An opinion piece is an article published in a newspaper or magazine that expresses an author’s opinion on a subject. It is generally written in a tone that is both persuasive and conversational, with sections or paragraphs presenting evidence or arguments to support the thesis statement. Many periodicals have an editorial board (regular or guest) that selects and edits opinion pieces before publication.
Opinion pieces are often written in response to news items, but they can also be used to comment on a topic of general interest and can be found on a variety of platforms. It is important when writing an op-ed to consider the audience that the piece will reach, and ensure it addresses a topic of relevance to them. This can be done by using anecdotes, human case studies or even referring to personal experience.
A good op-ed is clear, concise and easy to read. It should avoid jargon or specialist terms unless they are necessary to the argument being made, and it is helpful to include a definition of these in the text. It is also important to use good examples, which can be more effective at bringing the topic to life than dry facts and statistics.
It is useful to practice explaining your position in the form of an argument in a conversation to someone unfamiliar with your work, to help you structure your ideas and identify any areas that require further clarification. Ultimately, an opinion piece is meant to convince the reader to take action, so it should be clear on what the action that the writer is advocating for should be. This might be urging their state to protect the environment, for parents to choose healthier foods for their children or for the White House to change its foreign policy.
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