Today I want you all to look at student op-eds, thinking about what op-eds do different from a hard news article.
This is a link to student newspapers in Texas:
http://snosites.com/our-customers/high-schools/#Texas
Find three op-ed articles from various Austin newspapers.
For each story answer the following questions (some of them might be the exact same answers, but please answer them for each story):
1. Who wrote the story?
2. What is their story about?
3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.
4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?
5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they every go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.
6. Are there any quotes in the story?
7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?
Finally, answer the following questions:
A. What do you think the major differences between a hard news story and an opinions piece? Come up with at least three.
B. Why do you think these differences exist?
C. What are three topics you think would be good to write an opinions piece on?
This is a link to student newspapers in Texas:
http://snosites.com/our-customers/high-schools/#Texas
Find three op-ed articles from various Austin newspapers.
For each story answer the following questions (some of them might be the exact same answers, but please answer them for each story):
1. Who wrote the story?
2. What is their story about?
3. What is their direct opinion about that topic? Please quote it directly from the story or do a really good job of paraphrasing.
4. Did they address what the other side might think about their topic?
5. Were they wishy-washy with their opinion? By this I mean did they every go back and say well maybe if this were to happen, then their opinion wouldn't be valid. Support your opinion.
6. Are there any quotes in the story?
7. What point of view did they write in (1st, 2nd or 3rd)?
Finally, answer the following questions:
A. What do you think the major differences between a hard news story and an opinions piece? Come up with at least three.
B. Why do you think these differences exist?
C. What are three topics you think would be good to write an opinions piece on?