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 e
ditors and business managers. It is usually unsigned. Much in the same manner of a law
yer, 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 opi
nionated 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 a
ddresses
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 situatio
n 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 newspa
per covered a sensitive or controversial subject. School newspapers may explain new sch
ool 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 proble
m. From the first paragraph, readers will be encouraged to take a specific, positive actio
n. 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 importa
nt
5. Give opposing viewpoint first with its quotations and facts
6. Refute (reject) the other side and develop your case using facts, details, figures, quota
tions. Pick apart the other side's logic.
7. Concede a point of the opposition — they must have some good points you can ackn
owledge 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. Enco
urage 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, a
re looking to cut funding from public television. Hearings were held …)

Ÿ Pull in facts and quotations from the sources which are relevant.

Ÿ Additional research may be necessary.

II. Present Your Opposition First.

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

Ÿ Use facts and quotations to state objectively their opinions.

Ÿ 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 "sa
ndbox for the rich." However, statistics show most people who watch public television
make less than $40,000 per year.)

Ÿ Pull in other facts and quotations from people who support your position.

Ÿ Concede a valid point of the opposition which will make you appear rational, o
ne who has considered all the options (fiscal times are tough, and we can cut som
e 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 …)

Ÿ Use a literary or cultural allusion that lends to your credibility and perceived in
telligence (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 l
ook to where real wastes exist — perhaps in defense and entitlements — to find ways t
o save money. Digging into public television's pocket hurts us all.)

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

Ÿ A rhetorical question can be an effective concluder as well (If the government

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doesn't defend the interests of children, who will?) Home

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How to Write an Editorial on Any Topic in Five Easy Steps

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You may wonder how to write an editorial worth of reader's appreciation. We have coll
ected the stages involved in the process of developing a newspaper article to help you
with your first trial.
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What Is Edi torial Essay?
Many young authors ask, "What is an editorial essay?" One must understand what edit
orial stands for: it is a newspaper article that tends to contain and explain author's ide
as. This piece of writing can be on any topic. It usually deals with social issues. Just lik
e in your research paper, you have to provide enough credible evidence to support yo
ur opinion.
Detailed research has to be conducted ahead to discover a particular point of view an
author wishes to argue. An editorial must contain both problems description and possib
le solutions to it. When writing about the issue associated with obese population, the
writer should end up giving specific recommendations on how to deal with this proble
m. He can develop a message for both those who suffer from this disorder and health
care professionals who should handle it.
The authors speak to the local governments hoping to motivate them to act. As you c
an see, writing an editorial has a lot in common with writing an essay or research pap
er. So, in case you were good at writing in your school, college, or university papers, it
would make no problem for you to come up with any writing piece, including an inte
resting editorial.

How to Write an Editorial Essay of Different Types?

Editorials have uncommon classification; instead of being classified by their nature, they
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are classified by their purposes. There is no way to obtain an answer to the question "
What is editorial writing?" without learning the basics of each type. When you work on
FAQ
your piece, mind that you can either: Home

How It Works
Blog

Samples

How to Write an Editorial on Any Topic in Five Easy Steps

Contacts

How to Write
Order Now an Editorial for a Newspa
per?
Writing GuideSign In to your account

You may wonder how to write an editorial worth of reader's appreciation. We have coll
ected the stages involved in the process of developing a newspaper article to help you
with your first trial.
FIND IMMEDIATE HELP HERE
What Is Editorial Essay?
Many young authors ask, "What is an editorial essay?" One must understand what edit
orial stands for: it is a newspaper article that tends to contain and explain author's ide
as. This piece of writing can be on any topic. It usually deals with social issues. Just lik
e in your research paper, you have to provide enough credible evidence to support yo
ur opinion.
Detailed research has to be conducted ahead to discover a particular point of view an
author wishes to argue. An editorial must contain both problems description and possib
le solutions to it. When writing about the issue associated with obese population, the
writer should end up giving specific recommendations on how to deal with this proble
m. He can develop a message for both those who suffer from this disorder and health
care professionals who should handle it.
The authors speak to the local governments hoping to motivate them to act. As you c
an see, writing an editorial has a lot in common with writing an essay or research pap
er. So, in case you were good at writing in your school, college, or university papers, it
would make no problem for you to come up with any writing piece, including an inte
resting editorial.

How to Write an Editorial Essay of Different Types?

Editorials have uncommon classification; instead of being classified by their nature, they
are classified by their purposes. There is no way to obtain an answer to the question "
What is editorial writing?" without learning the basics of each type. When you work on
your piece, mind that you can either:
Explain/describe/interpret the topic

Explain how the chosen newspaper article covers the specific topic. An argument should
be sensitive, debatable, and controversial to attract the readers. Example: You're a hig
h school newspaper editor who decides to interpret the recently established writing sta
ndards to your peers.
Criticize the issue

Critical thinking is what every good writer needs to create a meaningful writing piece w
hich covers a significant problem. A good editorial criticizes specific actions or cases wh
ile providing solutions to the existing issue. The main goal is to allow the audience see
the problem instead of the solution.
Persuade the readers of the truth of the editorial's main argument

In contrast to the pieces which criticize, persuasive pieces focus on the suggested soluti
ons without going into the problem's details. From the opening paragraph (introduction
), the author should motivate his readers to take a specific action to implement the sol
ution. Political endorsements are great examples of persuasive editorials.
Praise

Editorials of this type appreciate people or organizations that have done something spe
cial and beneficial.