DELHI PUBLIC SCHOOL, BOPAL, AHMEDABAD

CLASS XII (2020-21)

ENGLISH NOTES

ARTICLE WRITING

An article is an expression of one‘s thought on an issue or a subject logically and coherently

written in meaningful paragraphs.

♦ Points to Remember:

• Give a title that catches the attention of the reader.

• Begin with a striking opening sentence which addresses the readers and gets them interested
in the topic.
• Present a strong argument for your ideas supporting it with evidence or elaboration.
• Use linking devices (‗however‘, ‗therefore‘, ‗although‘, ‗even though‘, ‗in order to‘) to
make the composition appear a whole.
• Introduce a new point at the beginning of each paragraph that follows to strengthen your
ideas.
• Develop your ideas as much as you can to make them interesting and substantial.
• Conclude with your strongest point.
• Use passive voice, humour, emotive language, rhetorical questions to provide a specific
effect.

Split-up of marks:

♦ Marks will be awarded for:

• Format (Title + Writer‘s name)-1mark
• Content (logical organisation, relevance)-5marks
• Expression (Accuracy + Fluency)-4marks

The format of an article consists of the following parts –

 Heading,

 By line

 Content

I. HEADING- The heading should be catchy and in not more than 5-6 words. You can
go as creative as you want with this one. Make sure you do not devote too much time
on it during the examination.
II. BY LINE- It refers to the name of the person writing the article. It is generally given
in the question. If not given, then do not write your personal details. Add a fictitious
name.

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 III. CONTENT- It is the main part of your writing piece. The no. of paragraphs is not
restricted. Use paragraphs to form a proper layout of the piece.
a) Intro.-Cause-Effect-Suggestions
b) Intro.-Advantages – Disadvantages- summing up

 PARAGRAPH 1: It is always prescribed that you begin with a short introduction of the
topic; it’s meaning to be precise. Briefly tell what the article is about giving some
quotations or startling facts (statistical data) to arouse the interest of the readers.

 PARAGRAPH 2 or PARAGRAPH 2&3: Now this part can be written in either one or two
paragraphs. You are required to do a complete analysis of the subject matter in question. It
may include-

TYPES of Problem- In how many forms does the problem exist? You are required to
mention the various possible types (if it exists).

CURRENT SCENARIO - Then you need to explain the current situation, the problems (if
any) and whether after any corrective actions, betterment in the situation has been observed
or not.

It may include advantages/ disadvantages depending upon the topic in question.

CAUSE AND EFFECT RELATIONSHIP- Develop the cause and effect relationship by
supporting it with facts or data. You may also write the consequences.

Any other relevant and related information.

 PARAGRAPH 4 or PARAGRAPH 5: The conclusion. It is the concluding paragraph. It is

important to conclude what you‘ve started. Never leave an article open-ended. Now, it is to
be remembered that wherever you elaborate a problem, you always have to mention the steps
being taken to improvise the situation and suggest a few solutions as well. Predictions and
personal problems may be included. This paragraph needs to be short and precise. Here also,
you could add some glitter to your art piece with some quotes.

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Sample Question 1.

The number of women in the police force seems insufficient especially when we see the
increasing involvement of women in terrorist activities. Write an article in 150-200 words for
‘The Hindustan Chronicle’, on the need of having more women in the police force. (2010)
Answer:

Need of Having More Women in the Police Force

-by Sanjay Thakur

Women empowerment and participation has seen a radical improvement in the recent few
decades. Women are no longer confined to their homes and have come forward to excel in
almost all fields, at par with men.

But it has been observed that the number of women in the police force seems insufficient
especially when we compare their increasing number in terrorist activities. Women are sure
to prove their worth in the police force as they are more committed to the cause they work for
and less corrupt, two qualities that are lacking in policemen.

The government needs to increase the reserved quota for recruitment of women in the police
force. Women need to be given incentives to join the police force and this is sure to prove
favourable as they bring with them a distinctly different and valuable set of skills that is
bound to change the way the police is perceived in our community.

As the job description of the police expands beyond crime-fighting and extends into
community service, the presence of more women in the police force is sure to burnish the
tarnished image of the police officers, improve community relations and foster a more
flexible and less violent approach to maintaining law and order.

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Sample Question 2.

‘Grow more trees to reduce pollution.’ Write an article in 150-200 words on the topic given
above for your school magazine. (SOURCE- CBSE compartment 2018)
Answer:

Grow More Trees to Reduce Pollution

by Radhika

―Trees are poems the earth writes upon the sky.‖ Trees and plants are one of the main reasons
why mankind came into existence. The importance of planting trees has been emphasized
time and again. This is because of the numerous benefits they offer.
They make the world a better place to live in. They exhale oxygen and inhale carbon dioxide
to maintain the ecological balance in the environment. They also absorb all the harmful
gases and give us fresh air to breathe.
Trees build a sheet to protect us from the harmful ultraviolet rays. Not only this, they serve as
a habitat for birds and various species of animals. This is not it. Trees help in
controlling water pollution and preventing soil erosion.
The places inhabited by large numbers of trees are quite cooler compared to the concrete
jungles that cannot do without air conditioners. Unfortunately, urbanisation is leading to
clearing of forests and parks despite the numerous benefits they offer. People come here for
morning walks, evening strolls, yoga sessions and laughter therapy. These also serve as a safe
place for the kids to play and socialise. The only way left to preserve them and reap these
benefits is by growing them at a faster rate.
As a Chinese proverb states, ―The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best
time is now.‖ So do your bit and make this place more beautiful.

Practise Questions

1. In many parts of our country girls are still discouraged from going to school.
Consequently, a sizeable section of the population is deprived of education. Schemes like
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, CBSE scholarship to the single girl child and the Government‘s
policy of giving free education to girls have come as a boon to our society. Write an article in
150-200 words on the education of the girl child in the country.

2. Advertisements have become a big business. They are promoted by celebrities drawn from
various fields like films, sports, etc., leaving their influence on all people specially the young.
Write an article in 150-200words.

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Rules for writing good articles:

Rule #1: minimize your barrier to entry. Make it easy for your reader to be drawn in.

A large opening paragraph at the start of an article is a huge barrier to entry. Your reader has
to wade through a large wall of text before determining if the article is really interesting and
worth reading.
Keep your opening short and punchy. A one-sentence or two-sentence leading paragraph is an
easy buy-in.

Rule #2: keep your paragraphs short and your text visually appealing. In general, shorten
everything.

Short paragraphs are tantalizing. They‘re easy. They feel like an accomplishment. You always
want to read just one more — your eye gets drawn down the page. So break your text up.
Keep your reader chasing the words from paragraph to paragraph. Give them space between
ideas. When you‘re brief, your words aren‘t simple and cheapened. They‘re potent.

Balance words with empty spaces (leave a line after each paragraph) — like the breaths
between spoken sentences.

Rule #3: give me substance. Write content for the sake of conveying meaning and
understanding. Tell your reader something. Imagine they ask ―why?‖ in response, and then
answer that question.

Rule #4: draw attention. One of the best ways to draw a reader into an article is to bring it to
life with human interest. Capture their attention with a recounting of an event, the setting of a
stage, the unfolding of a plot.

Rule #5: show, then tell. Start by showing me your point in action, then explain to me what it
means and why it matters.

This is a rule for your overall structure. Present your ideas in the following order: illustration,
explanation, understanding. Show it to me, then tell me what it is, then help me understand
why it works and how to use it myself.