The document provides tips for writing an article for an IGCSE or AS exam, including: - Writing between 250-300 words for IGCSE and 600-900 words for AS - Considering your audience and writing persuasively to get them to agree with your point of view - Choosing a catchy, short title related to the topic - Using rhetorical questions and inclusive pronouns to engage the reader - Developing 4 arguments and potential counterarguments to support your position on a given topic

1. ArticleWriting

2.  You should write between 250 to 300 words for
IGCSE and between 600 to 900 if you are an AS
student.
 As this is the only real part you need to think
independently about, the exam board are
looking for people who can reason and write an
article as if it was going to be published in a
school magazine, or the like.
 So, remember you are writing for an audience –
you want them to believe what you write and to
think your way.

3.  Every article you will ever read in a magazine has a title related
to the topic. It is short, catchy and may even be clever. Spend a
moment to think about and write a title.
 You should use a rhetorical question at least once in the article.
Why is that, I hear you cry? Because questions make people think
about what you are writing and the reader will feel you are trying
to talk to them.
 You should use words which include the reader: ‘we’, ‘us’ ‘our’
etc. ‘Is this what we want for our school?’ for instance – which
combines the rhetorical question and includes the inclusive
pronouns.
 You could ‘paint a picture’ – to illustrate a point. ‘Let’s say we
don’t recycle and the rubbish keeps on piling higher and
higher…’

4.  You need to think of four (or so) logical arguments to
support your point. Possibly you need to think of four
counter arguments that the other side would say is
important. Some example topics:
 Are mobile phones always a good thing?
 Why daily PE should be essential for everyone
 Space exploration – is it a waste of money?
 Is smoking in any way a good thing?
Pick one of the above and write down four reasons for,
four reasons against. Next Side for ASTask

5.  In class, you have been discussing the
importance of keeping fit and healthy.
 Write an article for your school magazine
called In Good Shape.
 In your writing, suggest the best ways for
young people in your area to keep fit and
healthy without having to spend much
money.

6. Daily PE - Good Daily PE - Bad
This will increase a person’s level of
fitness and make them healthier
It will make them more competitive
and want to win
It will make them work in a team
and create life long friends
It will make them feel more
confident about their appearance
What are the negative points?

7.  Use some connectives – firstly, secondly,
moreover, however, on the other hand, in
conclusion…
 As for the conclusion, leave the reader
impressed with your way of thinking and
leave it on an interesting note.
 You only have as many as 900 words
depending on the class you are in. Use them
wisely!