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Editorial Assignment:
Essay Prep Tips
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Clearly identify the problem and the
policy meant to address the problem
Justify: Why is this an important problem
to solve? Why should we care?
Take a position: you are advocating for a
particular approach and trying to
convince the reader you are right
Organize your discussion according to the
structure laid out in the assignment
Show that you understand the opposing
viewpoint and give it a fair hearing
Sources are needed to back up your
claims
n You can use a wide variety of sources –
academic, primary/statistical, grey
literature, news coverage – but critically
assess the quality of info and the
positionality of the authors
Include a bibliography of all sources used
Citations in an Editorial
§ Generally, editorials and op-eds don’t have in-text
citations or footnotes, as in academic writing
§ However, you must still attribute the information
you use in your editorial to your sources
§ Instead of typical citations, refer to the authors in
your text like so:
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§ “According to a 2015 study by the Canadian
Centre for Policy Alternatives, child care has
become less affordable in the last twenty
years.”
§ ”York University sociologist Mark Thomas
has recently argued that there is a crisis in
employment standards enforcement in
Ontario.”
§ Definitely use direct quotations from your sources,
and use the above method to identify where the
quotations come from.
LS 1C03 Winter 2018
Editorial Writing Assignment
Each student will write an editorial or “op ed” which takes a position on a government policy
approach to solving a problem related to the quality, availability and organization of work and
labour markets.
Basic Guidelines | Each analysis should:
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Be 800 words in length
Be type-written, double-spaced, and in 12-pt font
Have a title page that includes the assignment title, your name and student number, the
number and name of the course, the names of the professor and your teaching assistant,
and the due date
Be submitted electronically by March 2, 2018 at 11:59pm via Avenue to Learn
List of Recommended Policies | Choose one of the following to write on:
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The raising of the minimum wage to $15 per hour
The elimination of the (lower) student minimum wage from the Employment Standards Act
The creation of a national public child care program
The improvement of parental leave entitlements for both parents
The extension of pay equity legislation to cover pay inequities according to ‘race’
The renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement
The elimination of tuition for post-secondary education
Strengthening of workplace anti-harassment laws
This list is not exhaustive. You may choose another policy instead of those listed here. However,
please discuss this choice with your TA or the professor before proceeding.
Evaluation | Your assignment will be evaluated using the following criteria:
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Accuracy in your description of the proposed policy and the problem it is meant to solve
Ability to represent “the other side” of the policy debate fairly and accurately, but also to
show why their reasons are flawed
Ability to make and support an argument with evidence and logic
Ability to express your thoughts clearly (through clear writing) and in a well-organized way
Writing an Editorial or Op Ed |
What is it? |
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. An op ed is short for “opposite the editorial,”
referring to the page of a newspaper opposite the paper’s unsigned editorials. It is usually (but
not always) a guest commentary by someone with expert knowledge on or a stake in an issue.
In both cases, the writer builds an argument to try to persuade readers to think the same way
they do. The purpose is to influence public opinion, promote critical thinking and debate about
key public issues, and sometimes cause people to take action on an issue.
The Structure of Editorials | Feel free to use this structure to organize your editorial
Introduction | The introduction should include an explanation of the issue or problem and its
importance to the readers, a connection to a timely news angle (like a recent or upcoming
event), and a brief statement of your thesis or main argument on the problem. Try to make this
engaging.
The Opposing Viewpoint | Discuss the opposing viewpoint first, quoting them and presenting
their arguments. Present their strongest arguments, and even concede that they may have a
point. Identify people or groups associated with these viewpoints.
Refute the Opposing Viewpoint and Present Your Viewpoint | Using various kinds of evidence
and logic, show why the opposing viewpoint is wrong and why your viewpoint is correct. Your
position must be well-supported with research, evidence, data, quotations, etc.
Present Your Solution | This is key: explain why your solution to the problem is a good one and
how and why it will make concrete improvements.
Conclusion | The conclusion should restate your overall argument, preferably in a punchy or
memorable way, and make the case for the reader to do something.
The Tone of Editorials |
While an editorial takes a position, the tone should remain professional. Even though you may
oppose others’ approach on the issue, you should be fair, and not engage in name calling or
personal attacks. Stay focused on the issue. Editorials should also be accessible to a broad
public. That means using language that can be widely understood, avoiding jargon or acronyms,
using short, direct sentences, and illustrating more abstract ideas with concrete examples.
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