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SOURCES OF MATERIAL:Commemorations, Science and Technology

<< IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE:Feature writing, Explanation of the definition
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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
LESSON 02
SOURCES OF MATERIAL
A good feature writer has at his disposal the major sources of observation, experience and printed word.
However, he can and must amply employ and utilise the sources for the newspapers and the magazines.
Owing to the reason that for feature-writing, the writer has numerous sources at his disposal, the features
have gained wide currency and popularity in comparison to the drab nature of news-story and column-
writing. Hence, a feature writer must exploit all avenues and sources for making his features interesting,
absorbing and informative. Besides, the usual sources of information, books can be and must be
consulted. Rather keeping books as one's best friends is the key to success.
Feature-writing can be derived and deduced from several sources; as by observation, experience and
printed material. As far as observation and experience is concerned, special talents must be there in the
personal character of the writer. Relevant sources should be handled immaculately.
Following sources must be utilised for feature writing
Personalities: Personalities of the past and present can be made the subject of personality-based features.
There are a large number of living epoch-making personalities, whose achievements and in certain cases,
failures, can be a subject. Some believe that the territorial limits are just meaningless, and any nationally
or internationally reputed personality approached for the feature, but one must need to consider why he is
choosing a particular personality for the feature. The writer must keep in his mind that he must be
bringing to focus the person, who is in more than one way either influencing his readers, or can become
so in the future. Fields of engineering, arts and craft, medicine, politics, economics, social welfare,
educational field, and world peace are the usual areas from where personalities are usually chosen.
However, there is an unending list of personalities, which can be extended to virtually every field and
walk of life. Succinctly, any reputed person who has contributed largely to the betterment of the human
beings can be an individual, who is a subject of one's feature. Moreover, personal interviews and
biographies of can serve as a light-house to the common persons.
Commemorations
These also come under the head of the divergent sources of feature-writing.
The sources of commemorative articles are numerous, including national and important international
events, fairs, exhibits, personalities, historical event, as Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Azha, Eid Mild-un-Nabi, Shab-
e-Barat and Shab-e-Meraj, Moharrum-ul-Haram, national heroes days like the Quaid-i-Azam, Allama
Iqbal and many others.
All commemorative features may comprise personalities connected and related to freedom, specially their
achievements. The commemorative features also consist of religious festivals.
Others may include days of armed forces of Pakistan other national and international events as First May,
Wars launched for the territorial integrity of Pakistan, struggle for ideological integrity and the forecasts
of the impending dangers etc.
Social and Cultural sources:
Social and cultural features are not only great in number and variety; they are also multi-coloured and
multi-purpose, as well as multi-dimensional. The social subjects may comprise reduction of family size,
structure and nature of families in the past and the present conditions, and the study of those factors
responsible for that state.
There have been drastic changes in the long and traditionally established institutions of families and
marriages. It implies the study of the underlying causes, factors to detect the ailments, effects and the
suggested remedial measures.
These features can bring out the salient features of the two social systems, that is, the East and the West,
by comparison and by contrast. The social and cultural features may be based on the national and the
foreign society, bringing into light the strange customs and traditions. These features have definite
objectives, by presenting them theoretically and projecting the different social and traditional evils and
malpractices, in order to allow and inspire the general masses to ponder over them. These are ushered in
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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
for the betterment of the social and cultural structure of the society. Among these social evils are included
the marriages on 'Watta Satta' arrangements, dowry and its long-ranging effects on the less fortunate
families and its merits and demerits.
The social and cultural features are of multi-purpose nature. Even in daily life features can be arranged on
the problems of daily life as the trends of modern life, hobbies, professions, places, scenes, entertainments
and weather etc.
Definite objectives, theoretically and projecting the different social and traditional evils and malpractices,
in order to allow and inspire the general masses to ponder over them, aiming at the betterment of the
social and cultural structure of the society.
Features are also written on the problems of daily life as the trends of modern life, hobbies, professions,
places, scenes, entertainments and weather etc.
Science and Technology
This is rightly called the age of phenomenal scientific and technological inventions and improvisations,
affecting all departments of life, which has not only changed the whole fabric of individual and social life,
but also introduced drastic alterations in the basic thought traditionally held. Science has introduced a
number of comforts and luxuries of life, never witnessed before.
It is quite in the fitness of things to write features on different phases of life as affected by scientific
developments subjects to enlighten the general readers.
A good feature writer can make use of any of the field of science and technology, with positive approach
in simple style, as to be fully intelligible to the general readers. There is no dearth for scientific and
technological sources of information and feature-writing.
These features may consist of the biographical notes and achievements of the famous scientists and
technologists their unique achievements, individual scientific inventions and their social and economic
effects including both positive and negative effects on human life.
