article writing topics

article writing topics

Effective Strategies for Writing Engaging and Informative Articles

1. Introduction to Article Writing

Choose a paragraph that states a problem, or even more objectively, tell the reader that the subject of the article is vital, exciting, or important. This is, in general, best accomplished by stating an issue. It may have already been touched on in the opening itself. You might also say that the answer to an honest question will be found in the remainder of the article. Follow with a quick outline of the article. This will make the reader want to continue. Ensure the reader’s attention by stating the problem—state it simply and quickly. This is not the time or place to be formal. Once you have captured the reader’s interest, then provide some headings, or, perhaps, subtly outline the structure of the rest of the article, so that he can see where and how you are going to sustain his attention. Encourage speed, stated simply in the absence of technical terms and jargon. This will make it clear to readers who are not experts in the field, as well as remind the experts about what they are going to do.

If you write articles or essays for publication and receive payment, this is the best way to write. If you write well and regularly, this is how you can earn a living. The first requirement is a good command of English. But this, although necessary, is not enough. You must also have knowledge that others are willing to pay for. Then you must also be able to present this knowledge in a form that is both interesting and easy to understand. It is not necessary to take a journalism or corresponding course. An aptitude for languages and common sense is all that is needed in addition to the knowledge. Capturing the reader’s attention should always be the writer’s priority. The opening words will determine whether the reader will continue reading or not. Concentrate on the aspect of your subject which is the most interesting and whose discussion will attract the most attention. Choose a good headline. In just a few words, tell the reader the most valuable aspect of your article. Broaden interest with a good opening.

2. Understanding Audience and Purpose

Appeal to the interests of your audience and adhere to their rules and principles. Incorporating these demands may require frank discussion with your audience. If the words in a textbook are too small and too dull, inform the publisher that manuscripts should be 12-14 points for readability, 18-20 points for the name of the author, and at least .25″ for the heading of a multiheaded document. Request text in a font such as Arial or Helvetica, preferred by many students with dyslexia. Proofreaders can assist in designer report formation. Use a computer to show choices. Auxiliary aids such as a cassette recorder, speech discernment software, and refreshable Braille monitors may be helpful to people with visual impairments. These considerations improve audience reactions. The transmission of these signals represents the first rule of diachronic communication – always consider your audience.

Understanding audience, topic, and purpose underlies an effective writing style, and these considerations should determine your writing decisions. For example, design topics that interest the students in your writing class. Address familiar subjects and experiences. Use photographs and artifacts. Invite a field representative to speak to the class. Establish a student bulletin board for journalism involving service activities. When writing a business letter to a company to raise conscientious objections to the advertising of a product, make the appeal realistic, motivating, and productive. Realize that appealing to sincere intentions usually reinforces your position.

3. Research and Information Gathering

Before going off the facing page and trying to directly research or engage in the process of information gathering and sorting, it will be helpful to know what specific questions or topics you want to tackle so that you have a clear idea of what type of information you are actually looking for. Before you just start researching or writing down your thoughts on the page, it is a good idea to take out a single piece of paper and write down the questions you want to tackle and gather information about. When you know what to look for or what information you need to explain or expound on, then you are ready to start the process of actual research and gathering. You can now plan where to look for the information and how it will all fit and work together. If you have yet to fully determine a research objective, then check out these good topic lists for articles relating from the social sciences and education fields.

4. Structuring and Organizing Your Article

What makes a piece of writing difficult to read? Let’s start the answer from the beginning: the first goal of every writer is to write prose that is easy to read and easy to understand. However, one’s readers are not always reading for pleasure. The reading may be a chore, usually an essay. From work to people’s daily agenda, they are willing to give us a chance, despite the fact that our incomplete or semantically flat sentences take more of their energy to process, or that having a conversation with an empty seat is more enjoyable. There is pleasure in thinking, and the more effort the reader needs to decode our prose, the less time and energy they will be able to afford to grasp the subtleties – the fascinating things we have in mind. That is unfortunate because the details are sometimes the key to someone else finding what we communicate important to begin with.

4.1. Using Clear and Forceful Language

No two articles will employ the same structure and format. The needs of each article and the way it will present the information will greatly determine the structure, the length, and the amount of information to be submitted. However, there are four important points that should be taken into account for all types of informative writing. These four points are the following: using clear and forceful language, clear and logical order, including necessary or useful background information, and refraining from excessive use of pronouns. These four are the basic elements guiding informative writing. Having them in mind before starting the actual writing will make the task of writing much easier. The rest is easy.

4. Key Points to Consider Before Starting to Write an Article

5. Crafting Compelling Introductions and Conclusions

When writing introductions and conclusions, consider patterns learned through careful reading and deliberate practice. Add context to your writing by referring to general knowledge or common experiences. Following are several approaches that may give your writing an impressive start or ending. However, remember that no single approach is universally best for every writing project. A good introduction or conclusion may be a concise declaration of the thesis, or a storytelling effort to grab attention. Alternatively, it may summarize the main points of the article or raise questions for readers to ponder.

Introductions and conclusions are easy paragraphs to take for granted, but when carefully crafted, they are indispensable parts of your article. The introduction welcomes the reader to your article, sets the stage, and engages the reader. A good introduction may well win the reader who is skimming through your writing. A strong conclusion wraps up the article neatly, provides closure, and summarizes the key points, leaving the reader satisfied with the reading experience. Whether they are skimming the article or thoroughly reading it, the conclusion ensures the reader leaves with a good impression and key takeaways in mind.