interest and entertain the reader; give your opinion
Length
140–190 words
Tone
semi-informal — talk to the reader; contractions are fine
Must have
a title · a hook · 2–3 paragraphs · a memorable ending
Structure
Four parts
Title
catchy and clear: Why Everyone Should Learn to Cook
Opening
hook the reader: a question, a surprising fact, a short story
Body
two paragraphs, one main idea each, with examples
Ending
your opinion, a recommendation or a question for the reader
Involving the reader
Make them feel you are talking to them
Questions
Have you ever…? · What would you do if…?
Agreement
I'm sure you'll agree that… · We've all been there.
Imagine
Imagine waking up in a city where…
Direct
So why not give it a try?
Useful language
Developing your ideas
Starting
Let's start with… · First of all,
Adding
What's more, · On top of that, · Not only that, but…
Contrast
Of course, … However, · Having said that,
Ending
All in all, · To sum up, · I hope I've convinced you that…
Model
Read it — find the title, the hook, the paragraphs and the ending
An article — 153 words
Why Everyone Should Learn to Cook
Have you ever opened the fridge, stared at the food inside and ordered a pizza instead? I'm sure you'll agree that most of us have. But learning to cook is one of the most useful skills you can have.
Let's start with money. Cooking at home costs far less than eating out or ordering takeaways. What's more, you know exactly what goes into your food, so it's much healthier.
Cooking is also a brilliant way to bring people together. Some of my best memories are of making pancakes with my family on Sunday mornings, laughing when they went wrong. On top of that, there's nothing more satisfying than serving a meal you've made yourself.
All in all, cooking saves money, keeps you healthy and makes you happy. So why not put down your phone, pick up a recipe and give it a try? You might surprise yourself!
Common mistakes
Where candidates lose marks
No title
→
Why Everyone Should Learn to Cook
an article needs a title
In this article I am going to write about…
→
Have you ever…?
start with a hook, not an announcement
Very formal: Furthermore, it is evident that…
→
What's more, …
articles are semi-informal
Dear readers, … Yours faithfully
→
End with an opinion or a question
an article is not a letter
Your turn
Say it first, then write it
Plan out loud, then write 140–190 words.
1
Title: "The Best Way to Spend a Weekend". Say your title and hook.
2
Paragraph 1: your first idea, with an example.
3
Paragraph 2: a second idea, or a personal story.
4
How will you end? Give your opinion or ask the reader a question.