Ready for C1 p 34. How to Write an Article

What Is an Article?

An article is a piece of writing designed to inform, entertain, or persuade readers. It typically uses one or more of the following approaches:

• Discussion – exploring different viewpoints on a topic
• Description – painting a vivid picture of a subject
• Narrative – telling a story or recounting events

The most successful articles combine accurate information with engaging content that captures and holds the reader's attention.

Key Principles

Know Your Audience

Consider who you're writing for. Think about:

• Their age group and likely knowledge level
• What would interest them about this topic
• How to make the subject accessible and engaging

Create a Strong Title

Your headline should accomplish two goals:

• Clearly indicate the article's focus
• Spark curiosity and interest

Effective headline techniques:

• Dramatic words or phrases: "Freezing!"
• Story summaries: "My Lone Walk to the North Pole" or "Rescue from the Rapids"
• Questions: "What's the Big Idea?" or "Just a Normal Day?"
• Surprising facts: "Seven Banks a Day Are Robbed in LA"

Structure Your Article

Opening Paragraph

Hook your reader immediately by:

• Posing a rhetorical question they'll want answered
• Sharing a compelling example
• Presenting an intriguing statement

Body Paragraphs

• Divide content into clear, focused paragraphs
• Each paragraph should develop one main idea
• Use transitions to guide readers through your argument

Conclusion

End with impact:

• An overall comment that ties everything together
• A thought-provoking concluding remark
• A call to action or reflection

Engaging Your Reader

Direct Address

Connect with readers by speaking to them directly:

• "Did you know…?"
• "What would you do if…?"
• "Have you ever…?"
• "Are you one of those people who…?"
• "Isn't it amazing/extraordinary/incredible how/that…?"

Use Imperatives

Create immediacy and involvement:

• "Let me tell you about…"
• "Make an effort to…"
• "Imagine if/what…"
• "Reach out to…"

Personal Touch

Share your perspective to build connection:

• "Personally, I can't imagine anything worse!"
• Use first-person anecdotes when appropriate

Specific Examples and Quotations

Add credibility and interest:

• "As Mrs. X explained…"
• "According to recent research…"

Appropriate Tone

For light-hearted topics, don't be afraid to use humour. Match your tone to both your subject matter and your audience.

When are contractions appropriate? 

The "Article" task in C1 exams usually asks you to write for a specific publication, such as a student magazine, a local newsletter, or an online blog.

1. Informal or Neutral Articles

If the prompt implies a personal, engaging, or conversational tone (e.g., "Write an article for a travel blog about your favorite city"), contractions are perfectly appropriate.

• Why: They make your writing sound natural and help you "connect" with the reader.

• Example: "You'll find that the locals are incredibly welcoming, even if you don't speak the language."

2. Formal or Academic Articles

If the article is for a serious publication, like a professional journal or a high-end newspaper (e.g., "Write an article for a national newspaper discussing the impacts of urban sprawl"), you should avoid contractions.

• Why: Formal English requires full verb forms to maintain an objective, authoritative tone.

• Example: "It is often argued that city planners do not take environmental factors into account."

  

Useful Language for Articles

Sequencing Events

• Beginning: At first / To start with / In the beginning
• Continuing: Then / Next / After that / The next thing that happened was
• Time passing: Seconds/Minutes later / Later on / Some time later / After some time
• Concluding: Finally / In the end / At last

Describing Simultaneous Events

• Meanwhile / In the meantime
• While all this was going on
• During all this time

Sudden or Unexpected Events

• Suddenly / All of a sudden / All at once
• Out of the blue / Without any warning
• Just when I was least expecting it
• The next thing I knew was

Rapid Events

• As quick as a flash
• In the wink of an eye
• In a matter of seconds/minutes
• In no time at all

Reflection

• In retrospect
• When I think back to what happened then
• It wasn't until much later that

Final Checklist

Before submitting your article, ensure you have:

• ✓ An attention-grabbing title
• ✓ A compelling opening paragraph
• ✓ Clear paragraph divisions
• ✓ Engaged your reader directly
• ✓ Used specific examples where appropriate
• ✓ Maintained an appropriate tone for your audience
• ✓ Ended with a memorable conclusion