UNIT 10

MAGAZINE ARTICLE
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 Show understanding of the structure of an article; introduction,

body paragraphs, and conclusion
 Write effective, engaging and attention grabbing introductions that
provide necessary context
 Support arguments with relevant evidence, examples, and facts as
well as understanding the importance of using credible sources and
citing them properly
 Organise ideas in a logical and coherent manner
 Use appropriate transitional words and phrases to create smooth
flow of ideas and paragraphs
 Use language and tone suitable for the article, differentiate between
formal and informal language and understand when to use each
 Formulate topic sentences that clearly state the main idea of each
body paragraph
 Construct effective
ective concluding paragraphs that summarise main
points and leave a lasting impression
 Offer a call to action or future implications as far as the topic is
concerned
 Identify and correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling and
sentence structure
 DIAGNOSTIC TEST

1. What information does a headline of an article provide about the content of

the article?
2. Mention three things the headline of an article should achieve.
3. What is a byline?
4. What is the purpose and main content of the article’s introduction?
5. `Where in the introduction is the article’s central idea explicitly stated?
6. What sentence in the body paragraphs highlight the main idea of each
paragraph?
7. What is the main purpose of a conclusion of an article?

TEACHING METHODS

 Discussion –based lessons

 Writing activities
 Collaborative learning

WHAT IS AN ARTICLE?
 Article writing is a form of written communication aimed at engaging a wide audience
through various media outlets; magazines, websites, journals etc. An article can be about
any topic from current events to personal experiences. They are intended to inform,
educate, or entertain the reader.

 An article is a piece of writing that provides information, presents ideas, or discusses a

topic in a structured manner; it can be an opinion piece or a discussion on a topic. You
will find articles in newspapers, magazines, blogs, websites and other publications, in this
respect; it can be print or digital. Articles are written in formal language and they should
 be informative as they disseminate information about social, economic, political, cultural,
legal and technological issues.

 An article can also be described as a written communication that portrays a central

theme from a writer that they want to display to their readership. Article topics may vary
and showcase current or past events. The intention of writers of articles is to write content
that draws reader’s attention and connect with readers uniquely in comparison to other
stories.

AIMS OF WRITING ARTICLES

These are some of the objectives a writer may aim to achieve when writing an
article. They include:
1. Giving advice and causes of action
2. Drive exposure on newsworthy and technological stories
3. Influence the current opinion of the reader

10.1 TIPS TO WRITING A GOOD

ARTICLE
 One should first consider the topic
of the article and what its objective is. Is
the article meant to be informative or
educating? Or perhaps you are making an
argument to convince the reader of something? Consider these facts.

 Specify your subject matter.

 Research facts that reinforce your story: having facts is essential to writing a powerful
story that captivates the reader. Some examples of facts you can gather include statistics,
quotes from sources related to the topic, definitions regarding the topic.
  Come up with an outlineof your outline: Your article should have a basic format before
you begin writing. Your format should be clear and understandable to the reader;
headline, introduction, body, and conclusion. Following the outline has many benefits,
it keeps the writer focused on the topic,and distractions are limited.
 Identify your target audience: writing for your audience means allows for the writer to
create content that meets the audience’s needs, interests and challenges. Relevant and
valuable articles keep readers engaged.
 Start your article with a thought provoking question or shocking fact to grab the reader’s
interest from the get-go.
 Keep your points simple. Clarity is important for the success of your writing, and you
should get your points across with fewer words.
 Your article should be engaging. As there are numerous reading material especially
online,
 Check for spelling and grammatical errors. It is important to proofread your article for
proper punctuation and grammatical usage.

10.2 STRUCTURE OF AN ARTICLE

1. HEADLINE
Like any other text form, an article has a headline. This is the first feature of an article which will
make the reader want to read on and learn more about the topic that is being discussed. The
headline should be eye-catchy and brief while accurately reflecting the content of the article.
Because it is normally the one piece that the reader sees first in an article, it should be
compelling and encourage the audience to start reading. So generally, article titles are important
because they often affect the reader’s first impression of an article. Having an effective and
interesting title persuades readers to read your content and earns more attention for the subject
matter.

In brief, what should a headline achieve?

 It should capture attention: as mentioned above, having a great headline can increase
your chances of catching someone’s attention and convincing them to read on.
  A headline acts as a quick insight into what your potential audience will be reading.
Providing that insight is extremely helpful and important to help readers understand
whether your article is important for them or their needs.
 Make it clear what your content is about. The title is a face of your content and it
should inform readers why they should care about what the article has to say. It
should cover the main theme of the article content.
 Get your readers amped up. One other important role in content creation is to excite
people about your subject matter from the get-go. When readers are amped up, the
content of the article is more likely to perform its purpose.

