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How to Write an Article for Your School Newspaper

Last Updated: March 1, 2024 References

This article was co-authored by Gerald Posner . Gerald Posner is an Author & Journalist based in Miami, Florida. With over 35 years of experience, he specializes in investigative journalism, nonfiction books, and editorials. He holds a law degree from UC College of the Law, San Francisco, and a BA in Political Science from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s the author of thirteen books, including several New York Times bestsellers, the winner of the Florida Book Award for General Nonfiction, and has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in History. He was also shortlisted for the Best Business Book of 2020 by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 606,524 times.

Writing an article for your school newspaper can be exciting and rewarding, especially once you see your name in print! If you don't already belong to your school newspaper, you may need to try out or talk to the editor about submitting some sample pieces. To write an article, you'll need to decide which type of article you'd like to write, check on submission guidelines, research your topic, interview sources, and write it in the proper newspaper format.

Joining the Team and Writing Different Types of Articles

• Check to see if there are deadlines for turning in mock articles, what the editor is looking for in a new staff member, and if there are any meetings you can attend to get more information.

• If you've been on staff for a while, you may have the freedom to choose your own article topics. But until you know your position, it's always a good idea to ask for assignments.

• Feature stories are the largest articles in a newspaper, and they often go beyond simple facts to the reasons behind something, like why an event happened and what it means for students moving forward.
• An example of a feature story would be an article about a new scholarship being offered in your state. How it works, who is eligible, and facts about the work that went into making the scholarship program a reality would make a compelling story.

• News articles are generally more straight-forward than feature stories or opinion articles. They convey relevant information in an unbiased way.

• For example, you could write an editorial about school rules, events or groups on campus, sports, programs, or teaching methods.

• If you want to be a regular columnist for your school newspaper, present a plan to your editor for a series of articles that you'd like to work on. For example, you could propose a 4-week series about starting a club or practicing self-care.

• For example, you could write an article called “Top 10 Tips to Manage Stress,” “How to Develop Good Study Habits,” or “How to Get in Shape before Tryouts.”

• For example, if you review a new movie that came out, you could write about who would most enjoy the film. Perhaps it would be great for someone who likes action movies but not as enjoyable for someone who prefers comedies.

Researching, Interviewing, and Fact Gathering

• Talk to your editor, production manager, or faculty advisor for more information.

• Who? Find out who was involved, whether that would be students, administrators, or other people in your community.
• What? Write down exactly what it is that you are writing about. Is it an event, a person, or an idea? Be as specific as possible.
• Where? Identify where the event took place. Is this a subject that is particular to your school or community, or is it a national subject?
• When? Make note of important dates and times.
• Why? Determine the reasons behind the subject. Was there a catalyst?
• How? Connect the rest of your information together to determine how an event or subject came together.

• When contacting a person for an interview, let them know who you are and what topic you're writing about, and give them an estimate of how much of their time you'll need.
• When you finish an interview, take 10 minutes to write down additional notes right away. They'll be fresh in your mind and you'll be less likely to forget important details.

• Ask if you have someone's permission to use their name and words in your article, and write down their quote verbatim. You can use anonymous sources, but quotes are more compelling when they can be traced back to a specific individual.

• Fact-checking makes you a more trustworthy writer and ensures that you're taking the time to communicate as truthfully as you can about any particular subject.

• Some reporters dictate notes to themselves or write out daily logs about their interviews and research. Figure out what works for you and your lifestyle, and then stick to it.

Writing the Article

• A lot of times, readers will decide if they want to continue reading an article based off of the first sentence or two.

• Sometimes you'll come up with a great headline before you even write the article, but most often you won't know exactly what you're presenting until after you've written it. Try waiting until after you've written your article to come up with the headline, and then make sure it fits in with the given topic.

• People who want to know more about the topic will continue reading past those first 2 paragraphs, but people who just wanted the basic information will get their answers without having to search through the entire article.

• For example, instead of saying, “Principal Miller comes from rainy Washington state and had been teaching before becoming a principal for 15 years,” you could say something like, “Principal Miller previously lived in Washington, and she has over 15 years of experience in the educational system."

• Always ask for permission to quote someone when you're interviewing them.

• Being able to proofread your own work is an essential part of being a successful member of the newspaper staff, and the more you work at it, the better you'll get.

Expert Q&A

• Be careful when writing to avoid plagiarizing other sources. It's okay to use information from others, but make sure to reword it in your own way so it's unique and to cite sources when needed. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• If you're having trouble coming up with an idea for an article, ask for an assignment from the editor. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about writing as a career, check out our in-depth interview with Gerald Posner .

• ↑ https://www.pilinutpress.com/Articles/Writing/WritingArticlesfortheSchoolNewspaper.html
• ↑ https://makemynewspaper.com/how-to-start-a-school-newspaper/
• ↑ https://schools.firstnews.co.uk/blog/journalistic-writing/how-to-start-a-school-newspaper/
• ↑ https://study.com/learn/lesson/newspaper-article-format-examples.html
• ↑ https://blog.flipsnack.com/school-newspaper-guide/
• ↑ https://makemynewspaper.com/how-to-write-a-school-news-article
• ↑ https://www.aresearchguide.com/write-a-newspaper-article.html
• ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/the-secret-to-writing-great-headlines-2073697

About This Article

To write an article for your school newspaper, start with a lead paragraph that explains the who, what, where, when, and why of what you're writing about. Then, for the second and third paragraphs, include any additional facts and details that your readers should know. You can also include quotes from witnesses or school officials in this part of your article. Finally, conclude your article with the least important or relevant information. To learn how to research and come up with article ideas, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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8 Helpful Tips on How to Write an Article for Your School Newspaper

Youth voices.

Wed, March 06

By Bianca Mints

If you are an aspiring member of your school's newspaper, but you're not exactly sure what to write about, don't worry! Your easy and simple guide to navigating the world of high school newspapers is here. Read on to find out more about a veteran's experience writing for her school's paper for three years of high school.

Want to Write for The Teen Magazine?

Share your ideas and get published on The Teen Magazine. Whether it’s entertainment, wellness, or academics, your voice matters here!

1. Fun research paper!

For journalistic papers, think of a question you've always wanted to answer about your school and keep the scale appropriately small and answerable so that your piece has a clear point. You can, obviously, write about current events or a Taylor Swift concert you went to last week, but if you want to write an article directly for your classmates, make sure their opinions are included! Send our Google forms to the whole school, and conduct interviews—this is one of the best ways to prepare for becoming a true journalist!

2. Write about school-relevant topics.

This might mean sending out a survey to your entire school, as I did my freshman year—scary, but helpful. For my first article, my topic was “Conundrum: Mathletes vs. Athletes” as a silly joke on how most students at my school are STEM kids—we don't have many of the typical jocks. However, my first question was more about the general “nerd” side of things.

Hilariously enough, my “nerd” hypothesis was correct—nearly 50% of students (we only have about 140 students in total, so 97 responses is a pretty good representation) like reading more than people. I would have to put myself in the books and people category, as books can sometimes get a little boring (as can people).

Some of my favorite responses ended up being “I like battlefield more than books and people,” and I already have several good lists of suspects. Some students are way more likely than others to prefer video games.

Provocative? A little. Intriguing?

Absolutely. If I had asked students questions about school food or favorite classes, basic questions on the school itself, I think this piece would have stood out just a little less. School-related questions do not have to be about the actual school—because my school is known for being nerdy, I asked students personal questions about themselves, as I wasn't sure questions like “Do you think everyone here is a nerd” would be the best kind of questions to ask. My next question was also personal, rather than about the school:

I can imagine the same 49% of students who love reading more than people answered “Yes!” here as well. Some people felt a bit more snarky about this question—"When I get them, so no"—so I had to wonder whether students had a bad experience with science teacher puns in the middle of AP review. Again, it related to school, but never explicitly mentioned it.

