Article Structure (writing)

Tips for writing articles:

• ANSWER THE QUESTION
• PLAN your article.
• Give your article a title.
• Make sure you have at least 4 paragraphs.
• Ask rhetorical questions to get your readers' attention. Eg. What would the world be like without oil? What will life be like in 20 years time?
• Speak directly to your readers. Eg. Let's just imagine some of the possibilities.
• Give examples where appropriate.
• Use humour where appropriate
• Give a conclusion and summary in the last paragraph.
• Finally, give your opinion where appropriate.
• REVISE your article to correct mistakes.

Useful phrases for ESL Article Writing

Rhetorical phrases:

• Have you ever ........?
• What do you think about ........?
• Are you one of those people who thinks that ......?
• Are you one of those people who .......?
• What would life be like if ......?
• Will the future bring us ..... ?

Introducing your first point:

• Firstly
• In the first place
• First of all
• The first thing to consider is
• One thing to consider is
• To begin with

Introducing more points:

• Secondly
• Another consideration
• Yet another consideration
• Another thing to consider is
• Added to that
• Apart from that
• In addition to this

Introducing your final points:

• In conclusion
• To conclude
• To sum up
• So

Introducing your opinion:

• I think
• In my opinion
• Personally I believe that
• In my view
• If you ask me
• To my mind
• My personal opinion is

Cambridge First Certificate writing practice

Also for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency and Escuela de Idiomas Intermedio and Avanzado.

ESL WRITING SAMPLE - ARTICLE 1

You see this announcement in your school's English language magazine.

New Clubs after School

Your school wants to start some new after school clubs. Chess, table-tennis, basketball, guitar playing and cookery have been suggested as possible clubs. What do you think?

• Tell us which one of these five ideas you like best and why.
• Make one other suggestion for a new club and explain why it would be a good idea.

Write your article in 120-180 words for intermediate students and 250-400 for advanced students in an appropriate style.

ESL/EFL WRITING SAMPLE - ARTICLE 2

You see this announcement Leisure and Entertainment magazine.

Could you live without television for a week?

Write and tell us what difference this would make to your life. We will publish the best article.

Write your article in 120-180 words for intermediate students and 250-400 for advanced students in an appropriate style.

ESL/EFL WRITING SAMPLE - ARTICLE 3

You see this announcement in a magazine.

We invite you to write an article on The Home of the Future

In what ways will people's homes be different in the future? In what ways will they be the same? The writer of the best article will receive a prize.

Write your article in 120-180 words for intermediate students and 250-400 for advanced students in an appropriate style.