CBSE Class 11 English Article Writing Worksheet

CBSE Class 11 English Worksheet - Article Writing. Students can download these worksheets and practice them. This will help them to get better marks in examinations. Also refer to other worksheets for the same chapter and other subjects too. Use them for better understanding of the subjects.

ARTICLE

Writing an article is a very challenging task for anyone. It requires a high degree of creativity, a wide range of vocabulary and a thorough knowledge of the subject. An article is a highly structured and directional piece of writing, written for a specific purpose, i.e. to inform, to persuade, to entertain or to convince the reader. It essentially has several paragraphs containing a distinct beginning, a middle and a conclusion.

Marking Scheme

• Format - 1 Mark (Heading and writer's name)
• Content - 4 Marks
• Expression - 5 Marks (Grammatical accuracy, appropriate words and spellings 2½; Coherence and relevance of ideas and styles 2½)

General Points to be Considered while Writing an Article

• Understand carefully the hints/information given in the visual/verbal input.
• Arrange all the hints/ information in an order in which you want them to develop for writing the article.
• Use the hints/information provided in the input after interpreting them properly.
• Divide your article into several paragraphs when necessary. All the sentences in the paragraphs should logically lead to the objective for which the article is being written.
• The whole composition should not be disjointed or fragmented. Every sentence should be linked with the rest into a single whole.
• The first few sentences (comprising the first paragraph) should introduce the topic and its main idea. The middle paragraphs should highlight the main facts of the topic like the causes and effects, advantages and disadvantages etc. The last few sentences (comprising the last paragraph) should state a conclusion on the topic.
• Language used should always be simple and grammatically correct. It should be straightforward, to the point and objective. Articles are usually written in third person.

Elements of an Article

• 1. Title/Heading There are no predetermined rules as such, but it may comprise a single word, a phrase or a sentence of 4-6 words. The title should be thought-provoking and catchy and should highlight the theme.
• 2. Name of the writer Sign off your article with your name towards the end. Alternatively, the name can come immediately after the heading in the form of a byline.
• 3. Introduction Keep the topic in perspective; specify it keeping the reader’s interest intact by providing some surprising information or interesting facts related to the context.
• 4. Description of the topic Highlight various facets of the topic like the causes and effects, advantages and disadvantages etc.
• 5. Ending Wind up your article with your own views - criticism, suggestions etc.
• 6. Conclusion End the article with a desire, an appeal or a warning.

Format of an Article

Question. Write an article for a newspaper in 150-200 words on the topic 'Child Labour— A Curse'.
Answer: Child Labour—A Curse
by Kuldeep Sharma
Children of today are the future of tomorrow and every child has the right to education and to lead a happy and healthy life. Engaging children in any sort of work inhibits and affects their proper growth. Legislative provisions are formulated to prevent the menace of child labour. But the children from the most deprived sections of the population are forced to earn a pittance or contribute to family work, sacrificing personal development.
Children started being employed both on farms and factories because they provided a cheap and uncomplaining labour force, as compared to adults. The importance of education for the child was neglected and replaced with the necessity of providing for food and shelter.
Therefore, there is a need to look into the problem of child labour from a multi-dimensional aspect to understand and address the same in a society where the parents are guided to understand the value of education for the child. This will open up a brighter future for such children.

Examples

Question. You are Ram/ Rajani. You feel that India, with its rich and varied heritage, linguistic and cultural diversity, is an excellent destination for tourism. Promoting tourism will surely promote our economy. Write an article titled, 'Promoting Tourism is Promoting Ourselves', in 150-200 words specifying the advantages of promoting tourism and how it can be accomplished.
Answer: Promoting Tourism is Promoting Ourselves
by Rajani
Tourism plays a vital role in the economic development of a country. It is the second largest foreign exchange earner for India. The tourism industry employs a large number of skilled as well as unskilled persons. It also promotes national integration and international brotherhood. Thus we should promote it for own benefit.
India has fascinated people from all over the world with its secularism and culture. There are historical monuments, places of religious interest, beaches and hill resorts that attract tourists. Every region is identified by its handicrafts, folk dances, music, fairs, people etc. Bounded by the Himalayan mountain ranges in the North by the Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal on the other three sides, it can give a delightful experience to the tourist. The enchanting backwaters, hill stations and landscapes make India a beautiful country to visit.
The government's Department of Tourism promotes international and domestic tourism in the country. The Tourism Advisory Board recommends measures for promotion of tourist traffic to India. However, international tourism has been adversely affected by terrorism as well as pollution. Sincere efforts to combat such problems are required to further develop this industry.
Thus, tourism, one of the fastest growing industries today, plays a vital role in the economic development of our country. By promoting tourism, we will be promoting ourselves.

