Sep 20, 2021

How to Write an Article

Disclaimer: The note/s given below is/ are a compilation of information taken from various sources. The references to the sources are provided at the end. The views expressed in the note/s are those of the concerned student/s/ intern/s. The blogger or the compiler will not be responsible in any manner whatsoever regarding the authenticity of the information provided in the note/s.

These notes are being compiled to help the students for educational purposes during Covid-19 pandemic.

What is an article? 

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 or magazines or journals so as to make some difference to the world. It may be the topics of interest of the writer or it may be related to some current issues. The topic can either be serious or not-so-serious; Same goes for its tone and language.

Objectives of Article Writing

An article is written with the following objectives:

  •   It brings out the topics or the matter of interest in the limelight
  •       The article provides information on the topics
  •       It offers suggestions and pieces of advice
  •       It influences the readers and urges them to think
  •       The article discusses various stories, persons, locations, rising-issues, and technical developments

The Format of Article Writing

An article must be organized in a proper way so as to draw the attention of the readers. The basic outline for an article writing format is:

  •       Heading / Title
  •       A line having the writer’s name
  •       Body (the main part of the article, 2 – 3 paragraphs)
  •  Conclusion (Ending paragraph of the article with the opinion or recommendation, anticipation or an appeal)

Key Steps

Think of the topic you want to write the article about. Only after you’ve decided your topic you can go ahead and undertake the further steps in the process one by one:

      Target Audience: Identify the concerning reading group

      Purpose: Find the objective or aim of writing the article

      Collect & Select: Gather as such information as possible. Also, identify the details that are most significant

      Organize: Arrange the information and the facts in a logical way

Once you’ve taken care of all the above steps you move forward to the final step - writing.

      While writing an article, always use proper grammar, spelling, and proper punctuations

      Use vocabulary skill

      Keep the introduction of the topic catching, interesting, and short

      Discuss the opinion and the matter in an organized and descriptive manner

 

Common Mistakes in the Article Writing Format

Now that you know the steps of article writing and the article writing format, the occurrence of mistakes becomes obvious. Some of the common mistakes are:

      Not using facts or quotes or similar cases

      The language should not be too formal

      The article must be in easy language for better understanding

      The title of the article must be catchy and clearly understandable

      No use of paragraphs

Expressing personal views is fine but the author must never talk about himself/herself

Points to Keep in Mind for the Article Writing Format

      The topics of the articles should be unique and relevant

      The article has to get attention

      It has to be interesting

      It has to be easy to read

      The reader is identified

      Find the main goal of writing an article. The goal can be anything from providing information, entertainment, and advice or for comparing, etc.

      The title must be eye-catching, clear, and interesting

      The introduction or the starting paragraph must be highly attentive. Use your vocabulary skills or try to use some interrogative words for the start

      Use clear statements and make assertions

      Avoid repetition and over the top logic and reasons

      Use the style of paragraph writing and write the contents uniquely and unambiguously

      Avoid using the points which interest you only and not for the general public

      Write a good and logical ending

 

References

      https://www.toppr.com/guides/business-correspondence-and-reporting/article-writing/steps-of-article-writing/

      https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-write-a-good-article-quickly

      https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z27cmnb/revision/5

 

Edited and Compiled by

Sakshi Suman

Batch of 2023

B.A. (Hons.) Journalism

Lady Shri Ram College for Women

5 comments:

Satakshi Darmwal said...

The post is very apt, direct and straight-forward, and delivers information efficiently without beating around the bush. It delivers on the virtues of clarity as it most definitely should. It seems quite informative and is rightly enriched with effective information.

Despite this, I feel like a lot more points could've been included in the post as the subject 'How to write an article' is a vast topic that can be approached from various points of view. The article is unnecessarily short and could've included more definite and detailed points like proper formats, different style guide approaches etc. It could've also included links to good samples of some articles to give readers easier access and understandability of the theme.

Overall, it's a very good attempt by the writer and should definitely be appreciated on the same even though there's room for improvement. Well done!

Tanya Pratap said...

One of the most significant topic for us students! It’s amazing how it covers all the necessary points in such an understanding and concise manner!

Anonymous said...

Very detailed and understandable!

harper rahul said...

I one is an important issue for us students! It's incredible that it can cover all the essential points in such an efficient and clear manner!

dixita parmar said...

Nice explanation