Discursive Writing - An Article

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How to Write an Article

Writing an article is a fun activity and can be done without difficulty, as long as you follow these simple steps:

1.  Focus on the topic and what it is you are going to talk about.

2.  Use language (formal, neutral or informal) appropriate to the context and reader.   Do not mix registers (level of formal language), as this will disrupt the flow and have a negative effect on the reader.  KEEP THE READER IN MIND AT ALL TIMES! 

3.  If you are doing an exam writing task, make sure that you follow the instructions (underline important phrases) and include all relevant information. At the end, go through the instructions and task again and tick the information you have included in your composition to see if you have got everything in it.

4.  Write down the points you want to cover and then put them in order.  Put them into paragraphs. 

5.  Use linking phrases and discourse markers to ensure the text flows naturally.

6.  Tick each point off as soon as you have finished writing it.  

7.  Stay focused! Make sure you do not lose the thread of the text.

8.  Proofread the text paragraph by paragraph and then at the end.  Pay attention to spelling and grammar structures.

9.  Use synonyms to avoid repetition regarding vocabulary and set phrases.

10.  Keep the reader in mind at all times!    
 

Changing Health of Our Children

Activity One

Read the introductions to three articles about childhood obesity and discuss the following questions:

1. Which one is formal and who are the intended readers?

2. Which one is informal and who are the intended readers?

3. Which one is neutral – formal and who are the intended readers?

4. Which introduction do you like most? Why?

A

Why is it that everywhere I look, all I see is overweight kids who look like they are about to explode or collapse under their own supersize weight?  I don’t remember seeing this many fat children when I was at school.  Equally, when I look at my parents and grandparents’ photos from their youth, there isn’t a chubby face to be seen.  My kids aren’t exactly skinny as rakes, but neither do they wobble like jelly when they run around.  So, why is it that such a large number of today’s youth are overweight, some even obese?  Is it that they feed too much, do too little exercise or is it all in my imagination? And if I’m right, what can we do to get our little ones back in shape?

B

There has been a huge increase in the number of children who are seriously overweight, clinically obese to use the medical term.  Scientific research carried out over the past few decades shows that waistlines have increased and health issues are more common in children than at any time in modern history.  The main reason for this problem is, according to scientists, a change in the lifestyles and habits of children over the past sixty years or so.  So the problem has been identified.  However, the question that requires an answer is where the issue stems from and what action can be taken to reverse the trend before the children of today become the medical problems of the future?

C

Scientific research conducted over recent decades has revealed that a high percentage of children in developed countries suffer from obesity, which is having a negative impact on every aspect of their lives, their health specifically.  The issue is a modern phenomenon, with instances of obesity increasing consistently decade on decade.  While the data gathered demonstrates the rise in childhood obesity, scientists have yet to ascertain the exact causes of this potentially fatal medical crisis.  Therefore, the question requiring an answer is what factors in terms of lifestyle have led to this obesity epidemic, and what measures can be undertaken to eradicate it?

Activity Two

i).         Number the phrases in the order you find them in an article.

introduction

main paragraph 1

main paragraph 2

main paragraph 3

concluding paragraph

ii).        Now look at the headings below and decide what information you want to put in each paragraph.

introduction


taking regular physical exercise


the impact of technology


a change in diets


conclusions / closing

Activity Three


Read the discursive composition below and identify what information is contained in each paragraph.

Example:

Paragraph 1 - Introduction

- Introduce topic by making a statement "There is a big problem in the UK with childhood obesity."
- Second sentence gives statistics to support the statement made in the first sentence.





Introduction

There is a big problem in the UK with childhood obesity. The number of very overweight children has increased a lot since the 1940s.  The current situation is extremely serious and worrying.  The concern is that this trend will continue into the future with most children being clinically obese.  The result of this would be an increase in the number of health problems and weight-related deaths.  So what are the reasons for this big problem and what can we do to stop it?

Taking regular physical exercise

There is a link between how much regular physical exercise children do and their weight.  In the 1940s children did around 21 hours physical exercise a week.  In the 1980s, children did 14 hours regular exercise, which was a lot less than in the 1940s, but a lot more than now. In the 1990s, the number fell sharply to only 6 hours.  However, that figure is down to just 2.7 hours a week, which is completely unacceptable.

The impact of technology

From the 1940s to the 1960s, there was very little technology for children.  This meant that they spent a lot of time outside playing games and staying fit.  This theory is supported by the fact that only 3.5% of children were obese during this period and spent 21 hours a week doing physical exercise.  It was in the 1990s that the percentage of obese children became extremely high.  At this time, children had DVDS, 24-hour TV and games consoles to keep them entertained.  None of these things, however, involved doing regular physical exercise.

A change in diets

Up until the 1980s, children ate fresh fruit, vegetables and meat.  It was during the 1980s that junk food, such as burgers, French fries, sweets, crisps and chocolate became widely available.  McDonalds and Kentucky Fried Chicken provided cheap meals to everyone.  The figures for this time show that 12.5% of children were obese, whereas less than 10% were seriously overweight in the few decades before.

Conclusion / Closing

Clearly, children do not do enough regular physical exercise, nor do they eat the right food.  Not only that, technology is keeping them sat on the sofa in front of a screen for many hours a week, 28 hours week now, as opposed to just 4.9 hours in the 1970s.  Unless we want our children to have life-threatening health problems in the future, we need to make sure that they get out regularly, eat nutritious food and do not spend more than a few hours a week using technology. If we do not do it soon, we will have big problems in the future.