Magazine Article Structure

1. Topic

(Introduce the issue, which may be something topical and in the news, or research
recently published, or proposal which has been put forward by a government or other
agency, or the description of the person that the article will concern. Unlike a news
report, which is informative, and a speech, which is argumentative, a magazine
article is discursive writing.)

2. Background

(The article is likely to fill in the past history of the person or event which the article
concerns, so that readers are fully aware of the necessary facts and reason why the
article has been written and what has led to the current state of affairs.)

3. Discussion

(The article is likely to return to the present-day situation at this point, discussing and
giving different viewpoints of the person or event, with details and examples and
quotations, and making comparisons with the past or with similar topics. Though the
writer’s own viewpoint may be inferred, alternative views must be given equal weight
and other voices heard.)

4. Prediction

(At this point the article may deal with the future developments or predicted outcome
of the present situation, e.g. that a person will go on to become even more famous
and successful, or that a current predicament will become worse if nothing is done
about it, or which side will win the political debate.)

5. Conclusion

(The article needs a neat conclusion, which may be an ironic reference or humorous
comment, or an evaluation of the different viewpoints, or a reference back to the
beginning of the article, or a quotation.)

Purpose Discursive
Structure A balanced range of views on a topic
The writer's opinion may be stated at the end, but no
view is conclusive
Style : Quotations and reported speech are often included
to convey the views of relevant experts or
interviewees
Register More colloquial and indicative of personality than
other types of response, but still professional.
Argument Writing Structure

1. Introduction

(State the issue and explain its importance and topical relevance.)

2. Alternative View

(Show awareness that there is an alternative viewpoint and give its main arguments.)

3. Criticism of Alternative View

(Demolish the alternative viewpoint by exposing its weaknesses.)

4. Your View

(Give all the reasons you can think of why your position is the sensible one,
supporting each point with evidence in the form of statistic, example, analogy, detail,
quotation and personal experience.

5. Conclusion

(Conclude with a summary of your position on the issue and/or what you think future
developments might be.)
Formal Report Structure

1. Explanation of situation

(Give some indication of what you are reporting on and what the circumstances are:
it could be presenting findings to a committee after evaluation options, giving a
witness account of an event, giving evidence after monitoring a process e.g. a
student on a week’s work experience. The person receiving the report is someone in
authority in an official position, and the style must reflect this.)

2. First phase or aspect of report

(Reports of an event, such as a school trip, have a chronological structure; others

look in turn at several aspects of a proposition or several candidates for a job or
award. These phases should be treated in separate paragraphs to show the change
in time or topic. If evaluating people or venues, for instance, it would be logical to
start with the least recommended.)

3. Second phase or aspect of report

4. Third phase or aspect of report

(It would be logical to mention last the aspect which is most important or memorable,
or the thing/person which one has decided to give the decision in favour of or highest
recommendation for.)

5. Conclusion

(The final paragraph of a report will make an overall evaluation of suitability or weigh
up the final balance of advantages and disadvantages of a proposition. e.g. ‘Despite
occasional lapses, the student overall showed great diligence in the workplace and
aptitude for the profession, and we were pleased with his general attitude and the
progress he made during the course of his week in our firm’; ‘Although there have
been many school trips over the last few years, it was unanimously agreed that this
was the best because of the attractiveness of the destination and the remarkable
team spirit amongst the group.’)

Purpose Record of something witnessed or investigated.

Appraisal of something or someone being judged.
Structure Chronological and strictly factual account of what
was observed or discovered.
Evaluation of strengths and weaknesses of
subjects), with a final preference or recommendation
Style : Formal, detailed and factual. Passive voice may be
used.
Register Dispassionate and official
News Report Structure

Headline

1. News Event

(What? When? Where? Who?)

2. Background

(Why? previous history, lead-up to this event, causes)

3. Report of actual news event

(Detailed account of what happened and what is still happening)

4. Quotations

(Participants, witnesses, police, hospital etc.)

5. Future

(Consequences, investigations, predictions)

Purpose Informative
Structure Present, past, future

The recent event is summarised in the first

paragraph, giving the information to answer the
questions Who? What? When? And Where?

The How? And the Why? are given in the middle

section to explain the background to and
circumstances of the event. This section may also
include witness statements and expert opinions.

A typical ending to a news report predicts what will

happen next, e.g. an inquiry, arrest or further
development of the event
Style : Short words, sentences and paragraphs; dramatic
vocabulary; multiple adjectives to qualify nouns;
statistics; direct and reported speech
Register Impersonal and objective, with no sense of the
writer's views
LETTER WRITING

PERSONAL LETTER FORMAL LETTER

DATE and ADDRESS NOT REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED
SALUTATION Dear James, Dear Sir,
Dearest James, Dear Madam,
(If salutation NOT given in Dear Sir/Madam,
question) Dear Mr Jones,
Dear Ms.Johnson
(If salutation NOT given in
question)
SUBSCRIPTION Yours lovingly, If Salutation has a
(First Name) name/surname
Your loving friend, Yours sincerely,
(First Name) (Full Name)
Yours truly,
(First Name) If Salutation does not have
a name,
Yours faithfully,
(Full Name)

Introduction Must include a greeting Includes only the purpose

First Paragraph and purpose of writing the
letter.
(3 to 4 sentences, brief)
Second Paragraph Content of first bullet point
Third Paragraph Content of second bullet
point
Fourth Paragraph Content of third bullet
point
Fifth Paragraph Conclusion
Link it to the content of the
letter and the key words of
the question.
(3 to 4 sentences, brief)
of writing the letter and no
greeting.
Content of first bullet point
Content of second bullet
point
Content of third bullet
point
Conclusion
Link it to the content of the
letter and the key words of
the question.
(3 to 4 sentences, brief)
JOURNAL ENTRY:

Purpose Informative, Reflective; to record a significant event

(for other readers and possible future publication)
Structure Chronological, describing the event as it unfolds, but
including thoughts and feelings about what is
happening
Style : ln full sentences and paragraphed, without
subheadings.

