The assignment is to write a short opinion article (sometimes known as an “op-ed”) of about 750 words, such as would appear in the opinion section of a newspaper. An opinion article is a kind of persuasive or argumentative writing, in which the author is trying to convince the reader of something. In this assignment, your purpose is to convince your reader of some view in regard to issues of race, class, gender, etc. which are the main themes of this class (arguing for or against some belief, policy, institution, etc.).
When people hear the word “opinion,” they may think that means a view that one holds that is a matter of personal impulse or preference and that requires no justification. For example: “Chocolate ice cream is better than vanilla. That’s just my opinion.” This is not what we mean by opinion in the context of persuasive or argumentative writing. Articles that simply state a belief without arguments to support it, or that base a belief only in the author’s personal experience, are not very persuasive. Your view must be backed up by arguments and evidence.
Arguments in an opinion piece can be factual in nature (a certain policy is good because it would bring about some desirable result or bad because it would bring about some undesirable result) or ethical in nature (a certain policy is good because it corresponds to some ethical value or bad because it violates some ethical value). For example, someone might argue in favor of open borders (without migration restrictions) on the basis that open borders allow people to go where their skills are the most valuable, and so will result in greater production of goods and services. (This is a factual argument that can be proved or disproved by factual observations). On the other hand, someone might argue in favor of open borders on the basis that people who happen to have been born in a particular place (purely as a matter of luck) are no more deserving than anyone else, because they consider the ability to move and live where one wants a fundamental freedom, etc. If one opposes unearned privilege or supports human liberty, these arguments go, open borders are more fair or free than migration restrictions. (That this makes open borders desirable is an ethical conclusion, which cannot be proved or disproved by facts.) An opinion piece can contain a combination of factual and ethical arguments.
I have attached a guide to writing opinion pieces (note that there are some links within the document that you may want to look at).
