ARTICLE
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WHAT?
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PURPOSE? (audience)
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• Personal tone: semi-formal, 1st person narrative. Relevant informal expressions to give authentic information and opinion. • Anecdotes and facts to maintain the reader interest. • Rhetorical questions to involve the reader. • Emotive words and imagery (comparisons, metaphores..,) • Direct quotes.
LANGUAGE
STRUCTURE
TONE AND STYLE
Offer a point of view or angle that makes the article interesting and unique. Give your opinion about current affairs or present a personal perspective on modern-day life. Add colour, detail, background and personal comment. Think about the audience (school/youth magazine) and establish a relationship (questions to the audience).
- TITLE AND HEADING: (name of the author) grabs the reader’s attention. Highlights the main idea or angle of the article. - INTRODUCTION: (lead) captures the attention of the readers (kicker) by a provocative question/thesis, provide necessary background information, a dramatic moment in a story or an aspect of the person you are profiling. You can start with a quote. - BODY: you expand the main topic into subtopics (subheadings may be used). The paragraphs link with your angle and prove your point of view. • “One-sided” approach: different points to support your angle. Give examples for each point. • “Balanced but undecided” approach: two sides to the issue/ problem with supporting evidence. - CONCLUSION: tie everything together and sum up the article. It should leave a lasting impression by: • Reminding the main idea. • Making a recommendation (appropriate course of action. • Encouraging a change of attitude or opinion.
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Establish relationship with the reader. Use suitable language (topic, audience). Personal approach (experiences and anecdotes). Some informal language if relevant (contractions and phrasal verbs), 1st person narrative, humour, mild exaggeration.
PAGES 1 to 6 of I Love English dossier (3rd section)