WRITING ENTRY 1 WR1

Writing Entry 1
An Article
Writing: Things to remember when writing an article
Writing effective opening and closing paragraphs
Making your points more emphatically
Avoiding dull words like nice, good, get and bad
Writing Task: How new technology affects young people’s relationships

Writing an Article: Points to Consider

Articles are pieces of writing for publication in a variety of forms, covering a wide range of
possible subjects. They may be intended for the general public, or a specific group of readers
(e.g. an article in your college newspaper for fellow students).
Types of articles include those printed in:
• Magazines, newspapers and newsletters: presenting an opinion or balanced argument
concerning social/ environmental issues, describing a place/ event/ experience etc.,
providing information, offering practical advice (e.g. an article for a college magazine
giving practical advice to new students who will be living away from home for the first
time).
• leaflets and brochures: providing information, describing and/or advertising a
company/ product/ service, offering advice/ suggestions, etc. (e.g. an article in a
brochure for a company which wants to attract new customers from around the world).

1. Read the following instructions, then decide what the purpose of each article is, and what
kind of information should be included.
1. You have been asked to write an article for your college magazine giving practical advice
to students on how to keep up with the workload. Write your article for the magazine.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. The tourist information centre in your town has asked you to write an article for a
brochure describing two places of interest in your area. Write your article for the
brochure.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. A young people’s magazine has asked its reader to submit articles on the question: “Are
young people being forced to grow up too fast?” Write your article for the magazine.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. The company you work for is looking for representatives in other countries and has
asked you to write a profile of the company for a leaflet which will be distributed abroad.
Write your profile for the leaflet.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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2. Read the following article on how to write an article for a magazine. Then decide whether
the statements are true (T) or false (F).

Writing for Magazines: Things to Remember

Don’t talk about yourself
You’re writing for the public, not for your
friends. Your opinions are only interesting if
you can explain them, justify them, or make
them entertaining.
Be interesting
People don’t buy magazines in order to be
bored. If your article isn’t interesting, they
won’t read it – and the magazine won’t
publish your writing again. To be interesting,
you should:
• give your article a good title.
• start with a good opening.
• use concrete images and facts, not
concepts and generalisations.
• use precise and interesting vocabulary.
• surprise the reader – or at least say
something new.
• know when to finish – and finish in style.
Remember who you’re writing for
Who reads this magazine? How old are they?
What nationality? What do they already
know about the subject of the article, and
what will you need to explain?
of ‘tips’ or advice – which require a graphic
layout such as that used in ‘Be interesting’
above. Note also the use of subtitles on this
page and in certain magazine articles.
Organisation and planning
Try to say just one thing in a 250-word
article. Make notes, then summarise what
you want to say in one sentence. You could
write a plan based on that one sentence; the
rest of the article would explain and illustrate
what you want to say.
Relevance
Make sure that your article is relevant to the
title, and that everything within your article
is relevant to your main idea.
Length
If a magazine or an English exam asks for
‘about 250 words’, don’t write 500. The
magazine wouldn’t print your article; the
examiner may only read the first half of it,
and you will certainly penalized, perhaps
severely.
Accuracy and libel

What are you trying to achieve?
Are you trying to persuade the reader to do
something? To inform? To advise? To
recommend? To entertain? Or a combination
of these?
Layout
Your article should normally have a title and
be written in paragraphs. Some magazine
articles include lists – list of instructions, lists
Don’t present opinions, guesses and rumours
as if they were facts. Such carelessness, apart
from making your article inaccurate,
untrustworthy and valueless, can also be
illegal when printed in a magazine.
Distinguish between fact and rumour by
adding a simple word or phrase: the alleged
murderer, the suspected Mafioso, I’ve heard it
said that…, there is a rumour that…, the minister
is said to have/ rumoured to have/ supposed to
have taken bribes.

1. _____ You cannot use bullet points in articles.

