Articles, Reports, Speeches and Debates for Grade Twelve

Students preparing for the class twelve board exams in English should know that good articles have a logical flow of ideas and arguments; a smooth transition of sentences and paragraphs, along with a unity of structure (a well-defined introduction, followed by the argument, and a sound conclusion). A good article has a ‘voice’, it is neatly written without too many grammar and spelling errors. A well-planned article will have fewer errors, and therefore fewer cancellations, and overwriting. It makes good sense to use a blank sheet for rough work to list value points to be used under each of the three paragraphs. Students should use sensible vocabulary without being too pompous, and stick to the word limits, exceeding the word limit by ten to twenty words should not result in a penalty.

Learning Tasks:

1. Determine whether the question in the paper will lead to a discursive article, an opinion based article, or a descriptive article; it could also be a factual report, a speech or debate.

Some of the descriptive/discursive/factual articles that appear in the board exam could include topics like International terrorism, Bio-Terrorism, A.I.D.S., Pollution, Population Crisis, Unemployment, Crime against Women, Literacy, Communalism …etc. 

The purely factual descriptions include reports, descriptions of concepts, The definition of a good leader, Genetic Research, Gene-Therapy, Renewable and Non-Renewable Energy Sources, E-Commerce, Immunization, Global Warming, A visit to an Old age home…etc. It would, however, be wrong to assume that articles might belong only to one category - thus a question dealing with the ‘Impact of Social Networking sites’ can be either discursive, descriptive, or even both while an article on Global Warming can be an opinion-based article. Factual descriptions include reports, description of processes, ancient monuments, biographies and so on. If a student was asked to write an article on Refraction or Optical Illusion, then it would be more factual than opinion-based - the same goes for an article on Photosynthesis, Mutation, and even a description of fuel cell technology.

2. Identify a suitable title for the article. It should be catchy, interesting and crisp!
A catchy title will draw the reader's attention. It goes without saying that the title is a window into the article itself, so be sure to make your title not just catchy, but also crisp!

3. Supply the name of the writer, the "By" line, in many cases, the name is in the question itself.
Attribution is an important element of article writing, so don't forget to write the by-line, otherwise, someone else might claim that he is the original writer of your article!

4. Start listing value points under the three headings for three paragraphs, the first being the introduction, the second is the analysis, and the third is the conclusion.

Important Elements of the Article include:

1. A Suitable Title (This should be a minimum of two words but not exceeding five)
2. Name of the writer or the 'By' line ( The name provided in the question is to be used, if it is not there in the question, then the student will supply a name.)
3. The first paragraph of your article introduces the topic. It includes a brief description of the impact of the problem, a definition, (immediate impact on the society, the environment and flora and fauna). This paragraph sets the tone of the article, it can also include the thesis statement.
4. The second paragraph will analyze the problem from a broader perspective. It deals with a greater emphasis on the following points (some of which were touched upon in the first paragraph): a) Impact on the environment, society, flora and fauna b) future implications. This paragraph brings out the conflict, the argument and could provide the antithesis to the first paragraph.Steps that were taken by the Government to solve the problem. Facts, data, and statistics are provided in this paragraph.
5. The third paragraph deals with The writer's suggestions on how to solve the problem. conclusion about the whole issue, and the writer’s perceptions about the topic.All the loose ends, queries, and doubts are tied up in the concluding paragraph. This paragraph provides the synthesis of the first paragraph and the second paragraph.

Learning Targets

1. I can describe my ideas clearly and logically with supporting evidence.

2. I can write an article within the prescribed number of words and cover all the value points.

3. I am aware of the importance of having transitions in my article.

4. I use appropriate words in my article to convey my observations effectively.

3. I am aware of the five parts of an article which include: The title, the by line, the first paragraph or the introduction, the second paragraph or the body of arguments/data/evidence and the third paragraph which is the conclusion.

 

Check List

1. My article has a catchy title that has a minimum of two words not exceeding five words.

2. My article has the name of the writer in the by-line.

3. My first paragraph/introductory paragraph contains the thesis statement/statement of the topic

4. My second paragraph contains/states the antithesis - argument, conflict and includes the body of evidence/data/examples/information.

5. My third paragraph or the concluding paragraph contains the synthesis/the conclusion in which you have addressed the issue/conflicts/ideas expressed in the first and the second paragraph (where you take the first paragraph and the second paragraph and create a conclusion).

Now attempt the below-mentioned question. The question appeared many years back in one of the CBSE question papers for grade 12, English Core. At that time the word limit was 150-200 words and the question was for 10 marks. Today the same question would be for 5 marks, hence the student would be required to write the answer in fewer words.

