High School Journalism Unit 3

Reading and Writing Workshop

Unit Plan

Feature Writing – Telling the Human Story

Activities

Teaching with E.L.O.N.  (Enriched Learning Opportunity Nexus) that seamlessly integrates AI 

Unit 3
Overview:
This unit introduces students to the art of feature writing in journalism, emphasizing storytelling, creativity, and human interest. Students will explore how feature stories differ from traditional news reporting, learn how to craft compelling narratives through character, setting, and description, and practice writing profiles, event features, and human interest stories. Through analysis of model texts and hands-on writing assignments, students will develop their voices as feature writers.

Unit Objectives:
Students will be able to:

• Distinguish between feature stories and hard news articles.
• Identify and develop compelling story angles and hooks.
• Conduct interviews and incorporate quotes effectively.
• Use descriptive language and narrative techniques in journalistic writing.
• Write various types of feature stories: human interest, profiles, event features.

Essential Questions:

• How do feature stories differ from standard news reporting?
• What makes a human interest story compelling?
• How can journalists use storytelling techniques to engage readers?
• In what ways can quotes, detail, and description bring a subject to life?

Key Topics:

• Differences between news articles and feature stories
• Types of feature stories: profiles, human interest, event features
• Finding an angle and hook
• Interviewing and quoting for features
• Using narrative structure in journalism
• Descriptive writing and imagery in journalism

Primary & Secondary Sources:Primary:

• Selected feature articles from The New York Times, NPR, National Geographic, and The Atlantic
• Transcripts of interviews conducted by professional journalists
• Student-conducted interviews and field notes

Secondary:

• Excerpts from Telling True Stories by Mark Kramer & Wendy Call
• “Feature Writing: Telling the Story” by M.L. Stein
• Journalism style guides (e.g., AP Stylebook excerpts)

Lesson Breakdown:Week 1: Introduction to Feature WritingLesson 1: What Is a Feature Story?

• Activity: Compare a news article and a feature on the same topic. Create a Venn diagram showing differences and similarities.

Lesson 2: Finding a Hook and Developing an Angle

• Activity: Analyze ledes from various features; students brainstorm potential angles for a feature based on given topics.

Week 2: Human Interest & Profile WritingLesson 3: Writing the Human Story

• Activity: Read and analyze a human interest feature. Practice writing a vignette based on a personal anecdote.

Lesson 4: Interviewing and Using Quotes Effectively

• Activity: Mock interview sessions; students develop questions, conduct peer interviews, and pull strong quotes.

Lesson 5: Writing a Profile Feature

• Activity: Write a short profile of a peer, integrating quotes, context, and vivid description.

Week 3: Event and Place-Based FeaturesLesson 6: Event Feature Writing

• Activity: Students attend or simulate an event (e.g., school play, sports game) and write a feature capturing the mood, people, and impact.

Lesson 7: Descriptive Writing in Journalism

• Activity: Sensory description exercise — students describe a setting or object using journalistic style and tone.

Lesson 8: Writing the Scene

• Activity: Analyze features that use narrative structure. Write a feature intro that uses “scene-setting” technique.

Week 4: Revision, Peer Review, and PublicationLesson 9: Feature Article Workshop

• Activity: Peer review and editing sessions using rubrics. Focus on structure, style, and descriptive writing.

Lesson 10: Showcase and Reflect

• Activity: Publish or display student features; reflective journaling on the writing process.

