Article Structure
Development
Rather than go in-depth on each
aspect of structure and flow, this post shows you how to format an article that
flows well and is properly structured.
# Article Title:
Anatomy of an Article
To write a great article demands that
you observe the correct structure and construct it in a way that flows well. To
accomplish this, it is essential that you conduct research, choose your
paragraph subheadings wisely, write at least two body paragraphs and tie things
in a nice, neat bow with a conclusion that summarizes and sometimes provides
supplemental information. Keep reading to learn this process.
# Research
Conduct research before you write
a single word. Once you know about what you intend to write specifically,
develop a loose outline – whether it is in your head or written down makes no
difference. When you embark on writing without any thought to the order in
which you intend to present material, it shows with material that comes across
as random and unfocused.
# Write the introduction
With your outline nailed down and
your focus intact, you are ready to introduce your readers to the topic. In
general terms, tell them about what you are going to write. Think of it in
terms of how you act when you first meet someone new; you say who you are,
shake hands and say something general about yourself. Never introduce something
in the intro that you do not intend to address in the body paragraphs.
# Develop paragraph
subheadings
Before actually writing your body
paragraphs, develop paragraph subheadings that give your readers a clue about
what they are going to read. Paragraph subheadings should stay relatively
short, and when possible, make them witty and engaging. Make sure to use the
proper punctuation for paragraph subheadings by writing them with sentence
case, meaning only the first word is capitalized. In addition, sentence case
dictates that no punctuation is included at the end of the subheadings.
# Build the body
paragraphs
Once you have developed paragraph
subheadings, you are ready to write the body paragraphs; these are the meat of
your article. Here, you provide detailed information that flushes out the
purpose of the article.
Essentially,
this is where you tell readers what you said you were going to tell them in the
introduction, only with far more detail. Avoid writing exceptionally long
paragraphs, as this discourages readers from actually reading what you write.
For a good article, you should have at least two body paragraphs with a minimum of two sentences each.
# Create flow with
smooth transitions
Even with paragraph subheadings,
your article should flow with a smooth transition from one paragraph to the
next. If you did not already notice the flow within this article, look at the
first sentence of each new paragraph. To lead into the next subject, the
subject previously discussed is mentioned. How you do this is entirely a
personal decision, but providing a transition from one paragraph to the next
greatly increases the readability of your article as well as its overall flow.
# Write the
conclusion
You have smoothly transitioned
your way to the conclusion, which is the easiest part of an article to write.
Close with a brief summary of what you just told readers. Provide information
or suggestions for further investigation or include a few additional
suggestions your readers can use to learn on their own. Avoid going too far off
topic, though, and stay concise. Doing so ensures your well-written article
stays that way through the very last word.
To ensure your articles are well
written, you must remember the basic tenant of structure: tell readers what you
are going to write, write it in the body paragraph and write it again in the
conclusion in a summarized fashion. Do the proper research, utilize paragraph
subheadings, write relevant and informative body paragraphs and wrap things up
nicely with a conclusive paragraph. Through it all, transition well and create
a flow that enhances readability. If you follow these guidelines, you are sure
to write one great article after another.