Article Writing Format: Steps, Rules and Sample Articles
Article writing is a short piece of writing on a topic, meant to be printed in a newspaper, a magazine or a school magazine and read by many people. In CBSE papers an article is usually 100–120 words in Classes 9 and 10 and 150–200 words in Classes 11 and 12 (the question states the limit), and it follows a fixed format: a title, a byline (“By” and your name), an introduction, one or two body paragraphs and a conclusion.
Unlike a letter, an article has no “Dear Sir” and no “Yours faithfully”. Unlike an essay, it is written for a real reader, so it should grab attention at the start and leave the reader with something to think about at the end. This lesson gives you the format, the rules, two complete sample articles and a list of mistakes to avoid.
Article Writing Format
Title (short, catchy, in capitals or title case)
By Your Name
Introduction (1 paragraph): introduce the topic and say why it matters. Start with a question, a fact or a strong statement.
Body (1–2 paragraphs): give the main points, causes, effects, examples and your views.
Solutions or suggestions (part of the body, if the topic is a problem): what people, schools or the government can do.
Conclusion (1 short paragraph): sum up and end with a message or a call to action.
Some teachers also ask for a place or a date line, or for the writer to be named as “a student of Class X” in the byline. If your teacher prefers one variant, follow it; the boards accept any clear, consistent version of this format.
Rules for Writing an Article
1. Write a catchy title
The title decides whether anyone reads on. Keep it short (three to seven words) and make it specific to the topic. A good title may be a question, a slogan or a play on words.
✅ Plastic-Free Streets: Whose Job Is It?
✅ Switch Off the Screen, Switch On Life
❌ An article on the topic of plastic and the environment (too long and too dull)
2. Write the byline
Under the title write By and your name. In an exam, use the name given in the question. If the question gives no name, write a name such as Rohan Mehta or Ananya Iyer; do not use your own real name in a board exam unless the question tells you to.
3. Plan three or four paragraphs
Do not write one long block. One idea belongs in one paragraph. A 150–200 word article (the senior-class limit) is usually four paragraphs: introduction (30–40 words), two body paragraphs (50–60 words each) and conclusion (30 words). See how to write a perfect paragraph for more on this.
4. Use the right tense and tone
- Use the present tense for facts and general truths (Pollution harms our health) and the present perfect for recent change (Prices have risen sharply).
- Use a formal-to-semi-formal tone. Avoid slang and short forms such as don’t and can’t in exam answers; write do not and cannot.
- Use linking words (moreover, however, as a result, therefore, in conclusion) so the paragraphs flow.
5. Stay inside the word limit
If the question says “in about 150 words”, stay close to it, within about 10 per cent either way. Too short loses marks for content; too long loses marks for expression and for not following the instruction. Count your words after writing a practice answer.
How to Start and End an Article
Ways to begin
- A question: How many hours did you spend on your phone yesterday?
- A fact or figure that you are sure of: India is one of the most populous countries in the world, and its cities feel the strain every day. Do not invent statistics.
- A short quotation or proverb: Prevention is better than cure.
- A direct statement: Water is the most precious thing we have, yet we waste it every day.
Ways to end
- A call to action: Let us begin today, before it is too late.
- A hopeful message: If every student plants one tree, our school will be a forest in ten years.
- A link back to the opening question.
Do not start with “Nowadays” or “In today’s world” every time. Examiners read hundreds of answers that begin this way. A question or a concrete fact makes yours stand out.
Sample Article 1: Social Issue
Question: You are Rohan Mehta. Write an article in 150–200 words on “The Problem of Plastic Waste in Our Cities”.
PLASTIC WASTE: A PROBLEM WE CREATED
By Rohan Mehta
Walk down any street in our city and you will see plastic bags caught in drains, bottles lying beside roads and wrappers floating in the nearest pond. Plastic has made our lives convenient, but it is slowly choking our cities.
The biggest problem is that plastic does not rot. A carry bag thrown away today will remain on the land for hundreds of years. During the monsoon it blocks drains and causes flooding. Stray animals, especially cows, swallow plastic and fall ill. Burning it is no answer either, because it releases poisonous smoke that harms our lungs.
