Unit 6: EDITORIALS

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Unit 6 EDITORIALS
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What is an Editorial??

• An editorial is a piece of writing that presents
  the newspapers opinion on an issue.
• It is usually unsigned (compared to a letter?)
• Much in the same manner of a lawyer, editorial
  writers build on an argument and try to persuade
  readers to think the same way they do.
• In essence, an editorial is an opinionated/argumen
  tative news story.

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Editorials Have

• 1. Introduction, body, and conclusion like other
  news stories
• 2. A focus on topics that are up to date and
  interesting.
• 3. Arguments from the opposing viewpoint that
  refute directly the same issues the writer
  addresses
• 4. The opinions of the writer delivered in a
  professional manner. Good editorials engage
  issues, not personalities, and refrain from
  name-calling or other petty tactics of
  persuasion.punch.

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Editorials Have

• 5. Alternative solutions to the problem or issue
  being criticized. Anyone can gripe about a
  problem, but a good editorial should take a
  pro-active approach to making the situation
  better by using constructive criticism and giving
  solutions.
• 6. A solid and concise conclusion that
  powerfully summarizes the writer's argument. Give
  it some punch.

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Foreign Phrases Day 1

• Au revoir goodbye, until we see each other
  again
• Draw a picture that represents this foreign vocab
  word
• Use this foreign phrase in a complete sentence
  that is punctuated correctly.
• Avant-garde a new, exciting, or experimental
  concept.
• Draw a picture that represents this foreign vocab
  word
• Use this foreign phrase in a complete sentence
  that is punctuated correctly.

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• Libel and Bias
• (Create Foldable)

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Using the Wrong Tools

• Libel and Bias are two tools that are sometimes
  used in writing that mislead the reader.
• They are tools that shouldnt be used and writers
  can be in BIG trouble for using them.
• They are a lot like chewing gum at school.
  Writers arent always caught, but it still isnt
  allowed.

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Libel
Based on the picture, what do you think libel
means?
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Libel

• Libel A published false statement that is
  damaging to a person's reputation a written
  defamation.

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Georgia Teen Sues Two Classmates for Facebook
Libel

• http//digitaljournal.com/article/323834
• After reading article, turn to a partner and
  answer these two questions on scrap paper
• Explain why this would be considered libel?
• How was this girls reputation defamed?

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Libel

• More examples of libel
• Examples
• If the trial is still in process, the writer may
  say, O.J. Simpson allegedly killed two people.
  Only AFTER the trial has ended with a final
  judgment can the writer say, O.J. Simpson is
  guilty of killing two people.
• If the interviewee said, I accidentally ran over
  a skunk once, but the article reports that he is
  a skunk tormentor, the writing is libelous.
• If the source that the writer consulted in
  forming his opinion reads, People with brown
  hair cry more often than those with blonde hair,
  but the writer reported that People with brown
  hair are generally depressed, the writer may be
  accused of libel.

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BIAS
Based on the pictures below and previous
knowledge, what do you think bias means?
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Bias

• A feeling or preference against something for
  unjust or silly reasons.

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Bias

• Examples of bias
• People named Sally are juvenile and immature.
• Its okay to abuse animals with stripes, but not
  spotted animals.
• Shes at the top of her class in school,
  therefore shes a geek.

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Libel and Bias Foldable Activity (20 pts)

• Libel your own definition, picture, two examples
• Bias your own definition, picture, two examples

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(No Transcript)
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Grading Example Editorials
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Foreign Phrases Day 2

• Bete noire a person or thing especially dreaded
  or avoided
• Draw a picture representing this.
• Cest la vie thats life, thats just how things
  happen
• Whats a real life situation that would make you
  think this?

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Hard News vs. Editorials

• Draw a venn diagram on your paper.

Fill out the venn diagram for Hard News and
Editorials based on the examples you have in your
packet!
Editorials
Hard News
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Different purposes of editorials
Convince the reader to follow a particular way of
thinking on an issue.
Interpret for readers the meaning or significance
of an event or situation.
Honor, commend, or congratulate
Gets readers to see problem and not solution
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HOMEWORK

• Bring an example of an EDITORIAL to class
  tomorrow!
• May be from a newspaper or magazine (if online
  print out)

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• Editorial Questions
• Title of article
• What is the issue the author is
  addressing?
• What is the position/opinion of the author on the
  issue?
• What is your personal opinion on this issue?

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Letters to the Editor

• Letters to the Editor are found in newspapers.
  They are written by members of the public,
  instead of newspaper staff, and give somebodys
  opinion about a current issue.
• Letters to the Editor have a similar structure to
  other argumentative forms of writing.
• While the public can submit letters to the editor
  in any form they wish, we are going to stick with
  good argumentative form to ensure that our points
  are made clear! ?

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(No Transcript)
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Outline for a Letter to the Editor
Like a speech, letters must have a salutation.
Though it wont be spoken, it is still labeled a
salutation. Example Dear Editor,
Letters to the Editor are usually written in
response to a previous editorial, or a current
issue. In the OPENING STATEMENT, the writer gives
the details of what theyre referring to as well
as their opinion. Ex In response to Wayne
Smiths letter Nurseries are to blame
for rainforest weeds, I wish to say that I agree
with him. Add 1 foreign phrase
DETAILS, such as your full name, address and
phone number. Most newspapers wont print a
letter unless the writer provides their personal
details.
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Respond

• Respond to the editorial you brought in today by
  writing a Letter to the Editor.