Morning assembly in schools gives a cool and calm start to the otherwise hectic schedule of the day. It can be a means of passing on important information to the students. What are your views on this significant event of the day? Write an article in 100-125 words on the ‘Importance of Morning Assembly. You are Navtej/Navita.  5 Marks

The suggested number of words for each paragraph:

1^st paragraphs 30 – 35 words

2^nd paragraph 40-45 words

3^rd paragraph 30-35 words

Suggested value points for the topic: Communication in the I.T.Age:

The first Paragraph or the Introduction can be based on the following headings:
What is communication? It refers to the effective transmission of information
1. Means of communication in the past: horseback, smoke signals, semaphores, the electric telegraph, radio …etc.
2. Means of communication in the IT age: microwave, blue tooth, Classroom Wi-Fi, internet…etc.

The second Paragraph or the analysis, argument or justification could be based on the 
following headings:
Analysis of communication in I.T. age: The advantages
1. Communication has become fast - Vast quantities of information can be exchanged-Broadband,
    Wi-Fi Technology has boosted the  Speed of signals, microwave radio waves
2. Students are able to explore the whole world and do research
3.  It has a classroom which is better connected to reality
4. Education without Boundaries
5. Transfer of Money
6. Browsing of books, study material,
7. Exchange of notes in medical research
8. Conferencing
9. Instant communication with pictures
10. Effective means of communication
11. The World as a global village
The Third and concluding paragraph could include the following points:
The benefit of  Communication in the I.T. age
1.  brings the rural communities into the mainstream
2.  educate rural communities
3.  provide solutions
4. Meteorological forecast
5. Communication
6. Pricing of Farm Produce
7. Illiteracy
8. Global Classroom
9. Basic tailor-made solution to cultural problems
10. To provide rural students with sufficient study material
11. Commerce-online transaction
12. Concluding statement:
I.T. has changed the entire society.We have come a long way from the time when we sent smoke signals. The Internet has transformed communication, it has become more effective and faster and more reliable.

Suggested Value points for an article on Global Terrorism could include the following value points:

The First Paragraph: The Introduction:
1. What is terrorism- the definition
2. Brief history
3.Few examples from recent times
The Second Paragraph: The Analysis
1. The impact of terrorism on human life
2. History of terrorism (I.R.A., P.L.O…etc.)
3. Present-day examples (detailed-with specific instances)
4. Steps that were already taken by the Government to solve the problem.
The Third Paragraph, the conclusion could include the following value points:
Suggested Steps to solve the problem
1.Democratic methods
2.Sanctions
3.Educate the masses
4.Dialogue
5.Military option

6. Concluding Sentence or sentences which summarize the whole article briefly.

Suggested Value Point for an article on Smart Skills or Smart Strategies:

Work Smarter, not Harder!

By Kunwar

1^st Paragraph- Introduction

Thesis Statement: Smart Work Helps you Achieve Success Easily

a. What is Smart Work?

   smart strategies

   smart Habits

   sound time management Skills

 

 2^nd. Paragraph

Antithesis Statement : Is Smart work better thank Hard work?

a.  Why Smart Work?

      It helps you achieve success w/o too much effort

      It improves efficiency

      Examples/instances/anecdotes

      Robert the Bruce was inspired by the spider

      The Trojan Horse-example of smart strategies by the Greeks

 

b. How to work smart?

      Identify problem areas

      Adopt a smart strategy

       Prepare yourself for change in work ethics

 

c. Tips/Suggestions for smart Strategies

 

      Smart planning includes micro planning and macro planning

      Prioritizing Work includes tackling problem areas first

      Taking guidance from a mentor or a subject expert

      Assessing performance regularly

      Revising strategies

 

 

 

3^rd Paragraph

Synthesis Statement: Smart Strategies and Smart Work are Far Better than Hard Work!

 

 a. Advantages of working smart- Statements about how smart can be the best solution/in times of stress, deadlines, uncertainty/pandemic/the only solution is Smart Work. When you are against the wall, when there is too much work/when you are running against multiple deadlines, the only way out depend on adopting smart strategies!

 b. Concluding Statement

“Sometimes in life it is better to be lazy than to plod like Tom because life is too precious to  waste on hard work!”- Rodrick

 

 

Important Note for Speech and Debates:

Learning Targets:

By the end of the lesson I can:

1. Express my views effectively, concisely and precisely

2. Compare a speech with a debate

3. Argue, support and prove my point of view effectively

4. Show a visible transition from the introduction of a point to the body of supporting evidence argument and then a transition to an appropriate conclusion to wind up.

Students should note that the formats for Speechwriting, Debate writing and article writing are quite similar except for the following distinctions:

Speech Writing:

• The opening sentence and the closing sentence are different from that of the article. In a speech, you would use a more conversational style or voice because you are addressing a visible audience. Ideally, you would start by greeting the audience and then introducing yourself and the topic. Look at the example as under: "Respected Principal, respected teachers, and my dear friends, a very good morning to all of you! Today, I, Keshav Kumar of class 12-A am going to deliver a speech for morning assembly on the topic, 'How much information should we share on social networking sites.' I hope I will be able to do justice to the topic."

