articles
4 detailed 50-minute lessons with teaching scripts, worked examples, parent guides, and assessment criteria.
Lesson Overview
Total Lessons: 4
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Tier: Foundation and Higher
Duration: 50 minutes per lesson (200 minutes total)
Exam Boards: AQA, Edexcel, OCR, Eduqas, CCEA
Learning Objectives
- Explain the key ideas of articles
- Apply articles to exam-style questions
- Develop independent study skills
- Build cross-topic connections
Prerequisites
- Read the revision notes for articles first (GCSE Revise summary)
- Key vocab to pre-teach: Headline Techniques, Opening Techniques, Top Tip
- Basic skills: reading the summary notes and answering the practice questions there
Materials & Equipment
- Exercise book, coloured pens
- Ruler
- Printed revision notes (link below)
- Internet for videos (see Resources)
Lesson 1: Introduction: articles
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Write down everything you already know about articles. Then check against the key terms: Headline Techniques, Opening Techniques, Top Tip. Use a mini-whiteboard or paper.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide:
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Headline Techniques, Opening Techniques, Top Tip.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Before lesson: Read the script below. Pre-teach key vocab: Headline Techniques, Opening Techniques, Top Tip.
If stuck: Re-read the revision notes (link above), then break the content into smaller steps.
Extension: See the Stretch & Challenge ideas in Lesson 4.
Teaching Script (35 mins):
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: articles. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of English Language because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
Mins 0-5 - Hook: "Today: articles. By the end you will be able to answer exam questions on it unaided. It connects to the rest of English Language because the ideas here recur across the spec."
Mins 5-20 - Direct Instruction: Work through the core ideas below one at a time; after each, ask your student to explain it back in their own words.
Mins 20-30 - Guided Practice: Model the worked example together, then let your student attempt the first practice question with guidance.
Mins 30-35 - Independent Practice: 2-3 practice questions from Lesson 3 below, with immediate feedback.
First Look
Start with the revision notes summary, then attempt: Write three different headlines for an article about school uniform using different techniques.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Check Out
Your student states one thing they learned and one question they still have about articles.
Lesson 2: Core Concepts: articles
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Review Previous Lesson
Quick recap: write 3 key points from Lesson 1 on articles. Check them against the notes below.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Definition: An article is written for publication in a newspaper, magazine, or online platform. It informs, persuades, or entertains a specific audience while following journalistic conventions.
Headline Techniques: Use alliteration: "Baking Ban Begins" Ask a question: "Is This the End of Free Speech?" Make a bold statement: "Our Schools Are Failing" Use a pun or wordplay: "Storm Brewing Over Tea Tax" Create intrigue: "The Hidden Danger in Your Home"
Opening Techniques: Start with a dramatic statement Use a rhetorical question Begin with an interesting fact or statistic Open with a brief anecdote or scenario
Top Tip: Articles are meant to be read quickly. Use short paragraphs, clear topic sentences, and subheadings to guide the reader through your argument.
Examiner's Tip: Spend time crafting your headline - it's your first impression. A good headline can boost your mark. Make it catchy, relevant, and appropriate for your target publication.
Article Writing Exam Strategy: You have 45 minutes (40 marks: 24 AO5 + 16 AO6). Articles must look and read like articles — headline, short paragraphs, and journalistic style. First 5 minutes: Identify your target publication and audience. Plan: your headline, hook, 3-4 key points, and conclusion. The headline is worth spending 2 minutes on — it's your first impression. Writing time: Write the headline first. Open with a hook. Use short paragraphs (2-3 sentences). Include facts, statistics, or quotes. End with a powerful closing statement. Mark allocation: AO5 (24 marks) rewards engaging content with journalistic conventions. AO6 (16 marks) rewards tone matched to publication, varied sentences, and accurate SPaG. What examiners look for: A headline that grabs attention. Short, punchy paragraphs. A clear journalistic voice. Evidence and facts that build credibility. A conclusion that leaves the reader thinking.
| Term | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Short paragraphs | Easy to read, visually appealing | 1-3 sentences per paragraph |
| Direct quotes | Add credibility and interest | "This is unacceptable," said resident Tom Green. |
| Factual language | Builds trust and authority | Specific statistics, dates, names |
| Active voice | More engaging and direct | "The council decided" not "It was decided" |
| Varied sentence length | Creates rhythm and maintains interest | Mix short punchy sentences with longer ones |
| Boring headline | Won't attract readers | Use techniques like alliteration, questions, or bold statements |
| Weak opening | Readers won't continue | Start with a hook - fact, question, or dramatic statement |
| Long, dense paragraphs | Difficult to read | Keep paragraphs short - 2-3 sentences |
Practice (10 minutes)
Q: Write three different headlines for an article about school uniform using different techniques.