Question. You are Ram/ Rajani, a social activist. You feel unnecessary hurry is the cause of stress that hurts people right from children to elders and is crippling us in many ways, even causing death. Write an article on the topic, ‘Slow and Steady Wins the Race' in 150-200 words, driving home how measured steps, meaningful measures coupled with systematic approach can make us achieve our goals. 
Answer: Slow and Steady Wins the Race
by Ram
Success comes to those who are slow but steady in their work. It is not necessary to complete work faster in order to succeed in life. Take the example of driving a vehicle. If you are in a hurry to reach your destination, any lapse in concentration may cause an accident, even leading to your death. Just like the hare in the race with the tortoise, even clever people who work speedily may fail if they work in fits and starts. Take, for example, a student who studies only just before an examination. He is never regular in his studies. However fast he is in going through the matter taught, he still might fail in the exam as his concepts were not clear; or he did selective study but the questions asked in the exam were not from the topics he had covered in his hurry. His failure is due to the fact that he did not work steadily and regularly.
Nothing is gained by being hasty and careless. It is better to be slower and more careful in one’s work. Those who do things hastily sometimes make many mistakes. Then, much time is lost as the work has to be done all over again. It is better to be slow and steady.
To conclude we can say that what one needs to succeed is the ability to work regularly with patience and perseverance.

EXAM PRACTICE

Question. Recent floods in many metropolitan cities of the country during the monsoon season laid bare the hollowness of the claims of the civic authorities of their preparedness. The poor had to bear the brunt of the problem while no one was ever held accountable. Write an article in 150-200 words on the common man's woes during the monsoons and the need for accountability of the officials concerned. You are Sumit/Smita Verma. 
Answer: Mumbai Stops Again!
by Smita Verma
India's financial capital Mumbai once again came to a standstill on account of heavy rain. But rainfall over the last day is nowhere as overwhelming as what the city experienced on 26th July, 2005 when it received almost 95 cm of rain. The city faced a lot of problems and issues in terms of transportation as there was water-logging everywhere, telephone services were impacted, and even the lifeline of the city; the local trains were badly impacted.
People had a lot of difficulties reaching home and many of them were stuck at different places. India suffers frequent flooding during the monsoon season, but international aid agencies say things are worse this year with thousands of villages cut off and people deprived of food and clean water for days.
The sad thing is that our government is unprepared in spite of recurring floods every year. Thousands of slum people have their lives devastated by floods every year. Those who were already suffering and deprived classes suffer more deprivation. The government should take their responsibility seriously. Steps should be taken to deal with the floods way before the monsoon.

Question. The rising prices of essential commodities make life difficult for the common man. As a concerned citizen write an article in 150-200 words on 'Rising Prices'. Suggest solutions to solve this problem. You are Amit/ Anita. 
Answer: Rising Prices
by Anita
The rise in prices of almost all essential commodities has become a regular common feature in India currently. The rise in prices is partly due to varying demand and supply situation. However, the major reason for rising prices is due to lack of any timely effective measures taken by the dealing government departments to check malpractices of unscrupulous traders. Such traders create artificial shortages and charge exorbitant prices from needy persons. It is a shame that even life-saving drugs are not spared. The worst affected lot is the middle-class, especially the salaried working-class having a fixed income, as they have to maintain a reasonable standard of living and at the same time manage to pay more for essential commodities.
This problem can be solved by the government installing an effective system of monitoring and control of prices through suitable measures. If they do not do so, sudden and acute rise in prices causes an all-round spiral effect on prices that makes the life of common people miserable. Thereafter there is a recession leading to a sluggish economy and runaway inflation resulting in shortages and black marketing. A socialistic pattern of society collapses under its burden. The rich tend to become richer and the poor poorer. So the government should take suitable action in this direction. Only then the real welfare of the masses can be ensured.