           

• The closing sentence of a speech would be: " I would like to thank all of you for listening to me so patiently, have a wonderful day!"

• Students should note that in a speech, the student is at liberty in not taking a specific stance towards a particular topic. He or she might give equal importance to the positives and negatives.

Debate Writing:

• The opening sentence of a debate is different from that of an article because like in the speech, the student is addressing a visible audience. Unlike the article, the voice would be more conversational and unlike the speech, where the voice is more conciliatory, the voice in the debate is more firm and aggressive. An example of how an opening sentence would look like in a debate is: "Respected Judges, respected teachers, and my fellow students, I am Keshav Kumar a  participant in this debate. The topic before me is, "We should allow students to bring their mobile phones to school" and I am going to speak for the motion. I am sure I will be able to convince my opponents and all of you that what I argue holds true for everyone."

• A good debate like a good speech should have a closing sentence, and one of the most common closing sentences could be: " I would like to thank all of you for listening to me so patiently, and I am confident that I  have been able to convince you adequately, though there will be exceptions! Have a good  day!"

• While the voice in the debate is the most aggressive voice of all, one has to ensure that etiquette is maintained and one's tone is not derisive or too sarcastic! One can use subtle sarcasm, tongue in cheek, or even irony without appearing to be insulting or cheeky!

The Inverted Pyramid Format-What do you put in each paragraph, how are the value points different in a report?

Note: 

In the report, The inverted Pyramid has its broadest part on top. This is because the introduction though short has most of the value points clustered together.seems to be the smallest part of the report. It, however, has most of the value points!

Note: A report might be written in three or more paragraphs. The number of paragraphs does not matter as long as there is a distinct Introduction, Main Body or Analysis and The Conclusion. 

Every Article, Debate, and Speech is built like a burger. The top half of the bun is the introduction, the stuffing is the Body and the bottommost bun is the conclusion.

The analogy of the fish can also be used to explain the flow of ideas in Articles, Debates, Speeches and even Reports. The head of the fish is the Introduction, the fish gets a taste of its food The body of the fish can be compared to the middle of the write-up, the stomach which digests the food, it is the main body of the article which contains the analysis of the topic, while the tail of the fish is the conclusion this is where you tie up all your arguments, your loose threads or points.

Steps for building up an effective argument in a debate:

Note: The workshop model of writing can be of great help to students who want to improve their quality of writing. To understand the workshop model of writing better, students can refer to the 6+1 traits of writing. A good article should have the following elements:

1. Voice: The personal tone, message of the writer, does he or she have a conversational tone?
2. Idea: The main message, is the message clear? Is the writer clear about his ideas, and arguments?
3. Presentation: The appearance of the writing, flow, handwriting, neatness...etc
4. Conventions: The mechanical correctness (Grammatical structure, Syntax). Grammatical fluency cannot be ignored. Some students mix tenses.
5. Organization: Internal Structure, flow, transitions, paragraphs (introduction, body, conclusion)
6. Word Choice: Word usage, use of appropriate words which communicate the idea best. 
7. Sentence Fluency: The rhythm and flow of language (Semantics)

Some topics for practice in article writing are given below:

1. You are Samarth/Akshita a student of grade twelve. You have been following Greta Thunberg recently and believe that Global Warming needs to be tackled on a priority basis. Write an article in 150 to 200 words on why you think we need to tackle global warming immediately. Supply a catchy title.

2. Akarshit/Seema, a student of grade eleven has observed how careful planning and smart strategies can help students score better in their exams than mere hard work. Write an article in 150-200 words on why smart strategies are better than mere hard work.

3. Recently you attended a rally in which people were protesting against increasing levels of air pollution. They were demonstrating in favour of the right to breathe clean air. You were particularly impressed by the rally and learned a lot about the actual causes of air pollution. Write an article on the same in 150-200 words, you are Anukriti/Anukrit a student of grade twelve.

4. You are Sourish/Rekha, a student of grade eleven and you are concerned about how rumours on social networking sites have led to the lynching of innocent people in the country. The dissemination of fake news on social networking sites has caused a lot of harm. Write an article in 150-200 words warning your readers to beware of fake news on social networking sites.

5. Recently you read an interesting article about the discovery of a subglacial lake on the planet Mars. You are interested in the possibility of colonising the planet Mars. Write an article for your school magazine in 150-200 words with an interesting title about how the planet Mars can be a home for mankind, you are Rakesh/Roshni, a student of class twelve.

