MC210: Feature or news feature assignment

Topic: Choose a topic related to some aspect of the relationship between alcohol and young adults.

Note that this is NOT an opinion piece! Do NOT base your story on whether or not the drinking age should be lowered (or, for that matter, raised). No credit will be given for papers that focus on changing the drinking age, which does not fit the assignment.

Here are some suggestions for topics, with plenty of room for choosing your angle. You are not limited to these, so feel free to come up with your own.

• Drinking and young adults' social life

• Drinking & its overall effects on health

• Alcohol addiction & rehab

• Responsible drinking behaviors

• Working as a bartender or server

• Driving and alcohol

• The role of alcohol in family celebrations

• How family attitudes and habits influence young adults' drinking behavior

• Small towns and drinking

• The role of alcohol at wedding celebrations (including ethnic traditions)

• Wine-making (with young adult angle)

Story requirements:

1. Three or more sources. At least one (and preferably two) must be a "live" interview. You may use published sources to fill out your story. When using printed or Web sources, cite them inline — not with footnotes, endnotes or bibiography. (None of these is used in media writing.)

2. Pay special attention to your lead. The key to a successful feature is a strong lead. Consider the approaches described in Yopp chapter 7 — the descriptive, anecdotal and other approaches. Avoid a bland, essay-style introduction.

3. Your story should be about three double-spaced pages. Indent your (short) paragraphs. Remember media style: Keep your writing simple and direct.

4. Subtract yourself!

 

Due Tuesday, Oct. 27.