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The Structure of an Article 

1/29/2013

23 Comments

 
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With any piece of writing, it is always wise to have a template to guide you. Here is a suggested article template to help you when it comes to structuring your article.

The Title
  • The title should be catchy, something that will catch the reader’s attention.
  • It should give the reader a good idea of what the article is about. If a title doesn’t describe the article well, some readers who would have liked it might not read it. It can help to try to figure out what the main idea of your article is, and then try to describe that.
  • Try to keep the title short.
  • Don’t use any punctuation in the title.

First sentence and first paragraph
  • The first sentence should also be catchy. Now that you have someone reading your article you want them to continue to read.
  • In the first paragraph you should describe what you are writing about, so that the reader knows where the article is going. For example, if you are reviewing an event, tell your reader where it was, who put it on, what it is, when it is, and why you are writing about it. If you are writing about a product, tell your reader where to get it, who makes it, what it is, when it comes out, and why you are writing about it.
  • Remember, your reader might have never heard about what you are writing about before. Make sure that you give enough details that readers don’t feel confused or in the dark.

Second paragraph
  • The second paragraph is a good place to start including some quotes. This will make your article more interesting.
  • Remember, in order to quote someone in your article you should have both their first and last name, so make sure that you ask them what their name is and make sure you have the right spelling.
  • When you are quoting someone you don’t always have to say what you asked them (question, answer, question, answer, etc.). Instead, you can build the quotes you gathered into your paragraph. For example, you could say, “While kids at the movie were just thinking about having fun, parents were happy to find good value for their money. John Smith, a parent of two, said, ‘This event was a great way to keep my kids busy without paying a fortune’.”

Next paragraphs

The next few paragraphs should add more details about your topic. For example:
  • Tell some stories about your experience. If you are reviewing a new product, try to tell the reader about your experience using the product. If you are reviewing an event, try to tell the reader something unique that happened.
  • Use some more quotes. For example, if you are writing about a product, you could interview other customers, employees at a store that sells the product or someone from the company that makes the product.
  • Try to think about what your reader will be curious about, and then answer the questions you think they would want to ask. For example, if you are writing an article reviewing a craft sale some topics might include: What kind of crafts did you see? Was it busy? Were there a lot of other kids there, or were most of the customers adults? What did other customers have to say about their experience? Did you buy anything, and why or why not? What was most enjoyable about the sale? Was there anything that you would change? What did you find out from people selling their crafts? (For example, how long have they been making their crafts? How long do they take to make? Why did they start making these crafts?) If you brainstorm, you will be able to come up with all sorts of ideas like these!

Conclusion paragraph
  • In the last paragraph you should sum up what the rest of the article said. To do this, try to think about what the main points are in the article. What do you want the reader to remember?
  • The goal of the last sentence is will make the reader remember what they have read, so try to think up something catchy.

23 Comments

10 Tips for Writing an Article 

1/29/2013

8 Comments

 
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1. Before you start writing, brainstorm ideas of what you want to include in your article. Write an outline with these points included, so that when you start writing your draft you will have an idea of what you want to say and in what order.

2. When you are thinking about what to include in the article, try to imagine what the reader will want to know about your topic. For example, if you are writing an article about a new iPod, your reader might be asking themselves questions like: “What makes this iPod different from the last one?”; “What kind of features does it have?”; “Where can I get it and how much is it?”; “Is it worth the money?”; and “When does it come out?”.

3. Try to come up with a strong first sentence. This will be the sentence that convinces the reader that they want to read the rest of the article, so try to catch their attention.

4. Make sure that your paragraphs are not too long, so that the reader does not lose interest.

5. If you can interview someone about your topic, that’s great. Including quotations from different people will make your article more interesting.

6. Include real examples of what you are trying to say. If you like something, why did you like it? Can you tell a story that helps to explain why you feel that way? What makes your experience unique?

7. For articles about community events or new trends, make sure to tell the readers when and where they can enjoy the experience or product – for example, if you are writing about a play you should include when and where it is taking place, or if you are writing about fashion you should include a store where that look can be found.

8. At the end of the article make sure to write one or two concluding sentences. In this conclusion you can summarize what your main points were. A good conclusion is one that will make the reader remember what they just read.

9. Think of a title. Sometimes it can be easier to think of the title last, because you now know exactly what your article is trying to get across. The title should be catchy, to the point, and let the reader know what the article is about.

10. Once you are finished the draft of your article, try reading it out loud to yourself. This will help you catch mistakes, and make sure that the article flows well.

8 Comments

    Voice K Team

    Hope this blog will help our young journalists to write better

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