Article Writing

ARTICLES
An article is usually written for an English-language magazine or newsletter, and the

reader is assumed to have similar interests to the writer. The main purpose is to
interest and engage the reader, so there should be some opinion or comment.
Characteristics of an article
Purpose of an article: The aim of an article is usually to talk about a topic that we like
or that we are familiar with. Besides, one of the features that articles have as opposed
to other FCE Writing tasks is that an article must entertain the reader and, almost
always, recommend the thing we are talking about.
Language: In general, an article is more informal than an essay, although it will

depend on where it is supposed to be published (an international magazine, a teenage
magazine, a college magazine, an online blog, a newspaper, etc.). However, the most
common case is that we must write a text in an informal or colloquial style. For this
reason, our tone must be relaxed, making use of contractions, phrasal verbs and other
colloquial expressions. Besides, it is recommended to use rhetorical questions and
exclamation marks to engage the reader. You should also address the reader directly
in the second person (you, your) and can make jokes if you think they are appropriate.
Structure: Articles must always have a title. If possible, this must be catchy and witty
so as to engage the reader. Then, each paragraph must address a single idea, to
which you must add the introduction and the conclusion, where you are usually
expected to make a recommendation. It is also a good idea to end your article with a
rhetorical question, especially if it is going to be an online article where people could (in
theory) leave a comment.
Giving your opinion: An article is almost exclusively about giving your opinion, so feel
free to do so throught the whole piece of writing. As you are normally asked to write
about something you like or enjoy, opinions are expected to be generally positive. Any
article for FCE is usually a very personal piece of writing, so you can speak in the first
person as much as you like. 😊
Common topics: You may be asked to write articles on a variety of topics: the
Internet, health and fitness, music, plays, hobbies, etc.
Number of words: you are expected to write your article in 140 – 190 words, no more
or less than any other type of FCE Writing task.
EXAMPLE OF AN ARTICLE :
It is extremely important to read the instructions carefully, as you are supposed to

obtain all the information you need to write the article. In this case we can see the
following:
 Where our article will be published: a local magazine

 Topic: their favourite things about the Internet
 Main ideas: things you do with the internet, recommend a website
Characteristics of the example:
 The structure is clear, leaving space between paragraphs and defining a clear
introduction and conclusion.
 Each paragraph has a clear objective, as my comments in red indicate.
 The introduction presents the topic in a general way, but making clear what
article is about: the Internet.
 The second paragraph talks about why I like the Internet and one of the things
that I like about it.
 The third paragraph makes a recommendation of a website, explaining why I
like it so much.
 The conclusion is a summary of sorts and asks the reader for some feedback
on their own preferences regarding the use of the Internet.
 The language is informal:
 Phrasal verbs: put you up, check out.
 Contractions: Isn’t that fantastic?
 Colloquial phrases: one of the cool things, I totally recommend it, etc.
Useful Expressions to Write an Article
If you want to know how to write an article, it is very important to have a repository of
useful expressions ready to use.
Rhetorical questions:
Have you ever…?
Do you ever wonder…?
What do you think about…?
Are you a… like me?
Are you one of those people who…?
What would you say if I told you that…?
Introducing new ideas:
Firstly,
First,
In the first place,
To begin with,
The coolest thing about
What attracts me most
One thing to consider is
Another consideration is
Secondly,
As for
As to
Also,
As regards
In addition,
In addition to that,
Moreover,
Concluding the article:
In conclusion,
On the whole,
To sum up,
To conclude,
All in all,
… you will not regret it!
EXAMPLE 02
COMPETITION
Imagine you were on a desert island. What would you miss most?
Write an article briefly describing an important object, person or place
in your life and give reasons for your choice.
The best article will be published and the writer will receive £500.
Write your article in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer
sheet.
Sample answer:
Life away from home
How would you feel about living on a desert island? I can’t imagine
anything worse. I would miss a lot of things, but most of all I would
miss my home.
You start with Paragraph 1- Introduction