2. _____ An article always has a title.
3. _____ An article can have subtitles.
4. _____ You should surprise the reader by telling rumours as if they were true.
5. _____ As long as your article is interesting, length is not important.
6. _____ You should think of your purpose before writing an article.
7. _____ You can address one or two main issues in an article.

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Writing an article’s opening

3.
A. Which of these eight openings would you choose to begin an article entitled ‘Openings
and Closings of Magazine Articles’?

Article openings
The opening of a magazine article has one or more purposes, in descending order of
importance.
• to catch readers’ attention and make them want to read the rest.
• to tell readers what the article is going to be about (the topic).
• to tell readers what the article is going to say (the content).
• to tell readers how the article is going to be organised (the structure).

B. Discuss the questions.

1. Which of the openings in A best achieves the first purpose? (In other words, which one
would you most want to read?
2. Do any of the openings leave you in doubt about the topic of the article?
3. Which of the openings gives you the clearest idea of what the writer is going to say and
how the article is going to be organised?

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Nine ways of opening an article

a. A surprising fact, perhaps including statistics.
b. A surprising, shocking or bizarre statement. The reader keeps reading out of curiosity:
how are you going to continue? Do you really believe that? What on earth are you talking
about?
c. A question. This helps to define the subject of a piece of writing. It also starts readers
thinking about the subject, making them want to read what you have to say.
d. A quotation.
e. A story that illustrates what you are going to say. It may be a story about the subject itself;
it may be a story about another topic that has something in common with the subject of
your article.
f. A statement of the topic. The statement mentions what the topic is, and often summarises
what you are going to say. This opening is often the key to the organisation and
paragraphing of the article.
g. A definition of the topic (sometimes a dictionary definition). This opening may be
appropriate, but is one of the least interesting.
h. A description or image that evokes a suitable atmosphere or symbolises the whole
questions.
i. A reference to a well-known phrase from the literature, a song, a proverb, etc.: an allusion
or ‘rewritten’ quotation.

4. Match the openings 1 – 8 in 3 with the categories Nine ways of opening an article a – i.
Some of the categories may have more than one example; others may have none.
5.
A. Here are five more openings, all of them introducing an article on the same subject. What
subject?

B. Match these openings to the categories a – i above.

C. Which of the openings 1 – 13 use quotation or direct speech? Would these openings be just
as good without the quotations or direct speech?
D. Some of the openings (e.g. 8) only use words and ideas. Would you agree that it is more
interesting to use images and pictures? Which openings do this, and which of them is most
successful?

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Writing an article’s closing

A piece of writing is like a film: a weak or unsatisfying ending spoils all the good things that went
before. The ending of a good film gives you a feeling of satisfaction. The film feels whole, complete.
How do we always recognise the end of a film before the words THE END come up on the
screen? What signals does the film give out to tell us it is finishing? What makes a film feel
complete? Think of the plot, the musical score and the images.
Referring to specific films you have seen,
seen, how many different kinds of ending can you think of?

Six ways of closing an article

1. Return to the beginning: a conclusion paraphrasing the opening, or a return to the
imagery or words of the opening.
2. A summary or conclusion.
3. A question.
4. A quotation.
5. An image/ picture, symbolising the end (sunset, death) or a new beginning (dawn, birth).
6. A short sentence to signal a break with what went before, or to indicate the intention to finish.
The closing of a piece of writing is also often signalled by certain linking words:
All in all Essentially In short So (informal)
Altogether Generally Mostly Then
As a rule In brief On average To some extent
Basically In conclusion On balance To sum up
Broadly speaking In general On the whole Ultimately
By and large In other words Overall

6. Here is the opening of an article attacking education.

Here are some possible closings for the same article. Match them with the six different types
of closing referred in the box above. Some of the closings (a – g) may illustrate more than one
of the categories (1 – 6); some of the categories may be illustrated by
by more than one closing.

