Conventions Article Writing

Headline The headline is the text indicating the nature of the article below it. Headlines should be catchy, creative and imaginative so that they draw the reader into the article. Employing language features is a good idea so that you can achieve this goal. Byline Byline can refer to two things. Firstly, who the article is by as in by Mr. Thrasyvoulou. However, it can also refer to an extension of the headline that provides more contextual information about the article.

Hook Usually the first paragraph of an article, the hook is designed to ‘hook’ the readers interest. It will often employ similar strategies to the headline in order to be creative or imaginative. Again, utilising language techniques here can be helpful. Nutgraph Nut Graph is a contraction of ‘In a Nutshell Paragraph’. The purpose of this paragraph is to establish some of the key information about your subject. If you are writing on an issue you would summarise the issue and give a hint at what the focus of the rest of the article will be.

Attributed Quotations Short Paragraphs Short paragraphs are conventional in most types of article writing. This is to do with readability. Shorter paragraphs are often more concise and can give the article a more urgent flow that encourages the reader to keep going. This is not always appropriate, by it is stylistically encouraged. Attributed Quotations Quotes are critical in articles. They allow the writer to draw on primary sources of information (mostly taken from interviews) and they also give the article a range of ‘voices’ to draw on. Because writers are often aiming to be impartial the voices they draw on are used to present opinions.

Paraphrasing Facts and Stats Rather than constantly quoting it is often appropriate to paraphrase. This means summarising someone's quote or perspective in your own words. This can help a writer be more concise, especially when wordcounts are involved. It can also allow a writer to condense a confusing quote into a more articulate phrase. Facts and Stats To give an article legitimacy it is often appropriate to draw on facts and stats. This can help you explore an issue in more depth, and it can also give an article greater credibility. This is not always necessary as some topics don’t lend themselves easily to the use of facts and stats.

Clincher (or, ‘power ending’) Just as the hook must open the article in an interesting way the conclusion of an article must also be effective. The ending needs to decisively conclude an article and should be designed to leave the reader thinking about the article long after they have finished reading. Linking your conclusion to the opening hook can be a good strategy. Sections and Sub Headings Articles might be given section headings in order to break an article up into different areas of focus. This gives an article a stronger structure and can allow a writer to shift between different aspects of an issue without the need for extensive transitions.

Use of Language Techniques Rhetorical questions Listing Metaphor Jargon Simile Idiom Colloquial Language Contractions Slang Alliteration Emotive Language Repetition Statistics Rule of Three Sarcasm Allusion