ST to coach teachers on feature writing

Workshop launched to help educators apply journalistic techniques in writing

Teachers from West Spring Secondary School at an earlier journalism workshop conducted by The Straits Times Schools. The new day-long course on writing feature articles will run in June and takes a fun approach to the process of learning.
Teachers from West Spring Secondary School at an earlier journalism workshop conducted by The Straits Times Schools. The new day-long course on writing feature articles will run in June and takes a fun approach to the process of learning. ST FILE PHOTO

Teachers will dip into journalists' bag of tricks at a new Straits Times workshop called "In The Shoes of a Journalist - Get to the Heart of the Matter".

The day-long course aims to equip secondary school English educators to teach Feature Article writing - a component in O-level English Paper 1 Section B - with some newsroom techniques.

The course will run on June 6, 7, 8 and 9 at the Intercontinental Singapore, and was developed with the academic team of Between The Lines Learning Space. Its approach moves away from learning strictly to pass an exam, and infuses the process with fun.

"Teachers always ask us how journalists write features so fast," said Ms Serene Goh, the broadsheet's Schools editor. "This workshop is intended to help them feel more confident about teaching feature writing, so if it does appear in an exam, the students will be prepared."

Among other things, the workshop will examine an article's various elements, such as the lede or nutgraf, and the use of quotes to flesh out a story. Participants will learn how to sharpen their key messages and structure, as well as their use of language to connect with audiences. They will then craft their own features with these strategies, and design and carry out feature-writing lessons.

  • The workshop

  • Outcomes

    •Learn how journalists write feature articles in the newsroom

    •Understand various elements of feature articles and experience the process of crafting one

    •Acquire facilitation skills to guide students towards understanding various elements of feature articles, and how to write them well

    Sign up

    •Duration: One-day course, from 8am to 5pm

    •Venue: The Intercontinental Singapore, 80 Middle Road, Singapore 188966

    •Date: Select from June 6, 7, 8 or 9

    •Capacity: Up to 50 teachers per slot

    •Cost: $428 (inclusive of GST) per person, including two tea breaks and one buffet lunch, plus workshop materials and learning resources

    •Inquiries: Please e-mail amyleo@sph.com.sg or ccarmen@sph.com.sg

    Between The Lines

    •Between The Lines is a learning space that specialises in English- language training across multiple levels. It operates two centres, in Bukit Timah and Jurong West. For more information, go to www.betweenthelines.com.sg

Ms Mildred Chan, 37, a teacher who specialises in English language and literature, is already looking forward to it.

"It's important for students to understand the purpose and nuances found in feature articles. In doing so, they will be able to better appreciate what they are reading and why they are reading."

The teachers' development workshop is the first launched by The Straits Times Schools team, which has won 14 global awards for its innovations in learning with the news.

The team produces youth-related news, as well as language-learning activities in its weekly magazines for schools, IN and Little Red Dot. It also drives national campaigns including The Straits Times-MOE National Current Affairs Quiz and the RHB-The Straits Times National Spelling Championship.

For more information, visit www.straitstimes.com/stschools.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on May 16, 2016, with the headline ST to coach teachers on feature writing. Subscribe