2. Study
Articles are written to give information (e.g. news reports) or express opinions (e.g. argumentative articles). They can be either formal or informal depending on the audience they are addressed to and the topic they deal with. A good article consists of:
- an eye-catching headline which suggests the topic of the article
that follows;
- an interesting introduction;
- a main body consisting of two or more paragraphs in which the
topic is presented in detail; and
- a conclusion which gives an appropriate ending to the article.
Such pieces of writing can be found in newspapers, magazines or
newsletters.
Points to consider
- Decide on the style of the article before you start writing.
- Always think of a short, clear, appropriate headline which attracts the reader's interest.
- Each paragraph should deal with one aspect of the topic. You can use linking ideas or time expressions to join your ideas or introduce paragraphs.
- Avoid using simplistic adjectives (good, nice, bad, etc). Always try to use more sophisticated vocabulary instead, (splendid, gorgeous, awful, etc)
- 5. Address the reader in the second person (you) if the topic of the article and the style you have adopted permits this.
Descriptive, narrative and argumentative techniques - as presented in previous units (units 1,2, 4, 6, 10, 11, 12, 13) - can be applied when writing articles.
3. Match these headlines with the topics below. There are two headlines for each topic. Which are the most successful? Why?
- Exams not necessary
- Tahiti: Holidaymaker's paradise
- The ferry ran onto rocks
- Exams to be banned?
- Go to Tahiti for your holidays
- Storm forces ferry onto rocks
1.You are a reporter for a newspaper.
Write an article about a ferry boat which ran aground in rough seas.
2.Your school magazine has asked its readers to give their opinions on whether exams are useful as a
means of testing students’ knowledge. Write your article.
3.You are a reporter for a weekly
magazine. Write an article describing a popular holiday resort |
4. How to Write Headlines for News Articles
A headline is a short, clear summary of the information presented in a newspaper article. To write headlines correctly, certain rules must be followed
a) use the present simple tense to describe events which have occurred very recently. Earthquake hits LA, for example, means the earthquake has just happened, probably-in the last twenty-four hours
b) omit the verb "be" when using the passive voice to describe a past event Write: President defeated or Lost boy found not: President was defeated or Lost boy was found;
c) write “to be + past participle” when using the passiv voice to describe a future event, as in: Hospital to be opened by Queen (A hospital is going to be opened by the Queen.) When using the active voice to describe a future event, write the full infinitive (to be) only as in Queen to open hospital ( The Queen is going to open a hospital)
d) omit articles (a, an, the) as in Child trapped in rubble (= A child was trapped in rubble);
e) put nouns one after the other as in London factory explosion injures 27 (which means that an explosion in a factory located in London resulted in twenty-seven people being injured.
f) avoid using prepositions (words like under, over, across, through). Write Unidentified virus spreads rather than An unidentified virus has spread across the country); and
g) use abbreviations like US, UN, NATO. Write: UFO sighted not: An unidentified flying object was seen
5. Study
Try to rewrite the following sentences into headlines, applying the theory above.
- The prisoners' protest at the Tryall jail has ended.
- Banks are planning to introduce security cameras at cashpoint machines.
- A tanker overturned, spilling its cargo of heating oil on the Mil motorway.
- Nutritionists have condemned new slimming drugs as very harmful.
- The London School of Economics has won an award for being the best business school.
- The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries has made a deal to fix oil prices.
- The Zolosis factory was blamed for failing to protect workers against unsafe chemical levels.
- Contaminated baby food of various brands has caused a scare in the city of Redding.
The director of the car company will be charged with fraud
Look at the following headlines and expand them into proper sentences.
- Queen's lost jewels found
- Collision kills five
- Manchester wins cup
- Explosion destroys factory
- Prince to wed
- Dustmen's strike over
- Election called by pm
- 7.5 quake kills 5000
- Scandal threatens government
- Hospital to be closed
- War declared
- Storm destroys corn crop
- Terrorist drama ends peacefully
- Clinton, Pope to meet UN Warning: starvation in
7. Read the following sentences, underline the key words, then write possible headlines.
- Breston is becoming a busy holiday resort due to the Mayor's successful promotional campaign.
- A mother of four won £1 million in the national lottery last week.
- A massive earthquake has destroyed most of Clifford Bay. Forty people were killed and fifty are still missing.
- An attempt was made on the French Ambassador's life while he was visiting Austria. The assassin, who failed in his mission, was arrested.
- Sting is going to give a concert in London. All proceeds from the concert will go to Amnesty International.
- Medical researchers have discovered a new treatment which will help people suffering from asthma.
- Many teachers object to the introduction of computers in school
education, as they fear that computers will eventually replace them.
- Police seized drugs worth £1,000,000 at London's Heathrow airport last
Monday
8. Read the following article and give the paragraph outline. Is it formal or informal? Where would you be likely to find this article
Massive earthquake hits Georgia
A devastating earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter scale struck the provincial town of Brozhomi in Georgia, Southern Russia, last night.
