Articles

Sample: Prompt Your school is considering whether or not students should take P.E. (physical education) classes. The Principal is suggesting they continue with P.E. classes but some parents disagree. Here are some comments from other students. Write an article for the project giving your views about the issue. Your article should be between 150 and 200 words long. The comments above may give you some ideas but you are free to use any ideas of your own. I hate P.E. class. It is uncomfortable to go back to class after running around. P.E. is fun because I can keep fit and lose weight by exercising. I don’t want to learn to dance. I need more time with biology and ICT.

Title The title should catch the reader’s attention by being interesting or informative or both. – A quote – A misquotation – A joke

Title To P.E. or Not to P.E.

Topic Introduce the topic. – Use a HOOK: an exciting way to catch the reader’s attention. A story. A surprising statement. A Rhetorical Question. Explain what the topic is about.

Sample: Topic HOOK: When you are getting ready for school in the morning, is the class which you are most looking forward to P.E.? TOPIC: In most schools, students take P.E. classes every day. But would a student benefit from more academic lessons instead?

Background Give some background information to help your audience understand the topic. – History – Facts – Reasons, etc.

Background Students participate in P.E. classes sometimes exercising, playing basketball, or dancing. Many students think P.E. classes are a waste of time but others love them.

Discussion Discuss BOTH sides of the topic. – Use details, examples, quotations, personal opinion.

Discussion People who support P.E. classes say that they help students maintain healthy lifestyles and stay active. The problem with P.E. classes, however, is that we students need all the time in the day to study academic subjects, like biology and physics. It is a waste of time for us to be playing tennis or learning how to dance. We can do that in our free time.

Prediction Give a prediction about the future OR a recommendation of what needs to be done.

Prediction It would be better if students were allowed to choose whether or not they want to take P.E.—some students would probably say no. Maybe instead of forcing kids to exercise, schools could promote healthy eating and still let us take the classes we want.

Conclusion Wrap up the article. – A humorous statement. – An evaluation of the two sides – Reference back to beginning of article – Quotation

Conclusion If we want to spend more time in lessons, why can’t we? Knowing how to do star jumps won’t help me become a doctor.