Editorials

Editorials

Where you finally get to give your opinion

What is an editorial?

• Piece used to express an opinion on

1. Timely news2. Upcoming events3. People

Purpose of editorial #1

•To inform writer gives explanation of important or complicated issue

• Example: New guidelines for getting driver’s license

• New testing (Keystones) for incoming freshman (tests replace PSSA’s)

Purpose of editorial (2)

• To Promote: Writer tries to get reader involved; to promote a worthy activity

• Examples: join a charitable event• Donate to a charity• Vote for a particular candidate

Purpose of editorial #3

•To praise writer compliments person, group, or event• Example:• Editorial praising Woody High football team• Editorial praising success of play• Editorial praising Student Leadership for canned

food drive

Purpose of editorial #4

• To entertain

Structure of an editorial --Hook

• Invites reader in (lead) 30 words• 50 words or less if using anecdote (story) but

split into 2-3 paragraphs• Four possible openings1. Anecdote2. Startling statement/fact/statistic3. Question4. Description –to put reader into certain place

Anecdote (#1)

One 14-year-old New Jersey in a recent Star-Ledger story receives up to 10,000 -- 10,000! -- text messages a month. To accomplish that astounding yet not unusual feat, she interrupts her showers and stays up all night long, thumbs pumping, to read and respond to an avalanche of messages. Doctors are beginning to recognize such obsession as addiction that is robbing children of sleep at the very time in their life when they need it the most.

Startling statistics (#2)

13- to 17-year-olds send or receive an average of 1,742 text messages a month -- more than seven times the average number of calls they place on their cell phones

Question (#3)

“How often do you text?”

Description (#4)

• The national obsession with instantaneous communication is taking a toll on teens so severe that some experts are calling it a crisis.

• It's not the phenomenon of cell-phoning or messaging while driving -- both are illegal in New Jersey -- but all-night texting that is leaving too many teens too tired for school.

Selecting an issue for editorials

• Choose a topic that is of interest to your readership

• Choose a topic that has two positions• Choose a topic that is timely• Examples: student testing; dress code; length

of classes/length of days• Suggestions:

Collecting information for editorials

• Gather as many details as possible1. Facts2. Statistics3. Expert opinions4. Pictures, graphs that support your position5. Comparisons to similar situations6. Positions of the other view/side

How to structurethe

editorial

Position statementMain idea/thesis statementExample:

Teens depend on their parents for rules and guidelines in all other areas of life, so it's naive to believe they will cut down on texting without some intervention.

Parents must intervene in this area .

Concession/anticipated objection

• Consider what the other side’s opinion is and addresses it

• Example: Of course a great many adults also are addicted to devices of the new technology. In fact, there's a "Distracted Driving Summit" taking place in Washington, D.C., in which federal officials are urging the public not to text and drive in those states that haven't outlawed it.

Supporting details• One detail per paragraph (2-3

sentences)• Arrange in order of weakest to

strongest• End with strongest point• Use facts, examples, statistics

rather than opinions for support

Closing

• Must suggest a course of action– Now that you have convinced the reader– Capitalize on their agreement: tell them what

action they should take. Be specific!

Clincher—Remind your reader of your opening

Brevity is powerful!

Keep it short (250 –500) words in length

Teen texting is terrifying

• http://www.cartoonaday.com/teen-texting-is-terrifying/

Editorial cartoon

What goes into editorial cartoons

Art

•Exaggerated features

What goes into editorial cartoons

SymbolsDemocrats—donkeyRepublicans—elephantThe wealthy --Large, expansive carsMoney—money bags

What goes into an editorial cartoon?

Palin with big hair Obama with big ears

What else goes on the editorial page?Point-counterpoint

Point• One reporter, editor, or

guest writer writes his opinion

Counterpoint• Another reporter, editor, or

guest writer writes an opposing position.

Random opinion

Man on the street---pose a question, get four different impromptu responses, show pictures of the respondents.

Letters to the editor

• People speak to issues previously addressed in the newspaper.

• On WH update, can be comments• Must be signed in order to be printed• Newspapers must determine signature is valid.• Decision to print is up to the management of the

newspaper• However, management should be objective; should

print opposing viewpoints

What is found on an editorial page?

• Masthead• Mission statement• Editorial cartoon• Editorial• But NOT ADS