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Definition
| A group of people, usually made up of editors and sometimes community members, who decide on a plan for each editorial that will be appear in the paper. |
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Term
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| S-State the problem or situation. P-Position, identify it. E-Evidence, give it to support your opinion. C-Conclusion, in it refute the other side of the argument. S-Solutions, give one or two good solutions to the problem. |
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Definition
| Stimulate, Explain, Advocate. Editorial writing should stimulate readers interest, explain the situation or problem and advocate a position. |
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| Editorials are positions taken by the newspaper as a whole (editorial board). Opinions are single columns that reflect the view point of a single individual. |
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| Writing Style--Plow horse |
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Definition
| Introduction-state subject, explain issue, define problem. Body-Report details, provide "added value" research, present alternatives, quotes balancing and conflicting authorities. Conclusion-Deliver your opinion, suggest (demand) action call for reader involvement. |
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| Writing Style--Neck of the vase |
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Definition
| Neck-two paragraphs about a recognizable human being(s) that will be compelling to the readers. Transition paragraph--This is where you would widen your editorial to the broader meaning. Vase--The main body of the writing. It's important to include quick vignettes about personalized situations. |
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| Writing Style-Personalized "You" |
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Definition
| Taking a large complex issue and breaking it down on a small level so everyone can relate to it--on a personalized level. "How would you like to try to raise a family on $8,840 a year?" |
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| Writing Style--Imagine with me structue |
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Definition
| Draw a picture where the readers can visualize the situation being explained. Descriptive words are important here. |
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| Writing Style-The Question Structure |
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| Asking questions in your writing can create a conversational tone for the readers. Answering the question quickly is important for readers to know where the topic is heading. |
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| Writing Style-We're all in it together structure |
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Definition
| Similar to the "You" style, but it involves "us"--the reader and writer, side-by-side, confronting what's out there in the world. |
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Term
| Writing Style-The Shock Approach |
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Definition
| Using something that provides shock value in the paper. "Philadelphia cops lied." |
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| Four goals of opinion writers |
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Definition
| 1) Serve your public--If you're not serving the public then you're not doing your job; 2) Provide a forum--Allow the public to have a say on issues, allow them to join the debate; 3) Be a watch dog--The government is here to serve the public, not the other way around. Because of this writers should question government policy; 4) Inform and guide readers--Guide is the key part, as it's not the goal to tell readers what to do, rather allow readers to come to their own conclusions, but a helpful hand is good. |
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Term
| Four parts of an opinion section |
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| 1) Editorials; 2) Op-ed columns; 3) Letters to the editor; 4) Art. |
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Term
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Definition
| Ad hom = attacking the person rather than attacking the argument. Person A argues X, person B attacks person A, therefore X must be false. |
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Term
| Fallacy--Gamblers fallacy |
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Definition
| Using past results (which may have gone a certain way) to predict future results. For example, flipping a coin six times results in six heads flips. The gamblers fallacy occurs when a person believes the seventh flip will be tails, because it was "due." In reality, the chances of either flip is still 50/50. |
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| Fallacy-Hasty generalization |
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Definition
| Dude, you got this one. I've seen three cars today, all are blue. Therefore, all cars are blue. |
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| If we go this far, then eventually we'll go this far. |
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| Winning a libel suit, five elements |
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| 1) Identification; 2) Publication; 3) Defamatory; 4) False; 5) Fault--actual malice |
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| True opinion cannot be considered defamation. |
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Definition
| Not all news or writing has to be about something bad, sad or depressing. Sometimes opinion writers should write something stupid happy or fell good. |
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