your topic that interests you – perhaps a challenge related to your topic or a question that you have about it.
- Use the Internet to search for opinions related to your topic. Your goal is to find an opinion that is informed, thoughtful, and engaging. Read a few of them before you settle on just one. You are not limited to the first ten sights that come up in your search. Some sites will be blocked, but there are still some high quality opinions out there. Try using some of Google’s search tips to find quality opinions. [The opinion I chose to read about bullying came from a search that looked like this: opinion:bullying +teen +teachers ]
- Once you’ve found an opinion to read, open a Word document.
- Use the formal paper format to set up your document.
- Copy and Paste the URL of your opinion at the top of the page. Also write the title of the piece and the author’s name.
- Answer the following questions about the opinion you chose:
- What is the writer’s opinion or message that s/he wants to share with readers?
- What can you tell about the writer as a person? What more do you want to know about the writer in order to better understand the opinion?
- What insights and views does this writer have to offer your group’s discussion about your topic?
- What characteristics of an Op-Ed are present in the piece of writing? [Hint: This refers to things ‘inside the triangle.’]
- How is reading this opinion piece different than reading the news article you looked at with your group last week? What do you get from this writer that you didn’t get from the news reporter?
- How does your own opinion on the issue brought up in your opinion piece align with or diverge from the writer’s opinion?