6. Article Writing

Article Writing 

An article is an expression of one’s thought on an issue or a subject logically and coherently written in meaningful paragraphs. Article is a written work published in a print/ electronic medium.

♦ Points to Remember:

• Give a title that catches the attention of the reader.
• 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 evidence 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 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, humour, emotive language, rhetorical questions to provide a specific effect. Split-up of marks:

♦ Marks will be awarded for:

• Format (Title + Writer’s name)
• Content (logical organisation, relevance)
• Expression (Accuracy + Fluency)

Question 1.
The number of women in the police force seems insufficient especially when we see the increasing involvement of women in terrorist activities. Write an article in 150-200 words for The Hindustan Chronicle’, on the need of having more women in the police force. You are Mohan/ Mohini. (2010)
Answer:

Need Of Having More
Women In The Police Force

Women empowerment and participation has seen a radical improvement in the recent few decades. Women are no longer confined to their homes and have come forward to excel in almost all fields, at par with men. But it has been observed that the number of women in the police force seems insufficient especially when we compare their increasing number in terrorist activities. Women are sure to prove their worth in the police force as they are more committed to the cause they work for and less corrupt, two qualities that are lacking in policemen. The government needs to increase the reserved quota for recruitment of women in the police force. Women need to be given incentives to join the police force and this is sure to prove favourable as they bring with them a distinctly different and valuable set of skills that is bound to change the way the police is perceived in our community. As the job description of the police expands beyond crime-fighting into community service the presence of more women in the police force is sure to help to burnish the tarnished image of the police officers, improve community relations and foster a more flexible and less violent approach to maintaining law and order.
Gopal/ Godambari

Mohan

Question 2.
In many parts of our country girls are still discouraged from going to school. Consequently, a sizable section of the population is deprived of education. Schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, CBSE scholarship to the single girl child and the Government’s policy of giving free education to girls have come as a boon to our society. Write an article in 150-200 words on the education of the girl child in the country. (Delhi 2010)
Answer:

Education Of The Girl
Child In The Country

Education of girls has been a high priority with the Government of India. In the new millennium, India has consolidated its earlier educational reforms with increased resources and stronger policy commitments for achieving elementary education, particularly for girls. Reaching out to the girl child is primary to the efforts to universalise elementary education. ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ or ‘Education For All’ programme recognizes that ensuring the education of the girl child requires changes not only in the education system but also in society’s norms and attitudes.

A two-pronged gender strategy has hence been adopted to make the educational system responsive to the needs of the girls through targeted interventions which serve as a pull-factor to enhance access and retention of girls in schools on the one hand and generate community demand for girls’ education through training and mobilisation on the other hand. The CBSE has also come up with the novel scheme of providing free education from the sixth standard onwards to the single girl child. The need of the times is that the government should further improve the educational infrastructure and make it more accessible and meaningful for the girl child.
Aman/ Anisha

Question 3.
Advertisements have become a big business. They are promoted by celebrities drawn from various fields like films, sports, etc., leaving their influence on all people specially the young. Write an article in 150-200 words on ‘The Impact of Advertisements on the younger generation’. (Delhi 2010)
Answer:

Impact Of Advertisements On
The Younger Generation

The advertisement industry has a tremendous impact on the younger generation. As citizens of the modern world, advertisements have become a part of the daily lives of youngsters and they have got used to being bombarded with numerous advertisements over the course of their day.

Advertisements have become so common for them that they often do not even realize that they are hearing or viewing them. So they have a pervasive influence on the youth. In the ever-expanding world of consumerism and advertising, companies are constantly looking for new ways to sell their products to the youngsters by making their commercials and campaigns more memorable, to leave an impact on their minds. The younger generation has become their prime target because they have more spending power than ever before and increased avenues at their disposal. Therefore companies spend enormous amounts of money to rope in popular film stars, cricketers, musicians etc. to endorse their products.

This helps to ensure popularity and early brand loyalty. In the last decade many superbrands have looked towards new and outrageous ways to capture young audiences through appealing campaigns as these youngsters are cognitively and psychologically quite defenceless against advertisements. Clearly, advertisements represent ‘big business’ and has a significant effect on young people who need to be educated about the effects of advertising, that is, media literacy. This will prove to be helpful in mitigating the harmful effects of advertising on youngsters.

