opinion & editorial writing: the power of your ideas
TRANSCRIPT
The First Amendmentand
the Power of Your Ideas
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
Make your point. Make it matter.
Make it fast.
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
Editorial & Opinion Writing
• Builds support • Shapes the debate • Educates & informs • Influences public opinion &
public policy • Changes minds & behaviors
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
How do you describe
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effective editorial & opinion writing?
Effective Editorials• Start strong & pique interest • Include a clear call to action • Use just enough details • Understand the audience • Have the right tone • Present clear points of view • Aren't too emotional • Are reasonable in scope
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
What frustrates us about
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editorial writing?
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
Here’s a strategy that makes it easier…
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The Content-Purpose-Audience Strategy
Understand Your Audience
• Who are you addressing? • What are their questions? • What are their concerns or
fears? • What are their objections?
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
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Audience
Define Your Purpose
• What do you want people to think and feel?
• What do you want them to do? • What do you want to see
happen?
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
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Purpose
• What’s the big take-away? • Which questions, concerns &
objections should you address?
• What examples, explanations & evidence make your case?
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Use Audience & Purpose to Inform Content
• Evidence: facts & data for people ready to decide.
• Examples: anecdotes & stories for people who don’t need a lot of information or are low-trust
• Explanations: definitions for curious or low-info audience members
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The 3 E’s
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Content
Find Your Voice
• What tone of voice is suitable for your audience and content?
• Who is the kind of person the audience would trust on this topic?
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Voice
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
Write it Up!
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Start Drafting
Common Structures
• Main Idea, Details, Purpose • Question, Detail, Main Idea,
Details, Purpose • Think/Feel, Details, Do • Detail, Main Idea, Details,
Purpose
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What questions do you have?
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© 2016 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
Downloadable packet on the CPA: • bit.ly/Writing4Advocacy
Online: • www.instagram.com/
beabetterwriter • www.thewordfactory.com/
our-blog
More Writing Resources
© 2017 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
The First Amendmentand the Power of Your Ideas
with Margot Carmichael Lester
Twitter: @word_factory LinkedIn: /margotlester
Instagram: @beabetterwriter
Thanks for Attending
© 2017 by Teaching That Makes Sense, Inc. All rights reserved. For more information contact Margot Lester at [email protected]