3. Ask provocative questions.

4. Personal favorites:

• “Wdym secretly? I don't pretend to not like reading stuff.” Love them for that!
• “I write history textbooks for fun.” To this day, I have no idea who could have said this, but I want to meet them.

5. Ask open-ended questions, too!

So much variety. Took quite a while to get through everything, but worth it! I'm still confused by “Beat Saber,” as I've been a member of my school's saber fencing team since freshman year, so perhaps they meant that they wanted to beat the saber team?

The nearly 50% “Mathletes Unite!” was hilarious to me, as the school requires that every student do a sport every other day of the school week, so I can imagine how many students dreaded going to sports every day, as they would rather be doing…math. Hey, to each their own!

“Stick fighting” was a bit of a concerning answer, along with “professional rock, paper, scissors.” I did appreciate the mention of quidditch and wholeheartedly agree. My life has never been the same since I read Harry Potter! (By the way, I'm a Ravenclaw—comment your house!)

6. Ask lots of questions…but get to the point.

You want to be sure that the audience knows the point—just ask your research question directly.

A whopping 71%—I love the blatant honesty. In my freshman year, I probably wouldn't have been so sure if I was a nerd or not.

Now, I know that I was just lying to myself—while I may not be a science nerd, I am totally a writing nerd! I give my greatest thank you to all participants who honestly answered this question, as “nerd” often has a negative connotation—the effects of which I explored through my survey comments.

7. Encourage feedback from participants.

At the end of your survey, put a “Comments and/or Concern?” question. Trust me, most of my paper focused on the lengthy responses at the end as they conveyed much more than the multiple-choice ever could.

Some highlights:

“It's a nerd school. For nerds.” I have to say I mostly agree!

“No time to read anymore." This comment stuck with me. Over the summer, I'm usually able to read and read until my eyes become practically cross-eyed, but during the school year, nada zilch zip!

“You should have used an NFC chip to distribute this survey.” I had to search up what an NFC chip was after seeing this comment, and I have to say, I'm still confused. This was a comment so very likely from a science nerd—they are a whole galaxy away, unfortunately.

8. Accept feedback from peers and teachers.

After spending hours collecting data and then analyzing and writing it all out, you may feel like you don't need to spend any more time editing your piece—you don't deserve to be stuck at your desk, reading your writing over and over again until you just want to throw the piece in the virtual garbage. Maybe you even throw the piece in the garbage or delete all the words from the Google Doc and slam your computer shut.

This is my call to tell you to come back now before later. You have put so much work into this piece—if your editors want you to make some changes, they simply want to make it famous! No writer or journalist has ever gotten famous without constructive critiques—few writers even pick their own titles!

Editors are your best friend after you've finished writing—often, they've been at the paper longer than you have and know exactly what the school public wants to read. Take advantage of their helpfulness by asking questions before and after you write the piece, whether it be about the topic or idea, or even simple writing help. They can also help you format the piece and inform you of important logistics, such as word count. I would highly recommend never going over 1.5k words as the attention span of a high school student is probably less than that of a goldfish.

Overall, writing a piece for the school paper doesn't have to be stressful—with consistent communication with editors and students, you can make your piece appeal to all students and make your whole school's newspaper truly shine!

Think this article is a must-read? Share it! 🤳💬

Bianca Mints 1,000+ pageviews

Bianca is a junior from Massachusetts. Outside of writing, she enjoys reading, spending time with her friends and family, and making Spotify playlists.

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Write an Article for Your School Newspaper

Writing an article for your school newspaper or magazine can be exciting and rewarding, especially once you see your name in print. To write an article, you will need to come up with a great story idea, research and interview your sources, pitch the story and write the story in the proper newspaper format.

• 1.1 Understanding the Structure and Rules of Newspaper Articles
• 1.2 Coming Up With Story Ideas
• 1.3 Researching and Pitching the Article
• 1.4 Writing the Article
• 2 Related Articles
• 3 Sources and Citations

Understanding the Structure and Rules of Newspaper Articles

• News articles cover the basics of current events. They answer the five key questions: who, what, where, when, and why.
• Feature articles are longer and more in depth than regular news articles. They cover one subject from multiple angles and written in a more creative format.
• Both types require the same level of research and reporting. If you are writing a feature article, you may have more freedom with the structure of the article. However, news articles always follow the same “triangle” or five part structure.
• The headline: Also referred to as the “hed”, this is a short, attention grabbing statement about the event. It will appear at the top of your article.
• The byline: Tells the reader who wrote the article. If you wrote the article, your name will appear in the byline.
• Lead paragraph: This first paragraph contains the who, what, when, where, and why in as few words as possible. You must find all the answers to these questions and place them in the opening 1-3 sentences of the article.
• Explanation: The second-third paragraphs should include any other facts or details the reader should know. This is where the writer answers any other important questions the reader might have after reading the headline and the lead paragraph. This section can include direct quotes from witnesses or bystanders.
• Additional information: The last paragraph contains the least important information. For example, information about a similar event or occurrence. Your editor may cut this paragraph down if the article is too long for the space it needs to fill in the newspaper.
• The “dek” is a blurb, usually one to two sentences, that tells the reader what the story is going to be about. It will appear under the “hed” or headline of the article. For example, an article about fiber might have the head: “YOU’RE FIBER-ED!” and the dek might be: “Ten Reasons To Eat More Fiber.” [3]
• The “lede” is the introduction to the news article, usually in the first paragraph of the article. “Lede” is a deliberate misspelling of “lead” to prevent confusion in the days when printing was done with lead type.
• The “lede” should answer the classic five W’s of journalism. What happened? Who did it? Where did it happen? When did it happen? Why did it happen? [4] Some articles require a "How" as well, but this can often be covered by answering the others.
• However, most stories have a particular angle or “slant”. This means the story focuses on a particular aspect or element of the larger story. For example, a story about fireflies could focus on the endangerment of fireflies through the use of pesticides in the air. The “slant” is a valuable way to give the story a clear focus and unique take on an existing topic. [5]
• Feature articles can use the “I”, or first person point of view. Recently, personal narrative style features, with the “I” and a personal story that colors or informs the news story, have been popular online. [6]
• “Pandemic Level Increased”, a straightforward news article about swine flu. [7]
• “Harry Potter Opens July 15”, a creatively written news article about the opening of the film Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince . [8]
• “Fireflies Count!”, an example of a feature article written from the first person point of view. [9]
• “Pregnant at Harvard?”, an example of a feature article written in the style of a personal narrative for The Harvard Crimson , a university publication. [10]
• For example, the headline for this article, “Pandemic Level Increased”, has the byline: Daniel Wetter. [7]
• It also has a lead paragraph that begins with key information: “The swine flu outbreak became a phase 6 pandemic on June 11, declared the World Health Organization (WHO). Officially known as the H1N1 virus, the flu is being transmitted community-wide in both North America and Australia. A pandemic is an epidemic (disease outbreak) over a widespread geographical area.”
• It then has a fairly long explanation section, with quotes from two doctors, or medical sources.
• It ends with additional information, or an ending sentence that reinforces the main slant of the article: “Being health conscious and getting vaccinated will make you part of the solution.”
• For example, for the article “Harry Potter Opens July 15”, the “dek” is “Magic and mysteries in the air at Harry Potter’s New York premiere.” [8]
• The “lede” of the article should answer the four W’s and the H of newspaper writing. The Harry Potter premiere article’s “lede” appears in the second paragraph. “At the premiere of the newest Harry Potter movie in New York City July 9, I stood along the red carpet watching as excited Potter fans crammed together behind metal barriers waiting for the stars to arrive. Some sported sorting hats, the signature round rimmed Potter glasses, and other mystical garments from the world of Hogwarts. Some held up signs. One read: “Honk if you love Harry.” And there was honking—and yelling and cheering and chanting. “Snape! Snape! Sirius! Snape!” It was magical!"
• The “lede” in the article then extends into the third paragraph: “The crowd ignited with screams and cheers as the actors stepped out of their limos and onto West 54th Street in front of the Ziegfeld Theatre. There was so much excitement in the air you could taste it!”
• This “lede” answers the who (Harry Potter fans, including the writer of the article), the what (Premiere of the Harry Potter movie), the where (Ziegfeld Theatre, New York City), the when (July 9), and the how (The premiere happened because the newest Harry Potter movie is out and Harry Potter fans are enthusiastic about the new film).
• For example, the Harry Potter article is written in the first person, by a Harry Potter fan, so it will have a certain slant and point of view. The writer uses statements like: “It was magical!” and “There was so much excitement in the air you could taste it!” [8] These statements are purely opinion based and serve to give the article some personal color and perspective.
• In contrast, the swine flu article is written in the third person, with no use of the “I” or any personal statements from the writer. It presents the facts and details of the swine flu outbreak and how to prevent spreading the disease to others. It is a more standard news article in tone and voice. [7]
• In The Harvard Crimson feature story, “Pregnant at Harvard?”, the writer examines her personal struggles with being pregnant at Harvard and uses many personal notes and moments to give the story a unique slant. These types of features are becoming more popular in publications and school newspapers, as they give a story a personal connection or voice. [10]