Mohan/ Suhani

Question 4.
The present-day youth are greatly stressed due to cut-throat competition and consumerist culture. Write an article in 150-200 words on the causes of the stress on the modem generation suggesting suitable solutions. (Delhi 2010)
Answer:

Causes Of Stress On
The Modern Generation

The main cause of stress on the modern generation is the cut-throat competition and consumerist culture prevalent in our society. This always puts them under pressure of efficiency and productivity. The modern environment is highly competitive and calls for relentless effort on the part of each youngster. To achieve the goals they have to devote all their time and capacity, without rest. So they have no time to care even for their own selves. They have no time for relaxing or to pursue something of their own interest sounds like a luxury to them. The effects of this stress on the youth also visible in their physical being whereby they have increased pulses and a lot of tension in their muscles.

With increased professionalism and specialisation there seems no practical and suitable solution for this stress due to the competition. In this age of consumerism, it is not surprising that the youth of today are also constantly vying to outdo each other in acquiring material things. But now it is high time each one of us sat back in quiet introspection to contemplate where we are actually heading in this high-speed pace. Our health and well-being will have to be our primary concern for, as they say, “a healthy mind lies in a healthy body”. Let us stop living like robots. We are humans and have to behave likewise and not like machines which are our own creation.

Diwan singh/ Champa

Question 5:
Last week as you were coming back from school you happened to see a huge plastic bag full of leftovers of food being flung into the middle of the road from a speeding car. You wondered how people can be so devoid of civic sense. Write an article in 125-150 words on why we lack civic sense and how civic sense can be inculcated in children at a very young age. You are Shiva/Shamini.

Lack of Civic Sense
—Shamini

In the society, people of different types and different opinions live. They do not think for the betterment of the society. They only think about themselves. They have become selfish and narrow in their thought. In India, people hardly follow any rules. They have no respect for public property. On railway platform, they do not follow any instructions. They spit anywhere or at any place. They do not care for what they are doing. They even throw away the polythenes, water bottle etc. on the platform. They lack civic sense. Inculcating a civic sense is the need of hour. Parents must inculcate civic sense among children at an early age. The values of cleanliness, discipline and tolerance must be inculcated among them. Parents must encourage their children to keep their surroundings clean. All these things must be taught at an early age. They are the future of the nation and they must take the responsibility of a responsible citizen.

—Shamini

Question 6:
You are Varshini. This year your school arranged a special cultural programme on the theme ‘Service and Sacrifice’ in commemoration of the International Year of Volunteers. Write an article about this cultural programme for your school magazine in about 200 words.
Answer:

Service and Sacrifice

‘Service before self’, keeping this motto in mind, ABC School, Vikaspuri organised a cultural programme in commemoration of the International Year of Volunteers. The programme commenced with a prayer service followed by a special presentation by the Scouts and Guides Cell of the school. The one-hour dance drama, ‘Service and Sacrifice’ depicted beautifully how volunteers and cadets from the NCC deal with exigencies, risking their own lives.
In a heart-wrenching situation, a few people buried under the debris of a shattered building were rescued by the volunteers, who, unmindful of their own wounds and injuries, spared no efforts in saving their lives.
In an another situation, the panic-stricken people trapped on the twenty-second floor of a sky-scraper, were saved by the fire personnel. These and many more. The special light and sound effects and realistic sets added great colour to the programme.
The expressions showing tense moments, hustle-bustle, anxiety and panic were brought out beautifully by the young and talented cadets of the school.
The audience sat spellbound as they were greatly touched by the pathos created by different traumatic situations coupled with the noble sacrifice of the volunteers. They gave a standing ovation to the participants reflecting their pleasure and appreciation.
Eminent journalists were the special guests. Speaking on the occasion, they expressed immense satisfaction and pleasure at witnessing such a meaningful programme. Congratulating the participants on their brilliant performance, she cited many more
examples from her life highlighting the importance of duty before self.
Finally, Dr B.P. Singhal, the Principal proposed the vote of thanks. The evening became a memorable event for everybody.

