2021-01-25

Purpose of an editorial/opinion
piece

✤ defend

✤ endorse

✤ compliment

✤ advocate or appeal
✤ predict

Parts of an editorial piece

CONCLUSION/
CALL TO ACTION

HOOK

ARGUMENT

COUNTER-ARGUMENT
SUPPORTING PARAGRAPHS W. EVIDENCE
AND REFUTATION

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GOOD HOOK?

CLEAR
ARGUMENT?

COUNTER-
ARGUMENT?
STRONG
REFUTATION?

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POINTS WITH EVIDENCE

ANOTHER
COUNTER-
ARGUMENT?

STRONG CLEAR
CONCLUSION/
CALL TO ACTION?

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Possible Topics – Op/Ed or

Presentation
✤ Climate change
✤ Racial Inequality
✤ Gender issues in Canada
✤ An Indigenous issue
✤ Policing
✤ Covid-19
✤ Poverty in Canada
✤ Canada’s Foreign Relations (China?)
✤ Climate Change in Canada
✤ Terrorism in Canada
✤ Immigration in Canada
✤ Role of Governor-General/British Monarchy
✤ Senate reform
✤ These are presented as subject areas – they will need to be more narrowly focused
✤ Feel free to develop your own topic!

Sources – Opinion
Piece/Presentation
✤ How many? Enough to do the job properly – at least 5
sources

✤ Do not limit yourself to google.

✤ If you use Wikipedia or any similar source, your paper

will receive ‘0’

✤ Use a wide array of sources

✤ Make good use of academic sources and non-

academic sources – it depends on your topic!

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After Opinion Piece is Marked

✤ Do not say – “I didn’t know I had to provide proper

citations in-text.”

✤ Do not say – “I have never had to write a paper with

proper citations in the body of the essay.”

✤ Do not say – “I didn’t know we had to do a

bibliography/reference list” (both options require this)

✤ Please come to me in advance if you are unsure what

is expected.

Opinion Piece or Presentation

✤ Your assignment should deal with a Canadian issue

✤ If you wish to deal with a non-Canadian issue you must

meet with me to obtain approval