In the introduction you :
– think of a title that will catch the reader’s attention
– include the topic- you might not know the reader personally, but still, you
can address him/her directly (e.g. ask them a question)
Phrases you can use in the introduction:
Addressing the reader
Have you ever..
You absolutely must …
Can you imagine …
I’m sure you’d agree
I must tell you about …
You wouldn’t believe..
REMEMBER: It’s a semi-formal/ informal piece of writing, make it interesting by

including a range of language, e.g. adjectives and adverbs, phrasal verbs, collocations,
relative clauses, linkers, one or two idioms.
DON’T copy out the task- use synonyms
My home is a small house on the outskirts of a city. It was built about fifty years
ago and has a small garden. In the summer our country gets very hot but our
house is always cool.
Note that the second paragraph of the description should be ‘brief’.
Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:

Giving a strong opinion
It’s absolutely stunning / terrible (strong adjective).
It took my breath away.
I will never forget it.
There’s nothing in the world like it.
Adding and developing ideas

For a start .. Secondly. / Thirdly./ Finally….
And then there’s the fact that ..
On top of that….
Apart from that….
I must also mention …
As if this wasn’t enough, …
Giving examples …. such as ../.. particularly …/ ….like…
You would probably think our house is nothing special, but I have lived
there all my life and all my friends live nearby. It is a happy place,
where I feel completely safe. Whenever I go away, I look forward to
coming back, lying on my bed, reading a book and listening to my
brother and sister arguing downstairs!
In the 3rd Paragraph you :

– give specific examples to bring your article to life
– use informal language to involve the reader
– don’t forget to express your opinion
– be personal
I love travelling and meeting new people, but if I were on a desert
island I would be away from the place I love most — my home — and I
would hate that.
In the last paragraph you :

– finish with a sentence which summarises what you have said
– end with an interesting last sentence
– give your opinion or express your feeling
Phrases you can use to end the letter

Giving a personal response
For me, / To me…..
Personally, I think / find / believe …
It seems to me … In my view…. One thing I love / remember …
I’ll never forget …
TASK FOR YOU :
You have seen this advertisement on an international travel website.
CITY BREAKS
What’s your favourite city, and why? Write us an article:
• describing the city.
• saying why it is special for you.
We’ll publish the most interesting articles online next month
Write your answer in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style

Tokyo the variety made into a city
Tokyo is the capital of Japan and the world's most populous metrópolis with 13
million inhabitants. It is also one of Japan's 47 prefectures, consisting of 23
central city wards, multiple cities, towns, and villages and an incredible variety
of tourist attractions.
The special thing for me about the city of Tokyo is that we can find a variety of
interesting things, in terms of technology, fashion, and food. Although the prices
are not usually cheap, we can find a multitude of stores where products are
offered at different prices.
Tokyo is the gateway to another culture and customs that will fascinate us and
offers an unlimited choice of shopping, entertainment, culture and dining to its
visitors. The city's history can be appreciated in many districts and we can find
many excellent museums, historic temples , and gardens. Contrary to common
perception, Tokyo also offers a number of attractive green spaces in the city
center and within relatively short train rides at its outskirts.
In conclusion Tokyo is a great city where we can find everything that our mind
can imagine.

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ARTICLES

An article is usually written for an English-language magazine or newsletter, and the

Language: In general, an article is more informal than an essay, although it will

It is extremely important to read the instructions carefully, as you are supposed to

 Where our article will be published: a local magazine

Useful Expressions to Write an Article

Have you ever…?

Do you ever wonder…?

What do you think about…?

Are you a… like me?

Are you one of those people who…?

What would you say if I told you that…?

Introducing new ideas:

In the first place,

The coolest thing about

What attracts me most

One thing to consider is

Concluding the article:

… you will not regret it!

You start with Paragraph 1- Introduction

REMEMBER: It’s a semi-formal/ informal piece of writing, make it interesting by

DON’T copy out the task- use synonyms

Phrases you can use to in the 2nd and 3rd paragraph:

Adding and developing ideas

Giving examples …. such as ../.. particularly …/ ….like…

where I feel completely safe. Whenever I go away, I look forward to

coming back, lying on my bed, reading a book and listening to my

brother and sister arguing downstairs!

In the 3rd Paragraph you :

would hate that.

In the last paragraph you :

Phrases you can use to end the letter

TASK FOR YOU :

You have seen this advertisement on an international travel website.

What’s your favourite city, and why? Write us an article:

• describing the city.

• saying why it is special for you.

We’ll publish the most interesting articles online next month

Write your answer in 140- 190 words in an appropriate style

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