How To Write Special Feature Articles

an article before he has outlined it fully. In planning a building, an architect considers how large a house his client desires, how many roo

at material it should include, how much space should be devoted to each part, and how

ject and to every part must be considered. The arrangement of the parts is of even greater importance, because much of the effectiveness of the presentation will depend upon a logical devel

when a writer attempts to work out an article as he goes along, trusting that his ideas will arrange themselves, the result is far from a clear, logical, well-organized presentation of his subject. The common disinclination to make an outline is usually bas

ation for which it is intended. A large subject cannot be adequately treated in a brief space, nor can an important theme be disposed of satis

at 1000 words. It would be quite as bad judgment to prepare a 1000-word article for the former, as it would be to send one of 5000 words to the latter. Periodicals also fix certain limits for articles to be printed in p

or two of each special article, short story, or serial to appear in the first part of the magazine, relegating the remainder to the advertising pages. Articles must, therefore, be long enough to fill a page

e, use special feature stories of various lengths. The arrangement of advertisements, even in the magazine sections, does not affect the length of articles

riting the article. "Is this point essential to the accomplishment of my aim?" is the test he should apply. Whatever is non-essential must be abandoned, no matter how attractive it may be. Having determined upo

is led, step by step, from the first sentence to the last in the easiest and most natural way, is the ideal arrangement. An article should march right

a striking incident and then going back to relate the events that led up to it. This method of beginning in medias res is a device well recognized in

by skillfully inducing his readers to reach those conclusions by what they regard as their own mental processes. That is, if readers think that the convictions which they have reached are their own, and were not forced upon them, their interest in these ideas is likely to be much deeper and more

nd other particulars he jots down under each of the chief heads. The arrangement of these details, in relation both to the central purpose and to each other, requires some consideration,

terial, he decided to attend the exercises and to interview both the principal of the school and the head of the factory. In thinking over the subject beforehand, he jotted down these points upon which to secure data: (1) the origin and the purpose of the school; (2) its relation to the work of the factory; (3) the methods of instruction; (4) the kind of pupils and the results accomplished for them; (5) the cost of the school; (6) its rela

ar to the one described. His purpose he formulated thus: "I intend to show how illiterate immigrant girls can be transformed quickly into intelligent, efficient American citizens by means of instruction in a factory school; this I wish to do by explaining what has been accomplished in this direction by on

2000 words. In order to accomplish his purpose in an article of this length, he selected five main topics to develop: (1) the reasons that led the fi

asked himself, in order to select the best point with which to begin his article. The feature that would attract

striking statement for the first sentence; and second, a concrete example of the results as shown by one of the pupils. He found, however, that he did not have sufficient data concernin

se of the school printed on the commencement program, he obtained the reasons why the

alls of the schoolroom. The first of these dealt with American history, the second with thrift and business methods, and the third with personal hygiene

head of the firm according to his preliminary plan. These

ould base on his own observation, supp

own impression of the success of the school. Thus he sought to give final reinforcement to the favorable impression of the school that he wished his article to

ing decided in a general way how he intended to develop each o

rm's purpose in undertaking this unusual enterprise. He accordingly jotted down for his second topic, "Purpose in estab

s readers, having learned the results and the purpose of the school, would naturally want to know by what methods thes

the results or the schoolroom might have been taken up next, but, as all the explanations of the methods of instruction were quoted directly in the words of the teacher, and as the pupils' exercises were to be given verb

ed on the walls of the schoolroom, the transition from the descriptio

of the school became the sixth division,

these main topics, always keeping his general purpose in mind. Th

mmary

results-ti

ment-when a

mber, nationali

en and where

le to ot

pose of

ement on comme

rm's statemen

ods of in

tical e

graphy, postal regula

y, expense account

ography, holidays, ci

eanliness, physical cu

growing cotton,

hone, directory, map of city, r

outside o

e scho

n-floor sp

s, motto, photograph

ings-piano

girls, The Promised Land

shown by

eme and her rem

n's essay

l's exercise

f forty an

st of

ense t

of Education-sala

e cost p

irm outweigh co

mmary c

quoted fr

ade by girls re

e, he worked out a title based on this idea, with a sub-title presenting the striking results accomplished by

SCHOOL TO

into Intelligent American Workers

fficient American citizen, in this city, without interfering with the daily work by which she earns her li

