Checkpoint 6 · Paper 1 writing (non-fiction)

Magazine Article

How to write a magazine article for Checkpoint 6 Paper 1: headline, strapline, byline, hook, subheadings and a strong ending, with a plan, phrases and a strong sample.

British & IGCSE › Checkpoint 6 English (Cambridge Primary 0058)

1. What is a magazine article, and where does it appear?

A magazine article is a piece of non-fiction written for the readers of a magazine, for example a school magazine or a children's magazine. It explores a topic (a hobby, a problem, an idea, a place) in an interesting way. It can inform, entertain, advise or persuade, often all at once. Unlike a news report, it is not about one event that happened yesterday: it can be about anything the readers care about, and the writer's own voice and opinion are welcome.

Purpose: to interest and inform (and sometimes to persuade or advise) a particular group of readers. Audience: whoever reads that magazine. In the exam, this is often pupils of your own age, so your tone should be lively and friendly but still well organised.

Where magazine articles sit in the exam

An article is Paper 1 (Non-fiction) writing. Paper 1 lasts 1 hour: Section A Reading (25 marks) and Section B Writing (25 marks), with about 30 minutes suggested for the writing.
Article is one of the non-fiction text types that can be set. Tasks often say where the writing will appear ("for your school magazine", "for a children's magazine"), and that tells you the audience.
G.A.A.P. golden rule: use article features (headline, strapline, byline, subheadings) only when the task names an article or a magazine. Never add a greeting or a sign-off to an article.

2. How a magazine article is marked (out of 25)

An article is marked with the same five categories as every Checkpoint writing task.

Category (official name)	Marks	What the bands ask for (in simple words)	What it means for this genre
Creation of texts	5	Low: little link to the task. Middle: relevant ideas, some of them explained. Top: every point in the task is covered and developed, the tone suits the reader all the way through, and the writing keeps the reader interested.	Cover every task point in detail, write for the magazine's readers (e.g. children your age), keep a lively voice and give your opinion. Facts, examples and a quotation make the content convincing.
Vocabulary and language	3	Low: simple words, often repeated. Middle: some well-chosen words that suit the text type. Top: precise, interesting words chosen for their effect on the reader.	Precise topic words (recycle, reusable, waste) plus words chosen for effect (mountain of rubbish, shocking).
Structure of texts (the teacher's older name: Text structure)	7	Low: few or no paragraphs. Middle: paragraphs in a sensible order with simple links. Top: well-organised paragraphs that link smoothly, a strong opening and ending, and the correct layout for the text type.	Headline, strapline and byline, a hook in the first paragraph, subheadings in a logical order, and a strong final line.
Grammar and punctuation (the teacher's older name: Sentence structure, punctuation and grammar)	7	Low: mostly simple sentences with many errors. Middle: some variety, mostly correct verbs and full stops. Top: a range of sentence types used for effect, correct verb tenses and a range of punctuation used correctly.	A range of sentences: questions, commands (Bring a reusable bottle.), complex sentences. Correct punctuation of quotations, commas in lists and after openers, plus a colon or a pair of dashes.
Word structure (spelling)	3	Low: many common words spelt wrongly. Middle: most common words correct. Top: nearly all words correct, including longer, ambitious words.	Check article words: environment, rubbish, plastic, recycle, believe, especially, government.

Three marking rules you must know

Wrong text type = heavy penalty. If the task asks for a magazine article and you write something else, Creation of texts is capped at 1 mark and Structure of texts is capped too (at 3, or 2 if the content is also off-task).
Length: 20 words or fewer scores 0, and 21–60 words can score no more than 7 out of 25. A full answer is several developed paragraphs.
Your plan is not marked. Plan quickly, then spend your time on the writing itself.

3. Features of a magazine article

Feature	What it does	Example
Headline	A short, catchy title that grabs attention (often a pun, a question or a command).	Bin the Bottle!
Strapline (under the headline)	One line that adds more detail.	Five easy ways Year 6 can beat plastic at school
Byline	Tells you who wrote it.	By Mariam Hossam, Year 6
Hook in the first paragraph	A question, a surprising fact or a scene that pulls the reader in.	Picture this: a mountain of plastic bottles as tall as our school gate.
Subheadings	Break the article into clear sections.	Why plastic is a problem / What we can do
Direct address (you, your)	Speaks to the reader like a friend.	You can start tomorrow morning.
Facts and numbers	Make the article believable.	A plastic bottle can take hundreds of years to break down.
Quotation from a person	Adds an expert's or a pupil's voice.	"Every bottle counts," says Mr Fathy.
Writer's opinion	Shows the writer's voice.	In my opinion, this is the easiest change of all.
Rhetorical question	Makes the reader think.	Is a cold drink really worth all that rubbish?
Strong ending	A call to action or a memorable last line.	So, bin the bottle – before it bins our planet.

