What Is a Good Article?

Articles that are considered good typically feature high levels of expertise, authoritativeness, and trustworthiness (E-A-T), a descriptive and helpful title, and have been published on reputable websites. They also rank well in search results. To be a good article, it must provide readers with a valuable piece of information that they can use in their daily lives or work.

The first sentence of an article can be the most important, as it is what draws readers in and keeps them engaged. A good opener can be thought-provoking, shocking, or evoke emotional responses. It should also give the reader a reason to continue reading—whether it is an answer to a question they’ve been wondering about or a new perspective on a common issue.

Generally, good is a positive quality or trait: A good worker; a good friend; a good writer; a good student. However, it can also refer to something that is suitable or satisfactory: A good idea; a good meal; a good movie. Moreover, the word can also be used to describe a state of being: feeling good; being in a good mood; having a good day.

Good is a common and often contested concept. For example, a person may agree that being honest is a good thing, but disagree on whether it is right to lie or not. This disagreement can be caused by different values and opinions, or by cultural differences. Moreover, the definition of good can vary based on personal preferences and situational contexts.

Many philosophers have tried to explain what it means to be good. The most famous attempt was made by G. E. Moore, who claimed that good is an indefinable but simple, nonnatural property. Other philosophers have attempted to define it by analyzing the concepts that make up a good life or a good life choice. These analyses are sometimes called normative, since they aim to prescribe moral rules.

Some have argued that there is no such thing as a good life, or that the notion of a good life is an illusion created by human desires. Others have argued that there is a kind of good life that all people seek. This kind of good life is characterized by self-realization, freedom from desire, and satisfaction with one’s life.

Other philosophers have analyzed the concept of goodness by describing it as a combination of various traits or characteristics, such as being fair-minded, just, and impartial. This is known as a deontological approach. Deontological approaches are often seen as a response to the difficulty of defining a good life in terms of specific moral traits. However, this approach can have problems of its own. For example, some have questioned whether a good life can be defined in terms of self-respect or pride. Nevertheless, this type of analysis continues to be used in philosophical discourse. The dominant approach to ethics in the modern era, in contrast, is called non-descriptivist. This is an approach according to which the function of ethical language is not to describe a domain of values and norms, but to express sentiments and, at best, to issue prescriptions.