Residents were awakened shortly after 2.00 am by violent tremors lasting more than a minute. Eighty people were killed in the earthquake, which destroyed hundreds of homes and caused severe damage to those left standing.
Authorities fear that dozens of people may still be trapped under the debris of ruined buildings. Rescue efforts have been hampered by a lack of equipment, and rescue workers are battling under appalling weather conditions in subzero temperatures.
Speaking over the wail of sirens, Vasya Puchka described her personal tragedy. 'There is nothing left for me. I have lost my home, my husband and three young children. I saw them die.
Unable to cope with the widespread devastation, Georgia has appealed to the international community for medical supplies and help with temporary housing. The rest of the world has been quick to respond. Fleets of trucks carrying food, medical supplies and tents are already on their way in an attempt to relieve the horrific situation
9. Match the beginnings and endings below, then decide on an appropriate headline for each pair. Which of the sets are informal and which are formal? What does each set talk about? Where could each article be found?

1 If you're looking for an exciting holiday, let me recommend the Florida Keys. It's the ideal place for both fun and relaxation
2 In the recent past, Olympic medal winners have been accused of taking drugs to enhance their performance. They have even been stripped of their titles after drug tests have come out positive. Why are athletes taking drugs?
3 A whale was safely returned to the sea yesterday after spending two days stranded in shallow waters on the coast of Brenton, North Bevon. Dozens of villagers joined in the rescue effort and, with the use of special equipment, moved the whale into deeper waters.
A. At a press conference today, Deborah Adams, Chief Marine Biologist at Millford Aquarium, thanked all those who had helped, saying it "couldn't have been done without them." The whale is being monitored and appears to be in good condition.
B. The Florida Keys is a place I'll always remember. Why don't you try it for yourselves this year?
С. All in all, it appears to be a combination of pressure to be the best, the will to win and fear of failure, which can become a deadly cocktail. Some athletes cannot cope and find themselves pushed to their limits. It is then that they turn to the easy, illegal option.
10.Read the following article and replace the words in bold with adjectives from the list below. What headline would you suggest for the article? What techniques have been used?
confident - depressing - dramatic – enormous - enthusiastic - gleaming inadequate - inspiring - magnificent – wonderful
The Queen Mother officially opened the 1) nice new E200m Children's Wing of St Bemadette's Hospital in London yesterday to the 2) happy cheers of medical staff and representatives of the charity which raised the money for the project.
Gone is the 3) sad old Children's Wing, built in 1820, with its 4) bad facilities and ugly brick walls; in its place is a(n) 5) clean new structure with 500 beds, 4 operating theatres and state-of-the-art equipment
This 6) big change is thanks to the efforts of the Children s Hospital Fund, a charity organisation which raised the E200m needed to, build the new wing when spending cuts made it necessary to close the old block. A hospital spokesman thanked the charity on behalf of siсk сildren everywhere and said he was 7) sure that St Bernadettes could now offer medical treatment "to rival that of any hospital in the world
In her speech, the Queen Mother said, "The 8) great efforts of the Children's Hospital Fund are a (n) 9) good example to us all and Ы make a(n) 10) big difference to the lives of thousands of children, now and for generations to come."
11. Read the article below. Then read the topic sentences and put them in the right box. Where do you think this article is taken from? |
Session 6. Home assignment. Articles
1.Read the following opening paragraphs and decide which are formal and which are informal, then write an appropriate headline. Finally, give the paragraph plan and complete the articles
1 Want to escape from the monotony of daily life? Go
to Monaco, with its luxurious hotels, 16th century palace and magnificent cathedral. Have cash to spare? Go to one of, the famous casinos and try your luck. But don't overdo it.
2 At a time when pollution is at its worst, governments are working on plans to find ways to reduce the problem. One suggestion being considered is to introduce free public transport in major European cities. This would certainly be one way of tackling the pollution which is slowly choking city dwellers.
3 Twenty-three football supporters were seriously
injured at yesterday's Cup Final as a security fence collapsed on spectators in the west stand. Overcrowding and lack of police control were blamed for the tragedy
.Colourful floats, spectacular costumes, streets brightly decorated with balloons and streamers - here you are in Rio, enjoying the famous carnival^ This is the most amazing carnival in the world and surely one of the most unforgettable experiences you'll ever have |
2. Revision Box
Mark the statements True or False justifying your answers.
- Articles should always be
written in formal style.
- Articles should not include
narrative techniques.
- Addressing the reader is a way
of keeping his/her interest.
- Articles should always have a
headline.
- More sophisticated adjectives
should be avoided
3. Read the following topics, identify the style they require and suggest an appropriate headline and a paragraph plan. Then write any two of them using 120-180 words.
- Your school magazine has asked students to give their opinion on whether computers should be used in the classroom.
- A young people's magazine has asked its readers to write an article promoting the most famous holiday resort in their country.
- The newspaper you are working for has asked you to write an article on a recent disaster which hit the capital of your country.
- A health and diet magazine has asked its readers to write an article giving their opinion on junk food.
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