Wait — Have You Ever Wanted to Say Something?
Think about the last time something felt unfair at school. Maybe the canteen ran out of food before your class got to eat. Maybe the comfort rooms were always broken. Maybe the school postponed Intramurals — again — and nobody explained why.
Did you want to tell someone? Did you want to say, "This is wrong and something should be done"?
That feeling right there? That's exactly where editorial writing starts.
But here's the important part. A good editorial doesn't just say, "This is bad." It says, "Here's the problem. Here's why it matters. And here's what we should do about it." It takes a stand — and defends that stand using reasons, facts, and clear thinking.
What's the Difference?
News reports what happened. It stays neutral. It doesn't take sides. An editorial takes a side — on purpose. Look at these two examples.
- Reports what happened
- Stays neutral
- No opinion shared
- No solution suggested
- Takes a clear stand
- Shares an opinion
- Points to a problem
- Calls for action
The Three Purposes of Editorial Writing
Every editorial does at least one of these three things.
The Three Parts of Every Editorial
Grabs the reader's attention and states your opinion clearly. By the end of the first paragraph, the reader should already know exactly what you think.
The middle section where you give your reasons and explain them. The stronger your reasons, the more convincing your editorial becomes.
Wraps everything up. You restate your opinion and leave the reader with something to think about — or something to do.
Let's Look at an Example
"Every Friday, the school canteen runs out of food by 11 AM. Students in the afternoon session go hungry for hours. This is not fair. School administrators should fix the canteen schedule so that all students — morning and afternoon — get equal access to a hot meal."
Confident Writing Matters
Good editorials state opinions confidently. The stronger your word choices, the more convincing your writing.
"I think maybe schools should perhaps try to have more food available."
"Schools must provide enough food for every student, every single day."
✏️ Practice Time
Apply what you learned. Work through the activities below step by step.
Fact or Opinion SortRead each statement and decide — is it a FACT or an OPINION?
Guided Writing — Fill in the BlanksPractice writing opinion statements the way real editorials do.
📎 Sample Answers (to guide you)
"I believe students should have more recess time because resting helps them focus better during afternoon classes."
"Schools should have a working water fountain because students need clean drinking water throughout the day."
My First Opinion ParagraphThink of one problem at your school. Write one editorial paragraph.
📎 Sample Paragraph
"The hallway near the Grade 5 classrooms floods every time it rains. Students arrive at class with wet shoes and miss the first few minutes of the lesson. The school should install proper drainage in that area so students can walk safely on rainy days."
🔍 Self-Check Guide
| What to Check | Done ✅ | Try Again 🔄 |
|---|---|---|
| I named a real and specific problem | ☐ | ☐ |
| I explained why the problem matters | ☐ | ☐ |
| I suggested a clear solution | ☐ | ☐ |
| I used confident language — not "I think maybe" | ☐ | ☐ |
📊 Simple Rubric
Answers will differ for each student. Use the rubric or ask your teacher for help.
🧠 Editorial or Not?
Read each passage and decide: is it an editorial or not?