How to write an article

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Publish Date: 2003-01-01
Features: What constitutes the main points, what constitutes the sub-points, the arrangement of the sub-points, and the hierarchy must be clear and well-organized. For example, if there is a major issue under which there are three sub-topics, why one sub-topic is placed in the first position, another in the second, and another in the third—this rationale must be clear. Additionally, paragraphs should be well-defined. A common issue we face is writing long paragraphs with too many points, making them difficult to follow. Even if they are clear, they can still cause mental fatigue. Breaking an article into many small paragraphs is an excellent way to conserve the reader's mental energy. After reading a paragraph, the reader understands that it is a summary or a single point, and then another point follows, helping the reader to prepare mentally. A good paragraph conveys one idea. If two or more small issues are combined into a single idea, that is also acceptable. An article presents a larger idea, while each paragraph presents a smaller idea. It is best to avoid placing contradictory ideas in the same paragraph. Moreover, paragraphs should logically connect to each other, much like a basic construction design that has a clear layout—where workshops are positioned, the location of the director's office, and the layout of roads. The correct alignment of the overall idea and sub-points in the article, the clear distinction between paragraphs, and the logical flow between them are all ways to highlight the main points.
When we present an issue, we must provide context to support our arguments. The evidence used to support our points also needs context. Do not detach from the context or overlook it. The black ink on white paper is clear because of the contrast—the white paper serves as the background. Without comparison, things are not easily discerned. Black ink on black paper or white ink on white paper both become unclear. Everything is interconnected. To understand something, one must understand it in the context of its connections. Isolating a point or a fact makes it difficult for the reader to grasp. Chairman Mao said, "Fragrant flowers are contrasted with noxious weeds; truth, goodness, and beauty are contrasted with falsehood, evil, and ugliness." When we present an indicator or assess a factory's production, without context, the speed of progress is unclear. The context involves comparing the present with the past and the future (vertical comparison), as well as comparing one department with another, one province with another, or China with foreign countries (horizontal comparison). This is how contradictions are identified.
Everything has this aspect: positive opinions need negative opinions to provide contrast, making it easier to consider opposing views and why they are incorrect. Sometimes, when we write an article, even though we have expressed our thoughts, the readers do not understand it. Why? Often, it is because there is no context, no contrast, or no comparison. Both points and facts require context. Modern tables often pay attention to this—there are absolute numbers, relative numbers, and percentages, making comparisons clearer and more understandable. Tables are relatively easy to create, and people cannot memorize too many numbers. Writing articles should also be like creating tables—provide adequate context. Of course, the context of an article cannot be as formulaic or uniform as a table; it depends on the matter at hand and the appropriate context.
To highlight the importance of facts, simply presenting the facts themselves is insufficient. One must explain what this action helps or what its absence hinders. This is also context. In the past, Chairman Mao gave a speech in Yan'an introducing a method called the "method of comparing the past, present, and future, and the east, west, north, and south."