FCE WRITING PAPER PART 2 AN ARTICLE

1. The objective of an article is to make the reader want to read to the end and be
entertained.
2. The objective of an essay is to convince the reader of your argument.
3. An essay can be more formal than an article.

Writing an article

Step 1: Make a plan (10 minutes)

Think about the question Really focus on the question.

The tone - quite conversational. Somewhere between semi-formal and informal. Be

informative, whilst entertaining and engaging the reader. You can also try to add some
humour in too!

Think about the structure.

Structuring your article is key and there’s normally more than one way to do it. Decide which
structure makes sense for the question. Try to keep it logical and include different ideas in
different paragraphs.

Here’s an example structure:

Paragraph 1 Introduction Start with a catchy opening line to hook the readers. Then introduce
your role model.

Paragraph 2 – Describe, give examples and developing your points.

Paragraph 3 –A conclusion and give the reader a lasting comment or a question to think about.

Vocabulary: Brainstorming vocabulary is a great way to get your ideas flowing. What are some
great words related to the topic? List some adjectives.. Pick out some verbs, or any good nouns
or collocations you think would work. Throw some phrasal verbs and idioms in there too!

Think about ways to personalise your writing

Articles tend to have a personal touch. You can be a lot more familiar with the reader
addressing them personally with pronouns like ‘you’ and ‘I’. Give your own opinion and also
use contractions. Here are some more ways to sound personal:

 Have you ever wondered…?

 I’m sure you can imagine…
 Can you believe…?
 I will never forget…
 There’s nothing more amazing than…

Step Two: Write it (25 minutes)

An interesting introduction is the key. Capture your audience’s attention whilst making it clear
what it’s going to be about. Start with an opening line that sets the tone of the topic. Try to
catch the attention from the first word.

Think about the original question. Keep it interesting and include some personal feelings.

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 FCE WRITING PAPER PART 2 AN ARTICLE

Use exclamation marks! But only include one or two exclamation marks in the article or they’ll
lose their impact.

Address your reader personally and even include a rhetorical question at the end. This gives
them something to think about.

Step 3: Check it.

Always check your writing. Here are some things to check for.

 You included everything in the question

 You’ve used a variety of sentence lengths
 The spelling is correct
 It’s personal and engaging
 You haven’t repeated the same vocabulary too often
 It’s not too formal

What are the examiners looking for?