Speech & Article Writing for CBSE Class 10 & 12 — Guide 2026

Article Writing Format

• Title (centred, bold): catchy; 3–5 words; not a question
• Author name below title: 'By [Your Name]'
• Body: 3–4 paragraphs; introduction, development of ideas, conclusion; 150–200 words for 8-mark article

Characteristics of a Good Article

• Engaging opening: a statistic, a question, a quote or a striking statement
• Logical flow: each paragraph develops from the previous; use subheadings for longer articles
• Personal opinion allowed: unlike news report; use 'In my view…', 'I believe…' appropriately

Common Article Topics (CBSE Pattern)

• Importance of physical fitness in student life; Social media addiction among teenagers; Women empowerment in India
• Climate change and our responsibility; Online learning: advantages and limitations
• Practice 10 articles across all topic types before board exams

Speech Writing Format

• Address the audience: 'Good morning Respected Principal, teachers and my dear friends'
• Introduction: state topic and why it matters; 'Today I stand before you to speak about…'
• Body: 2–3 key points with examples; transitions: 'Moving on to…', 'Another important aspect is…'
• Conclusion: memorable closing; 'In conclusion, I urge all of us to…'; Thank the audience

Language for Speech vs. Article

• Speech: more personal, uses rhetorical questions ('Don't we all want a cleaner planet?'), inclusive language ('We, as a generation, must…')
• Article: slightly more formal; third person sometimes appropriate; uses reported speech and statistics
• Both: formal register, no slang, varied sentence structures

CBSE Marking for Article/Speech

• 8 marks: content (4) + expression/language (4)
• Deductions: missing title/author for article; missing address/salutation for speech
• Topic adherence: staying on topic worth 2 marks; going off-topic = major mark loss

Practice Strategy

• Write 2 articles and 2 speeches per week from October; self-evaluate using CBSE marking rubric
• Common phrases for high-scoring articles: 'It is an incontrovertible fact that…', 'Research has conclusively shown…'
• Read CBSE English textbook 'Flamingo' and 'Vistas': model language patterns for writing tasks