Opinion & Editorial Writing: The Power of Your Ideas
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The document discusses strategies for effective editorial and opinion writing. It recommends understanding your audience by considering their questions, concerns and objections. The document also stresses defining the purpose by determining what you want the audience to think, feel and do. With the audience and purpose in mind, writers can then determine the appropriate content, including relevant evidence, examples and explanations. The document also addresses finding the right tone of voice and common structural outlines.
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Opinion & Editorial Writing: The Power of Your Ideas
- 1. The First Amendment and the Power of Your Ideas cc: theqspeaks -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/83261600@N00 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 2. Make your point. Make it matter. Make it fast. cc: Sarah G... -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/96526303@N00 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 3. Editorial & Opinion Writing • Builds support • Shapes the debate • Educates & informs • Influences public opinion & public policy • Changes minds & behaviors cc: NYCArthur -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/70945486@N00 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 4. How do you describe cc: inju -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/35468141938@N01 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com effective editorial & opinion writing?
- 5. Effective Editorials • Start strong & pique interest • Include a clear call to action • Use just enough details • Understand the audience • Have the right tone • Present clear points of view • Aren't too emotional • Are reasonable in scope cc: Le Ciel Azuré -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/12057629@N04 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 6. What frustrates us about cc: aldoaldoz -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/9049083@N04 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com editorial writing?
- 7. cc: .scribe -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/60479251@N00 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com Here’s a strategy that makes it easier…
- 8. Photo by Yogendra174 - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39072595@N03 Created with Haiku Deck The Content-Purpose-Audience Strategy
- 9. Understand Your Audience • Who are you addressing? • What are their questions? • What are their concerns or fears? • What are their objections? cc: Leo Hidalgo (@yompyz) -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/69474058@N03 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 10. Photo by Yogendra174 - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39072595@N03 Created with Haiku Deck Audience
- 11. Define Your Purpose • What do you want people to think and feel? • What do you want them to do? • What do you want to see happen? cc: Kevin.Souza -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/60414522@N00 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 12. Photo by Yogendra174 - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39072595@N03 Created with Haiku Deck Purpose
- 13. • What’s the big take-away? • Which questions, concerns & objections should you address? • What examples, explanations & evidence make your case? cc: nhuisman -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/27954776@N04 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com Use Audience & Purpose to Inform Content
- 14. • Evidence: facts & data for people ready to decide. • Examples: anecdotes & stories for people who don’t need a lot of information or are low-trust • Explanations: definitions for curious or low-info audience members cc: nhuisman -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/27954776@N04 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com The 3 E’s
- 15. Photo by Yogendra174 - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39072595@N03 Created with Haiku Deck Content
- 16. Find Your Voice • What tone of voice is suitable for your audience and content? • Who is the kind of person the audience would trust on this topic?
- 17. Photo by Yogendra174 - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39072595@N03 Created with Haiku Deck Voice
- 18. cc: US Army Africa -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/36281822@N08 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com Write it Up!
- 19. Photo by Yogendra174 - Creative Commons Attribution License https://www.flickr.com/photos/39072595@N03 Created with Haiku Deck Start Drafting
- 20. Common Structures • Main Idea, Details, Purpose • Question, Detail, Main Idea, Details, Purpose • Think/Feel, Details, Do • Detail, Main Idea, Details, Purpose cc: LeRamz -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/18615422@N00 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 21. What questions do you have? cc: Leo Reynolds -‐ https://www.flickr.com/photos/49968232@N00 © 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 22. Downloadable packet on the CPA: • bit.ly/Writing4Advocacy Online: • www.instagram.com/ beabetterwriter • www.thewordfactory.com/ our-blog More Writing Resources © 2017 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com
- 23. The First Amendment and the Power of Your Ideas with Margot Carmichael Lester Twitter: @word_factory LinkedIn: /margotlester Instagram: @beabetterwriter Thanks for Attending © 2017 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at margot@thewordfactory.com