	Magazine article	Newspaper report
Purpose	To interest, inform, advise or persuade about a topic.	To inform readers about a recent event.
Voice	Lively and personal. The writer's opinion is welcome.	Formal and neutral. The reporter keeps opinions out.
Headline	Catchy: a pun, a question, a command.	States the main fact clearly.
Structure	Headline, strapline, byline, hook, subheadings, strong ending.	Headline, opening paragraph with who/what/where/when/why, then less important details.
Talks to the reader?	Yes: you, your, questions.	No.
Time	Any topic, not only something that just happened.	A specific, recent event.

4. How to structure a magazine article

Part	What to write	Example
Headline + strapline + byline	Catchy headline, one-line strapline, By + your name.	Bin the Bottle! / Five easy ways… / By Mariam Hossam, Year 6
Paragraph 1: the hook	A scene, a question or a surprising fact, then say what the article is about.	Picture this: … So what can we do about it?
Section 1 (subheading): task point 1	Explain the topic or the problem, with a fact and an example.	Why plastic is a problem
Section 2 (subheading): task point 2	Ideas, tips or examples for the reader (a short numbered list works well).	Five easy changes
Section 3 (subheading): task point 3	A quotation, your opinion and why it matters.	Does it really make a difference?
Conclusion	A call to action or a final line that links back to the headline.	So, bin the bottle – before it bins our planet.

Use G.A.A.P.: Genre = article, Audience = the magazine's readers, Area of content = the task points, Purpose = inform / advise / persuade.
Give each task point its own subheading. That gives you structure marks almost for free.
Plan one fact, one quotation and one rhetorical question before you start.
Write the headline at the end if you cannot think of one. The best headlines often come from your last line.
Keep talking to the reader: you, your, let's.

5. How to start and how to end

Headlines and straplines

[Number] Easy Ways to [goal]
The Truth About [topic]
Why Every Child Should Try [topic]
Strapline: Everything you need to know about…

Hooks

Picture this: …
Have you ever wondered why…?
Did you know that…?
It is 7:30 in the morning, and the school gate is already…

Endings

So, what are you waiting for?
Next time you…, remember: …
If every pupil in our school…, imagine the difference we could make.
One thing is certain: …

6. Useful phrases and strong vocabulary

Giving facts and examples

According to…, …
For example, …
Experts say that…
"…," says [name], [job].

Talking to the reader

You might be thinking…
Let's be honest: …
Whether you are… or…, …
Here is the good news: …

Giving your opinion

In my view, …
I strongly believe that…
The best part is that…

Word / phrase	Meaning / use
environment	the natural world around us: land, air, water, animals
pollution	dirt or harmful things in the air, water or land
reusable	can be used again and again
recycle	to make used things into new things
waste	rubbish, things thrown away
habit	something you do often, almost without thinking
shocking	very surprising in a bad way
harmful	causing damage
encourage	to make someone want to do something
solution	a way to solve a problem
effective	it works well
make a difference	to change something for the better
generation	all the people born around the same time
campaign	planned activities to change something

7. Timing in the exam

Time (Writing section, about 30 minutes)	What to do
0–5 min	G.A.A.P.: underline the Genre, the Audience, every point in the Area of content, and the Purpose. Write a short plan (one line per paragraph).
5–25 min	Write. Write for about 20 minutes: 4–6 paragraphs, about 250–350 words.
25–30 min	Check: layout, every task point covered, full stops and capital letters, commas, apostrophes, spelling of key words.

8. Strong sample: magazine article

Magazine article: beating plastic at school304 words · Strong answer — Creation 5/5 · Vocabulary 3/3 · Structure 7/7 · Grammar & punctuation 7/7 · Spelling 3/3

Task: Your school magazine is planning a special issue called "Our Planet". Write an article for pupils your age about plastic waste at school. In your article you should: • explain why plastic waste is a problem • suggest ways pupils can use less plastic • explain why small changes can make a big difference.

Bin the Bottle!

Five easy ways Year 6 can beat plastic at school

By Mariam Hossam, Year 6

Picture this: a mountain of plastic bottles as tall as our school gate. That is roughly how many bottles our canteen sells in one term. Most of them are used for five minutes, then thrown away. So, what can we do about it?

Why plastic is a problem

Plastic is strong, light and cheap, which is exactly why it is so harmful. A plastic bottle can take hundreds of years to break down. Until then, it sits in rubbish dumps, blows into streets or floats down the Nile to the sea, where turtles and fish can mistake it for food. Is a cold drink really worth all that?

Five easy changes

Here is the good news: beating plastic does not need money or special equipment. You can start tomorrow.

1. Bring a reusable water bottle and fill it at the school water fountain.

2. Pack your sandwich in a lunch box instead of cling film.

3. Say "No, thank you" to plastic straws in the canteen.

4. Use the recycling bins in the playground (the blue ones are for plastic).

5. Encourage your family to take cloth bags to the supermarket.

Does it really make a difference?

You might be thinking that one bottle is nothing. However, small changes add up. If every pupil in our school saved just one bottle a day, we would save more than three thousand bottles every week. "Every bottle counts," says Mr Fathy, our science teacher. "When children change their habits, their families often change too."

In my view, this is the easiest way for our generation to protect the planet. So, next time you feel thirsty, reach for your own bottle. Bin the bottle – before it bins our planet!

