How to Write an Opinion Editorial
When writing an opinion editorial, you must be concise and assert your viewpoint on the matter at hand. Doing this will help readers recognize your authority and encourage them to consider your thoughts.
Make your case succinctly and clearly, then back up your statements with facts and examples. Op-eds tend to be brief – usually 700 words or less for newspapers and 500 for blogs.
Make a Point
Opinion editorials should focus on one issue. Usually, this is an important matter that affects many people.
A well-written opinion editorial will state the obvious and include a call to action. This could be something as straightforward as “visit a campaign or issue website.” Doing so encourages readers to join in the conversation.
When making a call to action, it’s essential to provide supporting evidence or arguments. Facts, statistics, data or anecdotes can all be utilized; however it’s preferable to go directly to the source when possible.
Make the case for your position with passion and “fire in the gut” indignation. And if it’s an important issue, incorporate current news to contextualize your perspective within a larger conversation.
Be Specific
Writing an opinion editorial is a great way to express your perspective with the public. Additionally, this type of writing can serve as an effective means for increasing awareness about an issue and motivating readers to take action.
When crafting an opinion editorial, be specific and convey a concise message to readers. For instance, if you’re discussing how libraries impact poor people, make sure your focus is on one particular aspect of the library system.
An effective opinion editorial should leave a lasting impression on your readers. This could result in increased calls to legislators, donations and involvement with community initiatives.
Be Persuasive
Writing an opinion editorial requires persuasiveness. You need to convince readers that your point of view is correct and should be adopted by others.
You can do this by providing facts and figures to back up your claims. Moreover, use pathos to illustrate how this issue impacts people personally.
Before you begin writing, research your topic and identify who you are trying to persuade. Doing this will enable you to decide how best to present your argument and which specific arguments can be included in your piece.
Be Relevant
Writing an opinion editorial requires relevancy. This means focusing on current events and trends around the world, while also avoiding topics that are outdated news.
For instance, if your local library is set to close within the week, you could write an op-ed explaining why the library is important to both you and your community.
Editorials should contain a persuasive argument backed up by facts. This is an effective way to persuade readers to support your viewpoint.
Op-eds should also be written clearly and concisely. Newspapers typically require no more than 750 double-spaced words, while blogs allow longer pieces.