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Foreign Phrases 3

• Carte Blanche full discretionary
  power.literally means blank page, meaning you
  can start from scratch and do whatever youd
  like.
• Activity Draw a small, blank canvas on your
  paper and write words and phrases that you want
  to do with your future (ex. succeed, make good
  grades, good friend, mother, father, graduate)
  YOUR future is carte blanche, a blank canvas
  ready for you to paint.
• Cause Celebre a very controversial issue that
  generates public debate (literally means
  celebrated case)
• Activity Come up with 5 issues in the world
  today that are cause celebre.

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Foreign Phrases 4

• Coup de Grace a decisive finishing blow/attack.
  (whoa man, that was too far)
• Activity Draw a short, 3-slide comic of this
  taking place.
• Coup detat an overthrow of the government by a
  group
• Activity Explain, in depth, a time throughout
  history when this has happened.
• Déjà vu something very familiar, as if youve
  experienced it before
• Activity explain a time when you experienced
  déjà vu. What happened? Do you consider déjà vu a
  strange feeling? Why?

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Foreign Phrases 5

• Enfant terrible one whose remarks or actions
  caused embarrassment, or someone very odd.
• Activity Describe and sketch a character in one
  of your favorite TV shows who is very enfant
  terrible.
• Fait accompli an accomplished fact a thing
  already done Ex. The enemy's defeat was a fait
  accompli long before the formal surrender.
• Activity Create a complete sentence using fait
  accompli that is punctuated correctly and watch
  your spelling and capitalization.

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Journal

• Share how you would react in the following
  situation
• You and a friend have been working on a major
  paper for one of your classes for the past month.
  The night before the papers are due, you get
  together for an all-night editing session of
  looking over one anothers papers. At 1 a.m.,
  your friends computer dies, and he loses his
  entire paper. Your friend is devastated, and he
  decides to download a paper off of an Internet
  paper site, a site where you can pay money for
  papers that were written by other people and turn
  them in as if they were written by you.
• How do you respond to his actions?

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(No Transcript)
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Sources

• What are sources in writing?
• Why do we need them?

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Ways you CAN use sources

• Quote directly from a source
• Paraphrase a source
• Use a source as background material to build up
  your own ideas
• AS LONG AS YOU CITE THEM!

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Ways you CANT use Sources

• Plagiarism
• presenting another persons language or ideas as
  your own.

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Ways you CANT use Sources

• Global Plagiarism stealing an entire speech or
  piece of writing from a single source and passing
  it off as your own.
• Incremental Plagiarism failing to give credit
  for individual parts of a speech or piece of
  writing from a single source and passing them off
  as your own.
• Patchwork Plagiarism stealing ideas or language
  from two or more sources and passing them off as
  your own.
• Incorrect paraphrasing restating or summarizing
  an authors ideas in your own words without
  citing.
• PARAPHRASING STILL REQUIRES CITATION!

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Joe Biden Article

• In pairs, please read the article and annotate
  (circle) where Biden was guilty of plagiarism.
• After you circle the examples of plagiarism
  throughout his career, draw an arrow from them
  and write which type of plagiarism he was guilty
  of in each situation.
• What other decisions could Biden have made to
  avoid plagiarism?
• Did he get away with it?
• How did plagiarism effect his political career?

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Response

• On a sheet of paper, you will create your own
  circular chart to reveal what you learned from
  the online program.
• You will sketch a symbol to represent plagiarism
  and recreate it 6 times.
• In each of the 6 symbols you create you will put
  
• 1. A fact about plagiarism you learned
• 2. How you can apply that new information to your
  life. What will you do or not do because of this
  information?

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Plagiarism
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Foreign Phrases 6

• Faux Pas a social mistake Her outfit is very
  faux pas.
• Activity Describe a scenario that involves a
  social faux pas.
• Piece de Resistance the principle part of the
  meal, a showpiece item
• Activity Draw a dinner plate and label the piece
  de resistance!

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My Editorial Outline

• Intro Hook, Introduce topic, Complex Thesis
  (points 1,2,3)
• Body 1 1st point from complex thesis and at
  least 1 source (can be fake)
• Body 2 2nd point from complex thesis and at
  least 1 source (can be fake)
• Body 3 3rd point from complex thesis and at
  least 1 source (can be fake)
• Conclusion Restate thesis, closing statements
• USE AT LEAST 2 OF THE FOREIGN PHRASES

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Foreign Phrases 7

• Raison detre a reason for being or existing
• Ex. I was so in love with him that he became my
  raison detre!
• Activity What is your favorite romantic movie?
  Describe the situation of two characters in that
  movie who became the raison detre for each
  other.
• Savior-faire the ability to say or do the right
  thing in any situation
• Activity Describe a time where you, or someone
  you knew, really showed savior-faire in a
  situation.
• Tete-a-tete a private conversation between two
  people, literally means head to head.
• Activity Draw a visual representation of this
  foreign phrase, be creative!

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• Journal
• Study Guide
• Begin handwriting final draft
• TEST TOMORROW!!!!! STUDY!!!!!
• THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO PULL UP YOUR
  GRADE!!!!

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• Editorial Exam (20 questions)
• Finish handwriting final draft
• Both of these make up your EDITORIAL SUMMATIVE
  ASSESSMENT (100 points)

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Editorial Links

• http//www.teenink.com/opinion/
• http//www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/in
  dex.htm
• http//seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsop
  inion/?fromstnv2

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Journal

• What is the purpose of a thesis statement?

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Thesis Statements

• Simple Thesis Statement Simply your topic and
  your opinion about it.
• Complex Thesis Statement Your topic, your
  opinion, and the three reasons why you think that.

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Chart of Topics

• As a class we will create a chart of topics and
  various ideas for argument within those topics

Sports Religion
Ideas for Arguments

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Thesis Statements

• Pick 3 topics
• Write a thesis statement and 3 reasons why you
  believe that thesis for 3 different topics.