Blog #4: Entering the Conversation
To be completely honest here, I struggled with writing this blog. Writing is my weakest subject and as we do the opinion editorial paper, I am terrified. I looked at articles from “Tips for Writing an Op/Ed” and the one that helped me understand a little more on what the op-ed thing is really about. So I read, How to Write an Op-Ed Article. This guideline gave me the key points of what an op-ed article has and it was very straightforward. The op-ed that I read was to about starting schools in CA at a later time. This article was a perfect op-ed article for me since it got right to the point of the good and bad of what’ll happen if schools started at a later time. Most importantly, they used ethos to sway the audience what their main point was.
None-the-less, the transition from objectivity to subjectivity can become a little tricky. There has to be a balance in life when it comes from being closed-minded to be more progressive and open-minded because you are allowing yourself to be influenced by other people’s feelings, experiences, and ideas. In certain situations, you need to be objective, so that means you cannot bring your feelings into every single situation because it will skew the proper response. So, I think it's key to mention that it depends on the situation when you are objective or subjective towards something. For example, if someone is stating the facts but you argue with them because you're being subjective and you can only think about your own personal feelings, that may influence the way that you respond to that fact. So, in situations like that, you need to be objective about the situation.
As you can see from my previous blogs, I am truly an animal lover. Ever since I was little I’ve always wanted to work with animals. We all know that they can’t talk, I mean they can but we clearly don’t understand what they’re actually trying to say. So, I’d like to be their voice. You might think it’s funny and that one person can’t do much, but I’d like to think I will make a difference and help inform people about what’s going on in the animal world rather than our own world. With that being said, I might respond to a current rhetorical situation about pollution in the waters that effects the live of marine organisms, or how animals are being treated in slaughterhouses. Not quite sure it, but somewhere along the lines about animals.
Not everyone enjoys reading certain topics. There are some people who likes reading about politics, sports, how to make education better, what’s going on in the world, but not everyone is actually interested in reading about someone else’s opinions if them themselves as readers have no interest in it. Op-eds seems to appeal to specific audiences that enjoys the subject. So, if the reader is on the page of the op-ed and is uninterested, I assume they will just quickly glance, skim, and leave the page.
Hi Jenny,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post, I can totally hear you: writing is not my thing either, especially this time we are going to write about op-ed, a genre that I am not familiar with at all. If there was an option, I would rather write 10 self-reflection than 1 op-ed. Just by reading all that guidelines, I am already feeling dizzy. But in the meantime, this could be our only chance in life to learn how to write op-ed, right? Even though it is definitely not going to be easy, I believe if we follow the mentor text and the strategies shown in the guideline article, we have a chance to do it just right! Let’s keep up the good work, ok?
I like the article you chose. I personally agree that middle and high school should start at a later time. Just simply because their biological need: how is it wise to fight the circadian that built in the body?
Hi Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your post, it was really refreshing as you started with what mentor text you would use to write your op/ed. I completely agree that writing in an objective manner to a subjective manner is going to be a tad bit tricky because we were basically "trained" to write objectively since we can even remember. So I definitely hear you when it comes to that! It seems like you have a strong sense of what you would want to write in your op/ed and I am looking forward to reading it!
Great blog, Jenny. Your combination of vulnerability and your details help develop your ideas in an appealing way.
ReplyDeleteYou're right about how not everyone is interested in every topic on an op/ed page. That's why a click-bait-y title is helpful. You not only let people know the topic, but you make them curious and make them want to read more, even if, perhaps, they might not normally care. I've read plenty of articles that I might not have read if not for the title.
Hi jenny,
ReplyDeleteI really liked your blog, especially since you stated how hard writing is for you, I think you did a great job. I completely agree that you need to have a balance between subjectivity and objectivity, not only in life, but definitely in your writing. I didn't realize how both play such a big role, not allowing to take everything, everyone says so personally, but also being open minded and allowing yourself to see situations in different perspectives. I am also a huge animal lover!! I would love to read an op/ed about the current situations of the animal world, I believe it could be really informative for many people too. Look forward to reading more!
-Meaghan
Hey Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog! I can relate on the fact that I, too, am scared for this op/ed paper but I feel like we can do it, we probably just have to put in a little extra work since writing for us both is not our strongest subject. I agree with what you said about objectivity and subjectivity and how there has to be a balance from being closed-minded to open-minded. I love your topics that you've chosen for your op/ed, I feel like it continues to prove your passion for animals that we have seen through your previous blogs. Can't wait to here more about your op/ed!
Hi Jenny!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post. Writing is also my worst subject but I agree there is a balance. It's very easy for people to come up with an opinion, it happens almost instantaneously based on your knowledge of the subject. Thats whats tricky, being able to put that aside and respond in a way that is based on facts and not what you feel or think. I also liked your topic, I can' tell you really like animals and I like that your using this Op/Ed as an opportunity to talk about something you truly feel strongly about. Look forward to reading it!
Hey Jenny,
ReplyDeleteAfter reading other people's blogs it seems that not many people are very inexperienced with writing op-eds. Unfortunately I am in that same boat, I rarely read them as well because I usually find them misleading. Your idea of writing an Op-ed about how pollution effects marine life or about the slaughtering of animals seems very interesting, you could definitely find ways to target your audience through the use of pathos. Good luck on this assignment!
Dylan Plaster
Hi Jenny! I really enjoyed reading your blog, and loved that you opened with both how you connected to the mentor text as well as your feelings about writing, particularly with this op-ed assignment. I want to say I am in the same place, not reading very, many op-ed articles, but I think I probably have read more than I think- haha, but I agree that the well written ones can be misleading, because they back it up with evidence so it seems factual. I really like your idea about writing an op-ed that isn't directly "political" in the more tradition sense, but is something that is having an impact not only on our country, but the health of the world and is something you are really passionate about.
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