TEENS 5

WRITING AN ARTICLE

You see this announcement on an English-language website. Read it carefully:

Articles wanted!
Films

What kinds of film do you like?

Why?

Do you prefer watching films at the

cinema or at home?

We’ll publish the best articles on our

website next month!

Write your article. SAMPLE ANSWER

Use the title that is in the
task or make up your own
title.
One way of starting your
article is with a question,
which you can then
answer.
This answers the first
question, about the kind
of films you like.
Words like ‘although’ help
you to organize your ideas.
Don’t be afraid to give
your opinions.
Horror films!
Do you agree that horror films are the best thing
ever? Some people can’t stand them, but I just
think they’re really brilliant. Although some of
them are quite silly, others are made in a very
clever way and I think the stories are unusual and
exciting.
Sometimes it’s fun to watch them at the cinema,
with lots of people sitting terrified in the dark. But
what I like best of all is watching a classic horror
film at home with a couple of friends, so we can
scream and shout as loud as we like. And we can
make our own popcorn, too!

This answers the second

question, ‘Why?, giving
reasons why you like
horror films.

This paragraph answers

the third question, about
where you prefer
watching films.
Useful language

 Starting the article

Do you think that…?
Have you ever thought about…?
Do you agree that…?
In my country/town/area, people…

 Giving your opinion

I think…
I believe…
In my opinion,…

 Comparing
…is more interesting/difficult/popular than…
The most challenging/successful/exciting…is…

 Explaining or giving reasons

This is because…
That’s why…
For this reason…

 Adding information
Also, ……
In addition to this, ……

 Imagining things
What would happen if…?
It would be fantastic/amazing/interesting if…
People could try…
I wonder if…

 Finishing your article

What do you think?
And…, too!
 Tips
 Read the task very carefully
 In this task you are going to write about films. There are two parts. The first part is about the
kind of film you like best, and the second is about where you prefer to watch films. You must
also explain your opinions.
 Underline the sentences in the sample answer that answer the first part of the question.
 Underline the sentences in the sample answer that answer the second part or the question.
 Write down some of your own opinions for each of the two parts, then think of the reasons
for your opinions.
 Try to enjoy writing the article and remember your readers should enjoy it too!
 When you’ve finished, make sure you’ve written about 100 words and check your article for
spelling or grammar mistakes.

1. Discuss the questions in pairs. Talk about all the points.

A magazine has lots of articles.

Some look interesting, some don’t.
What makes you want to start
reading one of the articles?

 Interesting information? Good title?

 Seems fun to read? Interesting first line?

2. You can make an article more interesting by starting with a question.

Match the article titles (a-c) with the questions (1-5). There are two extra questions you do not
need to use.

A-Making new friends ____

B -The importance of friends ____
C -How to help a good friend ____

1- Do we really need friends in our lives?

2- Should we tell our new friends all our secrets?
3- How can we make new friends?
4- How do we communicate with our friends?
5- What can we do when a friend needs us?
3. You can make an article more interesting by giving personal opinions.
Add your opinions to complete the sentences below.

a) You may not agree with me if I say that romantic films are…
b) I’m sure that lots of people prefer films that teach them something, for example…
c) Cinemas are not only places to see films, but also places where…
d) Many young people are very sociable, so they like…
e) Would you be surprised if I told you that my favourite films are…?

Planning your answer

 Different article tasks have different numbers of questions but you should always be able to write a
good answer in about 100 words.
 Aim to write two or three paragraphs, not just one long paragraph.

Paragraph 1
You can use a question at the beginning if you want, and the answer it in the next sentence or sentences.
This paragraph will introduce the main topic of the article. It may contain the answer to the first question
in the task, but this depends on the task.

Paragraph 2/3
 This/These should contain your answer to the other questions that are asked in the task.
 Remember to give reasons as well as your opinion.
 Each paragraph should be several sentences long, and never just contain one sentence.

Checklist
When you finish writing an article, use this
checklist:

Content
Have you answered all of the questions in the
task?
Have you added reasons to your opinion?
Communicative achievement
The article is for readers of a magazine or a
website who you don’t know, so have you
used a suitable semi-formal style?
Organization
Have you divided your article into paragraphs?
Have you organized your ideas in a logical
way?
Language
Have you used the correct tenses?
Have you used a range of vocabulary?
Have you checked your spelling?
Writing Time

TASK 1

Discuss these questions in pairs:

a- How “green” are you? What can you do to be greener?
b- Are your town and school green?
c- What can be recycled?

You see this notice in an English-language website for young people.

ARTICLES WANTED!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAVE THE PLANET

Write an article telling us about how you can reduce pollution at home.

What do you recycle? Have you always been green?

Do you think that clean-up campaigns are useful? Why?

The best articles answering these questions will be published next month.

Write your article in about 100 words.

TIPS:
 Use the grammar and vocabulary included in your book in Unit 2 and your own ideas
to write your article.
 Try to use your own words; don’t just repeat the words in the question.
 Make your article interesting so that your readers enjoy reading it.
Writing Time

TASK 2

Discuss these questions in pairs:

a- How important are clothes to you?

b- Where do you usually buy clothes?
c- What do usually wear to parties?
d- Do you have favourite clothes?

You see this announcement in your school English-language magazine.

ARTICLES WANTED!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLOTHES

Write an article telling us about the clothes you prefer.

What are your favourite clothes and accessories? Why?

Do you prefer formal or casual outfits?
Who influences your style?

We’ll publish the best articles answering these questions next month.

Write your article in about 100 words.

TIPS:
 Use the grammar and vocabulary included in your book in Unit 3 and your own ideas
to write your article.
 Use adjectives to describe clothes and accessories.
 Make your article interesting so that your readers enjoy reading it.
Writing Time

TASK 3

You see this notice in an English-language magazine.

ARTICLES WANTED!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GOING SHOPPING

Where do young people go shopping nowadays?

Do they prefer to go to indoor shopping centres or to town centres?
Tell us what you think!

We’ll publish the best articles answering these questions next month.

Write your article in about 100 words.

TIPS:
 Use the grammar and vocabulary included in your book in Unit 5 and your own ideas
to write your article.
 Make sure you include all the points in the question.
 Check your work for mistakes.
Writing Time

TASK 4

Discuss these questions in pairs:

a- How do you feel when you have a cold? Do you try to carry on with your life or do you stay
in bed and rest?
b- Do you go to the doctor’s when you feel unwell?
c- What means to be “healthy”, in your opinion?

You see this notice in an English-language magazine.

ARTICLES WANTED!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Write an article telling us about healthy living.

Is it important for young people to do sport and keep fit? Why?

Do you think you’re healthy? What do you do to combat stress?

The best articles answering these questions will be published next month.

Write your article in about 100 words.

TIPS:
 Use the grammar and vocabulary included in your book in Unit 6 and your own ideas
to write your article.
 Make sure you include all the points in the question.
 Check your work for mistakes.
Writing Time

TASK 5

You see this notice in an English-language magazine.

ARTICLES WANTED!
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MOVING TO ANOTHER COUNTRY

Write an article telling us about how you would feel about moving to a foreign
country.

What kind of problems do you think you might face?

How would you cope with differences?

Do you think it would be easier to move to a country with a similar

culture? Why?

The best articles answering these questions will be published next month.

Write your article in about 100 words.

TIPS:

 Make sure you include all the points in the question.

 Check your work for mistakes.
 Make your article interesting so that your readers enjoy reading it.