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