Question. Education has always been a noble profession. Our ancestors received their learning at gurukuls and ashrams. Even in the near past, pathshalas (schools) were associated with places of worship. Today, education is fast becoming commercialised. Parents have to shell out a lot of money on coaching classes, tuition fees etc. Write an article in 150-200 words on 'The State of Education Today'. You are Karan/ Karuna. 
Answer: The State of Education Today
by Karan
Education is the process of facilitating learning or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs and habits. It enables people to know the world beyond their own surroundings and transforms them to become rationalist and humanist in outlook and world view. In this modern era, education is no more giving knowledge or teaching a child to know more about society. Unfortunately, it has been converted into a business in almost every institution. Such institutions charge a huge amount in return for the facilities they provide. In some of the best educational institutions of the world, donations are taken in return for registering an average student and giving him education. In short, education has become commercialised.
Advertisements made by the schools, colleges, coaching institutions etc are methods of getting more and more customers in the form of students. Basically the parents are being cheated in the name of education. Education is a crucial component for shaping a person for citizenship in society and become a contributing member to it. The system of education in the world has to improve; the meaning of education has to improve. Providing education should mean giving quality knowledge to the youth to develop the world.

Question. According to 2011 census, literacy rate of hundred percent or around has been achieved by only a couple of states in India. Illiteracy is found mostly among the old and the deprived sections of society. What can the youth do to spread literacy in society? Write an article in 150-200 words on 'Role of students in eradicating illiteracy'. You are Karuna/ Karan. 
Answer: Role of Students in Eradicating Illiteracy
by Karuna
Illiteracy is truly a curse to society. It not only makes the masses helpless but also hinders their development. According to the 2011 census, the 100% literacy rate of Kerala and Lakshadweep is just a small achievement on the path of literacy. This depicts the state of the country. Illiteracy is found mostly among the old and deprived sections of society. Children who are deprived of education remain illiterate. One of the reasons of illiteracy is lack of awareness. Though many efforts have been made by the Government of India to make the old and the poor literate, but such efforts are totally inadequate. Even many plans and schemes launched by the government have had a limited success due to poor educational infrastructure.
The youth is not that active in making people aware. Only the youth can achieve this goal because they are active, full of energy and have nimbleness in their actions. If the youngsters start campaigns in various areas of the cities, towns and villages, literacy can improve drastically. If they create awareness among people about the importance of literacy, people will not resist supporting them to achieve their target. Thus the youth must involve themselves in the enhancement of literary and eradication of the curse of illiteracy.

Question. India is a land of diversity. One way in which it makes us feel proud of it is the number of festivals we enjoy. Write an article in 150-200 words on ’Festivals of India' . You are Karuna/Karan. 
Answer: Festivals of India
by Karan
Festivals of India are periods of celebration, playing an important role in the life of Indian people. When religion intervened to invest the festivals with spiritual meaning, this joy came to be identified with the joy of worship. The festivals are still associated with religion as well as participation in productive activities and with the seasons of the year.
The harvesting festivals, the spring festivals, the sowing festivals during the rainy season etc are all associated with man's relation with nature. Even our Durga Puja and Diwali are autumn festivals. The festival of lights welcomes the winter or harvesting season. The festivals have their roots in the age-old folk-traditions and the impulses of the common man. Of course, as in primitive society, social relations corresponded simply with forces of production; the festivals reveal the harmony of community living without any barriers. The regional festivals differ from one state to another. The manners in which they are observed and celebrated are also different.
But even though the festivals today have lost much of their significance in modern times, they still have a definite role to play in keeping off the forces of disintegration in our society today.

