COLUMN WRITING-how to write column writing

column writing

1. COLUMN WRITING going personal but factual RICKY V. TID School Paper Adviser, Ang Pithaya Regional Training-Workshop of Selected Elementary School Paper Advisers Regional Education Learning Center, Rawis, Legazpi City September 1-4, 2018

2. Column Writing Article giving opinions or perspective 500-800 words Editorial – opinion/stand of the newspaper or school publication, or of the editors of the paper Column – opinion of the columnist, not necessarily shared by the news

3. Column Writing Originally : OPPOSITE THE EDITORIAL Now: Opinion - Editorial

4. Sample Structure Headline (Title) – try to use some alliteration By-line – your name Lead (hook) – a shocking start or a rhetorical question works well -creatively introduce your topic -clearly present your main point

5. Sample Structure Present your 2-5 supporting FACTS: (Each fact is its own paragraph) This involves: 1. POINT – state the fact 2. PROOF – paraphrase or quote an external source; 3. ANALYZE – comment on the proof presented

6. Sample Structure Write about your opinion on the facts you have included (start with a strong stance). Comment on each fact. Conclude by creatively restating your main point Finish with a statement linking to your lead (a CALL TO ACTION works well)

7. HEADLINE/BY-LINE/LEAD (50 WORDS) 2-5 FACTS (250 WORDS) OPINION + PERSONAL EXPERIENCE (250 WORDS) CLOSING + CALL-TO-ACTION (50 WORDS)

8. Variety of Column Pieces National or Regional Issues Local/School Concerns Global Issues Human Interest ENSURE THAT ISSUES ARE GROUNDED AND CONNECTED TO NATIONAL/LOCAL EXPERIENCE

9. Experiential Personal is Political Personal experience should be tested against facts No such thing as “This is my opinion” Even opinions should be based on facts, not merely emotions Column Writing promotes diversity

10. Discourse The ability or power to connect seemingly unrelated matters Duterte and Hitler Martial Law and No Hair Color Policy Heavy Traffic and Ants

11. Turn insights into expression Empower students to find their voice Teach them to learn, not to stock knowledge Teach them to express what they have learned Encourage them to re-think their learnings

12. Ethics of Column Writing You cannot succeed as a columnist unless you combine your craft skills with a strong critical and sound ethical decision-making The more competent you are in ethical decision-making, the more confident you will become in your ability to meet the tests you face

13. On Plagiarism “Great journalists credit others.” -Aly Colon, Poynter Institute

14. How to Avoid Plagiarism Does this wording sound familiar? Do I know where it came from? Have I arranged my notes so attributed material remains separate from my own material? Can I document the source of my information, description, or observation? Am I giving credit, or some indication, as to where this material came from when appropriate? Have I double-checked the source of work?

15. How to Write a Column Determine why you are writing a column -To entertain or to inform? - Entertain – humorous or make a serious topic comical - Inform – factual, educational, serious

16. How to Write a Column Write about your opinion -by nature biased and opinionated -you still have the journalistic integrity and not maliciously slander anyone

17. How to Write a Column Choose relevant topics -move fast -choose relevant topics that you have good perspective or advice about

18. How to Write a Column Write about people -using real people in your column gives it a stronger impact Example: If you are writing a column on your opinions on immigration, use the story of a local immigrant in your column.

19. How to Write a Column Localize and personalize your column -You can use your experience to show you understand something from a first hand information. Example: If you are talking about problems in the educational system, don’t be too general. Focus on the schools in your town and the problems kids in your town have faced or still face at school

20. How to Write a Column Stick to a theme -same general topic (beauty, politics, local issues) Example: If your theme is beauty you can talk about curly hair in one piece, eyeliner in another, and lipstick in another.

21. How to Write a Column Write about personal topics -think about your audience and how they pertain to their topic

22. How to Write a Column Create a structure -Q and A form -how to format

23. Creating Your Column Write clearly -confusing and technical language -short and simple paragraphs -600-800 words

24. Creating Your Column Write in AP Style -refer to AP Style Guidebook

25. Creating Your Column Use first person “I find it horrific that our taxes are not being used to help more homeless people find jobs.” x “Ricky Tid, the author, was horrified to discover her taxes were not being used to help more homeless people find work:

26. Creating Your Column Write the way you talk -Does not have to be as formal -Casual and personal “Hell’s Kitchen, a neighborhood in New York City, is known for its variety of delicious restaurant.” “As a self-proclaimed ‘pasta expert,’ I thought I knew good pasta. However, when I went to Hell’s Kitchen during my trip to New York, I ate fettuccine that changed my life.”

27. Creating Your Column Write an attention grabbing lead “It was 11 p.m. and I still had not eaten dinner. I was starving, angry and lost in New York. I finally found an Italian restaurant that was still open and ran inside, completely unaware that I was about to have fettuccine that would change my opinion on pasta forever.”

28. Creating Your Column Use facts -back up your opinion with facts -conduct interviews -do online research

29. Creating Your Column Use analogies to simplify your writing -explaining something complicated or technical “When trying to understand how the business was hiding their money to get out paying taxes, think of the files in your computer. When you put these files in the “trash can” they seem gone, but really they are still there and accessible if you drag them out. The CEO put his money into “trash can”, so the government would not see it.”

30. Creating Your Column Be passionate, but have a solution -don’t just complain -finish off with solution “I am disappointed and disgusted by the number of homeless veterans living on our streets. Let’s raise the taxes of the wealthy and use that money to help the homeless.”

31. References Andrada, Mykel, University of the Philippines-Diliman https://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Newspaper-Column Ang Pithaya The Synchronizer