Writing assignments that students get at high schools, colleges, and universities can be different. Sometimes, they feel they don’t know what a classification essay is, how to complete a research paper or thesis proposal properly. Another help they frequently need is an explanation about how to write an editorial. The following guide is devoted to that latter topic.
This is a detailed, informative instruction by professional writers. We would like to share the experience with every student who feels the need to know more about how to write an editorial article. Still, the guide isn’t going to be too long: there will be only essential things: definitions, features, and tips able to help you get the highest possible grade for your assignment.
Definition: What Is an Editorial Piece?
So, let’s move! What does an editorial look like? Everyone who completed at least one academic essay can say they have the minimum understanding of editorials. However, students regularly feel confused when they are asked to craft a paper with a name that is unusual to them. We are here to fix that issue.
For starters, let’s define what the word itself means. Editorial is a type of article for a newspaper. The writer should fill it with particular ideas that are original and proven by solid facts and quality evidence. Mostly, it’s up to them which topic they are going to cover. However, the most frequent issues to touch on are social ones.
However, if the professor does not define the topic for you to reveal in an editorial but leaves the choice for you, it is wise to use that freedom carefully. Take your time to brainstorm topic ideas and choose the one you feel the most exciting for yourself to write about.
In an editorial, a student needs to define the topical problem and then offer the best ways to solve it. For example, if you decide to mention threats and problems of the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is no way for you to limit your editorial with issues only. They want you to come up with potential solutions, too. For instance, you may want to insist on the need to make the vaccination procedure mandatory all over the country, continent, or world. Your additional thread may be the decision to speak to local officials and to start fixing the situation in your place, at least.
As you might think on your own already, editorials may have some features that are relatively similar to those of essays or research writings. Consequently, those who haven’t had any difficulties with composing other academic papers, most probably, won’t feel it too challenging to craft an editorial that deserves the highest grade.
How to Write a Newspaper Editorial: Step-By-Step Instruction
Now, when you have a refreshed understanding of the editorial definition, it is the best time for you to check the following list of steps to do if you want to make your paper perfect. It will be easy if you keep up with the guide, so relax and read it through attentively.
By the way, if you still feel a lack of confidence, or maybe you don’t have enough time to complete an academic assignment on your own, keep in mind the opportunity to ask for help. Online professionals are always there for you. They’ll come up with all their knowledge and experience to support your academic stability and even boost it to reach a whole new level.
Now, if you already decided to try crafting an editorial on your own, proceed with reading. Crafting a worthy paper will take five steps. Here they are.
Step 1: Choose Your Topic
How can you come up with a worthy topic to reveal in an editorial? Well, the most suitable solution is to think about the relevant social problems. Which of them are the most uncertain and controversial for you? Which one would you like to discuss most of all? After you’ve got your answers, you surely have a topic to pick.
After that, go into discussion. Show that chosen topical issue revealing all the viewpoints you might come up with. A good theme has a lot of them because, as it was admitted previously, it’s controversial.
Don’t forget that the professor starts evaluating your paper from its title. So, making your topic sound involving and original will surely be a solid way to keep them interested. Take your time to brainstorm title ideas and choose the most exciting one.
And don’t forget to keep in mind the relevance of the topic we mentioned already as well. Make sure it touches on the relevant and critical problems inside your country, state, or city, or neighborhood. An original topic idea makes it a lot more possible that the professor will be attentive and positively impressed when evaluating the writing itself later.
Additionally, your evidence shouldn’t be outdated as well. When picking a topic, check whether you can get the required number of proofs backed up with credible sources and process them well enough. It can be useful to call your argumentative essay writing experience for help (if you have one). That’s another likely element between regular essays and editorials. Now it isn’t looking that frightening, is it?
Step 2: Come Up With a Position
And here we go again – the likely feature of editorials and argumentative writings. In an editorial, you should not only pick a relevant and controversial issue to take a look at it from different angles but also come up with a clearly defined position about the chosen topic. Moreover, all the proofs you are going to pick should be suitable to support your opinion.
However, the difference between an argumentative paper and an editorial is also significant. If the first one treats the discussion of opposing viewpoints rather as a matter of good tone, then the latter has to reveal all the pros and cons of the chosen theme evenly. Focusing exclusively on the point you are standing for would most probably make your editorial look biased and show the lack of your academic qualification.
Of course, a person having an opinion on some topic can’t be totally unbiased. Moreover, bias is a natural and common issue, even for the most qualified scientists. However, you can try staying as neutral as possible while writing an editorial. That will not only increase your chance to get a high grade but also teach you to apply critical thinking to any debatable issue you’ll face throughout your career and life.
Step 3: Compose an Outline
Yes, here we go again. Any student has enough experience in coming up with a paper outline. So, just use it to create a basement for your future editorial.
An outline of an academic assignment is like a skeleton of a human body. Our bones are useless without muscles and organs, but it would be challenging for anyone to function well without a skeleton system inside them.
The same works for an editorial: an outline is your plan. It is a map showing the way and displaying the most critical milestones to pass. That’s how you keep the structure and logical connection between the writing elements in place.
A good outline simplifies the assignment significantly. Why so? Check the next step.
Step 4: Unpack Your Editorial
If you came up with an effective and understandable outline showing the topic, your position, arguments, proofs, and opposing thoughts briefly, then you’ve done half of the job already. All that you need to do further is to expand the outline’s points.
More TipsHere are some additional tips on writing your editorial:
- come up with statistical data and facts taken from credible sources. Such evidence is the perfect way to explain and support ideas and arguments;
- if a certain fact or proof seems stronger than other ones, keep it till the very last moment: place your best argument not first but last;
- still, try not to look uninterested in other points you find less effective. That’s how you keep the professor involved in reading your paper through.
Step 5: Conclude Thoroughly
The critical and neutral approach you use while picking a topic and crafting an intro and a body of your editorial should prevail till the very last word. Opposing viewpoints should be represented here. For example, when speaking of your support for turning the process of COVID vaccination into a mandatory one, you should explain why your solution is more crucial than the propositions of those standing for the other point of view.
Important note: just like with essays, there should not be new ideas and arguments in a concluding part of your editorial. The best way is to restate your position but tie it with evidence mentioned in an editorial’s body this time.
How to Write an Editorial Essay: Additional Recommendations
Regardless of the topic, some recommendations on how to write editorials always remain unchanged. Here are additional tips that will be relevant, no matter what issue you chose for discussion:
- make your intro involving, add a hook: an engaging question, interesting statistics, or some emotional call would cut it well;
- in the body, interpret the topic reasonably with credible data including numbers, facts, and stats;
- add opposing arguments and support them with proofs to make your paper unbiased;
- keep it formal: your language should be correct and expert;
- critical thinking is your best friend here;
- add a thorough conclusion with a clearly visible and suitable call-to-action phrase.
The last but not least important recommendation here is simple: don’t forget to check the requirements and recommendations given by your professor attentively. Most probably, you’ll find some hooks to use while composing your top-grade editorial paper there.