Today,
we talked about editorials and columns. Editorials, which provide personality
and passion to a paper, are usually short in length, averaging 300-500 words.
Editorials may appear on the letters to the editor page, op-ed page, as a
cartoon or in a column. Columns are usually written by veteran journalists and
might include topical commentary, personal meditations on life, and/or a
humorous/insightful “slice-of-life” story.
Tips
for writing effective editorials include:
- Keep it tight (recap and summarize)
- Keep it relevant (focus on something that matters to readers)
- Take a stand (create a thesis)
- Attack issues, not personalities (no cheap shots)
- Don’t be a bully
- Control your anger (don’t rant)
- Write a strong lead and a solid finish
- Must argue something (for or against)
Structure:
- Construct short, compelling intro sentence
- Encapsulate idea/engage reader
- Offer proof (statistics, experts, books, personal experience, etc.)
- Compelling conclusion
Samples:
For Thursday
Editorial (Assignment #9) is due. You may write an
editorial on the facts provided to you on the lion shooting (in your workbook)
or write your own editorial on a current event or issue. I also mentioned in
class that in lieu of writing and editorial, you can create and turn in an
editorial cartoon.
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