Classes suspended (Covid-19). Oral presentations continued.
29 Abril 2020, 14:00 • Isabel Maria Ferro Mealha
Zoom meeting - Individual oral presentations: The week in review - Your pick of stories: João Nobre, Ana Igreja, Ana Vasconcelos, Nélia Nascimento, Sebastião Palha.
In order to prepare for writing an editorial in the test, you should reread very carefully through all the information I have already sent you about editorial writing as well as the information available in the English for the Media Workbook (pp. 29-32).
I summed up below some of the most important features of this journalistic genre:
INCLUDE in your editorial:
· a headline
· a strongly worded opinion right at the beginning/in the opening paragraph. (“An editorial without an unequivocal opinion is bound to fall flat on its face. Right at the very beginning, define your agenda in clear terms.”)
· Organise your editorial as follows:
o State your opinion “and develop a good opening “hook” to grab the reader’s interest”
o State reasons and facts to support this opinion
o Offer specific suggestions for dealing with the topic of the editorial
o Wrap it up in a concluding punch that restates your opening remark; leave the reader with a powerful closing statement; encourage critical thinking and proactive reaction.
· Make every work count.
DON'T INCLUDE:
· never use "I" – write in an impersonal style
· linking words such as the ones used in more academic essays (i.e. firstly, lastly, to conclude, to sum up, nevertheless, furthermore, etc.)
· contracted verb forms
· very colloquial language and slang