get-posts.php

<ul>
    <?php
    global $post;
    $args = array( 'numberposts' => 5, 'post_type' => 'article' );
    $myposts = get_posts( $args );
    foreach( $myposts as $post ) :
        setup_postdata($post); ?>
        <li>
            <a href="<?php the_permalink(); ?>"><?php the_title(); ?></a><br />
            <?php the_excerpt();?>
        </li>
    <?php 
    endforeach; 
    wp_reset_postdata(); ?>
</ul>