Editorial

Writing
By Jeanne Acton, UIL and ILPC Journalism Director
 OBJECTIVES:

1.Explain the importance of

editorials in every campus’
school paper.
2.Write editorials that explain,
evaluate or persuade.
3.Appreciate the role of editorial
writers in the school paper.
Editorial
• Appears on the newspaper’s editorial
page.
• The reader should find ideas about the
things reported elsewhere in the paper.
• An editorial is an article that states the
newspaper’s ideas on an issue. These
ideas are presented as opinion with
supporting facts and data.
 Editorial
The newspaper’s editorial page
includes editorials, columns, opinion
articles, reviews and cartoons.
If the paper has more than one
opinion page, the others are called op-ed
pages.
Another important item that appears
on the newspaper’s editorial page is the
masthead, aka – staff box.
 Editorial
Since a newspaper is not a living, breathing
human being, it cannot form these ideas or opinions.
However, the editorial board is made up of
living, breathing human beings who determine,
hopefully by consensus, the opinions that will be
presented in the editorial.
On some small newspapers, the editorial is
determined and written by the editor or publisher
based on his/her own observations and research.
 Editorial
Once the editorial board
determines the stance they will take
on a particular issue, one student is
selected to research and write the
actual article.
Editorials are usually unsigned, or
published without a byline, because
they represent the newspaper’s
opinion, not the writer’s.
 Editorial
The newspaper is the voice of
the community.
The editorials are the voice of
the newspaper.
This voice can inform readers,
stimulate thinking, mold opinion
and occasionally move people to
action.
Where do editorial ideas
come from?
The daily lives of students in the
school—their interaction with
each other, with the faculty, with
the administration.
Also community, state, national
and international issues are of
concern to the well-informed
student.
 Writing an editorial
The editorial must be
researched carefully and just as
thoroughly as a news story.
The newspaper’s reputation is
based on the accuracy of the
supporting material found in an
editorial.
Remember…
Avoid phrases such as “I
think” or “in my opinion” in
an editorial.
Don’t leave any doubt in
your reader’s mind about
the stance taken in the
editorial.
Remember…
Choose a topic that interests you
Be sure the topic is relevant
No one wants to read an opinion piece about
something that does not have any affect on
“today” (ex: We should have never gotten
involved in the Korean War is not a relevant
topic for an editorial)
Exception-if there is an anniversary or reason
why the issue is relevant again (ex: The
Korean War anniversary)
Remember…
All good editorials are grounded in fact
You need to do the proper amount of
“legwork” to build a strong base for your
editorial
Places to look for support:
Other editorials
Newspapers
Research based books/websites
Blogs
Everyday people
Surveys
The most
common
forms of
Editorials
Editorials that Explain
Editorials that explain are somewhat
like expository essays.
They attempt to interpret or inform
rather than to argue a point of view.
The only expression of opinion comes
in the interpretation of the facts.
 These editorials explain topics
such as the elimination of a sports
program, a change in the grading
system or in the type of scheduling, or
perhaps the sudden departure of an
administrator or faculty member.
They are most effective when they
explain what has taken place, give a
detailed description of the causes, and
highlight the importance of the topic.
 Editorials that Evaluate
Editorials that evaluate focus on actions or situations that the
editors view as being wrong or in need of improvement—or
that are praiseworthy.
If the editorial criticizes, it should always be constructive.
Emphasize the positive about what you are criticizing, or your
readers will not trust you.
If you criticize, you have an obligation to offer an alternative
solution or course of action.
If the editorial praises, there should be specific reasons for
doing so.
Perhaps an organization or individual has gone above and
beyond the call of duty and the staff feels there should be
some recognition.
Editorials that Persuade
Uses fact and argument to influence
public opinion, promote critical thinking,
and cause people to take action on an issue.
Take a firm stand on an issue or person.
Offer solutions to a perceived problem
They expect immediate action rather
than the understanding of a situation
 5 PARTS OF AN
EDITORIAL WRITING
 5 PARTS
OF AN
EDITORIAL
WRITING
Our SITUATION …
Leaguetown High School, located in West
Texas, has 700 students enrolled in grades 9-12.
Every year in May, the school hosts an awards
ceremony during the day to honor particular students.
Usually about 200 to 250 students earn honors every
year. The ceremony takes about an hour and a half
and the entire school attends. Last year, several
students had to be escorted out of the gym for
disruptive behavior. This year, Principal Flor Jimenez
proposed moving the awards ceremony to the evening
so more parents and community members can attend.
Only a handful of parents attended the assembly last
year.
 Several teachers complained that
moving the ceremony to the evening is not
fair to them because they do not receive extra
pay for working extra hours. The Parent-
Teacher Association president Linda Fowler
said she supports the move because it will
allow parents to see their children receive
their awards.
Principal Jimenez said she will speak
with parents, teachers and students before
making her final decision.
The HEAD of our Editorial
For example:
As a result of last year’s
disruptive behavior and at the
request of several parents,
Principal Flor Jimenez
proposed moving the end of
the year awards ceremony to
the evening.
The NECK of our Editorial

