Writing an Editorial

Another Tutorial by:

Alan Weintraut
Annandale High School
Annandale, VA 22312
Atraut@aol.com

CHARACTERISTICS OF EDITORIAL WRITING

An editorial is an article that presents the newspaper's opinion on an issue. It reflects the
majority vote of the editorial board, the governing body of the newspaper made up of
editors and business managers. It is usually unsigned. Much in the same manner of a lawyer,
editorial writers build on an argument and try to persuade readers to think the same way
they do. Editorials are meant to influence public opinion, promote critical thinking, and
sometimes cause people to take action on an issue. In essence, an editorial is an
opinionated news story.

Editorials have:

1. Introduction, body and conclusion like other news stories

2. An objective explanation of the issue, especially complex issues
3. A timely news angle
4. Opinions from the opposing viewpoint that refute directly the same issues the writer
addresses
5. The opinions of the writer delivered in a professional manner. Good editorials engage
issues, not personalities and refrain from name-calling or other petty tactics of persuasion.
6. Alternative solutions to the problem or issue being criticized. Anyone can gripe about a
problem, but a good editorial should take a pro-active approach to making the situation
better by using constructive criticism and giving solutions.
7. A solid and concise conclusion that powerfully summarizes the writer's opinion. Give it
some punch.

Four Types of Editorials Will:

1. Explain or interpret: Editors often use these editorials to explain the way the newspaper
covered a sensitive or controversial subject. School newspapers may explain new school
rules or a particular student-body effort like a food drive.
2. Criticize: These editorials constructively criticize actions, decisions or situations while
providing solutions to the problem identified. Immediate purpose is to get readers to see
the problem, not the solution.
3. Persuade: Editorials of persuasion aim to immediately see the solution, not the problem.
From the first paragraph, readers will be encouraged to take a specific, positive action.
Political endorsements are good examples of editorials of persuasion.
4. Praise: These editorials commend people and organizations for something done well.
They are not as common as the other three.
Writing an Editorial

1. Pick a significant topic that has a current news angle and would interest readers.
2. Collect information and facts; include objective reporting; do research
3. State your opinion briefly in the fashion of a thesis statement
4. Explain the issue objectively as a reporter would and tell why this situation is important
5. Give opposing viewpoint first with its quotations and facts
6. Refute (reject) the other side and develop your case using facts, details, figures,
quotations. Pick apart the other side's logic.
7. Concede a point of the opposition — they must have some good points you can
acknowledge that would make you look rational.
8. Repeat key phrases to reinforce an idea into the reader's minds.
9. Give a realistic solution(s) to the problem that goes beyond common knowledge.
Encourage critical thinking and pro-active reaction.
10. Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates your opening remark (thesis statement).
11. Keep it to 500 words; make every work count; never use "I"

A Sample Structure

I. Lead with an Objective Explanation of the Issue/Controversy.

Include the five W's and the H. (Members of Congress, in effort to reduce the budget, are
looking to cut funding from public television. Hearings were held …)

• Pull in facts and quotations from the sources which are relevant.
• Additional research may be necessary.

II. Present Your Opposition First.

As the writer you disagree with these viewpoints. Identify the people (specifically who
oppose you. (Republicans feel that these cuts are necessary; other cable stations can pick
them; only the rich watch public television.)

• Use facts and quotations to state objectively their opinions.

• Give a strong position of the opposition. You gain nothing in refuting a weak
position.

III. Directly Refute The Opposition's Beliefs.

You can begin your article with transition. (Republicans believe public televison is a
"sandbox for the rich." However, statistics show most people who watch public television
make less than $40,000 per year.)

• Pull in other facts and quotations from people who support your position.
• Concede a valid point of the opposition which will make you appear rational, one
who has considered all the options (fiscal times are tough, and we can cut some of
the funding for the arts; however, …).