Question. Rising pollution, fast and competitive lifestyle, lack of nutritious food etc, have caused health woes for a large section of our population. Providing healthcare used to be a charitable and ethical activity. Today it has become commercialised, a money spinning business. Write an article in 150-200 words on 'How to provide proper healthcare to the common man'. You are Karan/ Karuna. 
Answer: How to Provide Proper Healthcare to the Common Man
by Karuna
A large section of our population is suffering from health problems like illness, fever, injury, epilepsy, learning disability etc. Women have problems related to pregnancy and childbirth, children require immunisation against common diseases and so on. Most of these health woes have been the result of our changing lifestyle, rising pollution, lack of nutrition value in food etc. Hence, the population requires access to better healthcare facilities and treatment.
Unfortunately, health services are often planned without consulting the community members. To meet the necessities of the people for accessible and affordable services, community members should be consulted and involved in planning these services. Health centres should be more proactive. Most people prefer home remedial measures and go to the hospital or refer to a doctor only when the situation is beyond their control. But it's not necessary that they go to a well-qualified doctor; they may approach a local pharmacist or traditional healers.
Therefore, it is necessary that the health sector must intervene and create awareness among the people. Healthcare facilities should also be within the reach of the common man. Further, government’s investment in public healthcare is very low. As a result, many hospitals run by the government do not provide sufficient medical facilities. Therefore improvements are required in this sector. It is a positive sign that the government is now planning to allocate more funds for the renovation of hospitals.

Question. Write an article on 'Gender Discrimination' in 150-200 words. Explain the historical background of this problem in Indian society and what the government is doing to minimise these problems. You are Salim/ Sarika.
Answer: Gender Discrimination
by Sarika
It is a well-known fact that women in India do not enjoy the same position as men despite being granted equal rights in the Constitution. This is partly due to historical reasons and partly due to the apathy of all the governments since independence to take suitable measures to correct this problem. Starting from birth, girls do not get as much attention from their parents as do boys. The age old customs and beliefs of the patriarchal structure, heir to property, the fear and burden of dowry etc, continue to dictate both the urban and rural people to favour and pamper the male child.
Despite laws against gender determination and discrimination, parents continue to avoid having a girl child. Many take the extreme step to even kill the girl child after she is born.
Literacy among women is lower in India as compared to men. It is believed that a girl’s ultimate destiny is to get married and work inside the home. Thus, she is often deprived of the right to education. In some cases, women are discriminated against by being paid less than their male counterparts for the same work.
Thus, everyone should join hands to shun gender discrimination. People should realise that their daughters are as competent as sons and could be the next Kalpana Chawla, Kiran Bedi or Indira Gandhi.

Question. Every activity that man indulges in creates pollution and waste of some kind. In fact, the need of the hour is to reduce pollution in all possible ways. Write an article on the topic 'Reducing Pollution—Need of the Hour' in 150-200 words. You are Brinda, a keen environmentalist.
Answer: Reducing Pollution—Need of the Hour
by Brinda
Pollution is contamination of land, air and water. Plastics are a big nuisance because they cause pollution. Plastic never decays. If we burn it, it pollutes the air we breathe. If we dump it in rivers or the sea, it pollutes the water and kills marine life.
Chemical fertilisers are another source of pollution of land and water. In order to check pollution, the polluted effluents from factories should be treated suitably before being disposed of in water bodies. Plastic and other materials should be recycled wherever possible. New techniques should be adopted in motor vehicles to reduce pollution from engine exhausts. All these measures can reduce the effects of pollution.
Various other measures may be adopted to control pollution. To trap solid particulate matter emitted by chimneys, appropriate filters should be used. Lofty smokestacks should be built. Gases should be discharged through exhaust pipes higher in the air. Chemical industries should not be allowed to be set up on the banks of rivers.
In view of the great danger to mankind, many countries in the world, including India, have passed laws to prevent pollution. But it has been seen that anti-pollution laws are not being obeyed rigorously, pushing up pollution to new levels.

Article Writing

Question. You can make your article more interesting by_______.
(a) Writing long sentences the entire time.
(b) Writing short sentences.
(c) asking rhetorical questions
(d) using really formal language
Answer: (c) asking rhetorical questions

Question. Subheadings are useful in an article because:
(a) They help in organising ideas
(b) They keep things fresh
(c) They don’t do anything useful
(d) They make the article attractive
Answer: (a) They help in organising ideas

Question. What should you include in your article?
(a) Only your opinion
(b) At least 6 rhetorical questions
(c) A range of different techniques to argue or persuade
(d) Lots of technical language and jargon
Answer: (c) A range of different techniques to argue or persuade

Question. Why should the last paragraph make some reference to the opening paragraph?
(a) To make it look neater
(b) It should not make reference
(c) To confuse the reader
(d) To draw the points together and conclude
Answer: (d) To draw the points together and conclude

