2. OPINION WRITING
The opinion is a piece of writing that
expresses the personal belief of the writer
about timely issues. It is supported by facts. It
regularly appears each issue under the same
title and at the same location on the page.
Opinions are regular features on the editorial
page but they also appear in the feature page,
science page, sports page and even in the
front page.
4. INTRODUCTION
- it is the beginning paragraph. It may
contain the news upon which the
editorial is based. In which case, the
introduction is called the news peg.
In some cases, the introduction
states outright the stand of the
editorial.
5. THE LEAD- is also placed in the
introduction to keep the readers reading
on. It can take many forms as follows:
• A simple statement that gives enough of the
situation, problem or news event
• A striking statement which arrests the reader’s
attention
• A question with which you can invite attention to
the problem or situation to be discussed
• A narrative illustrating the problem or situation
6. 2) THE BODY-It contains the facts about the
news or issues including the writer’s opinion or
viewpoints. It builds up the case through a logical
order and is supported by facts. It may be made
up of three to four paragraphs.
* Use examples and illustrations
*Quote sources and authorities
* Cite statistics if applicable
* Use formal language
* If you are presenting a number of arguments to
support your stand, start with the most powerful.
7. 3) CONCLUSION-This is the last part that either
summarizes or drives home the point. It ties up
the ideas and arguments presented in the body.
The conclusion may be written in the form of:
*A SUGGESTION
e.g. The business sector would do well to evaluate people on the basis of
merit rather than the academic degree.
* A CHALLENGE
e.g. If other schools can develop a culture of excellence, why can’t we?
* ROUNDING UP OR SIMPLE SUMMARY
e.g. The spate of scandals over government deals, characterized by favoritism
and influence peddling, marks the government claims of transparency.
Worse, it undermines the chances of the Philippines to recover from
economic crisis.
8. Steps in writing opinion:
*Open with a grabber.
*Lay out your thesis in the first paragraph.
* Demonstrate how widely held your opinion is,
* Explain why you and many others feel the way you do.
* Cite the opinions of experts who agree with you.
*If one exists, include a celebrity angle.
* Make your opinion relate to the experience of ordinary
people.
* Examine the “BIG PICTURE”.
* Leave a lasting impression by offering a forward-looking
prediction or rhetorical question.
9. EDITORIAL WRITING
An editorial is an expression of facts and
opinions in concise or an analytical interpretation
of significant and timely topics or issues. It is
logical and pleasing in order to influence opinion,
or to interpret significant news such that its
importance to the reader will be clear. It is
usually written in formal language.
Through editorial, the paper has the
opportunity to write what it thinks about issues
affecting the readers. If the editorial is well-
written; it can be a vital force to make changes
and reforms.
10. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN EDITORIAL
TO COLUMN AND OPINION WRITING
Editorial is the collective point of view of the
staff of the paper on a certain issue. In essence, it
is the paper’s stand on the issue and the paper
represents everyone in its staff. Hence, no
editorial is written from the first person singular
point of view: I, my, mine. It may take the first
person plural point of view (We, us, ours, our),
the second person and the third person point of
view.
11. Who writes the Editorial?
The whole staff chooses a topic based on
the news events, discusses the issue
extensively and gathers and organizes the
data. The best writer in the staff writes the
editorial, seeing to it that the important ideas
of the group are incorporated in the piece.
Therefore the editorial is the stand of the staff
or the paper on a certain issue.
12. CHARACTERISTICS OF AN EDITORIAL
* Editorial must be interesting, compelling
and concise.
*Editorial must be factual and provide
pertinent information.
* It must be concise, around 250-300
words in four or five paragraphs.
13. Types of Editorial
1) EDITORIAL OF INTERPRETATION- it tries to
interpret meaning of news by merely presenting
both sides of an issue, event or situations and
leaves the judgment to the reader.
2) EDITORIAL CRITICISM-it points out the faults in
the situation mentioned in a news that concerns
and interests readers. It uses a scientific method
by defining the problem, examining the evidence
available and then perhaps suggests a solution.
14. 3) EDITORIAL OF ARGUMENTATION OR
PERSUASION- it takes a stand in a controversial
issue and tries to convince the reader to adopt
this stand.
4) EDITORIAL OF COMMENDATION,
COMMENDATION OR TRIBUTE- It gives praise to
a worthy deed done by a person or by an
institution.
5) EDITORIAL OF ENTERTAINMENT- it discusses
issues lightly, but often has a serious point gently
and subtly suggested and sometimes satirically.
6) CRUSADE EDITORIAL-it usually endorses a
thought or course of action. This is also called a
campaign editorial.
15. STEPS IN WRITING THE EDITORIAL
*Choose a very timely topic.
*Be clear about the type of editorial you ill write
and also the purpose.
*Be sure you know and understand the topic
well. Formulate your stand or position.
* Gather sufficient data.
*Write…write…write