However, the problem can be solved if everyone plays a part. Shopkeepers should give cloth or paper bags instead of plastic ones. Families can carry their own bags to the market and use steel bottles and tiffin boxes. Schools should run collection drives, and the municipality must collect and recycle waste regularly.
Change begins with small habits. If each of us refuses one plastic bag a day, our cities will be cleaner and healthier for the next generation.
The body of this answer has about 175 words. Notice the pattern: a picture in the opening, the problem and its effects in paragraph two, solutions in paragraph three, and a short, hopeful ending.
Sample Article 2: Student Life
Question: You are Ananya Iyer, a student of Class XI. Write an article in 150–200 words for your school magazine on “Why Reading Habits Matter”.
A BOOK A WEEK KEEPS BOREDOM AWAY
By Ananya Iyer, Class XI
When did you last finish a book that was not in your syllabus? For many of us, the answer is “I cannot remember”. Phones and video games have taken the place of reading, and we are losing something valuable.
Reading is the best exercise for the mind. It improves vocabulary, spelling and writing without any extra effort. A student who reads regularly finds it easier to understand long questions and to express ideas clearly in exams. Stories also teach us about other people, other places and other points of view, which makes us kinder and more thoughtful.
Building the habit is not difficult. Start with just fifteen minutes a day, preferably before sleeping. Choose books you enjoy, whether they are adventure stories, biographies or comics. Visit the school library, and share the books you love with friends.
A good book is a friend that never leaves you. So switch off the screen for a short while tonight and open a book. You may be surprised by how much you enjoy it.
Common Mistakes in Article Writing
| Mistake | Better way |
|---|---|
| No title or byline | Always write a title and “By” with a name. These carry marks for format. |
| Writing like a letter (“Dear Sir”, “Yours truly”) | An article has no salutation or closing. |
| One big paragraph | Split into introduction, body and conclusion. |
| Writing the points in a list | Write full sentences and paragraphs unless the question asks for notes. |
| Invented statistics (“85% of students…”) | Use general, true statements, or facts you are certain of. |
| Going far over or under the word limit | Plan paragraphs by word count before writing. |
| Repeating the same idea | Give each paragraph a different point. |
Checklist Before You Submit
- Is there a title that suits the topic and a byline with a name?
- Does the first paragraph make the reader want to continue?
- Does each paragraph have one clear idea?
- Are there linking words between the ideas?
- Does the conclusion give a message or a suggestion?
- Are spelling, punctuation and subject–verb agreement correct? Revise the rules in this subject–verb agreement worksheet if you often slip.
- Is the word count within the limit?
✍️ Quick Practice — Article Writing
- Which of these is the correct byline? (a) Yours faithfully, Rohan (b) By Rohan Mehta (c) Dear Editor, Rohan (d) From: Rohan
- True or false: an article should begin with “Dear Sir”.
- Choose the better title for an article on road safety: (a) Road safety (b) Slow Down: Your Family Is Waiting at Home
- How many body paragraphs does a 150–200 word article usually have?
- Which sentence is the best conclusion? (a) That is all I wanted to say. (b) Let us drive carefully, so that every journey ends safely.
- Rewrite the opening to make it more interesting: “Pollution is a problem in cities.” (Use a question.)
- True or false: you should include exact percentages in an article even if you are not sure of them.
- Which linking word shows result? (a) however (b) therefore (c) moreover
Answers: 1. (b). 2. False; an article has no salutation. 3. (b), because it is specific and catches attention. 4. Two (sometimes one), between the introduction and the conclusion. 5. (b). 6. Any suitable question, for example: “Have you noticed how difficult it is to breathe clean air in our cities?” 7. False; use only facts you are sure of. 8. (b) therefore.
Summary
An article needs a catchy title, a byline, an interesting introduction, one or two well-organised body paragraphs and a conclusion with a message. Keep it within the word limit (150–200 words for senior classes), use linking words, write in full sentences and avoid letter-style openings or made-up figures. Practise with the topics in this lesson, then move on to speech writing and diary entry writing, which use different formats for different readers.