[Matthew Sherborne]

Put It In Print

Now that you’ve got your outline complete, it’s time to add the filler words and turn it into a money making article.

As I said before, the basic format for an article is:

1. Introduction
2. Concept #1 in detail
3. Concept #2 in detail
4. Concept #3 in detail
5. Conclusion

The Introduction does exactly that: introduces the concepts or points that will be covered. The conclusion often offers a thought-provoking statement as a closer.

The overall consensus among writers is that it’s easiest to leave the introduction, conclusion, and title for the end. Yes, do the main body first and leave the beginning and end for last.

While you’re encouraged to find which method suits you best, I’ll write the main body first. The next chapters will cover the introduction and conclusion.

You’ve got your first concept outline here:
Concept #1 - about sunscreens

·alcohol-based are best because resistant to sweating
·waterproof will still wash off - put more on when you’re out of the water
·all should be replenished after 2 hours
·UVA rays don’t show their damage until later, so even with no burn, still at risk
·Apply 1 oz of sunscreen each application
·put on 30 min before going out in the sun
·SPF 15 good for people in the sun a few minutes here or there
·How to measure SPF

The number gives you that many times longer to be burned Ex. If you burn in 10 min, with SPF (sun protection factor) of 15, you have 150 minutes before being burned, or 2 hrs & 30 minute
First, choose each bullet in the order you think will flow the best. Obviously, you don’t want to skip from how much sunscreen to use to which one to use.

[see example below] I put a number in front of each key point to determine which one comes first. This makes the article flow smoothly and the writing easier.

Concept #1 - about sunscreens

·3 alcohol-based are best because resistant to sweating
·6 waterproof will still wash off - put more on when you’re out of the water
·7 all should be replenished after 2 hours
·8 UVA rays don’t show their damage until later, so even with no burn, still at risk
·4 Apply 1 oz of sunscreen each application
·5 put on 30 min before going out in the sun
·2 SPF 15 good for people in the sun a few minutes here or there
·1 How to measure SPF
The number gives you that many times longer to be burned Ex. If you burn in 10 min, with SPF (sun protection factor) of 15, you have 150 minutes before being burned, or 2 hrs & 30 minutes

Next, take the concept, “about sunscreens,” and turn it into a sentence.
It’s important to use sunscreens properly to keep your skin healthy and prevent skin cancer.

Now you’re just going to follow your own notes. Start with the first key point, turn it into a sentence. Continue with your key points until the section is complete.

Concept

It’s important to use sunscreens properly to keep your skin healthy and prevent skin cancer. 1 With all the different types of sunscreens out there, it’s essential to choose the correct SPF for you. SPF stands for “sun protection factor.” The number that follows lets you know how long you have in the sun before it’s not effective anymore. For example, SPF 15 means you can be out in the sun fifteen times longer than you normally could until you get burned.

So let’s say that with no sunscreen on, you get burned in ten minutes of being in the sun. However, if you put on a sunscreen of SPF 15, you would get fifteen times the amount of time to be out in the sun. So instead of burning in ten minutes, you would burn in 150 minutes (10x15), or in two and a half hours.

2 The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends an SPF 15 if you’re only going to be in the sun for a few minutes here and there. 3 However, if you plan to be in the sun all day, whether it’s gardening, exercising, or playing Frisbee at the beach, you’ll need a sunscreen that’s more resistant to sweating. In this case you’ll want to protect yourself with an alcohol-based sun screen with a higher SPF.

4 Be sure to put on one ounce of sunscreen each application, 5 and do it thirty minutes before you’re exposed to the sun. 6 Even sunscreens that are waterproof may wash off, (repeat 4) so slather on an extra ounce once you’re out of the water. 7 In fact, it’s a safe bet to reapply the sunscreen every two hours to avoid as much skin damage as possible. 8 The UVA rays don’t show their damage until later, so even if you don’t burn, you’re still exposing your skin to the harmful rays.


Congratulations! You’ve finished your first concept and you’re already a third of the way done!