In many constructive articles of practical guidance, the writer’s purpose is so successfully concealed that it may at first escape the notice of the average reader.  By relating in detail, for example, how an actual enterprise was carried out, a writer may be able to give his readers, without their realizing it, all the information they need to accomplish a similar undertaking.  When he analyzes such articles, the student should not be misled into thinking that the writer did not have the definite purpose of imparting practical information.  If the same material can be developed into an article of interesting information or into one of practical guidance, it is desirable to do the latter and, if necessary, to disguise the purpose.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE.  In order to define his purpose clearly and to keep it constantly before him, a writer will do well to put down on paper his exact aim in a single sentence.  If, for example, he desired to write a constructive article about an Americanization pageant held in his home city on the Fourth of July, he might write out the statement of his aim thus:  “I desire to show how the Americanization of aliens may be encouraged in small industrial centers of from 3000 to 20,000 inhabitants, by describing how the last Fourth of July Americanization pageant was organized and carried out in a typical Pennsylvania industrial town of 5000.”

Such a statement will assist a writer in selecting his material, in sticking to his subject, and in keeping to one point of view.  Without this clearly formulated aim before him, it is easy for him to dwell too long on some phase of the subject in which he is particularly interested or on which he has the most material, to the neglect of other phases that are essential to the accomplishment of his purpose.  Or, failing to get his aim clearly in mind, he may jump from one aspect of the subject to another, without accomplishing anything in particular.  Many a newspaper and magazine article leaves a confused, hazy impression on the minds of readers because the writer failed to have a definite objective.

CHAPTER V

TYPES OF ARTICLES

METHODS OF TREATMENT.  After choosing a subject and formulating his purpose, a writer is ready to consider methods of treatment.  Again it is desirable to survey all the possibilities in order to choose the one method best adapted to his subject and his purpose.  His chief consideration should be the class of readers that he desires to reach.  Some topics, he will find, may be treated with about equal success in any one of several ways, while others lend themselves to only one or two forms of presentation.  By thinking through the various possible ways of working out his subject, he will be able to decide which meets his needs most satisfactorily.