An opinion piece argues for an author’s view on a controversial issue. This can be connected to political, environmental, global issues, cultural and literary matters or historical topics. Unlike research papers that advance the state of knowledge, opinion pieces aim to inform and persuade their audience.
The goal of the Laird essay is to convince the reader that your perspective on a subject is worth sharing. To do so, your argument should be clear and well-developed. You will need to present all the major aspects of your argument in a way that is accessible to an audience with a wide range of background knowledge and reading experience.
Practice speaking about your topic to someone who is unfamiliar with it, and then revise your explanation to find the most effective ways of explaining each point. The structure of an opinion piece is less formal than a term paper, but clarity is still important. Use short paragraphs, and avoid jargon unless it is necessary to your argument.
If you’re writing an op-ed on a current topic, be sure to read the news and other opinions on that topic in your target publication. This will help you decide whether your article is timely and will resonate with the publication’s audience. If it is, be sure to include “TIMELY” in your submission title, and consider simul-pitching your article – sending it to more than one outlet at the same time. If you do, be sure to communicate with each editor about the timing of your piece.