Writing an Editorial

1. Writing an Editorial

2. Select a topic • You should feel strongly about your subject to help convince readers that your editorial is worth reading

3. Forming a Preliminary Proposition • Like a thesis statement • A single sentence that tells your readers your judgement about something • Example: • Winning medals should be the only goal of Canadian athletes at the Olympics. • To improve Canadian children’s fitness, we must make four hours per week of physical education compulsory in elementary school. • The use of animals for cosmetic testing should be banned because it promotes cruelty to animals.

4. Determine your Audience and Purpose • Purpose is to persuade and possibly act • Your audience will determine everything about your editorial: purpose, final proposition, evidence, language, tone, etc.

5. Questions to ask yourself • Does the audience understand the issue? • Does the audience share my opinion? • What is my purpose in addressing this audience? • Do I want this audience to share my opinion? • Do I want this audience to change their behaviour? • What key facts does this particular audience need to know? • What level of language would work best with this audience? • What tone would work best with this audience?

6. Writing… • Don’t forget to use vivid language to appeal to our logic or emotions

7. Example

8. Reasons of support • Once your proposition is clearly stated, you need to assemble reasons or facts to support it • Make your reasons from least important to most important • Most compelling evidence should be used in your last paragraph