The Art of Writing Articles

Writing is really a gift. A natural talent is a real boon for the writer. But writing can be learnt and cultivated. Practicing makes one a better writer over a period of time. A decent command over the language in which one is writing, a flair for words and phrases, a good grasp of the subject on which the article is composed and a direct, simple approach, are a few basic requirements to become a tolerably good writer of articles.

Subject/Topic

The most difficult and crucial component of article writing is choosing the subject wisely. The subject must be interesting, of current interest and yet simple. Subjects relating to complex political and legal issues are better avoided.

Style

Choose your style of writing carefully. Simple, elegant and straight-forward writing is the best. Never use complex sentences and pompous language. Short sentences and precise paragraphs would color to your writing. One should be precise and succinct in writing. The trick is to put oneself in the shoes of the reader and think like a reader.

Introduction

The introduction should cover all the aspects of the subject/topic and make the reader want to continue reading the entire article. The introduction should be brief and yet capture the spirit of the article. Even the busiest reader must be aroused to read on. Crisp and imaginative introduction would stir even the most disinterested visitor to read the article in full.

Elaboration

This is the main body of the article. This should be divided into a suitably short paragraphs based on the points the writer is making. The writer can devote time to the history, the present status and the future course of the subject and divide each part of the subject in to different sub-headings. The point is that the article must be packaged to look and feel attractive and interesting even to the most casual reader.

Conclusion

Once the writer has made sure that he has covered all the relevant points in the body of the article, he can go about concluding the article. Conclusion must subtly draw the attention of the reader to the point of view of the writer without being obvious about it. With consummate skills the writer must draw the reader to the writer's viewpoint. Conclusion must not be too lengthy.

Credits

This is where the writer must acknowledge the sources on the subject that the writer relied on for composing the article.

What Are The Top Art Schools?

Rankings are always tricky. Rating the top art schools depends on the criteria of the one or ones doing the judging and possibly whether or not they have some sort of connection or vested interest in placing certain schools where they place them. Cronyism aside and imagining a perfect world of total objectivity, a one-size-fits-all rating system would only work in a world where artists are determined ahead of time in a test tube and everyone is a homogenous clone. But then you have to wonder if art and creative expression would even truly exist in such a utopian society.

So, back to the present day reality, a single specific answer to the question, "What are the top art schools?" generally does a disservice to the needs of the individual student. As with stereo components, it depends entirely on priority and application. The top school for music and performing arts will likely not be the top school for commercial and visual arts. Even within a single category, the "best" art school will still depend on the needs and priorities of the student.

There are a number of organizations and publications willing to give it a shot, though, and their conclusions can be found easily on the Internet. However, it is best to consider these ratings simply a starting point, as they can be quite misleading. Remember that higher education is funded primarily by the students who attend said facilities. No students, no school. No school, no over-paid faculty incapable of working in the real world. (Oops. Did I say that out loud?) And no, that certainly does not apply to all art school faculty members.

The first thing you need to determine is what you plan to do with an art education. There are many and varied career choices. The art career or occupation you want will be one of the most important deciding factors in your own personal ranking system.

For instance, if you're already working in the art field of your choice (or close to it) and all you need is a piece of paper, then you can probably get what you need from a local community college or state university. Depending on the state, that may be a less expensive way to get that piece of paper than going to a dedicated art school.

If, on the other hand, you're gunning for a particular perhaps prestigious position in a well-known art gallery, it would serve you well to work backwards. Find out what they consider the top art schools and which of those they most often hire graduates from. In other words, which art school degree will get your resume to the top of the stack?

Your choice may also come down to economics. What can you afford; what kind of financial aid is available; and what are you chances of a reasonable pay off?

In the end, you are the judge. You will have to determine what the top art schools are for you and make the best choice for you. After all, individuality is the very pulse of art.