Coming Up With Story Ideas

• “That Time I…”: Think of a life changing experience or moment in your life. It could be that time you almost drowned in your neighborhood swimming pool, that time you ate nothing but ramen noodles for 2 months, or that time you broke up with an abusive boyfriend. Then, consider how these personal experiences could translate to a story idea. For example, pool safety in residential pools, the health issues associated with a diet of ramen noodles, or the steps needed to get out of an abusive relationship.
• “A Day in the Life”: Profile of a person of interest by following them around for a day. This could be someone with an interesting job at your school, a peer or student at your school who is working on a social or political project, or a teacher who is leading a unique class or approach to teaching. This could also involved your school’s star athletes, or athletes who overcame obstacles to be successful.
• “Everyday school topics”: Think about your daily school routine and note anything interesting or unique you come across. This could be your morning commute, with gossip on the school bus that could lead to story ideas, your lunch meal, with its suspicious looking macaroni and cheese, or your classes, with a great teacher or an incompetent teacher. Look for possible issues you encounter during your school day, or conflicts that you might want to delve further into.
• Write down the word or idea in the center of your paper.
• Write down other related words or terms around the central idea. Don’t stop to evaluate the items or revise them. Don’t worry if the words or terms seem lame, and don’t cross out or ignore the idea.
• Continue adding words or terms until you feel you have written down enough. Read over the terms and circle or highlight any terms that seem useful or that could lead to a possible angle or slant on the topic.
• For example, you may be going through a personal trauma that relates to a current topic like gender identity, abortion rights, same-sex marriage, or police brutality. Or you might know someone, like a family friend or relative, who might be able to offer a unique take on one of these topics. This person could act as a key source for your article.
• Most editors will ask you what topics you are interested in writing about, or if you have a unique angle on a certain topic or issues before they assign story ideas. Maintain an open dialogue with your editor so she knows where your interests lie, and which story ideas might be the right fit for you.

Researching and Pitching the Article

• Do a basic google search of keywords of your topic. If you’re writing an article about teaching social justice in high school classes, for example, do a basic search of possible courses in your area, state, or country.
• You should also make a list of potential sources you can contact and interview for the story.
• If you have been assigned a story idea via your editor, you likely will not need to write a pitch letter for the story. But you will still need to do research before you write the article.
• Contact the source via email or by phone. Give the person a brief summary of the article you are writing, the “lede”, and ask them what time works best for an interview. Try to give 45 minutes minimum for the interview, especially if they are a primary source. Confirm the meeting time with the source.
• For a standard news article, you should have one to two sources minimum. Good sources include people with credentials that relate to your topic, such as a medical doctor or a specialist in your topic. Your sources should have strong knowledge about your topic, on a professional or personal level, and be willing to answer questions on tape.
• Focus on open ended questions that will result in expansive answers, as opposed to a yes or no. Rather than start a question with “Do you think”, begin with “How do you think” or “In what ways does”.
• Don’t be afraid to ask dumb questions, such as “How does that work?” or “What do you mean by that term or abbreviation?” This will be useful if you are interviewing experts in a specialized field or about a complex idea and need to simplify it for the general public.
• Ask short questions and then follow up. Most interviewers make the mistake of sticking to the questions on their notepad, rather than having a more free flowing conversation with the source. Start with short, basic questions like “How did you get into teaching social justice at schools?” or “How do you balance athletics with school?” and then build off of the source’s answers. Split up long winded questions into shorter questions so that source does not get overwhelmed or confused by your questions.
• Mix lighthearted questions with pointed questions. A good interview will generate quotes from your sources that address your topic and give your unique angle on the topic some weight. But avoid only asking pointed questions that might cause your source to shut down or clam up. Mix in lighthearted or fun questions so the source feels comfortable and relaxed during the interview.
• You can also download a recording app on your phone to record in person interviews or phone interviews. [16]
• If you are doing a skype interview, you can use a recording app through skype.
• Address the letter to the editor of the newspaper, by title or by name. For example: “Dear Chronicle Editor in Chief” or “Dear Mrs. Jenna Smith”.
• Create an engaging opening sentence. Avoid telling the editor you have a great story or that you, the writer, will blow their socks off. Lead with what is strong and interesting about your topic, as well as the unique angle you might have on the topic. For example: “The World Health Organization has recently declared swine flu a phase 6 pandemic. Yet there is very little knowledge of how to prevent the spread of this disease in the classroom.”
• Body paragraph: Break down your article in more detail. Let the editor know if you plan to speak to certain sources. If you have any personal connection or experience with the topic, note this in the body of the letter. For example: “As a student at Roosevelt High, I think it’s essential that students are aware of what swine flu ir and how to prevent the spread of swine flu. In my article, I will talk to two medical professionals about the dangers of swine flu and prevention techniques. I plan to also look at how students can practice simple, everyday habits to prevent the spread of this disease. ”
• Closing: Finish the letter by letting the editor know if you have done any initial research on the topic and if you have any other experience writing similar articles. For example: “Based on my initial research, swine flu is a major disease that is not nearly as understood by the general population, or by high school students, as much as it should be.” Provide links to clips, or examples of your writing, in other publications. Then, sign off the letter with “Best regards” or “Thank you for your time.”
• Get feedback and a word limit from your editor. Once you submit your pitch letter, give your editor time to review it. Then, ask her if she has any suggestions on other sources or angles for your story. She may also give you a word limit for your story. Most news articles are short, 400-500 words long.

