Editorials/Op-ed Pieces
An editorial is an opinion piece written by the senior editorial staff or publisher of a newspaper or magazine or any other written document. Editorials may be supposed to reflect the opinion of the periodical. Typically, a newspaper's editorial board evaluates which issues are important for their readership to know the newspaper's opinion. Editorials are typically published on a special page dedicated to them, called the editorial page.(What's an "Editorial Board"?)
An op-ed, abbreviated from 'opposite the editorial page' (though often mistaken for opinion-editorial), is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of any named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board. This is different from a letter to the editor (a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers.). Note: Editorials may also be in the form of editorial cartoons.
Assignment 1: Read and deconstruct an op-ed article
Read this editorial By Henry Porter, published in the British newspaper "The Guardian" in September, 2013: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/21/american-gun-out-control-porter
Think/write about/discuss the following questions:
1. Who is the intended audience for the piece?
2. Do you believe the facts/statistics/information cited in the piece? Why? Be specific.
3. What is the writer's opinion? What does he want readers to picture/understand/feel/think/do?
4. Does he do a good job of making a convincing argument to support his opinion? Explain.
Assignment 2: Write a letter to the editor of The New York Times (You don't have to send it.)
Please read the following op-ed and the pro/con pieces that accompany it. Write a letter to the editor in response. (Letters should preferably be 150 to 175 words and should refer to an article). http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/17/should-plural-marriage-be-legal
Assignment 3: Research different topics of interest
Take some time to explore the Room for Debate section of The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate
Read at least three op-ed pieces (plus the pro-con commentaries) and fill out the following worksheet for each piece you read.
Article/Video Reflection Sheet
Assignment 4: Creative Research/Creative Brainstorming
1. Read at least one editorial from each of the following sites and fill out a reflection sheet Article/Video Reflection Sheet for each.
a. One editorial of your choice from the following list:
Let teens sleep later
Should plural marriage be legal?
Is the media "pimping" teenage girls?
Teenagers shouldn't be put in adult jails
Teens are going to extremes with texting
E-smoking among teens
We should have more, not less, sweatshops
2. Read and reflect on a Pro/Con piece
New York Times "Room for Debate" Pro/Con pieces
3. Read and reflect on a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial
Pulitzer Prize winning editorials
4. Read and reflect on an editorial written by a student
Teen Ink
WRITING AN OP-ED/EDITORIAL
Creative Brainstorming
What issues are you really passionate about? What makes you really happy, angry, or sad? Choose one issue to write about that you really want to activate or educate others about.
Writing a First Draft
Craft your editorial using this Editorial Checklist:
Making sure your research is credible
Your editorial writing is only as strong as the information you present. Read this piece to learn how to tell is what you read/view is credible. Fill out this worksheet to help assess the credibility of your online source.
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Editorial Writing Extra Credit Assignments:
1. Write a letter to the editor
2. Write an op-ed piece
3. Write a pro-con piece (both sides!)
4. Create an editorial cartoon
http://www.people-press.org/2008/08/17/media-credibility/
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/paperassignments/a/Trustworthy-Sources.htm
An editorial is an opinion piece written by the senior editorial staff or publisher of a newspaper or magazine or any other written document. Editorials may be supposed to reflect the opinion of the periodical. Typically, a newspaper's editorial board evaluates which issues are important for their readership to know the newspaper's opinion. Editorials are typically published on a special page dedicated to them, called the editorial page.(What's an "Editorial Board"?)
An op-ed, abbreviated from 'opposite the editorial page' (though often mistaken for opinion-editorial), is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of any named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board. This is different from a letter to the editor (a letter sent to a publication about issues of concern from its readers.). Note: Editorials may also be in the form of editorial cartoons.
Assignment 1: Read and deconstruct an op-ed article
Read this editorial By Henry Porter, published in the British newspaper "The Guardian" in September, 2013: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/sep/21/american-gun-out-control-porter
Think/write about/discuss the following questions:
1. Who is the intended audience for the piece?
2. Do you believe the facts/statistics/information cited in the piece? Why? Be specific.
3. What is the writer's opinion? What does he want readers to picture/understand/feel/think/do?
4. Does he do a good job of making a convincing argument to support his opinion? Explain.
Assignment 2: Write a letter to the editor of The New York Times (You don't have to send it.)
Please read the following op-ed and the pro/con pieces that accompany it. Write a letter to the editor in response. (Letters should preferably be 150 to 175 words and should refer to an article). http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/12/17/should-plural-marriage-be-legal
Assignment 3: Research different topics of interest
Take some time to explore the Room for Debate section of The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate
Read at least three op-ed pieces (plus the pro-con commentaries) and fill out the following worksheet for each piece you read.
Article/Video Reflection Sheet
Assignment 4: Creative Research/Creative Brainstorming
1. Read at least one editorial from each of the following sites and fill out a reflection sheet Article/Video Reflection Sheet for each.
a. One editorial of your choice from the following list:
Let teens sleep later
Should plural marriage be legal?
Is the media "pimping" teenage girls?
Teenagers shouldn't be put in adult jails
Teens are going to extremes with texting
E-smoking among teens
We should have more, not less, sweatshops
2. Read and reflect on a Pro/Con piece
New York Times "Room for Debate" Pro/Con pieces
3. Read and reflect on a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial
Pulitzer Prize winning editorials
4. Read and reflect on an editorial written by a student
Teen Ink
WRITING AN OP-ED/EDITORIAL
Creative Brainstorming
What issues are you really passionate about? What makes you really happy, angry, or sad? Choose one issue to write about that you really want to activate or educate others about.
Writing a First Draft
Craft your editorial using this Editorial Checklist:
Making sure your research is credible
Your editorial writing is only as strong as the information you present. Read this piece to learn how to tell is what you read/view is credible. Fill out this worksheet to help assess the credibility of your online source.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Editorial Writing Extra Credit Assignments:
1. Write a letter to the editor
2. Write an op-ed piece
3. Write a pro-con piece (both sides!)
4. Create an editorial cartoon
http://www.people-press.org/2008/08/17/media-credibility/
http://homeworktips.about.com/od/paperassignments/a/Trustworthy-Sources.htm