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WRITING NOVELTY INTROS:Punch or astonisher intros, Direct quotation intros

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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
LESSON 07
WRITING NOVELTY INTROS
Why intros or Intros are important? This is the first question, which comes to every person's mind
whenever he is asked to write `good' intros. Though definition of `good' varies from person to person but
generally we can say that `what appeals to the readers and urges them to read the rest of the feature or
article' is a good intro. However, every writer has different tools to make their write-ups interesting.
While some apply the simple rule: "Lets talk your heart out to the reader!" or give a "Wake up call to the
reader!" However, it is a must to enhance the readability.
It is always challenging the ability of the writer to write interesting intros. The Intros add vigour and
colour to the writing in order to make features as interesting as possible, which is possible through
imagination coupled with paying intense attention to facts.
However, warning is: Deliberate efforts must be used sparingly, rather the thumb rule is whenever you do
it, make it natural, appropriate and unrestrained.
When to write novelty intros
Follow the mentioned below rules:
When you have some facts that are not entirely straight news
When you have some facts that may be made much more interesting by a novel way of presenting them
When the use of a novelty intro seems natural, appropriate, and unrestrained.
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Let's talk your heart out to the reader!
·
When the purpose to arouse reader's interest ­ for more information
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Avoid juvenile styles
One of the surest signs of the novice writer is his straining to find writing devices with the single virtue
that they are different. Novelty intros should be used sparingly when the purpose of your intro is to arouse
the reader's interest, not to satisfy it.
Beware that despite its variation from the straight news Intro, a novelty Intro for a feature story should
still present the news feature, but in such a way as to pique a reader's interest for more information.
Imagination combined with attention to facts is the requirement for successful novelty Intro writing.
Types of novelty intros
Punch or astonisher intros
This consists usually of a short, snappy sentence set off in a paragraph by itself with the summary of other
facts in the second paragraph, and used when you have one fact that is extremely important or startling
Background intros
This consists of a sentence or sentences describing an event in which the background overshadows the
individuals who participate in it. It is used often for stories about carnivals, dances, gym exhibitions,
music festivals and Homecoming events.
Exclamatory intros
This consists of short exclamatory sentences frequently set off in a paragraph, and is used for extremely
striking information, often of a big news
Direct quotation intros
This consists of a speaker's direct words, and is used when what is said is more striking or important than
the person who made the statement.
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Feature and Column Writing ­ MCM 514
VU
Question intros
This consists of a question usually set off in a paragraph by itself, and is used only when the question is
the crux of a story.
Description intros
This consists of a description of either of a person, place, or event, and is used when a comparatively few
words can formulate a vivid image in the reader's mind.
Contrast intros
This should be sharp and vivid to be most effective, and is used to point up opposites and extremes.
Literary, historical or mythological allusion intro
This consists of mostly of a quotation or a reference to a literary, historical or mythological character, and
is used only when the reference is natural and appropriate.
Parody intro
This consists of a parody of well-known song, poem, quotation, book or motion picture title, and is used
when the parody is appropriate and easily recognised and not trite.
Atmosphere intros
This consists of words or phrases that help to portray the setting or mood for a reader, and is used only
when the setting or mood an event is interesting or significant.
Suspended interest intro
This usually consists of several sentences in which reader's interest is intensified as he continues to read,
and is used most frequently for news-feature or feature stories which must be printed in their entirety to
preserve their news interest.
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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