Author: Anamaria Copilau
Publication date: 04.08.2023
An article is a piece of writing, typically in the form of prose, which can be about any topic. They tend to be shorter than novels or essays and are intended to inform readers. As they’re typically published in magazines, newspapers, journals or blogs, their target audience is quite varied. Therefore, when writing an article on any topic, it helps to have a clear and logical structure. This article aims to provide you with a guide that will help you write your own articles more efficiently.
7 types of articles
These are just a few of their functions:
● Informative
Aims to provide information on any topic, without the author sharing or imposing their own opinion.
● Argumentative
A problem is posed, and a solution is proposed. Provided arguments aim to strengthen the solution.
● Persuasive
Aims to persuade readers to accept the point of view of the author.
Tips on how to write an article
Step 1: Find something trendy to write about
As previously mentioned, articles can tackle any topic you can imagine. However, this can make choosing quite challenging. Once you have a general direction you wish to take, look at the next steps. These will help you narrow your idea down and begin writing.
Step 2: Who are you writing for?
Depending on your target audience, you can adjust the topic of your article, as well as the resources you’ll use. For this reason, make sure that the topic impacts this group and provides relevant information for them. Additionally, remember to adjust your language to match your audience.
When narrowing down your intended audience, it’s helpful to pay attention to their age. Although each person’s life is unique, those in the same age group will have some basic aspects of life in common. Additionally, consider looking at the audience's educational background and geographic region. People tend to primarily engage with information centered around their interests. So, ensuring you fit well in a certain niche will help you reach desired readers easier.
Step 3: Research your Topic
In addition to researching your target audience, it’s important to know what you’re writing about. Look for information from more than one source, and check their authenticity. If your article requires statistical data, verify that it’s up-to-date and significant.
Step 4: Come up with an outline and write a draft
Creating a structure for your article before you begin writing will enable you to spend more time developing the main content. Reading through your chosen ressources will give you some inspiration for your own article. Key components of an article Here are some components your article must definitely contain:
1. Title
This might seem obvious, but your article having a suitable title is the most important aspect to keep in mind when writing anything.
2. Introduction
It summarises the topic of your article and primarily acts as support for the title.
3. Body paragraph
This is where the main content of your article lies. For this reason, you should build on the information you’ve gathered about your target audience and your chosen topic. Organise information that supports your argument. Be informative.
4. Conclusion paragraph
End your article impactfully, with a call to action or something for readers to think about.
Step 5: Write your Article and Check for Errors
After carefully researching your topic and creating the outline, you can begin writing your article. Focus on writing something captivating for your readers, keep them intrigued and focused on your article. Lastly, read your text multiple times and check for spelling and grammatical errors.
Step 6: Add some Pictures
If your text contains statistics, it could be useful to add a related graphic. Such visual representations are easier for people to understand. Similarly, images will make your article more attractive, thus people will be more likely to read it.
Last Tips for writing your articles
1. Remember to read your text several times
You should be really careful with errors. Similarly, check that the information you’re providing is current and accurate.
2. Don’t overcomplicate it
To get your point across more efficiently, use fewer words and shorter sentences and focus on the clarity of your message.
3. How to write articles
Knowing the article’s purpose can influence the writer’s approach. Regardless of whether you wish to inform your readers or persuade them, the structure will stay the same. Therefore, this stability will make writing articles quicker and more efficient.