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Making your points more emphatically

Emphasing
One of the article-writing techniques is that it is more effective to express yourself forcibly or
emphatically rather than in a flat way. You can, of course, do this by using interesting words
and expressions, e.g. intensifying adverbs such as enormously, truly. But there are also some
grammatical structures in English which you can use to lend emphasis to what you are saying.
Using a less common word order can, for example, give extra emphasis to a sentence. So can
adding auxiliary verb to a statement – this must be stressed when speaking (I do love you, for
instance). Adverbs and modal verbs can also be used for emphatic effect.

7. Look at the pairs of sentences below. In each case, which is more emphatic? Why? Work
with a partner and discuss your answer.
1. a) Mauritius is the most spectacular island I have ever
visited.
b) The most spectacular island I have ever visited is
Mauritius.
2. a) Despite friends’ warnings about the tedium of 25 hours
in a cramped aeroplane, I actually enjoyed the flight to
St Louis.
b) Despite friends’ warnings about the tedium of 25 hours
in a cramped aeroplane, I did actually enjoy the flight
to St Louis.
3. a) We spent a successful day deep-sea fishing.
b) We spent an unexpectedly successful day deep-sea
fishing.
4. a) Rarely have I been so impressed by a hotel’s service.
b) I have rarely been so impressed by a hotel’s service.
5. a) I shall always remember our final evening’s barbecue
on the beach.
b) What I shall always remember is our final evening’s
barbecue on the beach.
6. a) Mauritius must be one of the most romantic
honeymoon spots in the world.
b) Mauritius is one of the most romantic honeymoon
spots in the world.

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8. Express each of these statements in two different more emphatic ways, using the
techniques in 7.
1. Luigi’s is the most exotic restaurant I have ever been to.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
2. I enjoyed the disco despite its deafening music.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
3. I have never before seen such a spectacular sunset.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
4. We shall always remember the picturesque harbour.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
5. We spent a memorable day climbing the highest mountain on the island.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
6. James is one of the most intriguing people I have ever met.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Complete the sentences below in any way that you wish. Then compare your sentences
with those of other students in the class.
1. Never have I been more afraid than …………………………………………………………
2. What I shall never forget is ……………………………………………………………………
3. The most exhilarating moment in my life was ………………………………………………
4. I did enjoy ………………………………………………………………………………………
5. …………………………………...….must be the most romantic place I have ever been to.

Avoiding dull words

Another important aspect of keeping reader’s attention is to use interesting words and to
avoid dull ones. One word which is best avoided in more formal writing is get. It is a word
with so many possible meanings that it is better when writing to choose with a more precise
meaning e.g. win, buy, persuade. Moreover, it is more important stylistically to avoid repetition
in more formal writing; a word like get, which is very useful in speaking or informal writing,
will look strange if used too often in formal writing. Words like nice, good, bad, and terrible are
frequently used when someone is speaking or writing a letter to a friend. It is better to avoid
them in more formal writing because, on the whole, they are very weak words which can
suggest a range of meanings depending on the tastes of the speaker. It is usually possible to
find a word which expresses a much more precise meaning and is, therefore, much more
effective when your aim is to interest readers who do not know you and have very little idea
what nice may mean in this context.

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10. How many words can you think of to replace the underlined words in the sentences
below? Some initial ideas are suggested for the first sentence. Notice how the other words
suggested add an extra meaning that is no there with nice. Work with a partner and try to
think of at least six words for each sentence. Then compare your words with those of other
students in the class.
Example: 1 exhilarating, romantic, relaxing, memorable
1. We had a nice week in Mauritius.
2. The island is good.
3. We had a bad time in the hotel.
4. They are very nice people.
5. The weather was good while we were there.
6. The hotel manager was terrible.

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WRITING PRACTICE
Thinking about the Topic
1. A. Use the words in the box to fill in the blanks.

profile click log into/onto wall update

poke virtually status information message

I heart ♥ you online

Every morning I wake up with lingering dreams of you and my heart is beguile.
I struggle to think just what else I can do, then (1) ________ my favorite online social
networking website
I want to be in your (2) ___________ picture
I want to be a permanent fixture on your (3) __________
You're so beautiful
Wish I could be in your profile (4) ____________
Featuring the place where you (5) ____________ us
Maybe then I’ll have you in mine
I heart you online.