MMARY

iking

n two sentence to av

k factory. The classes have been held on one of the upper floors of the white goods factory of D. E

mmenc

out immediately aft

has loca

issued by the Board of Education. Twenty weeks ago many of these young women could not speak English; many of them had never be

radu

ncrete

emphasized by d

audience of re

write good letters, make out money-orders, cash checks, and send telegrams. They have also been taught the principles of our

ame has loc

rete details of

ad of the firm, in co?peration with the Board of Education, and has been und

al and school hav

rgest white goods muslin underwear plant in the world, will

le to ot

ggestion

nity, to promote industrial betterment, by reducing the friction caused by failure to comprehe

POSE OF

m's st

t in gen

siness and factory methods," says Mr. Sicher, "she doesn't hesit

f firm's

since we can afford to pay them better wages, they are much more cont

in concr

time to spend in teaching the girls anything but the most necessary things," explains Miss Meyers, "for I

ODS OF IN

tical e

tatement of

either in English or in any other language. The problem was how to give each of them what she most needed in the short time a

concrete

t of gen

e, as well as writing and spelling. It meant teaching the geography of the count

tter

means of addition, subtraction, and division. I also ask them to keep p

rith

be true Americans that they want to know about our great men-the origin of legal holidays, the

Civ

the effects of long hours at the sewing machines, we have physical culture exercises. Instruction in first aid measures is also given so that they will know what t

sonal

un, where the mills are and how it is shipped to New York. After they understand the various processes through which the material g

tton

nstruction. A dummy 'phone, telegraph blanks, the city directory, maps with routes of rapid transit line

of comm

on in this paragraph

f school hours many of the necessary things that we

outside o

but one of the factory building. There you find only a portion of the floor space cleared for tables and

E SCHO

Loc

ect of u

ely represent the many nationalities among the

ngs come

poken

sped

past

ected op

ecor

er of decora

lson herself, just before she was married, when a party of them with Miss Meyers went to Washington to give her a white petticoat they had made themselves,

spirit on the part of

ble for the girls to enjoy dancing during the noon hours on t

rnis

ur, the teacher read aloud to the girls until they were able to read for themselves. Then they were permitted to take books home with th

ibr

thers about it. Although a little shy at first, she soon forgot herself in her eagerness to relate Miss Antin's experiences. She told the story with such dramatic effect that she q

an interest," as related

' invitation to attend the graduation

raph out of l

the room on the occasion of the exercises, and showed

SHOWN BY

ming to this country, she had attended school and besides this she had been teaching her father

's theme a

eatest progre

ove their country, because they know that this freedom was earned by men who gave their lives for it. The United States is in North Ameri

ure without quotation m

overed the country in which she and her father had foun

nt by the wri

had received in the value of opening a dime-sa

nings to put in the bank. I kno

ns to put mone

means changing a

n's essay

ction with the teaching of composition was illustrated in an essay o

sh girl

d to comb

the comb i

mbs he

s to brus

the brush

shes he

rushes her hair

hair often with

arn to read and write was told by Miss Meyers in c

f forty an

dn't read or even write her name. Despite her age, she begged for a long time to be permitted to enter the school, but there were so many yo

eal heightened by qu

r the sheet like the work of a child when it begins to write. After twenty weeks of struggle, her work took on a form that, although still crude, was creditable for one

ip could not be show

e wages paid for the time spent by the girls in the classroom, ha

ST OF

ense t

space

ht, and h

tor

an hr., 40

t, 40 gir

st per g

es is comprehensible

paid out $560 for the teacher's salary and for sup

o Board o

ach one of the forty girl worke

e cost p

er, for the school work increases the efficiency in the factory

ns outwe

rs a week," declares Mr. Sicher, "than many more whom I have to pay low wages simply because th

tatement given t

following statement which was made on the commencement program: "It is the present belief of the f

MMARY C

quoted fr

efficiency" to p

ciency was very evident to everyone who looked into their faces as they rec

sion give

in closing phrase, whi

other article. The author centers the interest in one of the pupils, and shows the value of the school in terms of this girl's experience. The girl's own account of what the school has meant to her makes a strong "human interest" appeal. By thus developing one concrete example effectively, the author is able to arouse more interest in the results of the school than s

"The Promised Land," who addressed the girls. The first sentence of it piques our curiosity to know how "the promised l

