Reference no: EM133520491

Assignment: Opinion Column

Aligned Objectives:

1. Identify specific types of social work documents through advanced searching in social work periodical databases and examination of documents located in periodicals therein.
2. Write an argumentative document using appropriate language within the social work field.

Purpose:

The purpose of the Opinion Column Assignment is to give you practice designing and writing a word-limited argumentative document to a broad public audience-the readership of a major metropolitan newspaper, for example. Some social workers will agitate for social change-in a good way-using the newspaper opinion column so that a wide public audience can be involved in the issue at hand, with the goal, of course, of rousing public support for what is seen by the author as a needed change.

Opinion columns are short-500-600 words-argumentative essays that are usually front loaded with the argumentative thesis in the introductory paragraph or opening paragraphs. What follows is a series of sub-claims supporting the thesis, and then a restatement of the thesis in the concluding paragraph. All of this must be done in 500 to 600 words, remember.

The Opinion Column is, for some social work writers, a practical, short, effective rhetorical tool, one that instantly reaches a broad audience.

Instructions:

Because the Opinion Column is a short document, at first glance, the assignment seems easy, but trust me, it is hard to make a well-argued, well-supported argument in 500 to 600 words.

One of the best things to do if you have never written an opinion column is read a number of opinion columns. I have provided an excellent sample document, one written by a previous OLLU Social Work graduate student.

As well, every newspaper, print and online, publishes a number of opinion columns each and every day.

What you are going to do is choose a topic of interest, a topic relevant to social work, and write a 500 to 600 word opinion column.

Many of you, already self-directed to social work, will have topics that interest you. Choose one, one with which you are familiar.

Next, ask yourself: Why is this issue important to me, and what needs to change with this issue?

Your answer is your claim-your argumentative thesis.

Then, ask yourself, why does this change need to occur?

You need 3 to 4 to 5 reasons why this change needs to occur. These are your sub-claims. These support your claim.

If you look at the sample document, the author is arguing for the creation of "recovery high schools," high schools at which students in recovery can attend so as not to relapse by returning to old hallways and haunts.

The author places a number of sub-claims throughout the column, and then, she closes with a restatement of her thesis.