A well-written opinion piece can be a powerful tool to communicate an important point of view or raise awareness about a particular issue. It can help shape public discourse, and it can also be a form of advocacy — for example, informing readers about an issue that they might not be aware of or advocating for changes to policies, regulations or legislation that will benefit the wider community.
A good opinion article is concise, compelling and persuasive. It should start with a strong hook that grabs attention, such as something outrageous or exaggerated, to draw people in. This should be followed by a strong body that presents evidence and arguments to support your thesis. The conclusion should tie everything together and present a call to action for the reader. While it is necessary to use sources, op-eds require a more personal interpretation and perspective of the topic than research papers do. This makes it even more important to be clear and concise and to avoid jargon where possible.
Show, don’t tell. Humans are more likely to remember vivid details than dry facts. If possible, include a great illustration or photo in your article to help bring your point to life. Keep paragraphs short and sentences brief – look at other opinion pieces in your target publication and try to emulate their style. Finally, make sure that you always acknowledge the ways in which your opponents may be right, as this will make your argument more credible and balanced.