IV. Give Other, Original Reasons/Analogies

In defense of your position, give reasons from strong to strongest order. (Taking money
away from public television is robbing children of their education …)

• Use a literary or cultural allusion that lends to your credibility and perceived
intelligence (We should render unto Caesar that which belongs to him …)

V. Conclude With Some Punch.

Give solutions to the problem or challenge the reader to be informed. (Congress should look
to where real wastes exist — perhaps in defense and entitlements — to find ways to save
money. Digging into public television's pocket hurts us all.)

• A quotation can be effective, especially if from a respected source

• A rhetorical question can be an effective concluder as well (If the government
doesn't defend the interests of children, who will?)
Go to the library or any computer lab and complete the “webquest” located at

http://library.thinkquest.org/50084/index.shtml
http://library.thinkquest.org/50084/editorials/index.html

How to Write an Editorial in 5 Steps, Jennifer Herrity

Updated May 31, 2022
Published February 25, 2020
Jennifer Herrity is a seasoned career services professional with 12+ years of experience in
career coaching, recruiting and leadership roles with the purpose of helping others to find
their best-fit jobs. She helps people navigate the job search process through one-on-one
career coaching, webinars, workshops, articles and career advice videos on Indeed's
YouTube channel.

Writing an editorial is a great way to share your perspective or advocate for a cause to a
wide audience. Effective editorial articles can raise awareness of an issue while also
influencing people’s opinions on a topic. Knowing how to write a strong editorial can allow
you to make your voice heard, generate discussion in your community or take a stance on
behalf of a group.
In this article, we discuss what an editorial is, how to write one and tips for creating a good
editorial.
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What is an editorial?
An editorial is a short essay that shares an individual's opinion on a current event or social
issue. The goal of a good editorial is to persuade the reader to consider your perspective
and change their opinion. Editorials often focus on controversial issues with widely different
viewpoints.
Professors assign editorials in class to determine your skill at persuasive writing, while
writers at newspapers and magazines create editorials to make a claim or create discussion
about their publication. Your editorial should make a clear argument that reflects your
stance and appeals to your audience.
Types of editorials
While the goal of all editorials is to share an opinion and persuade an audience, there are
editorial style variations. The different types depend upon the goal of the article and can be
divided into four categories:
Interpretive: An interpretive editorial explains and provides background information on an
event or issue. This type of editorial aims to raise awareness and discuss how the topic is
relevant to the reader.
Critical: The critical format focuses on the various causes of a problem and suggests a
solution. For example, you might critique a policy that relates to your issue to advocate for a
specific change.
Persuasive: This type of editorial appeals directly to the reader and encourages them to take
action. The persuasive format focuses on the reader's ability to change a situation by
following your advice.
Praising: A praising editorial shows appreciation for a person or organization based on their
involvement in an issue.
Whether you are writing for a class assignment or a major publication, understanding the
goal of your editorial will help guide your tone and the direction of your argument. After
determining the category of your editorial, you can begin to write confidently to influence
an audience.
Parts of an editorial
Although people write editorials on a wide range of topics, most have the same basic
components. All editorials need a clear stance and details to support that perspective. Good
persuasive articles have the following elements:
Introduction: The introduction builds a reader's interest in the topic and gives an overview
of the issue.
Argument: The argument presents your opinion along with reasons why the audience
should agree with you.
Evidence: The evidence supports your argument with facts, research or anecdotes.
Counterargument: All editorial writers should establish credibility by presenting a fair review
of the perspectives involved. While a praising editorial might be mostly positive with a brief
reference to an issue, a critical editorial needs to address the opposing perspective directly.
Refutation: After sharing the counter-argument with a reader, the writer must explain why
that argument is not accurate or relevant. Refuting the counterargument allows you to
promote your point of view while still seeming fair.
Conclusion: In the final paragraph of your editorial, summarize your point of view and
remind the reader why they should care about this issue.
How to write an editorial
Once you know the type of editorial you want to write and the basic components you need