(by Varshini)

Question 7:
Write an article in 20 words on the following topic to be published in your school magazine. You are Mumtaz/Mohd. Azam of XII Std., Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi. Recently you read in the newspaper an incident in which the children tried to imitate the stunts shown on television and embraced death. You have decided to write an article on the hazards of television watching for kids and how the parents could guide them to watch the programmes in an effective way.
Answer:

Hazards of Television Watching for Kids

Recently I read in the newspaper an incident in which the children of Meerut tried to imitate the stunts shown on television and embraced death. The young kids feel thrilled and excited on watching the amazing stunts on television. They blindly imitate these screen heroes and while trying to emulate their actions, they hurt themselves : disastrously. The injuries prove fatal because no safeguards have been undertaken. The enthusiastic kids forget that these stunts are performed by specialists under well- controlled conditions.
It is upto parents to educate their children about the harmful effects of aping these super-human tricks and feats of bravery. They must draw the attention of the children to the mandatory warning displayed at the beginning of the advertisement/stunt. The parents should not snub their wards. They should channelise and harness the abundant energy of the kids by giving them effective guidance. The kids should be encouraged to indulge in healthy competitive games of physical and mental skill under strict parental supervision. This would help in proper development of the personality of the kids and ensure freedom from the dangers of mindless imitation of stunts.

(by Mumtaz)

Question 8:
Write an article in 200 words on ‘The Role of Youth in National Development’ to be published in your school magazine. You are Mumtaz/Mohd. Azam of XII Std., Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi.
Answer:

The Role of Youth in National Development

Youths are the assets and hope of a nation. The future of a nation depends on its youth. They can play a very constructive role in the progress, uplift and development of a nation. The role of youth has become more important today as the modem era is becoming fast-paced, complex and complicated. The advent of computers and modem technology has brought a revolution in the field of information. Modem educated youth can help in national development by attending to the ills and shortcomings in various sectors. They can help the villagers shed their shackles of ignorance, illiteracy and superstition by acquainting them with true facts. New scientific techniques can help in raising the yield of crops. The problem of unemployment or underemployment can be overcome by establishing small scale industries. They can guide the rural youth about cheap raw material and profitable disposal of finished products. The youth can help in checking population growth by adopting family planning and presenting living examples to others. They can play a vital role in making India a great democratic, progressive and prosperous country steeped in old cultural values but equipped with modern scientific outlook. Last but not the least, they can play a vital role in transforming the moral fabric of society by curbing the vices of selfishness and greed and imbibing the spirit of self-sacrifice, sympathy and mutual confidence.

(by Mumtaz)

Question 9:
Write an article in 200 words on ‘The increasing crime rate in today’s society and ways to curb it’.
Answer:

The Increasing Crime Rate in Today’s Society

Modem society has advanced in science, technology and information. Prosperity has increased manifold. But progress and affluence have their negative aspect too. Crimes such as burglary, kidnapping, robbery, violence, assault, sexual harassment, rapes, threats, verbal abuse have become the bane of today’s society. Most of the deadly and dangerous crimes are organised and executed by professional criminals. The lords of the underworld run a parallel government. Government machinery and police are ineffective against their machinations. They extort money by coercion and suffer no qualms of conscience to kill a victim if the demand is not fulfilled. On a lower-level, the small-time urchins and pick-pockets grow up to be henchmen of the bosses and indulge in crimes against women and society. Despite the growth of private guards and ever-increasing number of civil police, the rate of crime is increasing day by day. This is quite a shocking trend. Healthy and active cooperation of the people, police and political leaders can control the situation. Political leaders having finks with the underworld should be identified and pressurised to yield to public opinion. In case, they do not redress the grievances of the people, they should be forced to resign and not elected again. The police must shake up its lethargy. Instead of harassing the person who lodges the F.I.R. (First Information Report), steps should be taken to apprehend the criminal and curb the crime. The general public needs enlightenment. The people should be conscious of their rights and duties. Only by observing a civic code of conduct, the elders can inspire the youth to combat crime.