I can see from your (6) ____________, you like Japanese animation and stir fry
well so do I
I read the books that you love reading
I must say you're quite appealing.
Maybe you can (7) ____________ me some time
I heart you online.
I heart you online.

(8) _____________ on my face and tell me that you love me!

You signed your (9) ______________ with three kisses, could be wrong but i think this is
Your way to convey
That my love is not unrequited
But i won't get too excited
Since you're only (10) ___________ mine.
mine

I heart you online (x3).

B. Listen to the song and check.

2. Work in groups. Discuss the impacts of modern technology (e.g. mobile phones,
Facebook) on young people’s relationships with family and friends.
a. In what ways does technology help relationships?
rel
b. In what ways does technology harm relationships?
c. What can young people do to eliminate the negative effects of technology on
relationships?

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Reading
Exercise 1
A. Read the first paragraph of the article on the next page. Which of these ideas would you
expect to read about?
a) How to treat addiction to communication.
b) How to write shorter emails.
c) The signs of addiction to communication.
d) A psychologist’s view of the problem.
e) Why you shouldn’t let your children have mobile phones.
B. Read the complete article and check your answers.
Exercise 2
Read the article again and fill in gaps 1 – 4 with one of these sentences. There are two extra
sentences.
a) A recent survey reveals an emerging downside of technological revolution in communication.
b) So far, the problem is restricted to a very small number of people.
c) Computer Addiction Services in Washington runs treatment programmes for people
addicted to technology.
d) Dr Seb Cabb, the director of an addiction clinic in Los Angeles, frequently sees these
worrying signs of his patients.
e) Do any of these ‘warning signs’ sound familiar?
f) We don’t often consider the amount of electricity used by computers.
Exercise 3
Are these sentences true (T), false (F) or the article doesn’t say (DS)?
1. Dr Carr believes a communication addiction is not difficult to treat.
2. Doctors feel inadequately trained to deal with this modern problem.
3. The survey discovered that parents want to spend significantly more time with their children.
4. Julie Akehurst thinks her children need professional treatment.
5. Dr Palser believes the problem with teenagers is getting out of control.
6. Dr. Palser thinks parents need to monitor what their children do on the Internet more closely.
Exercise 4
The sentences in Exercise 2 are topic sentences. They highlight the topic of a paragraph which
is supported by the other sentences in the paragraph. Underline the topic sentences in
paragraphs E – H in the article.
Exercise 5
The sentences that follow or surround the topic sentence are supporting sentences. They
develop or support a topic sentence. Find the sentences in paragraphs I – K which are NOT a
supporting sentence of the underlined topic sentences.
Exercise 6
Find the words or expressions in the article that have a similar meaning to these definitions.
1. a small device or machine such as mobile phones or computers (Para A)
2. the situation in which you need something or someone all the time (Para B)
3. an occasion when two or more people communicate with each other directly in person (Para C)
4. a very strong feeling of wanting to do something repeatedly (Para E)
5. have control over sb/st (Para E)
6. unable to stop watching sth (Para F)
7. no longer communicating with sb (Para H)
8. continue to be informed about sth (Para J)
9. continuing to communicate with sb by using a phone or writing to them (Para K)

