Getting Started
Start your article with a crisp introduction. This brief introduction section defines the subject you’re writing about and mentions the important points.
- The reader will be able to get an outline by only reading the introduction, which could be between one and three paragraphs long, depending on the length of the article.
Set the Scene
While you will be familiar with the subject you are writing about, other Xchange readers may not be. It is important to establish the context of your article's subject early on.
- If you are writing about a Sure Start Nursery you can mention the Nursery – and if possible and relevant, local or national details. If the sentence was…
‘The Four Square project had funding from Sure Start between 2000 and 2004.’
It would be more helpful to write,
‘The Four Square project had funding for a Nursery Co-ordinator from Branston Sure Start between 2000 and 2004’
Or the sentence could be…
‘Cassandra is a social worker who joined in 2006.’
It would be more helpful to write,
‘Cassandra is a social worker who joined the Four Square project in 2006’
Spell checkers
There are a number of approaches to get your spelling right. You can write and spell-check your article in a word processor or text editor and then paste it into the Xchange ‘Use Your Voice’ text-box.
- You may want to use an extension (such as ieSpell for Internet Explorer or SpellBound for Mozilla and old versions of Firefox can be installed on your web browser and used as a spell checker in text boxes. Versions including and following Firefox 2 include built-in spell checking.
External Links can be Useful
Maybe you’ve found accurate and effective material while searching the Internet.
- Include a link to the relevant site, as this may be good for other readers too.
- If you frequently refer to a standard work in connection with your subject, mention it, with its author and publication date. Even better, obtain a copy and use it to check the material in the article.
- Remember to create links to your article from related articles and subjects in the Xchange.
References
Referenced sources can support any statement made in an article. References provide credit to a source of information, and avoid the appearance of plagiarism or violation of copyright.
- References provide a useful source of additional knowledge.
Use Your Voice
Be clear and direct. Try to avoid using jargon (such as ‘capacity building’), unreferenced acronyms (such as LSP for Local Strategic Partnership) and euphemism. A euphemism is an expression the writer intends to be less offensive or troubling to the reader than the word or phrase it replaces. Euphemisms may be used to hide difficult or challenging ideas, even when the literal term for them is not necessarily offensive.
The thing to do is give it a go. Try it out. Write what you like. Try out these handy hints and tips.
Log on - Share Knowledge - Use Your Voice