How to use common verbs with nouns for actions. For more English tutorials, please visit: https://www.thelecturette.com

1. Writing Articles
by
Piet van der Laan

2. What is an Article?
Discusses a particular subject
Is interesting for the general reader
Is written for a newspaper, magazine or
newsletter

3. Content
An article is usually based on a
discussion, a description or a narrative
(or it may involve a combination of more
than one of these).

4. Approach
Try to catch the reader’s attention and
make him want to read on.
Think about who you’re writing for.
Think about how much your reader
already knows about the subject.

5. Approach (2)
You can make your article more readable
by:
Addressing your readers directly (Did you
know …? What would you do if …?)
Using a personal approach (personally I can’t
imagine anything worse!)
Giving specific examples and quotations (As
Mrs X explained, ‘…….’)

6. General Structure
Give you article a header which makes the
subject clear and catches the readers
attention.
Divide the article into paragraphs to help the
reader follow the argument.
Begin with an interesting introduction - an
example, perhaps, or a question.
End with an overall comment or concluding
remark.

7. Headings
Use your imagination to catch the
reader’s attention. For example.
A dramatic word or phrase : Freezing!
A summary of the story: My Lone Walk to the
North Pole: Rescue from the Rapids
A question: What’s the big idea? Just a normal
day?
A surprising fact: Seven banks a day are
robbed in LA

8. ‘The Beginning’
When writing an article begin by briefly saying
what the article is about. Tell readers what
your article is going to tell them. Whet their
appetite for what you will tell them, in less
than 100 words.
In writing articles, at the beginning, create a
little 'suspense'...
Health: 'Water isn't only essential for our proper
functioning, both, physically and mentally; it's
healthier than fruit juice -more than orange, grape
juice.'

9. ‘The Middle’
Tell what you said you were going to tell.
Health: the qualities, constituents of water; why it is
essential, which vitamins contain fruit, vegetable
juices; how water contains all those with more.
In article writing, in the middle you expand the
beginning, and also justify the point to be
made or emphasised in the ending.

10. ‘The Ending’
When you write articles summarize them at the
end.
Endings of articles are regarded as 'telling them
what you have told them.' In article writing
readers expect a point to be made or
emphasized in the ending.
Briefly state conclusions based on 'the
middle', and your point.
Health magazine: 'Why not supplement health foods
with water? It's free!'

11. Questions?