correct MLA style in the “Works Cited” list.
Readability/Grammar: (out of 2)
- Paragraphing and paragraph transitions
- Verb forms, tenses and agreement
- Sentence fragments, run-ons, fused sentences
- Page numbers
- Stapled!!!
Evidence of Writing Process and Strength of the Magazine Layout (out of 4)
All drafts, revisions, peer reviews, were completed on time. Magazine has an appropriate title, and 2-3 advertisements for the intended audience. Your article is attractively formatted, like you would see in a print publication of the magazine your group is imitating.