Question. An article needs a headline:
(a) Only if you can think of one
(b) To be catchy and encourage people to read it
(c) To be in capital letters and bold
(d) To be long and detailed
Answer: (b) To be catchy and encourage people to read it

Question. What is the first part of an article?
(a) Writer’s name
(b) Heading
(c) Conclusion
(d) Body
Answer: (b) Heading

Question. In this part of the article you can find the author’s opinion.
(a) Heading
(b) Writer’s name
(c) Body
(d) Conclusion
Answer: (d) Conclusion

Question. Here you will find the main part of the article.
(a) Heading
(b) Body
(c) Conclusion
(d) Opinion
Answer: (b) Body

Question. The main idea of an article is for it to be published.
(a) True
(b) False
(c) It is to spread the message and create awareness
(d) To make the writer famous
Answer: (c) It is to spread the message and create awareness

Question. Choose the motive to write an article.
(a) Give advice
(b) Summary of a movie
(c) Invite the reader to an event
(d) None of the options
Answer: (a) Give advice

Question. In the body of the article, you should elaborate the topic and describe it:
(a) May be
(b) May not be
(c) Definitely
(d) Never
Answer: (c) Definitely

Question. How do statistics and facts help in article?
(a) They give the reader a chance to do some Math.
(b) They fill up the article so that it’s not too short.
(c) They give extra information and help the reader understand what happened.
(d) Statistics and Facts are fun- so it’s good to have them in articles.
Answer: (c) They give extra information and help the reader understand what happened.

Question. What is the one way to end an article?
(a) Leave the reader with a question
(b) Write “The End” after the last sentence
(c) Write “Thank you” after the last sentence
(d) An article can end with a personal statement from the writer.
Answer: (d) An article can end with a personal statement from the writer.

Question. The invention of mobile phones is one of the major advancements in human history. They have impacted the way people communicate with each other. They have created an easier platform for the spread of information from one person to another despite distances. The advantages of the mobile phones are many. However, the mobile also has its disadvantages. Adolescents and teenagers are usually in a distracted state because of mobile phones. They are seen talking and texting at all places even while on the road, while driving and even during classes. This can be detrimental as it may cause accidents and also prevent them from reaching their potential in academics. Anti social elements are known to use mobiles for nefarious activities and terrorist acts. Research has also shown that overuse of mobile phones may cause harm to our body. Certain self-control measures over the use of mobiles will help us use them for our benefit and reduce their harmful effects. What is missing in the given article?
(a) Heading
(b) Writer’s name
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) None of the options
Answer: (c) Both (a) and (b)

Question. In article writing a by-line is_____.
(a) An extra piece of information
(b) The name of the writer
(c) Pointless
(d) Part of a goal line
Answer: (b) The name of the writer

ARTICLE WRITING

An article is an expression of one’s thought on an issue or a subject logically and coherently written in meaningful paragraphs. It needs creativity, good vocabulary, good knowledge of the subject and skill to organize ideas.

Purpose

To focus on themes like social concern, narrating an event, etc.

POINTS TO REMEMBER

Give a title that catches the attention of the reader. It is always a good idea to start the article with an inviting title and a riveting introduction. Something that makes your public continue reading. It could be a question (that they will only be able to answer after reading the text), or something intended to capture the reader´s imagination. You are free to be creative when choosing a title but make sure it reflects what the text is about.

Begin with a striking opening sentence which addresses the readers and gets them interested in the topic.

Present a strong argument for your ideas supporting it with evidences or elaboration.

Use linking devices (however, therefore, although, even though, in order to…) to make the composition appear a whole.

Introduce a new point at the beginning of an each paragraph that follows, to strengthen your ideas.

Develop your ideas as much as you can to make them interesting and substantial.

Conclude with your strongest point.

Use passive voice, humor, emotive language, rhetorical questions to provide a specific effect.

Have into consideration that articles serve two main purposes, to inform and to entertain/interest the reader. Ideally after going through your text, your readers should have the feeling that they have learnt something or at least that they have had a good time.

Structure of an article

A newspaper article is written in the form of an inverted triangle, with the most important or key information in the first paragraph (the wide part of the triangle), and then the least important information in the last paragraph (the narrow point of the triangle). A basic news article is made up of five parts:

The headline: This is a short, attention grabbing statement about the event. It will appear at the top of your article.

