Articles are the tool of the trade in this system. So the answer would be: it depends on what you want the article to accomplish.
From the structural point of view, an article is a short story. First paragraph opens the can of worms, the following paragraphs develop the idea, preferable using a structure that correlates with a mindmap so it is easier to understand/digest. And the last paragraph is the conclusion/call to action.
Now, as much as there is a structure for the information presented, there is also a structure for the emotions induced in the reader. The emotions are what keep the attention. This is probably what separates a useful article from a great article: the ride. A great article will thoughtfully (or intuitively) play the emotions of the reader. How to accomplish it? The voice is important, the general ambiance (font, length of paragraph, colors), and the careful use of charged words.
Finally, a great article needs to be written, and not re-written. What do I mean? It needs to propose a new idea, or a new twist, or a unique point of view over a subject. Research is not just to read the top 4 articles retrieved from google and mash the basic information together as a list.
Of course, this is just my opinion. And a very biased one to be honest.
I don't agree that being a native speaker is important. Being a writer is important. Mistakes can be solved through an editor, but lack of essence or rhythm... those can't be salvaged.