FUL AM

RIAN WHO GRADUATES

has kept its promi

OF REBE

grant girl, unable to speak or write English

g statemen

e use of devi

t in other studies, she proudly cherishes the first "certificate of literacy" issued

aphs show striking resu

D.E. Sicher & Co. It was Rebecca Meyer who delivered the address of welcome to the members of the board of education, the members of the firm,

mmenc

ecca is the c

o set off u

rn to speak the English language, I did not know. It might take me years, I thought. That I should go to school

cca's s

omatic English

winter, stood smiling in the background. Mr. Sicher is president of the Cotton Goods Manufacturers' Association. It was he who conceived the

RY OF T

gin of

f introducing

caused by the inability of employees to comprehend directions. A girl who understands English, and has been enabled thereby to school

ults o

t of hea

y in which button-sewing has given place to study-no wonder

CONCL

n made the c

der's pride i

e made up of various kinds of units. Again, if we turn to the types of beginnings illustrated in Chapter VII, we shall find that they, too, are units, which in some cases might have been used in the body of the article instead of as an introduction. Since, then, every division of a subject may be regarded as

liar with the different methods of developing each one of these types. Four common methods of handling material within these units are: (1) exposition, narration, o

ose the one that gives variety to his article. If, for example, the units just before and after the one

eresting, but a story showing how a particular old man had been benefited by the law would appeal to practically every one. That is, to explain the operation and advantages of such a law, we give, as one unit, the concrete example of this old

although subsequent investigation showed that they had not actually sustained any loss. One of these cases, that given below, he decided to relate in his own words, without conversation or quotation, although he might have quoted part of the affidavit, or might have

looked everywhere, as they thought, but failed to find it. So she made her "proof of loss" in affidavit for

ement had searched for it, the restaurant help had been questioned closely, the automobile used that night had been gone over carefully, and the woman's home had been ransacked. Particular a

n "inside job." The company, however, asked that its detective be allowed to search the woman's house itself. The request was granted re

he pin to the restaurant on that particular night, and her husband also remembered seeing it that night and put his m

e pin. The woman and her husband simply had been mistaken-honestly mistaken. She hadn't worn the pin to the restaurant, and her hus

ases. Probably the one given below did not seem to the writer to be sufficiently striking if only the bare facts were given, and so he undertook to create sympathy by describing th

ed outside in the reception room, standing in a line, grinning self-consciously, while the women followed Daisy into the examination room. There she was gently muzzled with a piece of bandage, and the doctor examined her. There was something the matter with one hind

oxes, with a grin, while the three children-and children are always more or less littl

were told to take her home, bathe the leg with warm water, and keep her as quiet as possible. Her mistress, still with a troubled face, wrapped her care

ourt than could the ordinary police court judge, a writer selected several cases that she had disposed of in her characteristic way. The first case, which follows, he de

a married sister, and sometimes to a friend. She was accompanied by her mother and older sister, both with determined lower jaw

when you came in here the other day? You did not tell me where you had been. Don't you

The older sister scowled at the girl

eing questioned. "We don't wan

hink I want to come back. I don't wan

, far more than by definite questioning, she learns the attitude of the girl and the f

d home where some one would love you

nt nobody t

riend, somebody you could confide in and go wa

riends. I just wan

you back to Park Ridge for a while. But if you ever change your mind about wanting frie

t a bloodhound had been brought to track the criminal; then he told them what would happen if the crime were committed, first, when the streets were deserted, or second, when they were crowded. In other word

r it has been committed, and the dog has been properly trained, he will unfailingly run down

street, a well-trained bloodhound would take the trail of the criminal at daybreak and stick to it with a grim determination t

manity and remain undiscovered until after dark, then the bloodhound is

Dialogue and description are very frequently employed in relating incidents, even when the greater part of the incident is told in the writer's own words

explanation. One method of simplifying them is to translate them into terms with which the average reader is familiar. This may often be done by reducing large figures to smaller ones. Instead of saying, for example, that a press prints 36,000 newspapers an hour, we may say that it prints 10 papers

f figures. The first excerpt below shows how he managed to distribute them through several paragraphs, thus avoiding any awkward massing of figures. In

1

bors by actual figures that they were paying anywhere from $2 to $8 a week more for the

ake to supply them with garden truck, provisions and meats at wholesale prices. To clinch the demons

fference in the way you buy your food. The only difference is that you pay 50 cents a week on a certain day ea

