6.2 Op-Ed

Your op-ed is worth 9.2% of your final grade

You should pick a topic from the honors seminar topic list that you would like to use as a jumping-off point for writing an op-ed style article. With a topic in-hand, you should read ahead and pick one narrow aspect of the topic to focus on. Topics must be selected by Monday, February 22 and are “submitted” by coming to office hours (or making an appointment to see Chris if you have a scheduling conflict) to discuss your idea.

Once you meet with Chris, you should complete additional background research on the topic, and put together a 700 to 800 word op-ed style article. This article should introduce your topic succinctly and take a position on it, providing specific data that supports your position. Remember that the main purpose of an op-ed is to persuade your reader. Duke University provides some excellent guidance on forming your argument and approaching editorial writing.

Since this is an op-ed, you do not need to provide citations in the body of the paper. Instead, provide end-notes that describe the source of information. Please provide a bibliography on a separate page of your submission that lists all sources of data and information included in the op-ed.

A draft submission, which should contain all required elements, is due on Tuesday, April 5 for feedback via Blackboard. It is ungraded; however, if not submitted, a 3% deduction will be applied to your final grade.

The final submission on Monday, May 10 should be made to two venues - Chris via Blackboard and a publication. The publication could be your hometown paper or a local St. Louis publication if the topic is about St. Louis. Any publication that accepts op-ed submissions without invitation is acceptable. You don’t have to have your op-ed published, just submitted! Make sure to forward your submission email to Chris after it is completed.

6.2.1 Op-Ed Format

The op-ed should be formatted using the following guidelines:

  • Times New Roman font
  • 12 point font size
  • Double spaced
  • 1” margins on top, bottom, and sides
  • 700 to 800 words
  • End notes and a bibliography are used to provide sourcing and attribution, and do not count towards the word limit.

6.2.2 Op-Ed Seminar

Once submitted, op-eds will be shared with all honors students. Each of you should read the other op-eds and come prepared to discuss them during a final seminar session (date TBA). As with the other seminars, attendance and participation will be factored into your honors participation grade.

6.2.3 Grading

Op-eds will be submitted by Wednesday, December 14 via Blackboard. Each op-ed paper will be graded on four elements:

  1. Content (45 points): How persuasive is the argument? What evidence is used to support the argument?
  2. Organization (10 points): How well organized is the paper? Does it have a clear thesis and present persuasive evidence in a clear, linear manner?
  3. Writing (15 points): How well written is the paper? Is it free of spelling and grammatical errors?
  4. Bibliography Page (5 points): Are citations correctly applied?