1. What are your GRIPES?

2. The Editorial
an article in a newspaper or other periodical presenting the opinion of the publisher or editor(s)

3. Good Examples?
Presidential Debates? salls.wordpress.com?

4. Tips of the Trade Don’t always take the easy route
Consider the less popular stand. There’s an old journalism axiom which states that the role of the newspaper is “to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.” Don’t feel like you have to play Devil’s advocate, but don’t feel like you have to side with the majority, either. Stick to your ideals with this type of piece.
2. Take a reasonable approach
There are few absolutes in life. Also, the truth to you might not be the truth to someone else. As such, avoid words like “always” and “never.” Be specific and accurate with your evidence.
3. Make sure your thesis is clear
The more vague you are, the less convincing you’ll be. It’s as simple as that.

5. The Parts
The Lead…
which consists of the ATTENTION-GETTER (or HOOK) and the COMMITTAL STATEMENT
How to do it?
Anecdote?
Shocking statement?
Direct dialogue to the reader?

6. The Lead, continued Attention-Getter
TOPIC: No fast food for athletes on school’s watch
Attention-Getter
Anecdote: Jimmy Thompson is hungry. It’s 7:00 in the evening, and the young man is fresh off the heels of a varsity baseball game and can think of nothing but his grumbling tummy. A week ago, Jimmy might have been pulling into a McDonald’s to fill his empty belly with a Big Mac and fries. Tonight, though, days removed from a decision by his district to prohibit student athletes from eating fast food on the school’s watch, Jimmy can only pine for the Golden Arches from a distance. The bus isn’t stopping tonight.

7. The Lead, continued Committal Statement
TOPIC: No fast food for athletes on school’s watch
Committal Statement
Indicate your topic and commit to your stance
School districts have overstepped their bounds with regard to nutrition. Students have the right to eat what they see fit.

8. The Concession
Why provide it? It may disarm the opposition by recognizing their viewpoint has some validity. It also acknowledges what the opposition is already thinking anyway.

9. The Concession, continued
TOPIC: No fast food for athletes on school’s watch
It is difficult to fault the school district on some level, because it is merely trying to protect the interests of its students. Certainly, maintaining good health is important for everyone, not just students, and a school district should make great efforts to properly educate and care for those under its charge. HOWEVER…

10. The Body
Consists of three arguments (ideally) Sequenced from least to most “powerful” Why? 1. The reader will tend to remember the final argument longer. 2. To end with a weak argument would invite rebuttal.

11. The Body, continued
TOPIC: No fast food for athletes on school’s watch Argument #1: Kids have to eat. Those who participate in sporting events and are getting home late at night are entitled to some sustenance. While some food choices are not ideal, it borders on neglect to not provide students with access to something. Argument #2: Prohibiting the consumption and/or sales of foods that are deemed “unhealthy” has far-reaching ramifications. Clubs and organizations that raise money from the sales of these foods would be devastated. Argument #3: Students, and all people for that matter, should get to choose what they put in their system. If it’s not an illegal substance, what right does a school have to dictate what an individual ingests? If it’s my body, how does any person get off telling me how I’m allowed to treat it? This is a basic violation of my rights as a human.

12. The Conclusion
Revisit the thesis AND… Add something extra… Like a call to action… A vision of the future… Food for thought?

13. The Conclusion, continued
TOPIC: No fast food for athletes on school’s watch Looking out for people is one thing, but it’s something else to prevent them from living the lives they want to lead. If schools are permitted to decide what its student will eat, what’s next? How far-reaching can their power be? What other rights will students lose, all in an effort to “protect” them?

14. Sample???
What might each of the editorial pieces look like if the topic were… Moving the legal driving age to 18? A hook? A concession? The arguments? The conclusion?

15. Try your own!
On the sheet provided, and in your designated group… 1. select a gripe 2. In EIGHT minutes (yes, eight minutes), fill in the editorial template with appropriate information (hook/attention-getter, committal statement, concession, arguments and conclusion) 3. Be prepared to DEBATE, errrr, share your responses with the teacher