Writing Students School

Magazine Articles

When writing a school magazine

article, bear in mind the following.
Do

not give the impression that you

are an expert.
Be enthusiastic
Be convincing.
Be interesting.
Personalise. ( emphasise any points
you have in common with your
readers.Try to replace I whenever
possible with we.

Register( level of language) in

school magazine articles.
The register in articles can vary.
Some can be written in informal
register and some others will need
formal register.

Format

Title
Introduction
Body
Ending

TITLE

Always give the article a title and underline it.

Make sure your title is interesting.
Compare the two following titles. Which one is
more interesting?
- How to Prepare for Exams
- Exam Nerves Cure
*In order to get some ideas for interesting
titles, read as many English newspapers or
teenage magazines as possible and take note
of the titles.

TITLE

TV: The teenagers Viewpoint

TV: A teenage view
These titles are interesting because
the letters T and V have been used
as an abbreviation for television and
then repeated in the extended title.

INTRODUCTION

An effective introduction often starts

with a question to involve the reader
and encourage him to continue
reading. Here are some examples:
Are you one of the many
students with exam nerves?
Are you a secret TV addict?
Are you a self-confessed couch
potato?

Try to think what the following examples of

possible introductions could be about,
remembering that, to be effective, there
should be several possible meanings.

Are you so busy working that you have

no time for sport?
Do you long to finish your homework
quickly so you can collapse in front of
the TV screen?
Are you fed up with all the arguments
you have heard against television?
Are you dreading the thought of the
long, boring holidays?

TRANSITION
Introductions using questions are often followed by a
transition sentence, which acts as a link between the
introduction and the body of the article by preparing the
reader for what the article is about. Here are some
introductions from magazine articles, using the question
technique. The transition sentences are underlined.

Look, no stress!! Dont we all wish we could say this every

day of our lives- and mean it? Nowadays stress seems to be
the one word thats on everybodys mind. ( An article on
stress)

Looking dull and stressed? Well, dont worry. You need not
spend the entire evening in the bathroom. ( An article on
health and beauty)

Want to experience the joys of the countryside? There is

nothing to beat a canal holiday to take you closer to nature. (
An article about canal holidays)

BODY OF MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Before you begin
The basic ideas for a serious or a friendly
article will be the same, but will need to
be adapted to the question according to
register. It will be helpful to consider each
topic and the different phrases
associated with different register before
the exam.
*The list of topic-related vocabulary and
ideas will be given to you soon.

ENDING

A school magazine article ending

should be fairly short and use the
same personal style and register as
the introduction and transition.
The purpose of the ending could be:
- to summarise the article
- to express your own opinion
- to leave the reader with something
to think about.

TYPES OF SCHOOL MAGAZINE

ARTICLES
1.

2.
3.
4.

Giving your view or opinion/

putting forward arguments for
and against.
Dealing with problems and
solutions.
Giving advice/ making
suggestions
Narrative- sometimes referred
to in the question as an
account.

1- FOR and AGAINST

Look at the kind of question that has

or could come up:
The effects of modern science
The effects of cars on the environment
Single sex schools
Tourism
Compulsory competitive team sports
at school
The importance of appearance.

Lets look at a question based on a

past exam paper.

Write an article for your school

magazine about the effects of
tourism on your country, putting
forward your ideas.
*** For the body of this type of article,
begin by writing the first three paragraphs
of a views and arguments composition. See
pages 163, 164, 165 in your IGCSE Pack.

2- DEALING WITH PROBLEMS and

SOLUTIONS

Lets look at a question based on a past

exam paper, which deals with the apparently
serious topic of pollution.
Many students hope to have their own
cars one day but young people are well
aware of the problems which cars cause
the environment. Write an article for
your school magazine explaining how
drivers can reduce the impact the car
has on the environment.

Lets have a look at pages

165-166 (IGCSE pack) to
find out how to write a
problem/solution article.

3- GIVING ADVICE/MAKING
SUGGESTIONS

Possible topics
How to study for exams
The benefits of sport
The benefits of healthy eating
The dangers of watching too much TV
How to improve the school
The benefits of discipline at school
The benefits of school uniform

Lets look at a question based on a

past exam paper.
Write an article for your school
magazine giving advice and
suggestions on the best way to
revise for exams.

Begin with an introduction suitable for a school magazine

article but without a clear explanation of the topic( to get the
readers attention)
Write a transition sentence.
The two or three serious paragraphs should include advice
phrases and include we, for personalising, and perhaps refer
to teachers, other students or relevant incidents which may
add humour.
The ending should return to the school magazine article style.

4-NARRATIVE

You may be asked to write a narrative

(or account) about the following:
A holiday you have been on recently
A school trip you went on recently
A place you visited recently.
** An account of a school trip or holiday
will be very successful if it is written in a
humorous, almost conversational style,
as if you are telling your friends about it.

You should include:

An introduction which sets the scene
by giving an indication of:
1. the weather, the time of year.
( on a cold Saturday morning in
November, on the last day of the
summer term)
2. the number of students and
teachers.
3. the type pf transport
4. the general mood or atmosphere

A selection of small, probably

amusing incidents with no
consequence- interesting but not
important
A serious section describing the
things you saw/ places you visited.
References to members of staff and
other students to personalise.
An ending which says how enjoyable/
successful the trip was.

Now lets read the sample articles

and the comments from the
examiners. (IGCSE pack- pages 169170-171-172)