ARTICLE
An article can be a balanced argument in which you point out pros and cons (advantages or disadvantages) a persuasive one in which you try to convince or which is just meant to make a point or points known. Any of these situations depends on how the question is framed.

TYPES OF ARTICLES
1. School Magazine
2. Local Newspaper
3. National Newspaper
4. International Newspaper/Magazine
5. Essay Competition

PROCEDURES FOR ARTICLE WRITING
1. Before you start to write your article, you must first write the topic boldly in the center position at the top of your paper. If this can be said to be an alternative in any other type of essay writing, it is not for an article. The topic can be written in capitals or non-capital but if you choose to write in non-capitals, you must make sure you start each word with a capital letter, except for a short words, mostly conjunctions like, to, in, on, of, etc. It is wise to underline the topic in this case.

NOTE:
The title should be short, relevant, and well capitalized.

2. Body of the Article

a) introduction: (one short paragraph).
This is where you attract the attention of your reader. You may start with an attention catching statement; definition of the main subject, a significant statistics, a quotation or wise saying. In this paragraph your reader must be able to know what your article is about.

(b) Detail: (at least three full paragraph).
Present the full detail of your article in as many paragraphs as you can, each paragraph addressing a major issue in the topic you are discussing. Since you are asked to write at least 450 words, three or four paragraphs are needed to discuss the article fully.
The type of language may vary with the type of article. An article for a foreign magazine requires a much more formal language style.
An article for a school magazine requires an informal language style.

c) Conclusion:
(one short paragraph)
The conclusion of the article will depend on the type of essay in the article (narrative argument, descriptive, etc). If the essay is an argument, you will need to sum up your argument and give your evaluation. For a narrative, the conclusion may include the last episode or a climatic end of the story.

3. Name and Identification
You will need to write your full name at the bottom of your article. Beneath/under your name, write a word or two that briefly identifies you. It may be your form in school, your town or country or may be your profession. Example:
School Magazine

Trial Questions
1. Write an article for publication in one of your local newspaper on The Effect of Superstition on the People in your Locality.

2. Write an article for publication in your school magazine on the problems of indiscipline in schools. WASSCE JUNE 2007

3. Write an article for a foreign newspaper on the topic: The Changing Role of Women in my Country.

ADDRESS :
the first thing to write is your address, that is the address of the writers. We usually write The address in the left hand side of the page at the very top. The address should be accurate and complete. Even when writing to close friends or relatives the address must be written, so they can reply back to the letter with with ease. if the recipient of the letter is in an other country do not forget to write your country as well in the address.

GREETING:
Now since you know the person you are writing to, the greeting can be informal as well. if it is a friend or some one close to your age you can greet them by their first names. Like, “Dear Alex”.if you writing to your relatives like your Mother /Father/ aunt/ uncle etc. You may greet them as such, for example you can say “Dear mom”.if you are writing to an elder person, or so

me one You respect greatly you can address as Mr or Mrs.

BODY:
the letter overall should maintain a friendly tone. But you have to adjust The language and the wording according to who you are writing to. With a friend you can afford to be very causal and flippant even. But if you are writing to an elder person you must extremely respectful and considerate.

CONCLUSION.
In the conclusion Paragraph sum up the reasons for writing the letter that is summarize the letter say a meaningful and affectionate goodbye to the reader. And do not forget to invite the reader to write back or to reply your letter it shows an intention to keep the conversation going.

SIGNATURE.

There is no need to sign off informal letter.

USE SOME COMMON PHRASE TO END THE LETTER.

  1. lots of love
  2. Best wish
  3. Kind regards

4.Kindly.

Pick the one that best suit the occasion and then simply write your first name below the greeting.

Example of an introductory Paragraph of informal letter.

Thanks very much for your last letter it was great to hear from you after so many months, you seem to be having a nice time in Sierra Leone. Thanks also for the photographs I absolutely loved that snap of yours standing in front of the Eiffel Tower. Serra Leone looks stunning some days I will definitely like to go there.

Moving the topic on with the same paragraph.

  1. By the way
  2. have you had about
  3. Oh, an other thing I wanted to mention
  4. Any way the reason I’m writing.

You can use any of this sentence to continue with the opening paragraph.

Example of phrase to start with in an introductory paragraph.

1 . Many thanks for your letter.

  1. Sorry it takes me so long to write back.
  2. I have been really busy recently.

4.I haven’t written For ages of time but….