11 03 spotlight on op eds with david jarmul part 1 and 2

English Composition I Project 4: Op-Ed Articles Writing for the Broader Public David Jarmul... Op-Ed ArticlesOpposite the editorial page Opinion-Editorial... ADVICE FROM OP-ED EDITORS

English Composition I

Project 4: Op-Ed Articles

Writing for the Broader Public

David Jarmul

Op-Ed Articles

Opposite the editorial page

Opinion-Editorial

EXAMPLES

ADVICE FROM OP-ED

EDITORS

An op-ed page ought to be a place where a wide range of voices can speak to the issues of the day; where controversy can blossom or

consensus wilt; where a marginal crackbrain can make a reader sputter over the morning coffee; where four polished paragraphs can bring tears

Richard Liefer, Chicago Tribune

ADVICE FROM OP-ED

concrete (arising from specific experiences and circumstances), and

if they surprise or challenge us

Philadelphia Inquirer

ADVICE FROM OP-ED

EDITORS

We look for timeliness, ingenuity, strength of argument, freshness of opinion, clear writing and

newsworthiness Personal experiences and first-person narrative can be great, particularly when

they’re in service to a larger idea So

is humor, when it’s funny Does it help to be famous? Not really

David Shipley, New York Times

Break No 1

Read the first few paragraphs of these articles:

•   from-scratch-with-venezuela/

http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/07/u-s-isnt-starting-•   the-super-bowl/article8077703/

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/commentary/god-knows-wholl-win-•   http://www.providencejournal.com/opinion/blogs/this-new-england/ 20130228-troy-campbell-what-argo-says-about-human-nature.ece

Quiz No 1

What do these three articles have in common?

A.  They all use humor effectively

B.  They all discuss a topic in the news

C.  They are all written by famous people

D.  They all make controversial recommendations

PICK A NEWSWORTHY TOPIC

Break No 2

Read the first few paragraphs of these articles:

•  talk-about-guns.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2013/01/04/why-we-need-to-• 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/03/opinion/sunday/pregnant-in-medical-school.html?pagewanted=1&ref=contributors

•  free-troops.html

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/01/16/2611794/toward-tobacco-Quiz No 2

What do these articles have in common?

A. They all discuss gun control

B. They all criticize their opponent’s view

C. They all focus on a recent study

D. They all feature the author’s own voice

SHARE YOUR

PERSONAL VOICE

MAKE YOUR READER CARE

What’s the one thing you want them to do (or

believe, or remember)?

Why does it matter now?

TIE YOUR ISSUES TO THE NEWS

•  What’s the big story in the news today?

•  International conflicts, economic news

•  Debates over guns, immigration, whatever

•  Weather, entertainment, sports

•  Other news events related to your topic

OP-ED ARTICLES: THE BASICS

•  About 750 words

•  Sizing up your competition

•  The exclusive on exclusivity

Break No 3

Pick a topic that you want to write about Turn

off your monitor for a moment and think

about what you want to say We’ll return to consider some guidelines.

A FEW GUIDELINES

•  Track the news and jump at opportunities

•  Make a single point well

•  Tell readers why they should care

•  Offer specific recommendations

•  Make your point immediately

•  Use the personal voice – and have fun

SOME TIPS

•  Acknowledge the other side

•  Avoid tedious rebuttals

•  Make your ending a winner “Circle back.”

Break No 4

Write an op-ed article

Write at least the opening two paragraphs AND the final paragraph (If you have time,

write more.)

ASSESSING YOUR WORK

•  Does your article make a single point well?

•  Did you explain why readers should care?

•  Did you appeal to their heads and hearts?

•  Did you get to the point quickly?

•  Did you end strongly?

MORE DETAILED GUIDLINES

SAMPLE OP-ED ARTICLES

Thank you