Journalism Studies 20 Header
Horizontal Rule
Home Button
Print Journalism Button
Electronic Journalism Button
On Assignment Button
Objectives Button
Units Button
Glossary Button
Links Button
FAQ Button
site map button

From Both Sides
Module 1, Activity 4.4 - Informed Opinion: Writing an Editorial
Student Page
(teacher lesson for this page)

Introduction:

In previous lessons you have had the chance to look at the format of editorial pages, read a variety of editorials, and recognize the characteristics of an editorial. It is now time for you to write your own editorial.

Activities:

Task One - Pre-writing/Research
At this point, you have completed the first part of your preparation to write your editorial. Now that you have chosen a topic and done some brainstorming around that topic, you will need to do your research.

Your teacher will review effective researching skills as well as interviewing techniques. For more information on these topics you can also check:

1. Media Awareness Network - how to search the internet effectively
2. Bright Planet's Guide to Searching - guide to effective searching of the internet
3. Journalism.org - the art of interviewing

Task Two - Drafting
Once you have done some research, you are ready to draft your editorial. As we have seen, editorials have a specific set of characteristics. In order to write your editorial, you will need to follow this format:
Guidelines for Writing an Editorial
1. Begin with an introduction that includes a clear statement of position on your issue and interests your audience.
2. In the following paragraphs, you must develop your argument using facts, statistics, examples, etc.
3. For a stronger argument, try to anticipate the opposing arguments.
4. End with an attempt to change the readers' thinking or take action.
Another important step to take before writing
Review what quality should look like. Begin by looking at the sample evaluation. By looking at a handout provided by your teacher, or through a class discussion, you will be able to determine what elements must exist in your writing in order to achieve mastery of editorial writing
(earn an 80-100%).
Objectives:

You will be able to
- write effective editorials
- demonstrate fact-gathering, research, and writing skills necessary for in-depth reporting
- present your point of view in a written work

Resources:

- internet access
- ideas for editorial topics
- sample evaluation

Your goal through the writing process will be to continue revising your editorial based on comments from peers or your teacher, until you have received a mark of 80-100%.

Task Three - Revising
In the revising stage, you should complete the following two tasks:

1. Using the sample evaluation provided by your teacher and the other guidelines regarding quality, evaluate your own editorial.
2. Have a partner read and evaluate your editorial using the same evaluation. Your partner should make several suggestions for improvement. peer edit

Task Four - Editing/Polishing
After you have edited your writing for ideas and format, you must also edit for usage, sentence structure, spelling, etc. This would also be a good time to get a partner to help you.

Task Five - Mastery
In the final stage, once your editorial has been polished, you will hand it in to your teacher. Your teacher will give you the opportunity to continue to revise your editorial until you have earned your mastery mark.

 
   

Last Updated
June 2, 2005

 
This page best viewed in IE 6.0 or later, and 800x600 screen resolution.