TIP: The title is the first structural feature of an article; therefore, it should be attractive
and informative. The readers should enjoy the content of an article by starting to read the
title which also summarises the key idea of the article.

Example: In an article about the rise of social media influencers, one can formulate
headlines such as:
 How Teenagers Are Turning Their Online Passions Into Six-Figure Careers

OR

 Double Taps and Dollars: Inside the Booming World of Social Media Influencers
 2. BYLINE
A short line that contains the names of the writer of an article. A byline serves as a way
for readers to identify the writer and establish credibility and accountability for the
information presented.

Example:
By: John Cliff

3. INTRODUCTION
This is where you present the topic and summarises the main points of the article. An
introduction introduces the main focus of the article, what you are trying to say about the topic.
Doing so, is the ideal method of attracting attention from your audience.You will need an
interesting hook for this one, which draws the reader in and gives a brief overview of the topic.
An introduction should set the tone and deliver the thesis statementthat the following
paragraphs will support.

TIP: introducing the main idea in the introductory paragraph is quite ideal for attracting
attention from your audience because you are exhibiting value that demonstrates why the
readers should continue reading your piece.

Example:
Gone are the days when the only path to fame and fortune was through traditional media-
television, magazines, music industry or professional sports. Today, a new generation of
celebrities is emerging from the digital shadows of social media platforms like Instagram,
TikTok, and YouTube. These are the social media influencers- ordinary people who have
turned their social media fame into profitable careers.
 ACTIVITY
Write an introduction of a magazine article titled “THREE HEALTHY HABITS THAT
CAN TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE”.

4. BODY
The body paragraphs allow you to construct and organise supporting information that backs up
the point you are trying to make. Each paragraph supports and backs up the main idea that was
laid out in the introduction, and should begin with a clear topic sentence. A single paragraph
should explain a single idea to make the article clear and relevant. Dig deeper into your
arguments and answer any questions you think might arise from your readership. Body
paragraphs should be short and concise to retain the reader’s interest, but should expand
information about the topic.

TIP: Make your piece of writing sound like a discussion one would have with their friend.
It should not come across as an essay.

5. CONCLUSION
The concluding paragraph is a summarization of the argument and a call to action as a
means of tying up all of the points made by the article. With an effective call to action to
close out your argument, you will leave your audience reflecting on your writing. This is
the last part of an article which provides a summary of the information discussed in the
body paragraphs and provides the writer’s final thoughts about a specific topic. A good
closing paragraph must start with a transitional phrase which helps the reader to
 distinguish conclusions from body para
paragraphs.
raphs. Examples of such phrases include: in
essence, ultimately, overall among others.

TIP: The writer must show how the arguments or ideas presented in the body
connect to the thesis,, summarise the main points without introducing new ones, and
must change the reader to believe in the main arguments of the article.

Example:
As the influence of social media and digital media continues to grow, the
opportunities for young people to carve out unique, self-made
made careers will only
expand. The age of the influencer is upon us, and it is providing a glimpse of the
exciting possibilities that lie ahead for the next generation of digital natives. The
question is: will you be the next social media mogul?

 CARVE (verb): Cut in order to produce an object or design.

Example: The wood was carved into some beautiful furniture.
 GLIMPSE (noun): A momentary view
Example: She caught a glimpse of the ocean.

 MOGUL (noun): An important or powerful person, especially in the film or media

industry
Example: The Hollywood movie mogul, Sam Goldwyn, has visited our country just
once.

 COMPELLING (adjective): Evoking interest, attention, or admiration. Powerfully

engaging and captivating for the audience
Example: The most compelling introduction is one which highlights the purpose of a
piece of writing.

 REINFORCE (verb): Strengthen or support an argument or idea. providing

additional support and emphasis to strengthen a point
Example: Posting encouraging notes around the class can help reinforce the
importance of working hard.

 DISSEMINATE (verb): Spread information widely.

Example: The school uses flyers, social media and word-of-mouth to disseminate
information about upcoming events.
 ASSESSMENT

Write a magazine article titled ‘THREE HEALTHY HABITS THAT CAN TRANSFORM
YOUR LIFE.’ In the article, explore three key healthy habits that can significantly improve
physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Your goal is to provide readers with practical
advice on how to incorporate these habits into their daily routines and explain the benefits
and importance of those habits.
The three healthy habits you will focus on are:
 Regular exercise
 Mindful eating
 Adequate sleep