Disclosed is a method of making ceramic articles which comprises the steps of shaping a composition for the manufacture of ceramics and firing the resulting shaped body, characterized in that the composition for the manufacture of ceramics contains (a) ceramic powder; (b) an organic binder comprising one or more member selected from the group consisting of homopolymers and copolymers derived from (1) bicyclo[2.2.1]heptene-2 and its derivatives, which are respresented by the formula ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is --H, --CH.sub.3, --CO.sub.2 CH.sub.3 or --OCOCH.sub.3, R.sup.2 is --H or --OCOCH.sub.3, and R.sup.1 is --OCOCH.sub.3 when R.sup.2 is --OCOCH.sub.3, and (2) dicyclopentadiene; and (c) a plasticizer and/or (d) a hydrocarbon solvent. This method makes it possible to produce green sheets having excellent flexibility and high tensile strength, dry-pressed bodies having high green strength, and dense fired products.