Writing the Article

• For example: “The swine flu outbreak became a phase 6 pandemic on June 11, declared the World Health Organization (WHO).” [7] or “I was like a seeker in the game of quidditch, but I wasn’t searching for the golden snitch...I was searching for the golden actors who star in the latest Harry Potter movie, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince .” [8]
• The first lead is factual, objective, and to the point. It tells the reader that there is a clear medical issue and gets them to pay attention to the outbreak.
• The second lead is more personal and uses the first person. It draws the reader in by using familiar terms from the world of Harry Potter and unique language to keep the reader engaged.
• Using plain language will build trust with your reader, especially if you are discussing a complex medical topic. It will also help your reader follow along with your writing.
• Use sentences that are 25 words or fewer. Focus on plain English, rather than academic or technical jargon.
• If you are writing an article for a certain section of the newspaper, like the Arts and Culture section, you may be able to assume your reader will be familiar with certain mainstream artists or current cultural trends.
• You may also be writing about a topic that is very familiar to most readers, such as Harry Potter. In this case, you could use terms or phrases that are known to avid readers of the topic, such as an article about a Harry Potter film.
• In most cases, editors advocate for the use of the present tense, rather than the past, to give the article immediacy and an active voice. However, you can use the past tense in your article if your editor says otherwise.
• For example: " ‘We need to be appropriately concerned,’ Dr. Trochet said. It cannot be ignored, but it can be prevented with easy measures, she stressed. Dr. Trochet and Dr. Tom Hopkins, the Chief Medical Correspondent on NBC's Sacramento Station, KCRA, talked recently to the Scholastic Kids Press Corps about swine flu concerns. They also discussed how to prevent getting or spreading the disease.”
• Use “said” or “told me” when attributing a quote to a person, and only use the source’s last name or title and name.
• The headline, or the “hed”.
• The byline.
• The lead paragraph, or the “lede”. Should answer who, what, when, where, and why in as few words as possible.
• Explanation paragraphs, including direct quotes from sources.
• Additional information, last paragraph that contains the least important information.
• You should also format the article based on the publication you are writing for. If it is an online publication, ask the editor if there is any specific formatting you need to do, such as adding links in text.
• Your school newspaper may also have a style guide with rules of certain phrases or terms in the articles they publish. Ask your editor for these guidelines and adjust your article accordingly.

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Sources and Citations

• ↑ http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/writing-your-article
• ↑ http://spcollege.libguides.com/c.php?g=254319&p=1695313
• ↑ http://writersweekly.com/this_weeks_article/002828_07202005.html
• ↑ http://spcollege.libguides.com/c.phpg=254319&p=1695313
• ↑ 5.0 5.1 http://www.mediacollege.com/journalism/news/write-stories.html
• ↑ http://public.wsu.edu/~hughesc/personal_narrative_parts.htm
• ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752088
• ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752196
• ↑ http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=3752450
• ↑ 10.0 10.1 http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2015/4/28/pregnant-at-harvard/
• ↑ http://www.collegemediamatters.com/2013/11/15/1-million-story-ideas-for-student-journalists-2/
• ↑ http://www.poynter.org/news/media-innovation/5842/idea-generators-creativity-tools-for-journalists/
• ↑ http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/advocacy/media-advocacy/news-stories-media-wants/main
• ↑ 14.0 14.1 http://www.jhuapl.edu/education/elementary/newspapercourse/forstudents/tips.htm
• ↑ http://thewritepractice.com/six-ways-to-ask-better-questions-in-interviews/
• ↑ http://lifehacker.com/5879232/the-best-voice-recording-app-for-iphone
• ↑ http://irosf.com/q/zine/article/10379
• ↑ 18.0 18.1 https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/735/05/
• ↑ 19.0 19.1 http://www.sussex.ac.uk/pressandcomms/communications/writingnews
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Cambridge B2 First

B2 First (FCE) - Writing Test Two

Time: 1hr 20mins

You must answer this question. Write your answer in 140-190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

1. Your teacher has asked you to write an essay in response to the following statement taken from a recent newspaper article:

Write an essay using all your notes and giving reasons for your point of view.

Write about....

1. Fast food and phones 2. Parents 3. ................ (your own idea)

Write an answer to one of the questions 2-4 in this part. Write your answer in 140-190 words in an appropriate style on the separate answer sheet.

2. This is part of an email that you have received from an English-speaking boy, Stefan:

From: Stefan Larssen <[email protected]> Subject: Let's write to each other!

I was given your email address by my English teacher. I understand that you are looking for English-speaking friends to write to and I would love that too.

Tell me something about yourself and the town where you live. What sort of things do you get up to in your spare time? I would love to come and visit your country in the summer. Do you think this would be something we could organise?

I hope to hear from you soon.

Write your email .

The local government are interested in spending more money on sports facilities in your town.

You have been asked to write a report for the politician responsible for deciding how the money should be spent. You report should:

• Explain the most popular sporting activities in your town.
• Make suggestions about how increased funding could be spent.

Write your report .

4. You see this announcement on an English technology website:

Articles Wanted

The World Without The Internet

Could you survive in a world without the Internet? How much have you come to rely on it? Do you think there is a negative side to it?

Write an article for us answering these questions.

We will publish the best articles on the website next month.

Write your article .

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Advertisement

Complete collection of hkdse english language paper 2 writing topics (2012 – 2023).

For question 1, write about 200 words.

1. You are a famous news reporter for Hong Kong News . Your old secondary school has asked you to write a feature article about yourself for the next edition of the school magazine. Use the following three headings to write the article. Add one heading of your own.

• The best part of my job
• The biggest challenge I have ever faced in my job
• My school days 

For questions 2 – 9, choose one question and write about 400 words.

2. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2012)

You have been following an online debate in Health and Fitness eMag about the value of doing virtual sports (such as those played on a Wii) versus real sports. Write your view on the topic and post it on the online forum.

3. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2012)

You have been surfing a website on the use of drama techniques in education. You have seen the following topic on an online forum and are now writing your response .

Many teachers incorporate drama into their lessons as they feel it has various educational benefits. However, some parents are against this as they feel that learning cannot take place through drama. What is your opinion? Please share your experience of learning through drama with us!

4. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2012)

You are the lead singer in a band. Last week, you held your first performance at a music festival in Victoria Park. Write on your blog describing the performance, including how you felt, the atmosphere and the things you could have done better.

5. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2012)

You are trying to recruit more people to join the school debating club. Write a speech to give at the next school assembly explaining the activities the debating club organises, the benefits of being in the club and also the importance in life of being a good debater.

6. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2012)

The human desire to look attractive is universal and because of this, cosmetic surgery is now a multi-million dollar industry. Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Express about the obsession with physical beauty.

7. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2012)

Your creative writing teacher has given your class the following task and she would like you to use it to write a short story. The stories will be displayed in school during Creativity in Learning Week .

You were walking by the Peninsula Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui when you spotted your brother driving an expensive sports car. The last time you spoke to him, he was looking for a job.

Write a story about how you found out the truth.

8. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2012)

You are an intern at Hong Kong Correctional Services. The government has launched a campaign called Second Chance to encourage employers to recruit reformed criminals or drug addicts. Write a letter to all Hong Kong businesses outlining the new project, explaining the benefits and persuading them to join the scheme.

9. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2012)

Your school magazine is going to include a special feature on mental health. Recently, one of your friends was suffering from depression. Write an article for the school magazine about your friend's depression and how he/she overcame it. Give advice to others on how to help fight depression.

For question 1, write about 100 words for each photo.

1. You are taking part in a photo exhibition called 'My Memories'. As part of the photo exhibition, you have presented two photos. Now you need to give a title to each and a brief explanation of why these photos are meaningful to you.

2. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2013)

You have been asked by Ms Chan, the teacher in charge of Campus TV, to produce a 30-minute programme about a local Hong Kong sporting event. You need to write an email to Ms Chan. In this email, suggest a sporting event, explain what would be included in the programme and outline how you will make the programme interesting to your schoolmates.

3. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2013)

You are reading Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare for drama class. In the play, Brutus betrayed his best friend, Julius Caesar, for the good of the country. Your homework is to write a diary entry about a situation when you betrayed your best friend.

4. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2013)

Many people say that private school bus service operators do not follow proper safety procedures when dealing with young children and they argue that this may pose a danger. Write a letter to the Bus Operators Association of Hong Kong to express your concerns and give three recommendations for how private school bus services can be improved.

5. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2013)

Recently you have heard several people making complaints which you thought were unreasonable. Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Post about this. In your letter, describe the situation which some people complained about, outline the point of view of the complainants, and indicate why you think those people are unreasonable.

6. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2013)

You are a human resources assistant. Your boss has observed that many people are leaving the office very late. He has asked you to write an article for the company newsletter describing the situation and discussing the negative effects . You have also been asked to give two suggestions to improve the situation. Provide a suitable title for your article.

7. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2013)

Asian singers and movie stars are gaining popularity all over the world and are no longer appealing only to Asian audiences. Write an article for your school newspaper explaining why Asian stars are gaining popularity in Western countries. Give a title to your article.

8. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2013)

You are the President of the Students' Union. You are giving a speech to the graduating classes. The inspiration for the speech comes from the following popular song about how time can slip away if you don't make good use of it.

Write your speech.

9. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2013)

You are entering the 'Detective Story Competition' and have been given the following situation:

Write the story.

1. The Local History Newsletter is a newsletter about the history of Hong Kong. Every month, it prints short articles about special places in Hong Kong. You have been asked to write an article about an old village called Lucky Village. Write your article using the three headings provided. You can use the headings in any order.

• Life in Lucky Village 40 years ago
• An event that changed Lucky Village
• What Lucky Village is famous for

2. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2014)

A local fitness centre is being renovated. As the chairperson of your school's Sports Club, write a letter to ask the fitness centre to donate some of their old equipment to your school. In your letter, describe how the donation could benefit your school and the fitness centre.

3. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2014)

Your school has received a complaint from City Hall about the poor behaviour of a group of your Drama Club members who attended a drama performance last week. You are the chairperson of your school's Drama Club and you have been asked by your teacher to write an email to your Club members regarding the complaint. Write the email to your Club members.

4. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2014)

Some people believe that filming movies in the city centre should not be allowed. Others support it. Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Daily giving your opinions. Provide three reasons to support your point of view.

5. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2014)

Currently, only a small number of students in your school have access to school lockers. As the chairperson of the Student Union of your school, you have collected the views of students from different classes on this issue. Write a letter to Ms Lee, your school principal , to persuade her to change the policy on lockers.

6. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2014)

The Hong Kong Daily is asking students to submit an article about their summer job experiences. You were employed as a costumed character performer in one of the local theme parks last summer. In your article, write about your typical working day, and the good things and bad things about your job. Write the article.

7. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2014)

You recently attended a stand-up comedy show and you were impressed by the performance. Write an article for your school magazine describing the show, discussing the challenges such performers might face and how students at school can benefit from watching such a performance.

8. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2014)

You took part in the Hong Kong Schools Poetry Festival. You have been asked by your teacher to write an article for your school magazine about how you prepared for the competition and what you learned from this experience.

9. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2014)

You are taking a creative writing workshop and you have to submit the following assignment:

Imagine you are a university student living in a student hall. Your roommate has suddenly decided to leave. Write a short story describing the events that led up to your roommate's sudden departure.

1. A recent article in the Young Post suggested that an 8:00 am start to the school day makes students feel tired and sleepy. Write to the editor of the Young Post expressing your views on the following :

• why students feel tired; and
• whether or not a 9:00 am start will solve the problem.

2. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2015)

A number of your classmates have expressed their disappointment about physical education (PE) lessons at school, saying that the lessons are not interesting. As the chairperson of the Class Association, you have decided to reflect your classmates' opinions about this to your principal, Ms Chan.

Write a letter to Ms Chan explaining why your classmates are unhappy about existing PE lessons. You should then suggest two new activities that could be introduced in future PE lessons and explain why students would prefer such activities.

3. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2015)

The Hong Kong Drama Association is planning to organise a drama competition for secondary school students. The theme is 'You are never too old to live your dreams'. Students are invited to submit stories. The winning story will later be turned into a play by the Association. Your story should be about the elderly realising their dreams.

Write your story.

4. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2015)

Many parents in Hong Kong are sending their children to other countries to complete their schooling. Write an article for your school magazine examining two reasons for this phenomenon. You should also discuss the impact of this on local schools and on children who leave to study overseas.

5. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2015)

Many parts of Hong Kong's harbour front are still undeveloped. Some suggest using these areas for housing and commercial use, while others argue that such areas should be left as open space for public use. Write to the editor of the Hong Kong Daily stating your opinion either for or against leaving these areas open for public use. Justify your point of view with three reasons.

6. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2015)

You are a summer intern working in Hong Kong Mobile's customer services department. Your job is to handle complaints about your company's products and services. As part of your duties, you are required to inform your manager about complaints received and outline possible solutions. Write an email to Jackie Lee, the manager of the customer services department, summarising details of a recent complaint and suggesting three possible actions that could be taken to deal with this complaint.

7. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2015)

You are working on a project entitled 'Cinemas in Hong Kong' for the Learning English through Popular Culture module and have found that fewer people go to cinemas than before. Write a report to explain why this is happening and to suggest what could be done to increase the number of moviegoers. Give reasons to support your suggestions.

8. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2015)

The Hong Kong Central Library is holding a language arts festival during the summer break to enhance students' interest in learning English. Secondary schools have been asked to submit their suggestions for activities at the festival.

As the chairperson of the school's Poetry Club, your teacher has asked you to write a letter to the Central Library suggesting two interesting activities. You should also explain how these activities would increase students' interest in learning English.

9. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2015)

The Reading Club at your school is planning to hold a reading week to promote students' interest in reading and to improve their English. One planned event is a 'Meet the Author' evening, when students get to meet a famous author.

As the chairperson of the Club, you have been asked to choose one author to invite for the event. Write an email to Ms Li, the English teacher in charge of the Reading Club, mentioning your choice of author. Explain why you have selected that author, and suggest activities the author can lead or help with.

1. You are the President of the Students' Union at your school. You are preparing a speech to welcome new students on the first day of school. In order to help new students achieve success and have an enjoyable school life, you want to talk about the following in your speech:

• importance of following school rules; and
• importance of interpersonal relationships.

The first part of the speech has been written for you. Finish the speech.

Good morning Principal, teachers and fellow students,

On behalf of the Students' Union, I'd like to welcome all of you to our school. I'm sure we all want to achieve success and have an enjoyable school life, so this morning I'd like to give you some advice .

2. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2016)

Because of the lack of sports facilities, some people in your community have suggested that schools should allow the public to use their sports facilities after school hours.

Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Daily stating your opinion. Support your opinion with three reasons.

3. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2016)

Many Hong Kong graduates complain about the lack of employment opportunities in the city. It has been suggested that graduates who fail to find a job in Hong Kong could look for opportunities in other cities in Asia. Do you support this suggestion?

Write an article for your school magazine expressing your views. Give three reasons to support your views. Provide an appropriate title for your article.

4. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2016)

It has recently been reported that some parents in Asian countries are installing apps on their children's mobile phones that monitor their activities to ensure that they use these devices responsibly.

Write a letter to the Young Post stating whether you agree with these parents' actions or not. Justify your position with three reasons.

5. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2016)

The Hong Kong Daily is holding an essay competition for secondary school students on the theme 'Hong Kong's Disappearing Street Life'. The aim is to promote youth awareness of the need to preserve unique aspects of Hong Kong culture. Entries must focus on one aspect of local street life or culture that is fast disappearing and suggest why it is worth preserving.

Write your essay.

6. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2016)

One of the planned activities for the Creative Writing Week at your school is a short story writing competition. The theme for this year's competition is 'Revenge is Sweet'.

7. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2016)

The Hong Kong Youth Association is organising a Youth Festival to showcase popular youth trends in Hong Kong. Write a proposal for the Festival suggesting one or two trends popular with young people. You should explain how you would present these trends at the festival and justify the way you plan to present your ideas.

8. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2016)

A famous songwriter once said, 'Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power'.

How important is it for us to acknowledge the challenges we face and find ways to cope with them? Write an essay explaining your opinion with relevant examples from your personal experience.

9. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2016)

As a Form Six student, you are considering educational opportunities after your HKDSE. One option you have selected is the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, as you want to take up an acting career. However, your parents would like you to pursue an academic subject at another institution.

As the deadline for submitting the application is approaching, write an email to your parents, who are now on an overseas trip, to convince them to support your choice.

1. You are the chairperson of the Social Service Club in your school. The school would like to develop closer links with the community. Write a letter to your principal, Ms Lee, proposing a new community project that the school can carry out with a home for the elderly in your district.

In your letter, persuade your principal to accept your project by

(i) describing one activity that could be carried out, and (ii) identifying the benefits for the elderly home.

Sign your letter Chris Wong.

2. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2017)

You have just heard this song about opportunities.

Look If you had One shot Or one opportunity To seize everything you ever wanted In one moment Would you capture it Or just let it slip?

You have been inspired to share your feelings about opportunities on your online blog. In your blog, write about one opportunity that you missed and one opportunity that you took.

3. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2017)

You are entering a short story competition on the topic of 'Wildlife'. Your story should describe the events leading up to the image below.

4. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2017)

In your drama lessons, you have been looking at plays about romantic love. Your essay assignment from your drama teacher is to answer the question: Is Romantic Love Necessary for a Happy Marriage?

5. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2017)

Recently the Hong Kong Government published a list of intangible cultural heritage items that the city should protect. The following were on the list:

Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Daily supporting the Government's choice of these two features of Hong Kong culture, suggesting why they are worth protecting and how they can be protected.

6. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2017)

As captain of the debate team, you have been asked to write a debate speech. The task is to argue that 'Watching TV Makes Us Smarter'.

In your speech, you should include three reasons to support the statement.

7. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2017)

You are working on a project entitled 'Hong Kong's NEETs'. NEETs are young people who are not in education, employment or training. Many of these young people spend their time at home playing video games or surfing the Internet.

Write a report to explain why the number of NEETs in Hong Kong is rising and suggest what can be done to help these youths. Give reasons to support your suggestions.

8. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2017)

Unlike swimmers or basketball players, dancers are not traditionally thought of as athletes. As a member of your school's dance team, you have been asked to write an article for your school magazine. Use the title and headings below to support the idea of dancers as athletes.

Dancers Are Athletes

• Physical Strength & Skills
• Self-discipline & Training

9. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2017)

It has recently been claimed that in the workplace, many Hong Kong fresh university graduates are less hard-working and less willing to face challenges compared to those in the past.

You strongly disagree with this opinion. Write a letter to the editor of the Hong Kong Daily disagreeing with this opinion. Support your view with three reasons and/or examples.

1. You are Chris Wong, the class teacher of 6A. You will be taking your class on a school trip next month to sky100, shown in the poster below.

Write a letter to parents, giving them the necessary information about the trip. You may use the mind map to help you write your letter.

2. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2018)

You recently ran the Hong Kong Marathon for the first time.

Write a blog to be posted on the Hong Kong Marathon's website to encourage other young people to take part in the next marathon.

3. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2018)

You are the boss of Reboot Online Company and you have recently received complaints from some staff about the number of work-related emails and text messages received out of office.

Write a letter to staff addressing their complaints.

4. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2018)

You write an advice column for Teen magazine and you have received the following letter:

I've been thinking about my future. I love animals and I've always wanted to be a vet. But when I told my parents, the first thing they said was 'No'. I feel really frustrated. What should I do? – J.C., 16 years old

Write a letter of advice.

5. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2018)

You are representing your school at an inter-school debating competition. The motion is: 'The policy of reporting students' class position should be abolished'.

Write a debate speech arguing for or against the motion.

6. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2018)

'Athleisure' is currently one of the biggest trends in the fashion industry. This is a term for clothes that can be worn both for exercise and as everyday wear.

Write an article for the local newspaper, explaining possible reasons for the rise in popularity of athleisure.

7. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2018)

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) wants to encourage more people to watch stage plays. To do this, they want to show video-recordings of live drama performances from theatres all over the world.

You have just watched one of these recordings. Write an article for Showbiz magazine, discussing whether these recordings are a good way to attract more people to watch stage plays.

8. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2018)

Poetry House is offering a scholarship for ten young writers to attend their summer poetry workshop. The workshop will promote the art and craft of poetry in a creative environment and participants will have a chance to discuss their work with guest poets from around the world.

Write an application letter, explaining your interest in poetry and why you should be selected to take part in this workshop.

9. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2018)

Imagine you are a pet bird in a cage. One day your owner left your bird cage open.

Write a story from the bird's point of view.

1. The Yearbook Committee is putting together a book for all graduating students. The yearbook is a collection of photos and comments about school life, written and submitted by students. When read several years later, the yearbook will remind students of their time at secondary school.

You are a student in Class 6C at Kowloon Secondary School. The committee has asked you to complete the following yearbook entry.

1.1: ACADEMIC LIFE Write about one subject that you enjoyed studying or found challenging.

1.2: STUDENT LIFE Write about what you will miss most about being a student in Class 6C.

2. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2019)

The following excerpt appeared in an article in the Hong Kong Daily Press : 

To participate in today's global economy, companies hire individuals whose skills and talent meet standards of excellence. One hundred years ago, people were hired from within the local community but today the best individuals are hired from around the world.

• Write an essay for your English teacher.
• Explain some of the benefits and challenges international talent brings to Hong Kong society and ways to ensure that people from the local community are not neglected.
• Include a title for your essay.

3. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2019)

The Hong Kong Daily Press invites readers to submit their views on the following topic:

Do social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter encourage or stifle public debate? When first created, social media was thought to be a place where rational debate and logic would thrive. However, as time has shown, this is not always the case.

Write an argumentative essay.

• Choose one side of the argument and state your position, giving reasons and evidence to support your view.

4. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2019)

You are a reporter for the sports section of the Young Post . You were attending the final game of the season between rivals St. George's School and Royal College when something unexpected happened during the game.

• Write a news report.
• Describe the incident and what happened afterwards. Include thoughts and opinions from different people involved.
• Give your report a headline.

5. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2019)

This week's question in the Young Post 's 'Over to You' column is:

Where do you get information about the latest trends in pop culture? Do you turn to newspapers and magazines or do you prefer blogs and videos on social media?

• Write an article for the 'Over to You' column.
• Choose one or two areas of pop culture from the chart below and tell readers where you like to get information about the latest trends. Provide the name of the sources you recommend.
• Give your article a title.

6. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2019)

You are a reporter for the entertainment section of the Young Post . You have been asked to review a new film called Cinderella , which is based on the comic series Princesses of Power .

