A successful op-ed will complete four main tasks:
1) Contains an introduction (or ‘lede’ in newspaper-speak) of 3-5 sentences that briefly and precisely introduces the issue at hand and the specific argument you will make in response to this issue. The lede should entice the reader into reading the full op-ed and tell them why they should pay attention to the op-ed’s topic.
2) The body of an op-ed should be 3 – 6 paragraphs long and present the evidence for the op-ed’s argument. The paragraphs here should be longer than the introduction and conclusion paragraphs, but shorter than the typical paragraphs in a formal academic essay. This is the part of the op-ed where the author discusses specific examples and present evidence from experts to support the argument. While the op-ed aims to persuade, there is no room for filler, vague statements, or blanket moralizing (even if these may be commonly used in some of the op-eds published in national newspapers) – use the maxim “show, don’t tell.”
3) The organization of the argument is crucial. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that describes the claim the argument will make.
4) A concise conclusion and a walk-off. The conclusion summarizes what has been examined and why the reader should care about it. A conclusion should be about 2-5 sentences long. In some cases, authors will set off one sentence into its own paragraph for emphasis. The walk-off is the ‘what is to be done?’ part of an oped. Every op-ed should look ahead and offer a possible approach for next steps to address the issue at hand. A walk-off should be 1-2 paragraphs and 3-5 sentences long.
and then this is the questions she asked.
After reading and the course material on the form and function of op-eds and the two sample editorials, it is time to make your case regarding the effectiveness of each piece. Please answer the questions below in paragraph form (not bullets). Be sure to fully explain your responses and use specific examples from the op-ed for support.
Begin you post by discussing what each author is arguing for or against in their piece. Then answer the following questions:
1.Which piece has the more effective lede and why?
2. Which piece had the more effective conclusion and why?
3. Whose argument was more persuasive and why?
