Citizenship Editorial Assignment – Fall 2006
What is an editorial? An editorial is a piece of writing that expresses an opinion about a current event or issue. The purpose of an editorial is to persuade (example: voting is important so go out and vote). You may do this in several key ways... 1. Provide logical, well-researched information. 2. Encourage the reader to get involved. 3. Praise/criticize a person or event. 4. Entertain in a humorous, yet persuasive way. How do I write this editorial? Step 1: Choose an issue - Go to the website http://www.publicagenda.org/ and look at the “Issue Guides” on the bottom left. You MAY NOT write about abortion, marijuana, or the war in Iraq. Why? These issues are deeply complicated. Students think they know enough already and do not do the necessary research. Students have a biased point of view on these issues and are unable to assess the research open-mindedly. They score low. And, I am tired of reading these topics. Step 2: Decide on your thesis – Write your thesis statement. A thesis is a sentence which contains your position on an issue and contains a key concept which can be analyzed. Step 3: Research your issue – Gather details from the website above and others. Be sure to write down exactly where you got the original information because you MUST cite your references. Step 4: Refine your thesis – Students usually make the mistake of having a thesis statement that is too broad. Clarify the focus and acknowledge the opposing point of view. Step 5: Write your editorial – Use clear and accurate details throughout the piece. Be direct and certain without contradicting yourself. Do not attack other people. You should avoid absolute statements and words such as "always" or "never" because these often trap you into illogical or undesirable conclusions. Be direct in asking the public to support your recommendations. Step 5: Get your sources correct – You must make it clear in the text of your editorial where your information comes from by providing a citation for your information. We will do this using APA style. More information will be provided on APA style later. What are the requirements for this editorial? • Length: 400-700 words (less than two pages typed). • Margins: 1” all around. Do not add blank lines between paragraphs. • Columns: 1 or 2 • Line spacing: 1 ½ • Font and size: Times New Roman, Arial, or Comic Sans MS (10, 11, or 12). • Don’t Plagiarize! – You MUST provide citations for supporting information. When is this paper due? • Topic picked by October 2nd (A-day) or October 3rd (B-day) • Thesis statement due by October 16th (A-day) or October 17th (B-day) • Rough draft due by November 8th (A-day) or November 6th (B-day). • Final Draft due by November 13th (B-day) or November 14th (A-day) NOTE: In the event of last minute printer trouble, papers may be emailed to me as an attachment at rroyster@fayette.kyschools.us or brought in on a computer disk in MSWord format.