Hello
ARTICLE: you start with a retorical question like have you seen how many people take the elevator stead the stairs?
and then you talk about the positive and negative things about that and you can talk from your point of view, using in my opinion or to my view.
ESSAY: this is the estructure that I use for an essay
As you know (intro the topic)
I would like to put the arguments in favor/against (you talk about the positive and negative things)
In spite of this (you give an advise)
remember in an essay you can�t give your opinion you have to use "people think" or (something) is thought to ....
I hope you understand the diference