articles and effects of teenage marriage by eguriase s. m. okaka
Articles and the Effects of Teenage Marriage
By Eguriase S. M. Okaka
An article is a piece of writing that is meant for publication in a newspaper (national or international) or magazine (national, international, school). It must be interesting enough so that the editor will accept it and the public will read it.
An article may be narrative (telling story), descriptive (describing an events or places) or expository (detailed description of a topic, such as festival, ceremonies, exposing issues or problems in the society.
Examples of questions writing articles
• Write an article suitable for publication in your school magazine on the effects of teenage marriage.
• Many young people are taking to drugs these days. Write an article suitable for publication in a national newspaper on the dangers of drug abuse.
• Write a story suitable for publication in your school magazine on a memorable day in your life.
• Write an article suitable for publication in a national magazine on the activities of kidnappers in your locality.
Features of articles
• An article should have a title which should be underlined if not written with capital letters.
• An article is not a letter to an editor, so it needs no addresses. You will lose some marks if you include an address.
• An article is a formal writing and so uses formal language. Do not use contracted forms or slang. If you must use vernacular, it must be written in quotes and you should also give the meaning.
• Sentences and paragraphs should be effectively linked with linking words and expression.
• A name and place should appear at the end of the article.
Write your name and class at the bottom right-side of your paper if it is an article for publication in a school magazine.
Example: Felix Okafor
JSS 3A
If it is an article meant for publication in a national newspaper or magazine, write your name and your locality.
Example: Cecelia Adegoke,
Abeokuta.
For an article meant for publication in an international newspaper or magazine, write your name and the name of your country.
Example: Jane Okri
Nigeria.
Writing an effective article
• Brainstorm or discuss the topic you want to write about with your partner.
• Create a headline for your article, making it brief and catchy. This is because your reader will see it first and if the headline is not interesting, the article may not be read.
• Create an outline for your topic based on your brainstorming. In your outline, make sure you have you following components:
a) Introduction: You are expected to introduce the problem you will be discussing.
b) Body: Divide your main idea into sub-themes. Give adequate attention to each of them and write each point in a separate paragraph.
c) Conclusion: This should be a brief summary of your article and probably a call for the reader to take action concerning what you have written about. Make your conclusion snappy and catchy and always leave a lasting impression on the reader.
d) After writing your article, read through it again and again to correct mistakes or even rewrite some parts to make them better. Also, you can give it to your partner to read through for you.
Exercise 1
Discuss with your partner what you know about teenage marriage. Brainstorm more and write some of the points raised during your discussion. The following questions may of help to you.
• Who is a teenage?
• What is teenage marriage?
• Why is teenage marriage bad?
• What can be done to stop it?
• Who suffers most in teenage marriage?
• What effect does teenage marriage have on the society?
Exercise 2
Create an outline on teenage marriage. Your answers to the questions above will be of help to you. Organize your outline so as to have an introduction, a body and a conclusion. Show your work to your teacher and be ready to make necessary corrections. Study the article on teenage marriage below. Take note of the introduction, the body and the conclusion and the use of linking devices.
Let us consider this article as an illustration of what we have been talking about in the above write-up.
THE EFFECTS OF TEENAGE MARRIAGE
Teenage marriage has been a serious concern to our government and well-meaning Nigerians for some years now. As one of the concerned people in our society, I feel obliged to write about it. A teenager is a young boy or girl between 13 and 19 years. However, the Child Right Act which was passed in 2003 sets age of marriage at 18 years in Nigeria. Teenage marriage therefore, means any marriage, traditional or religious, contracted with any young person below eighteen years.
Teenage marriage is usually arranged by parents, mostly in the rural areas. The victims are usually females. The majority of these parents are ignorant and illiterate and so not understand the implications of their actions. They usually marry off their young daughters to illiterate elderly men who, most of the time, already have wives. The teenage girl is therefore forced to live with a man old enough to be her own father, or grandfather. She also has women who are old enough to be her mother’s mate or co-wives. The environment itself is hostile and not suitable for her since she is still young.
In addition, the teenager usually gets pregnant as soon as the marriage is contracted. At a very young age, her body is not yet strong enough for pregnancy. Many of them die during childbirth and those who survive may suffer from vesico-vaginal fistula (VVF). This happen because the teenager’s pelvis is not yet strong enough to carry a baby. The pressure of the baby causes damage and urine leaks through the vaginal. In other words, the teenage girl passes urine without being conscious of it. The stigma is always too much for her as she smells because of the stench of the urine. When this happens, the husband usually abandons her to the care of her parents who may not even accept her. She may then end up in the streets. Only a few are lucky enough to be taken to the hospital for treatment.
Furthermore, the teenage girl is deprived of her opportunity to go to school. Her mates will be in school whereas she is in her husband’s house giving birth to children or in the streets or in the hospital. This is a great loss to her family and the whole nation as the nation needs her to go to school and contribute her own talents for the benefits of the society.
Teenage marriage is bad and should be stopped. It causes untold hardship and shame to the teenage girl. The government should set up enlightenment campaign in rural and urban areas, in churches and mosques, against this ugly and retrogressive practice. “Education for all” which is one of the government’s objectives cannot be achieved without stopping teenage marriage.
James Henshaw
JSS 3
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