Types of writing and useful lead structures There are four basic types of writing that apply to journalism:
- Expository — Transmits facts, for example, hard news
- Narrative — Tells a story
- Descriptive — Uses imagery to describe a place or person
- Persuasive — Editorials and op-eds
Consider how feature articles use these basic types Expository Contrast: Ten years ago, Jake Smith spent his days underground, digging coal. “It was a hard life,” he said, “but one my father and grandfather had lived.” Today he is in graduate school, looking for ways to bring change to Appalachia and new jobs to those who — like him — can no longer work in the mines.
Narrative sequence: The day begins at 4 am. Hopefully there is coffee and a clean pair of coveralls waiting. Its hell going down into the mine without coffee, even worse in a wet pair of coveralls.
Jake Smith remembers those days …
Descriptive/ expository: Appalachian coal mining has fallen off by half in the past decade, and the economic and demographic trends of the region show America’s changing energy mix.
Jake Smith, a former coal miner, talks about the human impacts of these trends.
“There is a buttload of desperation in the coal fields,” Smith said.
Descriptive approach with the human element first:
When Jake Smith left coal mining ten years ago, it seemed as if the industry would go on forever. That year the Appalachian mines churned out over 400 million tons of coal, and he contributed his share. But now, coal production has been cut by almost half. What Smith and other Appalachian residents can do about the decline in the coal industry is not clear, but they are determined to find a way forward.
Narrative contrast (cliche):
Jake Smith was looking for lunch, and not looking to become it.
Last week, when he took a break at his temp job in Florida, he stumbled into a drainage ditch where he found a large alligator lurking. The creature bit into his leg and held on.
Passers-by heard his calls for help and the rescue squad arrived in time to save Jake — but not his peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“I think the gator got it,” he said. “Im just glad it didn’t get me.”