• Write a review for the film.
• Include a brief description of the plot, how the characters are portrayed in this new version of Cinderella and why the director wanted to make this film.
• Give your review a title.

7. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2019)

Taylor Swift is an award-winning singer-songwriter. In an interview with Parade magazine, she said:

"I wrote the song 'Mean' about a critic who kept giving me really bad reviews. I get that, no matter what, people will criticise what you do. But there are different ways to criticise someone ... and there's a line that you cross when you just start to attack everything about a person."

You lead an after-school arts club. You would like to instruct members on how to review each other's work.

• Write a speech to be delivered to club members.
• Discuss what a critic does, how to give criticism and ways to respond to criticism.
• Give your speech a title.

8. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2019)

You are a volunteer in your local district council office. You have been asked to design a campaign poster for Ricky Kwan, a candidate who will be running in the upcoming council election. You have finished two designs (A and B) and are working on a third (C).

• Write an email to the council election committee.
• Explain the ideas behind designs A and B and how they would make a good campaign theme.
• Share the ideas you have for your third design.
• Include a subject heading for the email.

9. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2019)

Cosmo bookshop is organising a short story contest. The details are below:

In the tale The Tortoise and the Hare , two animals challenge each other to a race to prove who is the fastest. Mid-race, the hare lies down to rest, certain that it will win. The tortoise, though slow, never gives up and crosses the finishing line ahead of the hare. Slow and steady wins the race, as the message of the story goes.

• Rewrite this story.
• Use the same characters but imagine that the tortoise and the hare team up to race against other contestants.
• Express a message through the telling of the story.
• Give your story a title.

You finally got the chance to eat at Hong Kong's hottest new restaurant, Dim Sum One. Write a review for Eat & Drink , an online food guide that allows users to write their own reviews.

• Write about what you liked, what you didn't like and if you would recommend this restaurant.
• You can choose to write about any of the following in your review.

2. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2020)

Some of Hong Kong's housing estates have become extremely popular places to take Instagram photos.

As part of a class assignment, you interviewed Instagrammers and residents at a housing estate which has been listed as one of the top 10 places in Hong Kong to take Instagram photos.

• Write an essay for your assignment.
• Explain what attracts Instagrammers to Hong Kong's housing estates and how residents feel about this.

3. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2020)

In recent years, the number of small independent stationery shops in Hong Kong has fallen.

• Write a news report for the Hong Kong Post .
• Explain this trend and discuss whether independent stationery shops can survive.

4. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2020)

You work for the Park Hotel in Hong Kong. You would like to apply for a work transfer to the Shanghai branch of the hotel.

• Write a letter to Mr Wong, your manager.
• Highlight your work experience , why you would like to transfer and how your transfer will benefit the organisation.

5. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2020)

Some people think that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) should include a greater variety of sports in the Olympic Games. However, for a sport to be considered a new Olympic event, it must meet the following criteria: 1) appeal to young people; 2) promote gender equality; 3) attract media coverage.

The IOC is inviting the public to suggest sports to be included in future Olympics. You would like to propose Dragon Boat Racing.

• Write a letter to the President of the IOC.
• Give reasons to support your opinion.

6. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2020)

To raise public awareness of healthy eating, some countries now legally require food manufacturers to put warning labels on foods that are high in sugar, saturated fat and salt.

• Argue either for or against the effectiveness of food warning labels in changing people's eating habits.

7. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2020)

You are a reporter for Do-Re-Mi , a music magazine. You interviewed Zoe Kwan, who has just won 'Best New Artist' at the HKTV Music Awards.

• Write a feature article based on your interview.
• Report on Zoe's sudden rise to fame and where the ideas behind her songs came from.

8. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2020)

Sci-Fi magazine is organising a First Chapter Competition. The competition involves writing the first chapter of a story based on the following scenario.

A journalist is sent to investigate a research station in the Arctic after staff begin to mysteriously disappear one by one.

• You would like to enter the competition.
• Write only the first chapter of your story.

9. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2020)

You are visiting Hong Kong. Last night, a friend took you to the new Xiqu Centre in West Kowloon Cultural District to watch Chinese Opera. You didn't think you would like it, but after watching the performance, you changed your mind.

• Write a blog post for World Passport , a travel blog about different places and cultures.
• Describe your experience and the impact it had on you.

1. You are helping your school organise the annual school fair. You have been asked to make an announcement about the event during the morning assembly.

Use the poster below to help you write your announcement. In your announcement:

• Introduce the event.
• Describe some of the activities that will take place.
• Let students know how they can help out.

2. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2021)

Although studies show electric cars are more environmentally friendly than petrol cars, less than 3% of all vehicles sold in 2020 worldwide were electric.

Write a letter to the editor of Hong Kong Post .

• Discuss why sales of electric vehicles are so low.
• Suggest what can be done to attract more people to drive these vehicles.

3. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2021)

You work in the sales department at Fast Fashion, an online company that sells clothes. Recently, you have received a number of complaints from customers about the company's no-exchange/no-refund policy.

Write an email to the sales manager.

• Explain why you think this policy should be changed.
• Suggest what changes could be made.
• Discuss ways to prevent customers from taking advantage of the new policy.

4. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2021)

You are a professional athlete looking for a career change. You have seen the job vacancy shown below and would like to apply for the position of Assistant Coach.

Hong Kong Sports Foundation is hiring Assistant Coaches

Main duties:

- to design training programmes for elite athletes - to organise international sporting competitions - to identify and support local talent

Write a job application letter to the Human Resources Manager.

• Introduce yourself and your athletic history.
• Explain your interest and suitability for the job.

5. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2021)

A social media influencer is a person who is paid by a company to promote goods and services through their social media networks.

Surveys show that a majority of millennials trust the advice of social media influencers over traditional media advertisements.

• Discuss whether social media influencers are more trustworthy than traditional media advertisements.
• Give reasons to support your point of view.

6. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2021)

You took part in a social media challenge called 'The 21-day Gratitude Challenge'. For three weeks, you kept a journal about the things you were thankful for on a daily basis.

After completing the challenge, participants are invited to share their experience on the 21-day Gratitude Challenge website.

Write a blog post.

• Explain why you accepted this challenge and what you hoped to achieve.
• Reflect on the 21 days and whether taking on this challenge has changed you in any way.

7. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2021)

You are joining a short story contest organised by a bookshop.

• Write a scary story about a security guard on duty one night.
• Use the pictures to help you write your story. You can use the pictures in any order.

8. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2021)

You read this poem in class and your teacher has asked you to write an essay on the theme of friendship.

New Friends and Old Friends

Use these questions to help you write your essay:

• What is the difference between old and new friendships?
• Do you agree that older friendships are better than new ones?

9. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2021)

You want to be a screenwriter and have an idea for a TV drama series about three generations of a family.

Write a letter to the production manager at TV-Station X.

• Introduce the characters, plot and setting of your TV drama.
• Explain why you think this idea would be popular with viewers.

You work at the Visitor Information Centre at Hong Kong Adventure Farm. Use the map and headings below to help you complete a guide for first-time visitors.

• About Hong Kong Adventure Farm (Write about 50 words.)
• Top three things to see and do (Write about 150 words.)

For questions 2 – 9, choose one question and write about 400 words.

2. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2022)

You are the host of 'Teen Chat', a YouTube channel that explores a wide range of topics from a teenage perspective. Write an article for Teen Magazine about why you started this channel and what you have learned in the process.

3. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2022)

You write an advice column for Jobs Online magazine. A reader submitted the following question:

My dream is to open a café with a few friends, but I've just been offered a promotion at my company. The pay is good, but I'm not that interested in the work. Should I leave now or wait a few years?  —Kam Chai, 25 years old

Write a reply to Kam Chai offering your advice.

4. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2022)

You are the captain of the school's basketball team. Your team made it to the inter-school championship final but came second.

Write a speech to be delivered to the team at the end-of-season dinner celebration.

5. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2022)

The following comment appeared in the editorial of Hong Kong Post :

Young people today lack interest in traditional art forms such as lion dance, calligraphy or the art of tea drinking.

You are the chairperson of your school's Heritage Club. Express your views by writing a letter to the editor of Hong Kong Post .

6. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2022)

The musical group Nine Dragons has asked you to help promote them by writing a bio for their website.

The bio should include background information about the group, style of music and plans for the future.

7. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2022)

As part of your drama class, you played the role of the hero and the villain in different plays.

Write an entry in your drama journal. Reflect on which role you preferred playing and why.

8. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2022)

You entered the 'Stories of Survival' short story competition. The theme of this year's competition is 'Nature: friend or enemy?'

Write a story about a hiker who gets caught in a storm while hiking in the mountains.

9. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2022)

The School Management is considering a four-day school week. Students would only need to attend school four days a week instead of five, but the length of each day would be increased by one hour.

You are a member of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). Write a letter to the President of the PTA stating your opinion either for or against a four-day school week. Give reasons to support your view.

You work for Planet Smart, a company that sells eco-friendly products. Your company wants to set up a pop-up shop inside a shopping centre for three months to promote your products to new customers.

Complete the application form below.

2. Learning English through Sports Communication (DSE 2023)

While tai chi is a popular activity in Hong Kong, it is less known in some parts of the world.

Write an article for International Travel magazine, introducing the benefits of tai chi to tourists.

3. Learning English through Popular Culture (DSE 2023)

Anime Expo, Hong Kong's biggest anime, manga and video game exhibition, was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre last weekend. As a school reporter, you attended the event and interviewed some people dressed in cosplay.

Write an article for your school magazine.

4. Learning English through Debating (DSE 2023)

The following topic was discussed at a debate workshop:

Some employers use cameras and computer software to monitor what employees are doing in the workplace. How do you think this affects productivity and job satisfaction?

Write an essay about the pros and cons of monitoring employees in the workplace.

5. Learning English through Short Stories (DSE 2023)

Fairy tales and fables teach us how to find love, survive family conflicts, defeat the rich and powerful and live happily ever after.

Write an essay to explain how reading these kinds of stories has taught you important lessons about life.

6. Learning English through Drama (DSE 2023)

In your drama class, you and your classmates had to perform a 10-minute comedy sketch without a script or any preparation time. It was your first time doing improvisation.

Write a diary entry about this experience.

7. Learning English through Social Issues (DSE 2023)

A survey found that the majority of Hong Kong people in their 60s would like to have the option to work past the retirement age of 65. In contrast, there is a growing number of young people whose goal is to retire in their 30s or 40s.

Write a news article for the Hong Kong Daily about these different views towards retirement.

8. Learning English through Poems and Songs (DSE 2023)

Contestants in a song-writing competition complained when a song created by artificial intelligence (AI) software won first prize.

Write a letter to the editor on whether computer-generated songs should be allowed to compete in such competitions.

9. Learning English through Workplace Communication (DSE 2023)

You work for Restaurant Business magazine. You interviewed a restaurant owner about his/her experiences of running a business during the pandemic.

Write a feature article for the magazine.

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School newspaper article

Types of writing for your school newspaper.

A school newspaper is a great project and a good opportunity for all students to learn something new. This includes getting to know different types of texts and trying them out right away. Many questions come up: How do I write a report? What is a news story? How do I conduct an interview? We have compiled a small list of text types in the school newspaper. This will help you to find your way around.

Different types of writing

When you have an idea of what you want to write about, you first research all the facts. From the collected information you then formulate your article. There are different types of texts you can choose from. Which one you choose depends on what you want to achieve with your text and how much material you have. We present you the 10 most important text types:

1: News item The message informs briefly and crisply about the most important facts of an event. In it, you really only answer the four W-questions and H-question: Who? What? When? Where? How? Why? A message is formulated neutrally. This means that you do not say in the message what you yourself think of the event. An example from everyday school life: your school's volleyball team participated in the city championships last weekend and came in second. This is exactly the information that the short message about it would contain.

2: Interview In an interview, you reproduce a conversation that you have had with a person on a particular topic. What this person has to say is interesting because, for example, he or she is the cause or the victim of a problem. Imagine that the principal of your school decides to cut the big break by five minutes. Then it's exciting to find out why he's doing this. But then you also want to know what the people affected - in this case students and teachers - think about it. You can therefore conduct an interview with both parties to present their respective points of view. Often a third person is also interesting: the expert. He or she can explain backgrounds and contexts to you in an interview. Example: The bus schedule has changed. The buses with the students now arrive at the school five minutes later in the morning, so the first lesson can only start five minutes later. An employee of the bus company can explain to you in an interview why the bus schedule has been changed. Preparation is important for a good interview. Think about the topics you want to learn more about. You can already think of a few questions to ask. Be careful, though: Your interviewer probably won't have an answer to all your questions. Be prepared to ask follow-up questions during the interview to find out exactly what your interviewer means. Sometimes the interviewer will answer questions that you haven't asked yet. Of course, you should not ask these again later. It's best to record the interview with your smartphone. Then you don't have to take notes and can concentrate fully on your interviewer. However, be sure to ask him or her for permission to record the interview in advance. You can transcribe (write down) the recorded interview later. If necessary, you can summarize or shorten the individual answers so that they are easier to read and understand. Make sure, however, that you do not change the meaning of the statement. It is best to show the transcribed version of the interview to your interviewee and get his or her permission before publishing it.

3: A reportage In a report, the writer tells about an event that he or she has experienced or a topic that concerns him or her. You can tell how you experienced an event, what you think about it, and what others think about it. Or you can accompany an interesting person for a day and then write a report about what that person does, thinks and feels. The goal of a report is to give the reader the feeling of being there. You can achieve this by describing the situation in detail. Ask yourself questions such as: What did you experience? Who did what? What was the role of those involved? How did you feel about it? What was the atmosphere like? What do other people involved report? - To be able to answer all these questions, a report is usually long and detailed. It often takes up several pages in a magazine and contains many photos. A report usually takes a look behind the scenes. For your school newspaper, for example, you can write a report on important school events, such as the school concert or the graduation ball, for which you accompany the participants for a day.

4: Comment If a topic moves you and you want to make your own opinion clear, write a comment. It is important that you support your personal opinion with facts and arguments. That means that you prove why you hold this opinion. Let's take the example of shortening the break by five minutes again. If you write in your comment that you think the director's decision is stupid because you'll have less time to play, that's not very convincing. However, if a study has shown that students learn better when they have longer breaks, you can justify your opinion well. You can write a comment on anything that moves you. Mostly, however, you write it when something pisses you off. By the way: If you regularly publish a commentary in the school newspaper on a variety of topics, it is called a column. You are then a columnist.

5: Preview In a preview, you present, for example, which movies will be released this year or which books will be published. Even if you make an overview of all important school dates at the beginning of the school year, that is a preview. When you write a preview, it is especially important that you keep it short and to the point. This will arouse your readers' curiosity so that they can hardly wait for the book, the film or the next issue of your school newspaper.

6: Review When the eagerly awaited movie or the new book in your favorite series is finally released, write a review. In it, you explain whether you would recommend the book or movie to your readers. Also explain why you think it's good or not good at all.

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