Features can be composed on the role of science and technology to make deficiencies in food resources,
agricultural improvements and various allied mechanisation processes, search for sea foods and resources
and utilisation. These may comprise subjects to study the various alternatives for the sources of energy,
science's role in the improvement of medicine and health of humanity, lack of interest in scientific studies
in Pakistan as well as lagging far behind in these fields, even compared with numerous under-developed
countries. A good feature writer can ably undertake the study of the different aspects of our educational
set-up, which has been causing the general slackness of programme to include scientific and technological
curriculum. In short, there are countless sources of feature-writing in the main and major field of science
and technology.
Psychological Features
The new age of scientific and technological inventions and discoveries has drastically altered the very
style of life and living, followed traditionally and in a most conventional manner, resulting in social
problems of adjustment, mental and cultural gaps. These have collectively given rise to a number of
psychological illnesses and ailments. It has not been yet possible to bridge the so-called gaps in the social
fabric of life. There have been numerous psychological problems due to the constant stresses and strains
of modern life, and social sub-structure has been abruptly shaken rather shattered. Whereas the process of
adjustments has never been consistent with the drastic alterations.
There are psychological problems in the industrial units, individual and social problems, mental and
cultural complicities, individual and family problems and numerous allied complexities. There is a
growing class consciousness in the society, difference and wide gap between saying or confessing and
actions, increasing trends of exhibition, pomp and show, instability in the marital matters, a wide
difference between the income and expenditure and the relevantly frivolous efforts rather immoral acts to
reconcile the expenditure with the income. Factually, there is strictly speaking a strain existing between
the different classes of the society, which is ever on the increase, it is here that a good feature writer can
choose and select any psychological problem for the betterment of mental and moral health of the
individuals residing in the society.
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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
History
History can be described as one of the main and collectively a major source of features. History is the
record of life in all possible phases and aspects, concerning human beings all over the world. Historical
features may relate to a recent event, or to past events affecting the present.
History can be world history, or national history. There is the Islamic history, replete with great events
and greater personalities, with great feats and achievements their daring and courageous feats of
unparalleled bravery and numerous dashing events. Historical features assist in tracing out the link
between out past institutions and their transmission to the present and then to the coming generations.
History reminds us our cultural, social and economic ties with our social institutions; rather it regularises
and maintains our cordial linkage with our past institutions. It links us with the collective genius of our
ancestors, besides imparting lessons of love for the masses.
In quite cases, besides repeating historical event, both directly or indirectly, feature writers are expected
to be well-versed in historical events and personalities in order to make it as a good source.
Expositional and Instructional Feature
These are instructional and educational features, which can be called multi-purposes features, in which
people are given instruction and explication on those subjects, which needs further explanation rather
repeated lessons. These are the subjects, which are already under the knowledge of the general masses, as
civil defence, traffic rules and regulations or first aid, but are not aware of the detailed information.
These sources of features are generally in the nature, which are meant for the education and instruction of
the general people. Among the expositional and instructional features are included the social and cultural
theories and distinctions, folk songs, evolution of folk lore and literature, their social and cultural values
and inter-relationship, superstitions, latent social values and aspects.
An expositional feature undertakes to study and examine the origin, causes of its persistent existence, folk
and romantic stories traditionally existing for the past hundreds of years. It takes into examination the
nature, persistence, existence scope and structure of folk literature, besides its popularity, significance and
effects. In this category, there are countless sources and further sub-sources of the existence and belief
and faith in mysterious events, their influence and causes of permanent penetration and permeation in the
present social set-up.
Moreover the sources of feature in this category take into scrutiny and study of the social etiquette and
habits and the relevant contribution of different societies in that direction.
As such all those subjects and topics related to the social sub-structure fall in this category of exposition
and instruction.
Investigational Features
Under this category, there are many other features, which require investigation and research on detailed
scale. A good feature is usually based on research methods and investigation, taking the bare facts as tools
and implements and weaving a feature in interesting manner, so as to project it in a befitting manner to
the readers. The objective is to bring out all the possible aspects and angles of the subject concerned. In
fact, these features are closely related to the methods of investigation and research. As such countless
sources of features are invariably connected within the category of investigation and research; which
forms the basic tools and implements for collecting the bare facts and figures, statistics, confirmed events
in order to arrive at the solid conclusion. This process accelerates the speed to suggest and frame future
actions and policies.
Though these features are burdensome and onerous, responsible and weighty which require very hard
work, time-consuming, industriousness and heavy expenses.
In this connection, experimental feature-writing is rarely practised in Pakistan as in the western countries.
As such the relevant sources under this category should be handled immaculately.
The sources of information, instruction, guidance and especially the material and data are derived for the
feature-writing as well as the articles. After the description of the main and major sources, we may briefly
survey the other minor sources in their individuality and uniqueness.
