Unit Assignment: Op-Ed Column

This is a class about social movements, so I want to know what you care about and how you engage with it outside of class. This assignment stresses the creative elements of sharing your message, and I hope you are able to make something you're excited to share with others. 

 Assignment Details

Speaking up in a public way makes social movements work, so now it’s your turn. Find a public forum in which to voice your (well thought out and backed with credible resources) opinion about something related to social movements. The column can be about the importance of a particular issue, responding to something you see in the news, suggestions for what is (in)effective in a movement, how to engage with a particular movement and why it matters, the politics of a social movement, or some other aspect you feel is related to class. There are several examples at the end of this assignment description. If you’re not sure whether your idea works, check with me during office hours or over email. You will also write a cover letter to the editor about the op-ed you are submitting.

BONUS! If published, receive a 1% bonus to your final class grade. Need proof. 

 

Before You Begin

1. Answer for yourself, “what is an op-ed?”
   • https://journalistsresource.org/tip-sheets/writing/how-to-write-an-op-ed-or-column/

• https://www.theopedproject.org/oped-basics
• A key move, here, could be to find an issue of "timeless" concern expressed through a social movement/campaign/SMO/etc. of "timely" relevance. 

2. Select a topic related to the course and draft a one-page outline for an opinion piece that will become an op-ed column
   • Not sure what to write about? Here are some news sites to check out for ideas:
     • https://grist.org/about/
     • https://www.yesmagazine.org/
     • http://nativenewsonline.net/
     • https://theconversation.com/us/topics/social-movements-34148
     • Op-Ed Ideas

3. Seek out a source well-suited to submit your column to, and confirm their submission guidelines.
   • Who is their audience?
   • Do they have a particular topical focus?
   • How many words, and what are the requirements for the column? 

 

Writing & Submitting the Op-Ed to a Public Outlet

3. Now that you know more about where you are submitting your piece, turn your outline into a column, based on the submission requirements of the news outlet (often, approximately 500-700 words).

• • Op-Eds are usually written for general (not academic) audiences. For this reason, you should craft your piece to synthesize complicated theoretical/academic concepts for a broader audience, and make a definitive argument about the topic you have chosen.  Within rhetoric, tailoring your argument to accommodate a particular audience is an essential skill and this assignment will encourage you to think differently about the ways you can present your ideas. Best practice here is the marriage of a timeless topic and contextual awareness.

5. Write the editor a professional cover letter explaining why your letter is well suited to their outlet, and why it is a timely issue to be talking about. MAX 1 page.
6. Submit your piece + Cover Letter to the news outlet, saving proof that you did so, such as a screenshot of submission confirmation page or reply email

 

To turn in for Class on Canvas

In one well-organized document file, include:

• Final copy of your op-ed
• Copy of your letter to the editor
• Separate bulleted list summarizing the submission requirements of paper you selected.           
• Screen shot picture (pasted within the document) of email or webpage acknowledgement of your submission to the paper of your choice.

 

Additional Resources/Inspiration

• For tips on writing Op-Eds see:
  • Journalist's Resource January 28, 2013  https://journalistsresource.org/tip-sheets/writing/how-to-write-an-op-ed-or-column/

• • The Op-Ed Project https://www.theopedproject.org/oped-basics
  • Guidelines from Duke University's Office of News and Communications (retrieved July 20,2019) https://www.umass.edu/pep/sites/default/files/how_to_write_an_oped-duke_2.pdf
• Real Life Examples of Op-Ed Columns 

• • Anderson, Anne. 2017. “Opinion Column: Veganism is a Privilege.” Indiana Daily Student, October 10 2017.  https://www.idsnews.com/article/2017/10/column-veganism-is-a-privilege
  • Brooks, Dacid. 2018.  “Social Movements: A New Power Structure.” New Straights Times, April 21, 2018. https://www.nst.com.my/opinion/columnists/2018/04/359754/social-movements-new-power-structure
  • Ferguson, Jaclyn. 2019. “OPINION COLUMN: Social Movements Led By Minority Groups Are Too Often Undermined” Indiana Daily Student, February 27, 2019. https://www.idsnews.com/article/2019/02/social-movements-led-by-minority-groups-are-too-often-undermined
  • Ferose, R. 2019. “Opinion | What Businesses Can Learn From Social Movements” Live Mint, July 5, 2019. https://www.livemint.com/opinion/columns/opinion-what-businesses-can-learn-from-social-movements-1564043148008.html
  • Foxall, Maya. 2018. “Opinion: Youth Who Participate In Social Movements Need To Be More Effective.” The State Press, October 26, 2018.  https://www.statepress.com/article/2018/10/spopinion-students-need-to-consistently-create-social-change
  • Lentfer, Jennifer. 2018. “Opinion: Can Aid Organizations Really Be Part Of Social Movements?”  Devex, May 17, 2018. https://www.devex.com/news/opinion-can-aid-organizations-really-be-part-of-social-movements-92738 
  • Van Acker, Anne, and  Carolyn Tastad. 2019. “Opinion: Business Allies, Here's How To Work Toward A Gender Equal World” Devex, June 6. 2019. https://www.devex.com/news/opinion-business-allies-here-s-how-to-work-toward-a-gender-equal-world-95054
  • Weiss, Dianna. 2019. “Opinion: Veganism — A Social Movement Made On Social Media”   The Review, March 24, 2019.  http://udreview.com/opinion-veganism-a-social-movement-made-on-social-media/ 
  • Whitehead, Karsonya Wise. 2017. “American Women Are On The Forefront Of A Movement For Change.” The Baltimore Sun, March 9, 2017.  https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinion/op-ed/bs-ed-girl-power-20170309-story.html

 Objectives

This assignment addresses the learning objectives:

• • Examine and explain how theories and concepts of communication apply to contemporary social movements, including, for example, how persuasive/rhetorical forces affect public ideas and discourse and how social movements function through a persuasive/rhetorical lens.
  • Explore, express, debate, and evaluate ideas and issues which matter to you personally, professionally, publicly, and ethically, for a variety of audiences.
  • Demonstrate ethical awareness, empathy, and being an informed consumer of messages,  such as through the ability to draw conclusions that reflect an understanding of multiple (and possibly conflicting) perceptions of a situation or sources of information

*This assignment used with permission from Christy-Dale Mauer, University of Colorado Boulder Department of Communication