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STRUCTURE OF A COLUMN:Intro or lead, Main body, Conclusion

<< GENERAL STYLE OF THE COLUMN:Unified Style, Anecdotal Style, Departmental Style
COLUMN WRITING TIPS:Write with conviction, Purpose, Content >>

column writing

Structure of Column Writting

Intro or lead

In column writting in the lead or intro, it is about bringing to focus what columnist wants to say, and the crux of the matter is
here. However, there is a distinct difference between Instructive and Opinionated column writting, and hence
their Intros are changed accordingly, where the tone may vary from simple directive approach to a more
casual, or informal style. Directions are always carefully written to eliminate ambiguity.
No doubt, a column is a personal writing to the writer, but it must attract the reader, and the writer must
keep the reader following the write-up.

Nut graph (angle)

It is usually determined by local conditions and the predilections of the concerned writers. The success of
a columnist lies in his efficiency and proficiency to attract and hold the readers, and he must possess some
cardinal points to impel the readers to continue the perusals of the column. Any 'Angling' in column writting must be
considering readers' intent and understanding. Otherwise, after giving an understanding, slant of the
column is better, and there must be nothing beyond the common understanding.

Main body

Bring in all facts, arguments and analyses in the main body. Besides this, comments must be added as
well. However, effort should be at trying to keep the focus of the reader by never letting loose on
arguments. However, nothing irrelevant should be written, as they say 'Never take the body for granted'.
This is also the portion where one should be coming up with suggestions and advices besides rounding up
of the views and news.

Conclusion

This is summing up the column, where one must be raising the questions or answering the questions
previously raised. Nothing ambiguous is said to conclude the column.
Success of the conclusion is that the reader must feel satisfied after reading the column, and he must feel
that all questions answered, and nothing has been left unanswered.
Structure because of content

Structure of a column varies from subject to subject, but one must be sticking to the subject and coming
up with the usual format required under the head, and making the subject clear to reader. Format can be
fluctuated, but not digressing to achieve novelty because the effort is to make the reader understand the
subject by following a particular subject.
Pointing out different structures of columns may seem a useless exercise, since column writing is so
individual. However, the following Structures are more common:

Questions and Answers

The questions come from readers and the answers are supplied by the columnist.

Grab bag

Some columns written are a collection of events coming up, awards handed out, gossip and anything else too
small for a headline. However, more newspapers are abandoning these for a thematic grab bag.

Anecdote Column

Column writing built around a single anecdote take on the character of a mini-feature.

Feature Column writting

A feature colum writting, usually a profile, is a common column format. The difference between this and a regular
feature is the greater length of the regular feature, and, sometimes, personal involvement of the columnist
indicated by the use of personal pronoun.

Instructive Column

The tone may vary from the simple directive approach to a more casual, informal style. The directions are
always carefully written to eliminate ambiguity and writers often give the material an "idiot run" to be
sure there are no steps missing.

Opinionated Columns writting

The columnist, as column is personal writing to the writer.

 

 

 

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