For example:

The evening is the perfect

time for the awards What is your opinion???
ceremony.
 The BODY of our Editorial
Give three reasons why you
are taking your stand.
1) No loss of class time for
an awards ceremony.
2) Only interested students
would attend. The
disruptive ones would
stay home.
3) More parents and
community members
could attend an evening
ceremony.
An ARM of our
Editorial
Support your arguments with evidence and
examples. Your English teachers call this
elaboration.

Only a small portion of the student body

win awards, but all students attend the
ceremony. If the ceremony was in the
evening, no students would lose valuable class
time to sit and watch others receive
recognition. That time could be used for
preparing students for semester exams and
end of course exams.
The other ARM of our
editorial
Opposing viewpoints are rebutted. You
shut down the opposition.

Opponents of the move say the audience would

be too small, but a small audience is easier to
control and more intimate for the students. A
smaller audience also means the ceremony could be
held in the acoustic-friendly auditorium instead of
the gym.
 The LEGs of
our editorial
If you are going to complain
about something, you must
have a better way of doing it.

This proposal is a good

one. Principal Jimenez is
looking for feedback. Students
and faculty should tell her they
support this change to make
this year’s ceremony better
than ever.
Remember the key
to a successful
Editorial …
 Think. Original thought.
Provide strong evidence to
support your stance
 Write in third person (some
first person plural)
Remember the key
to a successful
Editorial …

Use active voice

 Be mature, fair and reasonable
 Offer a solution
Here’s another issue in
the school.
Discover how the writer
organizes the ideas in
this Editorial.
The HEAD of our Editorial
For example:
After working with teachers,
administrators and parents, the Intro:
school board adopted a new, more Present the
rigid dress code for high school problem or
students for next school year. The situation.
administration said it wanted
students to dress more
professionally. According to the
new policy, students will not be
allowed to wear flip flops or shorts
to school next year.
The NECK of our Editorial
What is your opinion???

For example:
Take a stand!
The new dress code is too
restrictive and is not
necessary for our school.
Students dress appropriately
and do not need to be turned
into mini-adults in business
suits.
The BODY of our Editorial
Give three reasons why Reason #1 for position
you are taking your
stand.
1) The new dress code
limits individuality.
Reason #2 for position
2) Students should be
not be expected to
dress like adults.
3) It is an issue of
economics. Flip flops Reason #3 for position
and shorts are
cheaper than jeans
and tennis shoes.
An ARM of our
Editorial
Support your arguments with evidence and
examples. Your English teachers call this
elaboration.

The new dress code limits individuality.

High school students define themselves by
what they wear. They express themselves
through their clothing. A strict dress code will
force students to hide their identity and make
conformist out of the whole school. Part of the
spirit of our school is the differences that we
have with each other.
The other ARM of our
editorial
Opposing viewpoints are rebutted. You
shut down the opposition.

The administration says they created the new

dress code because they wanted students to look
professional. This is absurd. Students are not
professionals yet. Students are just students and
should be allowed to dress that way. When we
graduate from high school and college, it will be
important that we dress professionally, but it makes
no sense for a 15-year-old student to wear a
business suit to a science class.
One LEG of our
editorial Present
If you are going to complain about
something, you must have a better
a logical
way of doing it.
solution.
If the school wants students prepared
for life after high school, a rigid dress
code is not the way to go. Just dressing
professionally doesn’t guarantee success.
Good grades, good test scores and a good
resumé is what will make a student
successful. The school needs to focus on
college preparatory classes and SAT prep
classes instead of a dress code.
The other LEG
of our editorial Recap
the staff
The school does not need a dress
code. Instead the school should
focus on real issues that will help
stance.
students be prepared for life after
high school.
Time to work!!
 Choose a relevant issue or
problem in your school or
community.
 Make your stand on the said
issue.
 Follow the steps in writing an
Editorial
Happy
Writing!