Assessments:Formative:

• Exit tickets: reflections on article analysis
• Draft paragraphs and peer feedback
• Interview questions and practice sessions
• Scene description writing activity

Summative:

• Final feature article (choice of human interest, profile, or event)
• Portfolio submission with annotated drafts and revisions
• Self-reflection on writing growth and storytelling techniques

Suggested Extension Activities:

• Guest speaker: local journalist or editor
• Field trip to newsroom or journalism museum
• Create a class magazine or digital feature blog
• Submit a feature to the school newspaper or local publication

Vocabulary:

• Feature story
• Hook
• Angle
• Profile
• Human interest
• Narrative lead
• Anecdote
• Description
• Interview
• Quote attribution

​The following activities include AI tools that enhance student engagement, provide data-driven insights, and facilitate personalized learning. 
Week 1: Introduction to Feature Writing
Activity 1: AI-Powered Genre Analysis

• Tool: ChatGPT (free version)
• Type: Group Activity
• Objective: Distinguish between news and feature writing
• Instructions:
  1. In small groups, students input two articles (a straight news report and a feature story) into ChatGPT.
  2. Prompt: “Compare the tone, structure, and purpose of these two articles.”
  3. Students discuss ChatGPT’s analysis and use it to complete a Venn diagram comparing news vs. features.

Week 2: Human Interest & Profile Writing
Activity 2: Interview Question Generator

• Tool: ChatGPT or Claude (Anthropic)
• Type: Individual Activity
• Objective: Develop effective interview questions for feature writing
• Instructions:
  1. Students input a description of the person they will interview.
  2. Prompt: “Generate 10 insightful, open-ended questions for a student profile feature on [describe subject].”
  3. Students revise the questions for tone and depth, and submit for feedback.

Activity 3: Hook & Angle Brainstorm Workshop

• Tool: Notion AI or ChatGPT
• Type: Group Activity
• Objective: Identify compelling feature story hooks
• Instructions:
  1. Each group submits a short event summary or feature topic.
  2. Prompt: “Suggest 3 engaging angles and hooks for a feature story about [topic].”
  3. Groups select their favorite and explain their reasoning to the class.

Week 3: Event and Place-Based Features
Activity 4: Descriptive Writing Booster

• Tool: GrammarlyGO or ChatGPT
• Type: Individual Activity
• Objective: Improve sensory description in journalistic writing
• Instructions:
  1. Students write a 150-word scene description.
  2. They use GrammarlyGO’s tone enhancement feature or ChatGPT with the prompt:
     “Improve this journalistic paragraph by enhancing descriptive details while keeping it objective.”
  3. Students compare versions, reflect, and revise their original work.

Activity 5: Event Feature Outline Builder

• Tool: ChatGPT
• Type: Group Activity
• Objective: Structure a compelling event feature article
• Instructions:
  1. After attending a real or simulated school event, groups summarize the event.
  2. Prompt: “Create an outline for a feature article on this event, including a narrative-style lead, key scenes, quotes, and conclusion.”
  3. Students then use this outline as a guide for collaborative drafting.

Week 4: Revision, Peer Review, and Publication
Activity 6: AI-Assisted Peer Review

• Tool: ChatGPT (or Microsoft Copilot in Word)
• Type: Individual Activity
• Objective: Revise and improve drafts using AI feedback
• Instructions:
  1. Students input their full draft and prompt ChatGPT with:
     “Act as an editor. Review this feature article and provide feedback on structure, clarity, tone, and use of quotes.”
  2. Students highlight what changes they’ll implement, then revise accordingly.

Activity 7: Title and Subtitle Generator

• Tool: ChatGPT or Jasper AI
• Type: Group Activity
• Objective: Create attention-grabbing titles and subtitles
• Instructions:
  1. Groups submit a completed article draft.
  2. Prompt: “Suggest 5 strong titles and subtitles for a feature article on [brief summary of article].”
  3. Students choose or adapt one and reflect on what makes a good title in journalism.

Ongoing Optional Extension Activity
​Activity 8: Class Feature Magazine (with AI Layout Help)

• Tool: Canva with Magic Write or Adobe Express
• Type: Group Activity
• Objective: Publish student features in a polished, professional format
• Instructions:
  1. Groups use Canva’s “Magic Write” to generate blurbs, cover copy, or headlines.
  2. They lay out articles using design templates, incorporating student photography or visuals.
  3. Publish as a digital magazine or print for display.