Commentary Assignment
Choose one: letter to the editor, op-ed piece, essay for radio, or poem as social commentary
4/19 bring a draft to class for workshop
due: 4/24
Commentary — you are commenting on something you’ve noticed (had a “huh moment”), read about, thought about, seen on TV, etc.
A commentary
- makes a clear and concise argument
- says something compelling
- is part of an ongoing conversation
- opens up further conversation
- is short and to the point
- makes connections amongst issues and ideas in a way that hasn’t been done already
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For the letter to the editor you will need to choose a specific publication and an article published within it to which you are responding. Please include a cover page that indicates the publication you are writing to and gives a citation for the original source/article. If possible, attach a copy of the original article. Letters to the editor tend to be short — 250-500 words.
The op-ed piece should also be written with a specific publication (and therefore audience) in mind. Please include a cover letter indicating the publication. Most op-ed pieces run about 500 words, but some featured pieces might be longer (750-1000 words).
The essay for radio or poetry pieces should be written with an “ear” toward how the piece will sound when read aloud but also how readily the piece (and its argument) can be followed by an audience who might only be listening to it.
**Use the texts we’ve read in class as models**
Relevant links:
“Tips for Writing a Strong Commentary”
“What is an Opinion Piece?”
“Ten Tips for Writing Opinion Pieces”