Some topics for practice in Debate writing:

1. Marks are the only criteria for success in life

2. The Corona Virus Pandemic has caused more harm than good

3. Honesty is the only criteria for success in life

4. Homeschooling is better than traditional schooling.

5. Sex education should be mandatory in schools.

6. Social media is an ideal medium for expressing one's self.

7. Self-study is the only means for success in competitive exams.

8. Animal testing for vaccines and medicines should be banned.

9. Demonetisation was a blessing for the country.

10. Virtual learning is the only solution in times of crisis.

11. The media can make or break celebrities

12. Freedom of speech is a myth in a democracy

13. Brands rule our lives

14. The banning of Chinese products is the only solution to the ongoing crisis in Ladakh

15. Technology is a boon

16. Beauty pageants should be banned

17. Technology leads to unemployment

18. LGBT rights should be legalized

19. E-learning is a substitute for classroom learning

20. Exams have killed  the joy of education

21. Education is about developing career skills

22. Exams in schools and colleges should be abolished

23. Studying in an A-grade school guarantees success in life

24. There should be no advertisements on kid's channels

25. People should be fined according to their income

26. Eat to live is the only purpose of life

27. The "Me too" movement has gone too far

28. Fairy tales affect children's reality perception therefore they should be banned

29. Advertisements for cosmetic products target a false perception of beauty

A Model Debate (just for reference)

Respected judges, fellow contestants, and the worthy audience, I, Rudra Kumar, am participating in this debate competition, the topic of which is, "Brands rule our lives". I am going to speak for the motion to prove the opposition wrong. In this context, I would like to draw your attention to my worthy sparring partner from the opposition who has put on Prada shoes, Gucci Goggles and a pair of branded jeans. Is that not proof enough that he is obsessed with brands?

I am not mincing words when I claim that brands rule our lives indeed! The opposition in this competition provides the context for my argument! And anyway, I would like to ask anyone from the audience if he or she would not prefer to buy branded merchandise if provided the opportunity. What would you like to wear to school, a local brand of jeans or an international brand of jeans? Let us be honest folks, and let us ignore the opposition who have proved themselves to be the greatest hypocrites, indeed, we all favour brands and labels in our lives. Brands rule our lives, we live to buy branded clothes and goods. Our peers, our family, the society at large encourages us to go for branded products.

To conclude, look let us not be fooled by facts or even appearances, (thanks to the opposition) we are obsessed with brands. You are part of the 'cool' crowd if you are wearing Guccis, Pradas, Levis, or even Channel, but then if you are not, then you had better join the looser's gang. If you don't wear or own branded stuff, then you are probably poor, underprivileged and not likely to have many friends. So, my dear friends in the audience, and my dear opposition, let's face it, Brands rule our lives! I know I have convinced all of you on the matter. Thank you for listening to me so patiently, have a great day!

                                                            A model counter argument

Respected judges, fellow contestants, and the worthy audience, I, Rudra Kumar, am participating in this debate competition, the topic of which is, "Brands rule our lives". I am going to speak against the motion to prove the opposition wrong. In this context, I would like to draw your attention to my worthy sparring partner from the opposition who has put on a Khadi Kurta, cotton pyjamas, traditional shoes and is carrying a Khadi Sling bag-strange indeed knowing that they will speak for the motion.

I wouldn't be mincing words if I stated categorically that Brands do not rule wise lives! Looking at the way the gentleman in the opposition is dressed, it would make you believe that they are wise. I know, they will claim that brands rule our lives and they have put on traditional clothes to prove their point. However, how sure can you be that they don't have branded merchandise lying in their closets at home? Would anyone like to bet? No, I guess not. Well, to move on in support of my argument, I would like to give the example of Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, who in spite of his greatness did not wear branded clothes or evens shoes. He was a wise man who knew it would be foolishness to own branded merchandise. He went around in dhoti-kurta and traditional jooties because he didn't allow brands to rule his lives. 

I would like to conclude my debate by reiterating my argument that brands do not rule the lives of people, at least those who have an iota of wisdom in them. Brands can only rule the fickle-minded, self-obsessed people. All the great people in this world have risen above this childish obsession for branded goods. I exhort all of you to become swadeshi, accept the goodness of khadi. I am sure I have convinced you on this matter. Thank you so much and have a great day.

The latest CBSE distribution of marks for articles and reports is given below.

Format; 1 Mark

Organisation of ideas : 1 Mark

Content: 2 Marks

Accuracy of Spellings and Grammar : 1 Mark

You can also read the following articles as examples of frequently given questions in the paper:

1. http://rodrickwrites.blogspot.in/2010/06/are-we-headed-towards-apocalypse.html

2. http://rodrickwrites.blogspot.in/2011/07/impact-of-terrorism.html

3.https://rodrickwrites.blogspot.in/2013/07/climate-change-myth-or-reality.html

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