Answer: Examples: "Uniform Uproar" (alliteration), "Should We Ditch School Uniform?" (question), "The Hidden Cost of School Uniform" (intrigue), "Uniform: Unfair and Unnecessary" (bold statement).
Plenary (5 minutes)
Explain Back
Your student teaches the key points back to you without looking. Fill any gaps immediately.
Lesson 3: Application: articles
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Quick Recall
Recall the key terms: Headline Techniques, Opening Techniques, Top Tip. Define each in one sentence.
Main Content (35 minutes)
Parent/Teacher Guide: Let your student attempt each question alone first, then compare with the model answer. Award method marks for correct working even if the final answer is wrong.
Q1: Write three different headlines for an article about school uniform using different techniques.
Answer: Examples: "Uniform Uproar" (alliteration), "Should We Ditch School Uniform?" (question), "The Hidden Cost of School Uniform" (intrigue), "Uniform: Unfair and Unnecessary" (bold statement).
Q2: What is the "inverted pyramid" structure and when would you use it?
Answer: The inverted pyramid puts the most important information first, then supporting details in decreasing order of importance. Used for news articles to ensure key facts aren't cut if space is limited.
Q3: Write an opening paragraph for an opinion article about social media.
Answer: Your opening should hook the reader with a dramatic statement, surprising fact, or rhetorical question about social media.
Q4: How should article style differ between a teen magazine and a broadsheet newspaper?
Answer: Teen magazine: informal, relatable, contemporary references, conversational tone. Broadsheet: formal, analytical, sophisticated vocabulary, serious tone.
Plenary (5 minutes)
Error Review
Review any questions answered incorrectly. Identify whether the error was knowledge, method, or reading the question.
Lesson 4: Exam Practice: articles
Duration: 50 minutes
Starter Activity (5 minutes)
Command Words
Review what these command words require: state (one point), describe (say what happens), explain (say why), compare (both sides), evaluate (judgement).
Main Content (35 minutes)
Exam-Style Question
Attempt a past-paper style question on articles from the exam board past paper finder (see Resources), then mark it against the scheme.
Exam Tips: Craft a catchy, relevant headline | Hook the reader in your first sentence | Use short paragraphs - they're easier to read | Include facts, statistics, or quotes for credibility | Match your tone to the target publication | Use subheadings for longer articles | End with a powerful, memorable statement
Common Errors: Watch Out! Students often write a bland headline or skip it entirely. Wrong: "An Article About Social Media" — this tells the reader nothing and shows no creativity. Correct: Use a technique — "Screen Time or Scream Time?" (alliteration/pun), "Is Your Phone Stealing Your Childhood?" (rhetorical question), or "The £1,000 Lie We Tell Our Children" (intrigue). Students often write long, essay-like paragraphs instead of short journalistic ones. Wrong: A single paragraph of 8-10 sentences that looks like a wall of text on the page. Correct: Break content into 2-3 sentence paragraphs. This is how real articles are structured — it makes the piece visually appealing and easier to read quickly. Stude
Stretch & Challenge (Grade 8-9):
- Synoptic links: explain how articles connects to another English Language topic you have studied
- Real-world: research one real-world use or example of articles
- Critical: "What are the limitations of the models used in articles?"
Plenary (5 minutes)
Assessment Criteria
- Got it: Confident explanation + correct worked examples
- Getting there: Main points OK, needs support with detail
- Not yet: Confused on key concepts - re-run Lesson 2
Homework & Consolidation
- Consolidation: Re-answer any Lesson 3 practice questions answered incorrectly (20 mins)
- Retrieval: Write flashcards for the key terms: Headline Techniques, Opening Techniques, Top Tip (10 mins)
- Exam practice: One past-paper question on articles from the board websites (15 mins)
- Extension: Explain articles to someone else in your own words (10 mins)