ARTICLE WRITING

-Appealing Heading at the top underlined

-“By- XYZ”

-Atleast three/four paragraph division

-Avoid asking questions and answering

-Don‟t write sentences like:

But I don’t understand why are children eating junk

food?/I don’t know why are they doing it?

-Rather write:

The reason why children get attracted to junk food is

never very clear.

The reason why they do so is not clear

-Hence avoid using „I‟, „my view is that..‟, „why is this

happening?‟ etc

-Ask questions with „whether‟ or „if‟ in between (that is,

in reported speech)

-Maintain a tone as if you are an observer of the problem

not directly involved with it.

SPEECH WRITING

-Don‟t give a heading at the top.

-Include your name in the opening lines of speech.

-Open your speech with very personal style that holds

the attention of the listeners

Shock the listeners with a fact, data, statistics(only if you

have that); attract their minds to the seriousness of the

problem you are addressing, titillate their minds into

thinking by using a suitable style.

-Then come to words like Respected Principal, Teachers

and my dear friends

-Go on to deal with the problem in a conversational style

– ask questions(not too many), give answers; raise

problems, offer solutions.

-Never lose track of your topic

-Always sound balanced in your views; speech should

never sound one-sided like a debate.

Example distinguishing between an article and a speech beginning

Issue: Water Problem

Article

DRINKING WATER SCARCITY

By- XYZ

Of all the factors threatening the life of the human species on

earth, the scarcity of drinking water is the most serious one.

We all know that there is limited drinking water on this

earth.(Avoid this style)

It is a well known fact that there is only limited drinking water

on this earth.

The sources of fresh drinking water are only limited to rivers,

lakes, underground water, etc. and the huge water body of sea

can not be utilized to sustain us since that is salty and hence

not fit for drinking. But the shocking fact is that inspite of the

entire body of knowledge at our disposal, the unchecked

exploitation and wastage of drinking water is going on by the

human beings…………………….

Speech

Water water everywhere, not a drop to drink……..

The great romantic poet Coleridge was very right in uttering

such great lines as perhaps he could foresee that we human

beings will finally reach this stage one day.

This is not to shock you but to attract your attention to a thing

that is most required but least cared for. Yes, you got it right I

am talking about WATER and not only any water but drinking

water and its scarcity in the present and coming times.

Esteemed Principal, Respected teachers and my dear fellow

friends. I am XYZ and I am present here to express my views

on the topic Water Scarcity- It’s now or never!

We all have read in our geography books that we have limited

water bodies providing fresh water fit to drink and still do we

ever seem to care to take any step to save or conserve it? I am

sorry to say NO! perhaps we are in an illusion that we will buy

it just like we buy a Thumbs Up or Bisleri bottle. May be we

can but what about the poor and the downtrodden?

……………

Example distinguishing between an article and a speech ending

Article

The problem can be solved only with the alertness of the

citizens and that requires the right timely efforts by the

government bodies. Awareness programmes on television and

nukkad dramas can really help. …………..

Speech

So what do you think? The problem will take care of itself?

No my friends, it will not. It requires our alertness and timely

action before it is too late. …….

So let us pledge to come forward together to save our and our

future generations‟ lives by saving water……………..