What should the article body contain?
Most pieces of writing, including articles, should contain three distinct sections:
- Introduction
- Body
- Conclusion
Introduction
The introduction of an article states the purpose of the article, along with the author’s main opinion (if relevant). Additionally, it should provide some background information for those readers unfamiliar with the topic. The introduction is also used to establish the voice and style of the article, allowing the reader and the author to develop a rapport before delving into the body of the article. Finally, the article introduction should contain the main points which will be covered in the body of the article.
Body
The body of the article is where the majority of the research and content are located. It should be divided into sections based on the author’s primary points. Each section should contain one or more paragraphs, and each paragraph should begin and end with transition sentences to segue from the previous section and into the next. Between these transitional elements, the body paragraphs should do the following:
- Introduce the support for the author’s argument
- Demonstrate how the support is relevant to the topic
- Provide research and citations which outline the support
The body should, as a whole, flow well from the end of the article introduction to its conclusion, giving the reader a good overall grasp of the topic as well as a specific understanding of the author’s argument.
This can be accomplished in a number of ways. Many writers choose to begin with more general points, gradually transitioning to expressing more specific points they wish to address. When the article relates to an event, whether current or historical, sometimes a chronological organization is the best method for coherent flow.
To accomplish this, the author should create a detailed outline of the article body before writing a rough draft.
Conclusion
The conclusion of the article should restate much of the information in the introduction. Furthermore, it should leave the reader feeling satisfied that the questions posed in the introduction have been covered thoroughly. Finally, it’s good to leave the reader with a growing curiosity about the topic. This shouldn’t necessarily be related to the exact topic covered by the author, however. Leaving too much unsaid leads to dissatisfied readers. Instead, the article conclusion should be designed to stimulate the reader’s thoughts, so that they’re interested in learning more about the topic, and reading more of the author’s articles.