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The rise of technology addiction
A
(1) ….. . It seems that we just can’t
leave our mobile phones or
computers alone. Both adults and
children are displaying signs of
addiction to their gadgets. And if
the trend continues, some
psychologists warn the
consequences for ‘normal’
personal and work relationships
could be significant.
B
(2) ….. . It estimates that 6 – 10%
of the 190 million Internet users
in the US have an unhealthy
dependency on gadgets such as
mobile phones and computers.
C.
(3) ….. . The survey lists: using text
messages or email when face-to-
face interaction would be more
appropriate; limiting time with
friends and family to tend to your
email or to surf the Internet; an
inability to leave home without a
mobile phone, or to relax without
constantly checking email; and
paying more attention to gadgets
than what is happening in real life.
D.
(4) ….. . “I meet people who really
cannot put their mobile phones
down for fear or missing an email
or a text message – even when
there will be a negative
consequence to their doing so,” he
explains.
E.
“The compulsion to monitor these
devices is as powerful as an
addiction to alcohol and drugs,” Dr
Carr continues. However, unlike
alcohol and drugs, Dr Carr believes
that this communication addiction
can usually be overcome by
relatively simple methods. “This
means setting limits for the
amount of time spent on email,
developing boundaries such as
time when you do not answer
email or phone calls,” he advises.
“What is important is to establish a
manageable relationship with
technology so that it does not
dominate your life.”
F another of these activities,” says Dr
With children, and for their
parents, the situation is perhaps
more worrying. All that time spent
glued to their mobile phones and
computer screens is taking time
away from a particular important
activity, namely spending time
together as a family.
G
The statistical findings of the
survey are telling. 16-20-year-olds
spend an average of just under
four hours a day using technology.
This compares with two hours a
day spent with their families. Over
60% of the parents interviewed
want to spend at least twice as
much time with their children as
the average.
H
In the Akehurst household,
Andrew (17) and Nana (14) spend
over six hours on their computers
every day, according to their
mother, Julie. “Andrew is up until
the early hours on his laptop. Nate
goes straight to the computer
when he comes home. Andrew
ends up missing various family
events because he sleeps late into
the morning, or even afternoon.
And I can’t remember the last time
Nate told me about how his school
day was.” Julie is not overly
worried by her situation but feels
she is losing touch with her sons.
I
“Teenagers have always sought
time alone – listening to music,
reading and so on. Instant
messaging and emailing is just
WR1
Eileen Palser, a child psychologist
from a San Francisco Hospital. Her
latest book is entitled Was it really
any different when we were
young?. Dr Parler clearly thinks the
current situation with teenagers is
not significantly any different than
in the past. “They need time to
develop into individuals – and
they’ll only ever do this out of their
parents’ company.”
J
One aspect that Dr Palser
acknowledges is more worrying is
one of parent control. In the
survey, almost 70% of parents felt
that the use of technology makes it
harder for parents to know what is
going on in their children’s lives. A
third of parents interviewed felt
the need to keep up with
technology was a burden on the
family budget. “In the past, parents
could easily monitor what, for
example, their children watched on
TV,” concedes Dr Palser. “The
Internet has removed that ability
as now, practically anything is
available. And not all of it meets
with parents’ approval.”
K
Dr Palser also reminds us of the
upsides to the gadgets that
surround our children. “Mobile
phones and email make it easier to
stay in touch when away from
home,” she points out. “Many
parents have become accustomed
to being in constant touch with
their children. Besides, mobile
phones are not particularly
expensive these days.”
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Writing

You see the announcement below in Modern Life, an international magazine.

NEW TECHNOLOGY AND RELATIONSHIPS
We invite you, our readers, to submit an article on new technology (e.g. mobile phone, the
Internet, Facebook) and how it affects young people’s relationships with family and friends.
We will publish one article from each country. You should also make some suggestions on how
young people can eliminate the negative impact of technology on their relationships.
Write your article. Write approximately 220 – 260 words.

1. Identify the purpose and the target readers of the article. Then identify its level of formality.
2. Make an outline of your article.
3. Think of an interesting name for your article.
4. Write the opening of your article. Use the opening techniques mentioned in the lesson.
5. Write the paragraphs of your article. Make sure each paragraph have a topic sentence.
6. Write the closing of your article. Use the closing techniques mentioned in the lesson.
7. Add cohesive devices to make your article flow smoothly.
8. Replace any dull word.
9. Rewrite sentences so that they are more emphatic.
10. Review your article for vocabulary, grammar, mechanics and style.

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