Have you bumped into intellectually stimulating food for thought? Or you have been thinking about a social problem for too long a period; it’s time you put pen to paper. Writing an academic piece or an opinion piece is hard work. But it is one of the most significant tasks you can try out to not only impact society but also improve your resume.
Taking one step and aiming for a doable length with enough thoughts in mind should make the work easier. This article is here to help you get started. Keep the points in mind to write your first opinion piece.
1. Use straightforward words through and through
As cliché as it may seem to not start the article with a grabber, it is essential to write the piece lucidly so that people can easily understand. Remember, you are portraying a real-life situation. It doesn’t have to contain flowery words, poetic sentences, and convoluted paragraphs. So, let your inner Tagore or Austen sleep while you’re writing a piece of this nature.
2. Introduce the topic
If your piece is going to be about a social problem, start with the status-quo of it. Talk about why the issue is problematic, the reasons behind the problem, who the stakeholders are, and why the existing situation is not improving. Don’t forget to include the sources of data, provided you are citing other authors’ works.
3. State your proposal
Now that you have made it clear that there is a prevailing problem start talking about the probable solutions you have been thinking about. The answers can be unique, which none have considered before, or they can be expected, which haven’t been implemented yet. Make sure you talk about the implementation process and think the solutions would help solve the problem.
4. Provide a moral justification
Expounding your proposals won’t be enough if you don’t talk about what makes it a proper and equity-assuring step. Make sure your elaboration contains these two. For example, you want to suggest to people an alternative hand sanitizing product. You must explain why you are presenting a particular option. Maybe the product you’re recommending is more cost-efficient than the prevailing ones, or perhaps the packaging is done with reusable materials. Try thinking in the line: “why is it a better option?” and state the causes.
5. Talk about the impacts of your proposal
Just like any other idea or, might I add, human, there’ll be both positive and negative aspects. Your heart is in the right place, and you suggested the solutions thinking about the benefits. Perhaps the idea you’re promoting might help a particular group of people while it wouldn’t do the same to others. What should be done during such a moment? What’s your take on the pros and cons, and how can a proper balance be ensured? But, we cannot deny the opportunity cost too, right? It is essential to talk about the sustainability of the problem and its side effects. It shows how well you have thought about the problem and the solutions. And this would be an ideal place to conclude your piece.
