Editorial Writing

Essential Questions
•Why do people write Editorials?

•How can a piece of writing help
stimulate thinking and mold opinions?
•An editorial states a newspaper’s ideas on
an issue and are presented as opinion.
•An editorial is one of the writing styles
used to express an opinion or reaction to
timely news, event or an issue of concern.
•Most editorials are used to influence
readers to think or act the same way the
writer does.
•An editorial is NOT a news story. A news
story is objective because no opinion or
conclusion is provided.
What are the main purposes
for writing editorials?
*Inform
~Promote
*Evaluate
~Praise
*Entertain
*Persuade*
Editorials that Inform
 Similar to expository essays
Attempt to interpret, promote or inform
rather than to argue a point of view
Give insights and facts about a complicated
issue OR promoting of a particular
event/organization
Expression of opinion comes in the
interpretation of the facts
Editorials that Evaluate
Focus on things that are wrong or in need of
improvement (criticize) OR that are praiseworthy.
Critical editorials should always be constructive.
Emphasize the positive about what you are criticizing, or
readers will not trust you. Writers have an obligation to
offer an alternative solution or course of action.
If the editorial praises, give specific reasons for doing
so. Perhaps an organization or individual has gone above
and beyond the call of duty and should be recognized.
Editorials that Entertain
•The writer encourages or entertains
the reader about something
•These are often the hardest to write

as it usually involves humor
•What warrants entertaining?

Editorials that Persuade
•Use 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
Types of Editorial
1. Editorial of Information – it
seeks to give information on
facts of news stories or add other
facts with minimum explanation.
It may define terms, identify
persons or factors or provide a
background.
Types of Editorial
2. Editorial of Interpretation – It
explains the significance or meaning of a
news event, current idea, condition, or
situation, theory, or hypothesis. The
writer doesn’t argue nor criticize, but
merely present both sides of an issue
and leaves the judgment to the reader. It
merely interprets, say for example, the
content of a new memorandum issued
by the principal.
Types of Editorial
3. Editorial of Criticism – It
points out the good or the bad
features of a problem or situation
mentioned in the news. Its
purpose is to influence the
reader. It suggests a solution at
the end.
Types of Editorial
4. Editorial of Commendation,
Appreciation, or Tribute – It
praises, commends, or pays
tribute to a person or
organization that has performed
some worthwhile projects or
deeds, or accomplishments.
Types of Editorial
•5. Editorial of Argumentation –
This is oftentimes called editorial of
persuasion. The editor argues in
order to convince or persuade the
reader to accept his stand on the
issue.
Types of Editorial
6. Editorial of entertainment –
It evokes a smile, a chuckle,
laughter, while suggesting truth.
Its main aim is to entertain. It is
usually short.
Types of Editorial
7. Mood editorial – It
presents a philosophy rather
than an argument or an
explanation. Oftentimes, the
subject matter is nature or
emotion.
Types of Editorial
8. Special occasion – it
explains the significance
of a special day or
occasion.
Why is writing with emotion
and persuasive language
important components in
writing an editorial?
It is important because it is your
job to persuade your audience that
your ideas are valid, or more valid
than someone else’s. In order to
do that, you need to appeal to all
three means of persuasion--Ethos,
Pathos and Logos.
Ethos
(Credibility)
We tend to believe people whom we

respect.
You need to be trustworthy as a writer
Appeals to their ethics
Pathos
(Emotional)
Persuade your reader by appealing to the
reader’s emotions
Language choice can really affect the
audience’s emotional response
Make the reader really feel what you feel
Appeals to the heart!
Logos
(Logical)
Persuasion based on reasoning---the heart
of argumentation!
The ability to effectively support your
point with clear evidence.
Make a logical appeal that the reader
understands
Appeals to the head
Wrap-Up
An editorial is the voice of the
community.This voice should:
Appeal to your audience
Stimulate thinking
Mold opinion
Move people to action
Where do editorial ideas
come from?
The daily lives of students…
Interaction with each other, faculty,& administration.
Interaction affects classes, extracurricular activities,
and after-school activities.
Community, state, national, and global issues
are of concern to the well-informed student.
What makes a good
Editorial?
1. Hook
2. Thesis
3. Body
4. Conclusion
5. No I
WHAT MAKES AN EDITORIAL EFFECTIVE?
HOOK
CATCHY HEADLINE, AN ANECDOTE, A STRONGLY
CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENT, ETC. - SOMETHING THAT
WILL GRAB THE ATTENTION OF YOUR READER
THESIS
YOUR VIEWPOINT ON THE TOPIC AND WITH KEY
POINTS THAT SUPPORT YOUR OPINION
WHAT MAKES AN EDITORIAL EFFECTIVE?
• BODY
• PRESENT YOUR ARGUMENT IN THE WAY YOU THINK IT WILL BE
STRONGEST
• USE FACTS, NUMBERS AND QUOTATIONS TO SUPPORT YOUR
POINTS
• LOGIC IS BEST, BUT EMOTIONAL APPEAL WILL ALSO BE EFFECTIVE
• CONCLUSION
• RESTATE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT
• RE-ENFORCE THE MAIN IDEAS BY REWORDING OR EMPHASIZING
ITS IMPORTANCE
• END WITH A BANG!
NO “I”!
Key Factor to Focus on
It would be silly to use words such as “I think” or

“in my opinion” in an editorial. These words often
weaken your argument anyway.
It is a much stronger statement to say, “This is an
injustice” than to say “I think this is wrong.”
Do not leave any doubt in your reader’s mind about
the stance taken in the editorial.
What steps should I take
when writing my editorial?
1. Choose an issue
2. Gather support
3. Follow the Writing
Process
Choose an Issue
•Choose a topic that interests you
•If you are excited about it, the reader will be more
engaged.
•Be sure the topic is relevant
•No one wants to read an opinion piece about something
that does not have any affect on “today”
•Exception-if there is an anniversary or reason why the
issue is relevant again
•Determine what you hope to accomplish
•Why you are writing this piece should be clear!
Gather Support
•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
Writing Process
•Prewrite
•Use the template provided to you
•Draft
•In order to reach your goal, you must keep the
audience in mind.
•Who is the writer addressing?
•What is the most effective way of connecting to
this audience?
•What are the strategies the writer uses to connect
to his audience?
•Revise/Edit
•Publish
Guidelines
State the problem or situation.

State your position.
Give evidence to support your position.
State and refute the position of the

other side in the conclusion.
Offer possible solutions to the problem.
Brainstorming
What Bugs You?
Suspends critical judgment
•Generates as many ideas as possible
•Group participation for creativity
•Various approaches to specific topics

Editorial Writing

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Essential Questions

•Why do people write Editorials?

•These are often the hardest to write

•What warrants entertaining?

We tend to believe people whom we

It would be silly to use words such as “I think” or

State the problem or situation.

State and refute the position of the

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