The byline: Tells the reader who wrote the article. If you wrote the article, your name will appear in the byline.

Lead paragraph: This first paragraph contains the who, what, when, where, and why in as few words as possible. You must find all the answers to these questions and place them in the opening

1-3 sentences of the article.

Explanation: The second-third paragraphs should include any other facts or details the reader should know. This is where the writer answers any other important questions the reader might have after reading the headline and the lead paragraph. This section can include direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders.

Additional information: The last paragraph contains the least important information. For example, information about a similar event or occurrence. Your editor may cut this paragraph down if the article is too long for the space it needs to fill in the newspaper.

As you write remember to stick to your plan, check that you are truly answering the task questions and that you have clear well-organised coherent paragraphs.

It is also of vital importance to include some advanced examples of the use of grammar as well as lexis (idioms, collocations, sayings.) So instead of saying something like "I had a lot of fun although I don´t normally enjoy jazz concerts" say something like " I had a whale of a time although jazz concerts are not my cup of tea" (idioms: have a whale of a time; not my cup of tea.)

SAMPLES

A fun way to learn English (give your article a title)

(State your main idea in the first paragraph)

In today's intercultural society, no one can deny the importance of learning a second language, especially English. In our college we believe that major action should be taken to guarantee that all of us, the students, are given the chance to practice this ability to communicate with for people from all over the world. This task will require working with a holistic approach and will imply the participation of a very committed group of people willing to help each other. So are you ready? (use a question to motivate readers)

(organise your text into paragraphs)

Our first idea is to use the Internet. For young people surfing the net is as easy as pie and we all have access to it. We suggest getting in touch with other students from around the world. Some highly recommendable sites include a wide range of social networks as Facebook and Twitter. It is also a good idea to encourage students to chat via Skype with people from English speaking countries.

Next is to organize reading or conversation clubs, which can have monthly gatherings in different spots in the city. Needless to say this will be a very effective way to learn while making friends and having a blast. There are several attractive places in town such as parks, art galleries, cafés, and social artistic venues where students and professionals can give a boost to their social and language skills.

A final idea is for the college to create a web page. With the support of this effective tool, our students can have blogs with a variety of engaging tasks and games. We can have fun getting familiar with collocations and structures that can be shared as part of an exercise on our creative website.

(conclusion)

It will definitely be highly engaging for students regardless of their backgrounds and specializations, they will find an enjoyable site where they can put language into practice, as they will be well-connected and comfortable with the cutting edge technology.

TV: Is it a good thing?

Television is one of the most important inventions of the century. Almost everyone owns a TV set at home today. Be it educational or entertainment, life would be so boring without one nowadays.

First of all, thanks to television we have the latest information at our fingertips Gd. We are constantly informed of what is happening around the world without leaving home. Furthermore, television has made learning at home possible. In fact, some T.V. stations dedicate their programmes to specific interests.

A further advantage is that old people living alone find television a - very good company. It helps them forget their loneliness.

On the other hand, too much television can create problems in the family. If it is not the constant argument of which channel to watch, it is the isolation of family members. While watching television people don’t feel like talking or being disturbed as they are so absorbed in what they are watching. Hence, the term 'couch potato'. Too much television implies lack of outdoor activities and we find that there are less and less of people taking exercises.

Television, nevertheless, remains one of the most interesting inventions. Carefully controlled viewing makes it an indispensable instrument in our daily lives. Otherwise, it can turn into an addiction with harmful consequences.

1. You are Satish/Shweta. Working in an NGO which is working for the uplift of socio-economic conditions of child labourers by counselling their parents and helping children to go to school. You find it appalling that many people in educated society want the practice of child labour to continue. Write an article on the “Role of Educated Society in Curbing Child Labour”. (150– 200 words.)

2. You are Mamta/Mohan. You find corruption as the biggest impediment in the development of a nation. You strongly believe that youth can play a very important role in fighting the menace of corruption. Write an article on the “Role of Youth in Fighting Corruption”. (150–200 words).

3. You are Jeetender/Jeetu. You have been working on a project related to effect of modern life on youth. You interviewed school and college students for the project. Write an article on the subject in about 150–200 words.