to include, you can begin the writing process. If you are writing an editorial for a class or
work assignment, refer back to the prompt frequently during the planning process.
An editorial with specific classroom guidelines will likely be very different than an opinion
piece published in a magazine or newspaper. Regardless of why you are writing your
editorial, you can use these steps to create a strong foundation for a successful editorial
paper:
1. Decide on a topic
Since editorials are based on opinion, your topic should be arguable and have multiple
points of view. Your essay will reflect your personal bias or the bias of the group you are
representing, so you should expect some of your readers to disagree with your stance. You
might select a controversial topic that involves politics to provoke conversation about your
writing. Regardless of the topic you choose, make sure that you can write about it
passionately and focus on why others should agree with your perspective.
As you decide what to write about, keep in mind that your topic should be specific. Keeping
the scope of your editorial on a certain aspect of an issue will keep your argument strong
and help the reader stay focused. A well-written editorial devotes multiple paragraphs to
supporting one specific idea.
Example: A writer for a school newspaper might choose to write an editorial on the new
school dress code. Instead of trying to criticize everything they don't like about school, a
writer can create a call-to-action by focusing on this one topical issue. Whether their
readers agree or disagree with the dress code, an editorial about a specific controversial
topic will inspire others to engage in the issue.
2. Research your topic
Even though an editorial is opinion-based, it is still important to provide your readers with
well-researched evidence to back up your ideas. You can convince your readers of your
credibility by demonstrating knowledge of what other prominent voices have to say on the
topic. Researching your topic can also help you decide which particular stance you will take
and create an article that contributes new ideas to the conversation.
3. Create an outline
After selecting and researching an issue, write an outline to keep your ideas organized and
ensure that the main points of your editorial flow well. The introduction will always be at
the beginning of the essay and the conclusion at the end, but you can organize your body
paragraphs based on what format fits your essay the best. List each main idea as its own
paragraph, making sure to provide evidence for each idea.
4. Start to write
Once you finish the planning portion of writing your editorial, start to write by adding details
to your outline. Some people prefer to start with the introduction, while others focus on the
body of the paper first and write the introduction at the end. Try to write down as many
ideas as you can at first, then go back and edit your paper. Getting started on a paper can be
the most challenging part of the process for many writers. If you find yourself having trouble
beginning to write, look back on your research for inspiration.
5. Proofread
Before submitting your editorial, proofread your own work to make sure you have created a
professional, quality piece of writing. Many writers read their work aloud to check for tone
and flow. Another popular proofreading technique is to read your paper backward, starting
wit the last sentence and moving to the introduction.
This process helps catch spelling and grammatical errors that you might not have seen the
first time. You might also consider having a trusted friend or colleague read and summarize
the main ideas of your paper for clarity.
Tips for writing a good editorial
A good editorial can focus on any topic, as long as you can make a strong case for your
opinion and write with your audience in mind. Focus on why a reader should care about
your issue, as well as why someone might have a different opinion. Understanding both
sides of an issue will make your editorial interesting to a wide variety of audiences. Use
these tips to make your editorial as convincing and relevant as possible:
Be decisive
Your editorial needs to take a firm position on your chosen topic. Any time you mention an
opposing view, immediately explain why it is incorrect and why readers should agree with
you instead. Convince readers to consider your ideas by displaying confidence in your
stance.
Offer new ideas
During the research process, see if there are any aspects to your issue that others have not
yet discussed. While anyone can have an opinion, adding something new to a discussion will
show that you have put careful thought into your piece.
Provide solutions
If you draw attention to an issue in an editorial, provide possible solutions to the problem.
You want to avoid simply complaining so that the audience can find value in your work and
consider taking action themselves.

Focus on your interests

Whenever possible, choose a topic that you are passionate about. Your writing will reflect
that you actually care about the issue, making your paper more interesting to read and
more relevant to readers.