Why this gets the marks

Creation of texts 5/5: all three task points have their own developed section: why plastic is a problem (facts and the turtle example), five practical ways to use less, and why small changes matter (a calculation and a quotation). The writer knows her readers (pupils at her school: the canteen, the blue bins) and gives her own opinion (In my view…).
Vocabulary 3/3: precise topic words (reusable, recycling, cling film, generation) and words chosen for effect (a mountain of plastic bottles, harmful, Bin the bottle).
Structure 7/7: every article feature is used (headline, strapline, byline, a hook, three subheadings in a logical order from problem to solutions to why it matters, a numbered list for the tips, and an ending that echoes the headline).
Grammar & punctuation 7/7: rhetorical questions, commands in the tips (Bring…, Pack…), complex sentences (If every pupil in our school saved just one bottle a day, we would…), a colon for explanation (Here is the good news: …), commas in a list, brackets for extra information, a single dash for emphasis in the last line, and a correctly punctuated quotation split by "says Mr Fathy".
Spelling 3/3: reusable, equipment, encourage, supermarket, thousand, generation, thirsty, all correct.

9. Common mistakes

Mistake	Why it loses marks	Fix
Starting with Dear readers, and ending with Yours sincerely,	Letter layout in an article = wrong text type.	Headline, strapline, byline. Finish with a strong last line.
Writing it like a news report (only facts, no voice)	The purpose and audience of a magazine are missed.	Talk to the reader, add your opinion and a question.
A dull headline (Plastic)	The opening does not grab attention.	Use a command, pun or question: Bin the Bottle!
No subheadings	Structure of texts stays in the middle band.	One subheading per task point.
Made-up numbers that are impossible (a bottle lasts a million years)	The content becomes unconvincing.	Use careful words: hundreds of years, many, more than…
Quotation without punctuation	Grammar & punctuation marks are lost.	"Every bottle counts," says Mr Fathy.

10. Checklist before you hand in

I wrote a catchy headline, a strapline and a byline.
My first paragraph has a hook and tells the reader the topic.
Every task point has its own subheading and developed section.
I included a fact, an example and a quotation.
I spoke to the reader (you / your) and used at least one rhetorical question.
My opinion is clear, and my ending is strong (a call to action or a link to the headline).
There is no greeting or sign-off.
I checked quotation marks, commas, full stops and spelling.

كيف تكتب Magazine Article يحصل على الدرجة الكاملة

ابدأ بعنوان رئيسي جذاب (Headline)، وتحته سطر واحد (Strapline)، ثم كلمة By واسمك.
الفقرة الأولى يجب أن تحتوي على hook: سؤال أو معلومة مدهشة أو مشهد (Picture this: …).
اجعل لكل نقطة في السؤال عنواناً فرعياً (subheading) مع تفاصيل وأمثلة.
أضف معلومة (fact) واقتباساً من شخص ورأيك الشخصي، وخاطب القارئ بـ you.
لا تكتب Dear ولا Yours sincerely، فهذا مقال وليس خطاباً.

11. Practice tasks

Task A: A children's magazine is publishing articles called "Get Active!". Write an article encouraging children your age to do more sport. You should: • explain why many children do not exercise enough • suggest fun ways to be active • describe the benefits of exercise. Write a quick plan.
Show answer
Headline: Off the Sofa and Into the Fun! Strapline: Easy ways to get moving this term. Byline: By Omar Khaled, Year 6. Hook: How many hours did you spend sitting down yesterday? Section 1 (Why are we sitting so much?): screens, homework, hot weather. Section 2 (Fun ways to move): numbered list (cycling, football at break, dancing at home, walking to the shop with family). Section 3 (Why it is worth it): stronger body, better sleep, more friends + a quotation from the PE teacher. Ending: So, switch off the screen and switch on the fun!
Task B: Write an article for your school magazine about a place in Egypt that every child should visit. You should: • describe the place • explain what visitors can do there • give advice for a family visit. Give a headline, a strapline and three subheadings.
Show answer
Possible answer: Headline: Walk Like a Pharaoh! Strapline: Why the Valley of the Kings in Luxor should be on every family's list. Subheadings: A Valley Full of Secrets / Things to Do and See / Top Tips for Your Family Trip. (Tips: go early to avoid the heat, bring water and a hat, book a guide.)
Is this a magazine article opening or a news report opening? "On Tuesday 3 March, Year 6 pupils at Nile Hills School collected 500 kilograms of rubbish from the local park." How could you change it into a magazine opening?
Show answer
It is a news report opening (date, who, what, where, but no voice). Magazine version: Picture this: a park so full of rubbish that the swings had disappeared. Last week, Year 6 decided enough was enough – and you can do the same.
Punctuate this quotation correctly: every bottle counts says Mr Fathy
Show answer
"Every bottle counts," says Mr Fathy. (Capital E, the comma inside the inverted commas, a full stop at the end.)

All pages in this course

Start here: the exam

Reading: grammar & punctuation

Reading: understanding texts

Paper 1 writing: non-fiction

Paper 2 writing: fiction