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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
Electronic
Means of communication keep a great deal in picking up the central issues, points and ideals, which are
ideal for writing a feature. These means consist of the Internet, radio and television, where as large
number of programmes are telecast and broadcast, necessarily requires explication and feature-writing.
Fact-to-face include conversation, addresses, sermons, which is really very useful for gathering some
points of public interest on which a feature could be composed in order to instruct, give food for thought
for all.
Printed material may comprise newspapers periodicals, journals, magazines, publicity, advertising,
bulletins, catalogues, and many other forms of printed materials. Their perusal can result in detecting
some striking points and ideals for writing a feature.
Another source may be found in the form of institutions, broad-based as fairs, trades, business, industries,
museums, exhibition, and educational institutions
Social Subjects
Social subjects like conventions, traditions, customs, anniversary days, and holiday are another vast field
of sources for feature-writing, in which an observant feature-writer can find countless subjects for his
features.
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Table of Contents:
  1. IMPORTANCE OF LANGUAGE:Feature writing, Explanation of the definition
  2. SOURCES OF MATERIAL:Commemorations, Science and Technology
  3. INTERNET USAGE IN FEATURE WRITING:Be very careful, Website checklist
  4. WHAT MAKES A GOOD FEATURE?:Meeting demands of readers
  5. DEMANDS OF A FEATURE:Entertainment and Interest, Both sides of picture
  6. CONDUCTING AND WRITING OF INTERVIEWS:Kinds of interviews
  7. WRITING NOVELTY INTROS:Punch or astonisher intros, Direct quotation intros
  8. STRUCTURE OF FEATURES:Intro or Lead, Transition, Body
  9. SELECTION OF PICTURES, ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS:Sources
  10. FEATURES AND EDITORIAL POLICY:Slanting or angling feature
  11. HUMAN INTEREST AND FEATURE WRITING:Obtaining facts, Knowing how to write
  12. NEWSPAPER FEATURE STORY:The Business Story, The Medical Story
  13. THE NEWSPAPER FEATURE STORY IDEA:Conflict, Human interest
  14. MAGAZINE FEATURE VERSUS DAILIES:Feature versus Editorial, An overview
  15. WRITING THE SPECIALISED FEATURE STORY:The Deadline Feature Sidebar
  16. MODERN FEATURE AND ITS TREATMENT:Readers’ constraints
  17. MODERN FEATURE WRITING TECHNIQUE:The Blundell Technique
  18. ADVICE TO FEATURE WRITERS:A guide to better writing, Love Writing
  19. COLUMN WRITING:Definition, Various definitions, Why most powerful?
  20. COLUMN WRITING IN MODERN AGE:Diversity of thought, Individuality
  21. ENGLISH AND URDU COLUMNISTS:More of anecdotal, Letting readers know
  22. TYPES OF COLUMNS:Reporting-in-Depth Columns, Gossip Columns
  23. OBJECTIVES AND IMPORTANCE OF COLUMNS:Friendly atmosphere, Analysis
  24. WHAT ARE THE ESSENTIALS AND BASIC POINTS THAT GO IN TO THE FORMING OF A COLUMN?
  25. STYLE:General and a specialised writing, How can a columnist improve it?
  26. GENERAL STYLE OF THE COLUMN:Unified Style, Anecdotal Style, Departmental Style
  27. STRUCTURE OF A COLUMN:Intro or lead, Main body, Conclusion
  28. COLUMN WRITING TIPS:Write with conviction, Purpose, Content
  29. SELECTION OF A TOPIC:Close to your heart, Things keeping in Queue
  30. QUALITIES OF A COLUMN WRITER:Personal, Professional, Highly Educated
  31. WHAT MUST BE PRACTISED BY A COLUMNIST?:Pleasantness, Fluency
  32. SOURCES OF MATERIAL OF COLUMNS:Constant factors, Interview
  33. USEFUL WRITING DEVICES:Be specific, Use Characterisation, Describe scenes
  34. COMMON WRITING PROBLEMS:Eliminate clichés, Don’t misuse words
  35. WRITING THE COLUMN:Certain thumb rules, After writing the column
  36. ARTICLE WRITING:Introduction, Definition, Contents, Main Segments, Main body
  37. HOW TO WRITE AN ARTICLE?:It is more efficient, It is more believable
  38. TYPES AND SUBJECTS OF ARTICLE:Interview articles, Utility articles
  39. FIVE COMMANDMENTS, NO PROFESSIONAL FORGETS:Use Key Words
  40. ARTICLES WRITING MISTAKES:Plagiarising or 'buying articles, Rambling
  41. WRITING THE ARTICLE:Various parts of article, The topic sentence
  42. What to do when you have written the article?:Writing the first draft
  43. TEN STANDARD ARTICLE FORMATS:The informative articles
  44. LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR WRITERS:Libel, Doctoring Quotes
  45. REVISION:Importance of language, Feature writing, Sources of material