The language should be precise in order to faithfully

capture the event (this is not the same as a diary
entry, which is often written in note form or colloquial
language and acronyms, and contains trivial
observations, often unrelated. which are of purely
personal interest and from a subjective viewpoint)
Register Objective but mixed with personal response

SPEECH

Purpose Argumentative , persuasive

Structure Address the audience and introduce the issue
making it sound current and relevant.

Summarise the alternative viewpoint in one

paragraph, say why this view is invalid or
incomplete, continue to present a case, making a
series of points each supported by evidence and
examples.

Conclude with an urgent warning of what will happen

it nothing changes/your argument is not accepted.
Style : Includes a full range of rhetorical devices, sentences
structured for effect: emotive and strong vocabulary,
inclusive personal pronouns and use of ‘l’
Register Passionate and authoritative
INTERVIEW:
Purpose Informative
Structure The interviewer asks three questions (the question
bullet points) and each is answered relevantly in
about half a page of full sentences.

Style : As this is a conversation, the interviewee can speak

somewhat informally, using contractions, but must
use full and linked sentences for fluency and a range
of vocabulary for interest.
Register The personality of the interviewee, as inferred from
the passage, should be evident from their responses
to the questions.
Descriptive Writing Structure

1. Setting

(If you are describing a place, it is appropriate to set the general scene of location,
surroundings, atmosphere, time of day, week, month, season, weather, temperature.
Either time or distance can be used as the framework for a descriptive composition.
Descriptive compositions must have some kind of framework to give them a shape
and structure and logical progression to involve the reader.)

2. Positioning

(The observe takes up a position with regard to the object or place being described
e.g. they are standing outside a room. This should be at a distance so that interest is
aroused as to what will be revealed on closer inspection e.g. when the gate into the
secret garden is opened or the chest in the attic is opened. The senses of sight and
sound will be explored in this section and used to draw the reader in. If time is the
framework then this must be established, e.g. daylight is beginning to fade at dusk.)

3. Approaching

(The observer moves towards the object or place being described. New details can
be revealed because of the closer proximity e.g. as the beach becomes clearer to
view. At this stage the sense of smell can be added to sight and sound. Alternatively,
time has moved on e.g. darkness is creeping into the sky and natural appearances
are changing.)

4. Arriving

(The observer is now part of the scene, e.g. in the heart of the street market, or in
contact with the object e.g. going through the items in a chest. Minute details of
vision and noise can be used here, and also the sense of touch can be explored, and
taste implied e.g. people in the scene are eating, the sea is salty. Alternatively, time
has reached its climax, e.g. it is now night and the new sky and atmosphere can be
described.

5. Farewell
(The observer leaves the scene, with or without a backward glance. They may have
replaced anything they disturbed in a room and now close the door so that things are
again as they were at the beginning; alternatively it may be going home time for the
people on the beach or at the market, so that the scene empties and becomes the
opposite of how it was at the beginning. Reference to either time or distance is used
as closure.)
Narrative Writing Structure

1. Setting

(Location, surroundings, atmosphere, time of day, week, month, season, weather)

2. Characters

(Introduce up to three characters by describing their appearance, behaviour and

maybe direct speech. Make their relationship clear.)

3. Problem

(Create a situation requiring decision or discussion. Build up conflict, perhaps using

dialogue.)

4. Climax

(Narrate a series of actions/events, leading to a crisis)

5. Resolution

(Describe the outcome, which may involve an ironic twist)

Narrative opening options

1. Starting in the middle

(This is called the in medias res device, when the narrative starts in the middle of
either a sequence of actions, e.g. ‘The pursuers were catching up on him’ or in the
middle of a dialogue, e.g. ‘‘I can’t believe you just said that,’ said Mary’. In both
cases the reader is forced to try to imagine what has gone before and to quickly get
involved in what is happening or being said now.)

2. Shocking or intriguing statement

(A shocking statement provokes the reader e.g. ‘I had always hated my mother and
was glad that she was dead’. An intriguing one arouses curiosity e.g. ‘The clocks
were striking thirteen.’ Both narrative openings make the reader want to read on
because they are surprised.)

3. Flashback or flashforward

(Instead of starting in chronological sequence, a narrative can begin with a reference

to a relevant previous event or jump to the future outcome of the story about to be
told.)

4. Framing the story

(A narrative can have a ‘book ends’ framework of a story within a story, so that the
beginning tells of someone who, for instance, finds a diary or hidden document and
reads and quotes it, or who travels back to a place where something significant once
happened to them and relives the experience.

5. Setting the scene

(The conventional way of starting a narrative is to provide the context by referring to

the country, place, season, weather, time of day, and to introduce the main character
by giving some detail about his/her name, age, job and problem. For example: It was
pouring with rain, which was unusual for summer in Cyprus. Costas, a middle-aged
bank clerk, was trying to make his way on foot through the flooded streets of the city
to get home to his sick mother when ....)