2

rton of oatmeal for 8 cents; a 10-cent loaf of bread for 8 cents; one-half peck of string beans for 20 cents, instead of for 30 cents, the price in the non-co?perative stores; three pounds of veal for 58 cents instea

ed to several hundred thousand dollars a year, a special feature writer calculated the relation of the school

ast year, 45 cents was spent on the public schools. This means that nearly o

lice department, 12 cents to keep up the fire department

24 cents, was paid as salaries to teachers and principals. Onl

strated by the following excerpt from a special feature story on a

e regular courts has saved the state $1,000,000 a year since its inception in 1913. "Under the usual court proceedings," he says, "each case of

icked arbitrators, who tour the state, visiting promptly each scene of an accident and adjusting the compensation as

as been entered against the workers or their beneficiaries. The costs are taken care of by the state. Fully 90 per cent of all the

ter of popular articles. A narrative-descriptive presentation that enables the reader to visualize and follow the process, step b

fe history of a mosquito. In order to popularize these scientific details, he describes a "baby mosquito" in a concrete,

nd his eyes are set well out at the sides, while in front of them he has a pair of cute little horns or feelers. While the baby mosquito is brough

to grow a new skin underneath the old one, and when he finds himself protected, he bursts out of his old clothes and comes out in a spring suit. This molting process occurs several times within a week or two, but t

ise to something higher. His tiny shell is floating upon the water with his now winged body closely packed within. The skin begins to

. A passing ripple may swamp his tiny craft and shipwreck him to become the prey of any passing fish or vagrant frog. A swallow sweeping close to the water's surface may gobble him down. Some ruthless city employe may ha

ht for Clean Milk," printed in the Outlook. By leading "you," the reader, to the spot, as it were, by picturing in detail what "you" would see ther

is scientifically arranged, doors and windows are screened against the flies. Here the white-clad, smooth-shaven milkers do their work with scrubbed and manicured hands. You will note that all these men are studiously low-voice

m, which reduces it at once to the required temperature, thence into the mechanical bottler. The white-clad attendant places a tray containing several dozen empty bottles underneath, presses a lever, and, presto! they are full and not a drop spilled. He caps the bottles with another twist of the lever, sprays the whole with a hose, pic

g in a certain way, is another difficult problem for the inexperienced writer. For interest and variety, co

eeting of a farm woman's club at which the problem was discussed. By the device of allowing the members of the club to relate their experie

learned that even a few red coals in the fire-pot will be sufficient for practically everything. And then it does blacken the pans! But I've solved that difficulty by bending a piece of tin and setting it between the fire and the cooking vessel. This prevents burning, too, if the

g. Most vegetables are not harmed by a second cooking, and, besides the saving in fuel it entails, it's mighty comforting to know that you have your dinner already prepared for the next day, or several days before for that matter. In cold weather, or if you have ice, it will not be necessary to introduce monotony into your meals in order to save fuel, for one can wait a day or two before servin

another writer in the same farm journal succeeded in gi

is delicious. Where di

ver saw it in print. I just followed the regulation method of a layer of corn, then seasonin

ood one. I'm so glad to learn of it; but isn't i

the stalk into several lengthwise strips, then cut

r work. And economical, too. Why, celery for a dish like this could b

tuffings and meat loaf. Then there is creamed celery, of course, to which I sometimes add a half cup of almonds for variety. And I use it in sala

eason, and much of it is not quite nic

writer in the New York Tribune, who, in the excerpt below, emp

s to which this useful material may be put, there are

ur rubbers begin to break repair them on the inside with plaster cut to fit. If the children lose their rubbers at school, wri

t on and to take off. If the garden hose, the rubber tube of your bath spray

ith this first aid to the injured. In the same way the handles of golf sti

iring, or there is a cracked pane of glass in the barn or

ney?" Mary Hamilton Talbot gave several examples of methods of earnin

face. Thoroughly dissolve one pound of loaf sugar, boil until it threads and set from the fire. While it is still at the boiling point plunge in the bits of mint singly with great care. Remove them from the fondant with a fork and straighten the leaves neatly with a hatpin or like instrument. If a second plunging is necessary, allow the first coating to become thoroughly crystalized before dipping them again. Lay the sweets on oiled paper until thoroughly dry. With careful handling these mints w