Article Writing

Article Writing :  An article is a piece of writing , written for a large audience. The main motive behind writing an article is that it should be published in either newspapers, magazines or other journals so as to make some difference to the world.

Title: Usually 5-6 words are ideal but there are no hard and fast rules. The title can be a single word, a phrase or even a sentence.

Body: A good article consists of several paragraphs (usually 3 to 5 in an examination situation). Each paragraph deals with only one main idea, point or argument.

Purpose or Writing: In an examination, nothing is written purposelessly. All the writing tasks have a specific purpose. Before writing an article or speech, make sure whether you are writing to inform people, to persuade them, to entertain them to convince them.

Target Readers/Audience: Who are the potential readers/audience of your article or speech? Are they students, educated people, experts on the subject of your write-up or laymen?

Plan Before you Pen: Before you start writing, read the topic and accompanying instructions carefully. Make use of the given hints, notes, visual etc. Brainstorm for 3 to 5 minutes and note down as many ideas as you can think of.

Your writing should have the following characteristics in order to qualify as well-written:

Vocabulary and Grammar: Most students to get good marks in their writing section simply because their vocabulary is inadequate and the range of grammatical structures they use is limited.

Unity: Each paragraph should deal with only one major idea which is conveyed in a single sentence called topic sentence. All other sentences contain supporting ideas.

Research: Students will need to research their topics. For example, for an article on ‘Child Labour’ they will need to know the statistics on child labourers in India and information regarding their plight as well as information about what the Govt. and Non-Government organization are doing for them.

Difference Between An Article And Speech: The two are similar except that a speech begins with a formal address to the audience and is more conversational in tone. In an examination, students may or may not be required to write a separate formal beginning for a speech like Honourable President ……….. etc. A speech can conclude with a ‘Thank you.”

Question : - Though polybags are useful to us in more than one way, yet their indiscriminate use is proving to be a great environmental disaster. Unless something is done by the government, social organisations and individuals pollution-free environment will remain a distant dream. Write an article in about 150-200 words for your school magazine on 'Say No to Polybags'. Also, suggest how they can be substituted by bio-degradable materials like jute, cloth, paper etc.

Answer : - Polybags are very useful in packing and carrying food, vegetables and scores of other items. They are strong enough to hold considerable weight & protect food from oxidation. But the indiscriminate use of polybags in posing an environmental disaster. The problem arises when we carelessly throw the bags away thus polluting streets, parks, fields and open spaces. Polybags thus thrown can choke sewerage system. They may be eaten by animals like cows, pigs etc. thus making them sick. Water bodies are also being polluted with plastics of all sorts. The worst thing is that these polybags are non bio-degradable, which means they will continue to pollute the environment for hundreds of years. Recycle plastic is very toxic.

Something needs to be done immediately to address this problem. Use of plastic bags needs to be minimized. Strict laws should govern the use of plastic bags, particularly recycled plastic. Environmental friendly materials like jute, paper and cloth are better alternatives for making polybags. Fortunately, government, non-government social organizations and individuals are waking up to the threat polybags pose. Let us join hands for a plastic pollution free environment. "Say No To Polybags".