Reading Summer School

What is an editorial?

An editorial is a persuasive text that is written in a newspaper, magazine, or web site. Often the editor, the person who monitors a newspaper or magazine, writes his or her opinion on a subject in each edition. An editorial lists and explains personal opinion on a subject. Your job as a reader is to weigh the arguments to decide if they are valid and complete.

How is an editorial organized?

An editorial general has three basic elements. If you find these elements, you can quickly analyze the authors arguments. The three elements include:

• The assertions or reasons the author thinks as he or she does
• The supporting facts or details the author uses to explain his or her assertion.
• The recommendations based on the assertion.

Look at the organizational graphic organizer to see how the three parts may appear in an editorial.

What reading strategies help understand an editorial?

1. Note the difference between facts and opinions. A reader can easily tell an opinion when it is stated like, "I like pizza. The Vikings are the best football team" The opinion is obvious because of the use of words like "like" and "best." Some opinions are not quite so obvious. For instance, "The President's half-hearted effort at controlling tax increases was observed" is an opinion. It does not sound like an opinion but it is. The word "half-hearted" is a word with a negative connotation, or feeling. Words like that signal opinions.
2. Use critical reading strategies: Does the author give enough factual support for their reasons or do they just state their opinion? If there is not enough support, the point of the editorial is less powerful. Does the author use emotionally-laden words rather than facts? This usually signals a poorly developed editorial.