This document provides guidance for writing an editorial for a school newspaper. It instructs students to choose a topic relevant to young people, build on a single idea reflected in the title, and develop and sustain central ideas throughout the 600-word piece. To achieve coherence, students can integrate a motif or linking device. They are assessed on developing ideas, crafting style through language techniques, structuring effectively, and using conventions accurately. Suggested techniques include irony, parody, self-deprecation, and deliberate language choices.

1. Year 13
Writing an Editorial!

2. Year 13
What to do!
๏ Write a commentary or opinion
piece suitable for publication in the
opinions pages of a school
newspaper. !
๏ You should choose a topic that will
be relevant and interesting to young
people. !
๏ You should build on a single idea or
theme that is reflected in some way
in the title of your piece. !

3. READ
Links to NZ Herald!
Link to a sports editorial!
Link to an America's Cup editorial!
Link to a rambling blog about parenting!

4. Year 13
What to include!
To create a sense of coherence you
might integrate a motif or other
linking device through your writing.
You can be witty, satirical, serious,
self deprecating, even provocative,
but you will be expected to write in a
controlled way and use language
techniques skilfully to create
deliberate effects.!

5. Year 13
The marking!
You will be assessed on your ability
to:!
• develop and sustain one or more
central ideas on your selected topic
throughout the column!
• craft your writing to achieve a
stylistic coherence throughout the
piece through your deliberate use of a
range of language techniques!
• structure the piece clearly and
effectively!
• use writing conventions accurately.!
!

6. How much to write!
Your column will be at least 600 words long. It
should be appropriate for a readership of your
peers and your English teacher, as well as suitable
for publication in a school newspaper.!
Year 13

7. Heading! • irony. !
• parody or satire!
• self deprecation!
• personal anecdotes!
• deliberate exaggeration or understatement!
• allusions!
• puns, eg: a word play in the title!
• contrasting language registers, eg: combining colloquial with
formal language!
• deliberate use of irregular sentence structures, eg a minor
sentence placed for impact after a complex sentence.!
Year 13