Editorial Writing and Commentary

3 units

At a time when finding opinions on anything is as easy as opening an app, how can readers decide which opinion to trust, and how can writers frame opinion pieces in the most persuasive way? News outlets have traditionally expressed opinions through the editorial page, which is separate from news pages that are supposed to present factual material in an evenhanded, neutral way. Many outlets have increasingly blurred that traditional line of separation, making it more important than ever to be able to spot bias in supposedly neutral coverage. This course will teach students how to sift facts from opinion and how to write arguments in a solid, methodical manner: stating a thesis; backing it up with accurate, pertinent facts; pointing out how opposing views fall short; and then ending with a strong conclusion. That template can be used in many formats: editorials, op-ed pieces, and even reviews of things like books, movies or restaurants. Students will hone their skills by writing opinion pieces each week and critiquing the work done by their classmates. They will read a variety of pieces -- both news and opinion -- to see how the technique is used, and they will use local, national and international news events to make and bolster their arguments.