Writing an opinion editorial, or op-ed, seems pretty straight forward. You simply sound off on a...
What is an Op-Ed?
An op-ed is an opinion piece that not only seeks to inform but also is a form of personal expression. The word itself is a bit of a relic and refers to the form’s original placement in physical newspapers: “opposite the editorial page.” Today, op-eds persist as a popular form of opinion writing, where your point of view about an issue is supported by stories and facts, and where you answer the questions: “Why do we need to think about this?” and “What should we do about it?”
Traditionally, op-eds were written by people outside a newspaper’s editorial board, offering viewpoints on a public issue. That spirit continues today, with the genre providing a space for community members, including teens, to speak up about what matters to them, whether that be as local as school policy or as global as climate change.
How to Write an Op-Ed
Even the most complex op-eds usually follow the same underlying structure. Once you learn it, you can adapt the foundations to fit your angle.
An op-ed has four main parts:
- Hook - the opening that grabs the reader's interest.
- Thesis - your main argument about the issue.
- Body - the reasons and evidence that support your thesis.
- (Optional) Counterargument - the other side of the issue, and your rebuttal.
- Conclusion - a lasting impression that sparks thought or action.
Step 1: Find Your Issue and Your Unique Angle
There are countless problems in the world, and understandably, you want to write about all of them. The good thing about an op-ed is that it invites you to slow down about a specific issue that you truly care about in a short space (400 to 1000 words, in the case of Write the World’s Op-Ed Competitions). Long enough to inspire change, short enough to make every sentence earn its place.
These are a few questions that can help you get to your core issue:
- What do you feel about the issue, and why?
- What is at stake?
- Who cares about the issue, and who doesn’t?
- Who do you want to reach with your opinion essay?
- What do you hope to say to your readers?
If you feel stuck, try answering the core questions in “4 Strategies for Writing a Winning Op-Ed” by Brittany Collins. The thoughts and feelings that pop up along the way might help you see a problem you might not have noticed before. Once you’ve nailed down your issue and your argument, the writing process becomes easier.
Step 2: Hook a Goldfish
“Many readers have an attention span of a goldfish,” wrote Julia Jiang in her article “Breaking Down An Op-Ed.” “It’s our job to hook them quickly.”
You don’t need flashy gold hooks, but you do need a clear and specific one. The opening of Julia’s example op-ed works because it uses a relatable anecdote:
Every child has experienced it: the lifeless anticipation for a lesson to end or the frantic begs for an interactive class game to begin, hoping it would relieve our inattentiveness. However, stepping into lessons as a first-time teacher, I hesitated – watching my classroom transform into an uproar of hoorays after the assembly of a Kahoot! game as my last resort to garner attention — not merely because I know all too well Kahoot’s inability to entrench meaningful knowledge, but chiefly as I saw among their oblivious smiles a diagnosis I recognized too clearly in myself.
The balance of clarity and nuance is the key to making an engaging beginning. It’s a discipline to select important details that showcase personality without sacrificing clarity. Other effective ways to start are with shocking facts, compelling quotes, or rhetorical questions.
Step 3: The Art of Persuasion
A part of an op-ed writer's job is to convince the reader. Different persuasive techniques work for different audiences. Using several of these techniques is a way to appeal from multiple angles and further solidify your argument.
The article “Persuasive Writing Examples” shows great strategies on how to sway a reader, which can be broken down into three main modes of appeal:
- Logic (logos): Facts and clear reasons.
- Examples (Illustrative Evidence)
- Facts and statistics
- Credibility (ethos): Why the readers should trust you.
- Expert opinions
- Personal experience
- Emotion (pathos): Details that help readers feel the stakes.
- Analogies
- Emotional appeals
The boundaries between modes of appeal can sometimes blur. A logical one can make the stakes more apparent, and personal stories can heighten credibility. The harmony between appeals makes an op-ed compelling.
Step 4: Clear Body Paragraphs
Each body paragraph should provide reasons and evidence that support your thesis. It often answers a “because.”
A reliable pattern looks like this:
- Topic sentence - one reason that builds on your main point.
- Supporting sentence - develops the topic with examples, evidence, or explanation.
- Concluding sentence - captures the idea and transitions to your next point.
For example, Julia builds her argument throughout the article, first by recognizing the issue as a social problem. Next, she explains her unique angle on tackling the topic. Finally, she unfurls the causes and consequences of the problem. You can try sprinkling these details in your op-ed to make the flow smoother and logical.
Step 5: Nuances
Although you desire a smooth reading experience for your paper, real-world issues are frequently complex and controversial. You don’t have to make your problem simpler, explains Slate journalist and Guest Judge Aymann Ismail. Recognizing the opposites and the in-between can make you more relatable and convincing.
As Julia notes, counterarguments add more dimension to a piece, but it is not a must. Writers need to refrain from defending stakeholders who perpetrate harm and then ask:
- What context has facilitated the opposing view?
- How will understanding this stance enrich our argument’s aim?
When you approach those who hold different opinions with an open heart, you gain the opportunity to learn from their perspectives and objections, which can then empower you to articulate your own more effectively with empathy.
Step 6: Conclusion That Inspires Action
Your last lines should leave a lasting impression. You might take one or a few of these approaches:
- Return to your opening scene and show what has changed.
- Zoom out to reveal the broader significance of your argument.
- Nudge people to take action.
- Leave them with a thoughtful reflection.
Op-ed often links back to your lede (what journalists call the introduction) and answers the “so what?” In other words, what should the reader think or do differently after this?
Ask yourself: If a person would only remember my last two sentences, what would I write?
Step 7: Learn from Other Writers
Your issue may be personal to you, but you don’t have to keep it on your own. Reading from other writers might help you make sense of your feelings about the issue and how you approach it, especially as you revise your first draft.
On Write the World’s “Op-Ed Examples” page, you’ll find:
- Global Publication Op-eds
- Op-eds published in Teen Vogue, Global Voices, National Geographic, The Guardian, and more, on topics from environmental justice to language inclusion.
- You can learn how to blend facts in context with personal stories and arguments.
- Op-eds from Write the World
- Some examples are op-eds talking about issues of identity, the death penalty, queerness, and food shame.
- You can learn how memories from your life show readers why your argument is important by taking them to the scene of the issue and describing the changes that happened.
When you’re revising your draft, consider how other writers used personal analysis and metaphors throughout the piece, and how you can apply your personal context to leave a lasting impression. Seek to balance clarity and nuance while keeping the focus on your argument through your unique voice.
Step 8: Travel the World with Your Op-Ed
Once your op-ed feels ready, you can let your voice travel to a wider conversation.
The guide “How to Pitch an Op-Ed” highlights a few strategies:
- Find a home for your piece
- A specific community issue can be housed in a local publication. Broader topics may fit national outlets. Niche topics often find success in specialized publications.
- Check the rules
- Look up the publication guidelines, such as word limits and response times. Submit to one publication at a time.
- Be timely and relevant.
- Tie your piece to recent news, or submit it when a related issue re-enters the news.
- Rejection is normal
- It’s part of the process of being a writer. Keep revising and pitching.
You retain all the rights to your works on Write the World. In other words, you are allowed to republish elsewhere. A local newspaper is your best bet, but if you’re up for it, you can try with the New York Times, Washington Post, and Wall Street Journal, which will sometimes post pieces by young writers.
Best of luck with your pitches, and please remember to let us know at hello@writetheworld.org when your piece is published!
