Feature Story Assignment

The final assignment for the class is to write a feature story based on a scientific topic of interest suitable for publication by a news or internet source.

While related to your scientist interview and your book review, the feature story should be a distinct assignment, not just an expansion of what you have already done.

Your feature story should focus on either (1) current, interesting, perhaps controversial research being carried out in the scientific community; (2) an interesting life or event from science history; or (3) a news/current event with a neglected scientific dimension that your story will reveal, explore, and/or explain.

The feature story needs to develop from or center around at least one human element – a historical or recent anecdote or news story. This can come from science history or biography, from the news, from your scientist interview, or from other science interviews.

It needs to connect this human narrative element with a readable, accessible, and engaging account of a scientific or science-related topic

As with the book review assignment, assume that you are writing for a non-expert but very science-interested audience, one who will not only want to be entertained and moved by your article but genuinely informed.

For this story, you will need to do some research and quote from at least four sources. One of these can be the book you reviewed. One of these must be a scientist interview -- either your own or one found through your research.

All references should be in MLA format. Use the MLA style guide distributed in class.

The examples in the Pinker collection suggest the range of approaches to the feature story article.

The main articles in any issue of Discover magazine are exemplary (if a bit longer).

Successful examples of feature stories from previous semesters can be found at The Rutgers Assayist.