Op-Ed Piece Assignment Steps

Op-Ed Page Assignment Steps:

1.     Select 1 newspaper article.   

2.     Next, respond to the article's editor and focus on, at least, one provocative statement made in the article by the author that has surprised, shocked, enraged, or persuaded you. Explain fully why you believe or feel the way you do about that statement. Be clear in your response using the proper grammar mechanics for English.

·      Decide on the most important word in the statement selected, then find either the Latin or Greek root of the word, and use it in your response's "logos," or persuasive logic.

·      Appeal to "pathos" (emotion) in your argumentative response. For example, use an example in your response that tends to make people upset, disappointed, sad, etc. so as to make your response appear more considerate (or empathetic, caring, etc.) to your readers. Another possibility is to identify where in the article the writer may have relied too much on emotional appeals when logic was in order.

·      Appeal to "ethos" (character/ethics) in your response too. For example, cite or reference a specialist or expert on the topic the article discusses to help support your argument. This usually involves research on the topic an the citation of sources quoted or/and paraphrased.

·      Use at least one semicolon (;) in your response. As silly or unfair as this may be, people who use semicolons correctly in their writing, regardless of whether they can actually write anything worth reading or not, are seen as "good" writers. Most people struggle with the semicolon and avoid it--you should embrace it.

·      Click on the link below to see more examples and an explanation on how to use it. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/607/04/

·      Use at least one of the following in your response: a complex sentence, a compound sentence, or a complex-compound sentence.

·      Click on the link below to see more examples on these types of sentences and how to use them. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/573/02/

·      Type your response in Palatino or Times New Roman style font, 12 point, double-space, and include an MLA format works cited list.  Click on http://www.easybib.com/