Aman

Question 10:
Owning a car has become a status symbol these days. However, increase in the number of cars has added to various types of pollution and other problems. Write an article in not more than 200 words highlighting the urgent need for reducing these man-made problems, giving suitable suggestions. You are Vinod/Vidhi.
Answer:

Reducing Pollution

Delhi has become one of the most polluted cities in the country closely followed by Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai. This is because of the millions of vehicles that ply on the roads of Delhi. Owning a car has become a status symbol. As a result the number of cars on the roads has become manifold. This has resulted in numerous problems. The primary one is of traffic congestion, traffic snarls and traffic-jams. Driving on the roads of Delhi has become a nightmare and a health hazard.
Vehicles emit fumes and poisonous gases which is a serious health hazard. Delhi has witnessed an increasing number of deaths among young children due to respiratory diseases caused presumably due to pollution. Man-made traffic hazards are creating havoc for the populace. The number of fatal accidents has also increased alarmingly.
The Delhi Government has taken measures to bring down the pollution level such as use of CNG buses and autorickshaws. The need of the hour is to support the government with public cooperation. Carpools should become the norm rather than the exception. Improved public transport system, use of lead free fuel and catalytic 1 converters will go a long way in easing the situation and creating a healthy city. Every open space should be covered with green trees to create lungs in the city and help in bringing back its glory.

(by Vinod)

Q.11.You are Deepti/Deepak, a student. You have observed that young boys and girl go on adding to their academic qualification aimlessly. Most of them fail to get any employment and thus creat the problem of educated unemployed people. Some of them drift into antisocial activities. Write an article in 150 to200 words on how this problem of the ' educated unemployment' can be solved.

Ans.                                               Educated unemployed people. 

 Educated Unemployment Meaning :

Unemployment is a phenomenon that occurs when a person who is actively searching for employment is unable to find work. A widespread phenomenon which came into existence is educated unemployment or graduate unemployment. A college graduate actively is not able to seek job due to lack of opportunity is termed as graduate unemployment. The US recession in 2007 is considered to be the prime reason for the higher unemployment rates of the developing countries, specifically the graduates. The unemployment is an anchor to the development of any state, an unemployed carries a burden of investment from both government and family lane, he/she becomes a liability to the state and also to the family. Eventually, it leads to misery and starvation.

Causes of Problem of Educated Unemployment :

The root of the unemployment begins at the systematic and policy making level. The policies making and their implementation should be incompatibility to the citizens of the state. The people of the nation should be the beneficiaries of these policies, but the case differs at the grass root level. The people in rural areas, which are approx 70% of our total population, have no or least access to such policies. One the causes of graduate unemployment are the quality of education which passes after three to four year of college, employers look for people who have learned how to learn, and have gained substantial communication skills as well as critical thinking abilities. Graduates are not meeting employer’s needs. The amount of capital a government invests in study materials, room, books, subsidised education, etc. is quite high, and there is no recovery to such investment when a student isn’t the epitome of his field. The idea of educational loans was also initiated by the government in 2005 and data released by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) projected that amount of educational loans had raised drastically from Rs 2,986 crore in 2003 to over Rs 48,400 crore in 2012. Public sector banks account for over 90% of the loans disbursed in 2012: Rs 46,740 crore, but without the desired and needed jobs, graduates are accumulating debt and struggling to pay back their loans.

 Solve Problem of Educated Unemployment:

If we talk about reforms and solution of the unemployment plight about India, multiple technical and vocational institutions should be the establishment in the country and the significance of vocational courses to be instilled in the mind of people and efforts to break the taboo about their job insecurity. A campaign to present and promote more educational fields except engineering and medical should be recited to the people in the rural areas. The higher education like post graduation and PHD courses should be promoted to divide the job opportunity. Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana, Mahatma Gandhi national rural employment guarantee act and several other should be promoted and implemented efficiently throughout the country.

Conclusion:

Economy and employment are the backbones of any state, the regular reforms and policy making should always be considered for the enshrouded growth. With the population which I possess, carrying youngsters as liabilities whereas they should be the support and help the nation go further ahead is an enormous devastating thought.

Rohan