WRITING - ARTICLE

ARTICLE WRITING FOR CBSE BOARD EXAM

FORMAT

·         Title:  keep the title simple but a catchy one. You need to grab the attention of the examiner.

·         Writer’s Name

·         Content: Your content is the most important as this is the one which highlights your thoughts and perceptions.

o    Paragraph 1: Brief Introduction of the issue or the situation to make it clear to the reader. (keep this short upto 4-5 lines maximum 6 lines).

Start with a slogan, a question, an amazing fact, figure or statement.

o    Paragraph 2 : Writing the issue in depth of it (If possible cut this paragraph into 2 as the topics covered in it are more in number)

§  Causes of it

§  Types of it (if any, pertaining to the topic)

§  Consequences

§  Any other related information.

o    Paragraph 3: Implements on the society, environment, health etc..

o    Paragraph 4: Conclusion: Highlight your thoughts for prevention, suggest reminders;  SUMMARY of the whole Article.

MARKING CRITERIA:

 Division of marks:

 Format: 1 mark

 Content: 4 marks

 Expression: 5 marks

·         Expression of thoughts, ideas and information related to the topic.

·         Organising the thoughts in sequential manner.

·         Sources of information or ideas (any discussions, earlier writings etc..).

·         Expression: Grammatical errors: accuracy, spellings, sentences, tenses, coherence etc.

TIPS FOR WRITING:

·         Keep words simple; don't exaggerate using some different terms.

·         Using few words in a sentence, 7-8 words are enough.

·         Write in a flow. Take 2-3 minutes and think first before you write.

·         Highlight your key points. Your examiner will not read the complete article.

·         Remember the word limit.

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 evidences 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 an 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, humor, emotive language, rhetorical questions to provide a specific effect.

HOW TO MAKE IT IMPRESSIVE!!!!!!!

1. Keep it simple, most often we use hard long words to impress the checker but it goes the wrong way. Always remember "it's always the simple that produces the marvelous"

2. Underline the topmost (which according to you are most relevant and fully correct) points of your article. There are lots of copies so teacher is not gonna read your whole article.

3. Always keep a single thing in each para, don't mix it otherwise you may loose a precious point that can be converted into a para.

4. focus should always be on the topic, don't get lost.

5. Use small sentences, so that there are least chances of grammatical mistakes

6. Write under the word limit provided.

7. There should always be a flow in your article leading to a particular conclusion (make a conclusion in the beginning and write the points in favor of your conclusions throughout), it shows ideas in logical order.

8. Keep it very clean, don't over-write, instead cut the whole word and write again

9. If you have a bad handwriting or a lil messy one, then try to write in large size.

10. If you have got some sayings or some rhyming lines in favor write them in inverted commas, underlined in the end of article or after the end of a para.

WELL JUST DO FEW THINGS!!!!!!! A FEW PRACTICAL SUGGESTIONS!!!!!! 

 Read editorials in a few newspapers (the Hindu & the statesman are really good). 

Try to decipher how they're writing. Try to make out what points are they tackling, I mean the headings if you're to make notes.

Then make a skeleton of how you're going to write any article.

Also you may just go through any decent essay writing book and again try to decipher the headings they're covering (most good guides give such cues, read them)

Read as much as you can in your free/break time (editorials & articles from guides) and try to break then in points. 

And before writing an article, make a skeleton of what points you gonna cover (in a proper sequence).

The article might ask you to take a stand. If that is the case, take a stand in the first few lines itself and DON’T be cat on the wall. Then follow it up with few examples in detailed manner. Then give your conclusion. The conclusion needs to drive home the point you are making. It should be final nail in the coffin.

Use relevant examples to make your case, this will go a long way in convincing the teacher about giving you a higher score. If there is a topic, where you can talk on both sides, you can talk about pros and cons of it. In these types, ensure you make a good case for both the sides.

     Just remember that perfect scores on articles are extremely rare,

 don't let that stop you from trying though.

Good luck !