For this assignment, you will create an op-ed article on an important topic as well as an infographic that makes a similar argument in a visual medium. Your op-ed article and the infographic should be able to work independently of each other but convey the same main argument.
Your first step will be choosing a topic for your op-ed article. Make sure it bears some importance for your community and/or your professional path, whether it’s your chosen major, the discipline where you plan to go, or the job you are currently holding. Make sure your topic is not too broad (e.g., “climate change” is a very broad topic, but “water management in Las Vegas in the time of climate change” is a lot more manageable) and not overused, in which case it might be difficult to find anything original to add to the existing debates.
Define your audience and choose the venue for your op-ed piece: who are you trying to reach, and what would you like them to do as a result of reading your op-ed? Do you want people to take action or to change their opinion on the topic? Who are you trying to reach? Is it people who mostly share your views but might not be aware of some facts, or people who hold opposite opinions? What newspaper would you like to see your op-ed published in, and why? You can choose a major newspaper like The New York Times or a local paper. Your topic and your audience will largely define your arguments.
Consider different rhetorical strategies we’ve learned so far and look at examples of op-ed articles. Choose argumentative strategies best suited for your topic, your audience, and your goals. Do some research: how would you back up your arguments? What kind of evidence can you use?
Your op-ed should have an engaging and informative title.
The introductory paragraph should open with a “hook” to get your readers’ attention. You can cite a recent news story or a new scientific study, tell a personal story or a dramatic anecdote, use irony or show contradictions in public opinion, or reference popular culture. You can find some examples of op-ed openings here. Your introduction should also give a preview of your main claim.
The body of your article should develop your arguments in more detail and provide evidence for your claims.
The concluding paragraph should connect your claims and urge the readers to action.
Your infographic should reflect your main arguments, but do not try to include every claim or every detail. You can use free tools to create your infographic (e.g., piktochart, canva, or venngage).
