How to Write a Comment

Commentaries, also known as “op-eds,” allow readers of a newspaper to voice their thoughts or opinions on topics ranging from local happenings to international debate. If you want to write an op-ed article, you first need to learn how to choose a compelling topic, write an effective draft, and complete the article like a professional editor.

Table of Contents

Choose a theme

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Seize opportunities. The commentary should discuss a topic related to a trending event or someone’s point of view at the moment. The time factor is extremely important if you want to submit your article to the newspaper. The newsroom will be more interested in topical topics than commentary focused on events that happened many months ago.

Look for interesting topics. If your commentary follows a recently published article, the editor will get excited immediately and the article has a good chance of being published if you submit it. ^{[1] X Research Source}
If your local library is scheduled to be closed next week, you can write a commentary about the library’s achievements and why it’s become such an important part of the community.

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Choose a topic you are passionate about. The commentary should have a strong point of view. If you are not passionate about your chosen topic, then you should consider choosing another topic. With a topic you are passionate about, present your views in a way that is easy to understand. Try to clearly analyze a point in one or two sentences. If you can do this, you have chosen a good topic to write a review on. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Let’s continue with the library example. You could argue the following: The library is a historic center for learning and exchange. The library should not be closed to build a fast food restaurant.

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Choose a topic in which you have a certain understanding. To be persuasive, you need to understand what you’re saying. To do this, you need to do some research. A commentary that contains many valuable, factual points will support your argument more than one that simply states a personal opinion. Research online, research achievements, talk to people directly involved, or gather information yourself. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Why close the library? What is the history of the library? How many people borrow books from the library every day? What activities happen at the library every day? What community events are held at the library?

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Choose a complex topic. Good commentary should not choose open or closed topics that can be easily proven or disproved. There is no reason to read opinions about something that is already obvious, like “is heroin bad for health”. Choose instead: Do addicts need treatment or detention? Because it’s more controversial. List the different aspects and main argumentative ideas to ensure that the topic is complex enough to write a commentary. Continuing with the library theme, the outline could be written as follows:

The library is the presence of learning and people connection in the town, where there is no community center and only a small multi-level school.
You can make a personal connection to the library, combining your personal story with current community events and activities.
Exploiting alternatives when it comes to closing libraries, how people oppose closing libraries. Make suggestions to local planners.

Write a comment

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Straight to the problem. Unlike the essay, the commentary will go straight to the argument in just the first sentence or two. From there, organize your points of view and draw your readers’ attention to the cause, summarizing what to do with the topic. ^{[4] X Research source} Sample example:

“I remember in the winter when I was little, my sister and I used to go to the library. We spent the afternoon in art class, among the bookshelves inside that historic building. Sadly, next month libraries will suffer the same fate as other public buildings that have been closed. This is my final appeal.”

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Use diverse examples to grab your readers’ attention. They often only remember interesting details instead of dry evidence. While your commentary shouldn’t leave out factual evidence, you can still use bright and compelling points to help your readers remember the article. Give real-life examples so readers feel that this article is worth reading and remembering. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

The library commentary can be cited as follows: the library was founded by President Wilson because he thought the town needed a place to read and exchange. You can mention the librarian who worked for 60 years at the library and read through all the fiction books here.

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Show the reader why they should care. If your readers feel that the topic you’re writing about doesn’t affect them much, they won’t want to read it. Make it intimate with them. Explain the topic and how it will affect the reader’s life. ^{[6] X Research Source} For example:

Closing the library would displace 130,000 titles of books and movies, forcing townspeople to travel 64 kilometers to get to the nearest library, bookstore or rental store. Younger readers can only access half as many titles as they used to because the school sends them to the library to borrow textbooks during the year.

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Make it personal. It means using your own words to convey a message, giving personal examples to present your point of view. Reveal your personality when writing to make readers stick with you through your writing. Show them that you are someone who really has strong feelings about the subject. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

To continue with the library example: You could use a personal story about the first book you read at the library, or your relationship with the old woman at the cashier, or the library being a shelter. your life from a bad situation.

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Avoid using the passive voice and jargon. The commentary calls the reader to interest and action, not to ask them to try to think about the topic. Use the active voice when writing. Always keep in mind that you don’t want to scare away your readers by using confusing jargon.

Example of the passive voice: “Hopefully the closure of the library will be reconsidered by the local government”.
Proactive example: “I hope the local government will realize that this library is a great thing for the community, and will reconsider their bad decision to close the library.”

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Plan and ask the librarian if you can arrange a meeting at the library. Choose a date, time, and print flyers to invite people to discuss the future of the library. You can invite reporters to record people’s opinions or take photos to bring awareness.

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It is important to acknowledge the arguments that contradict your opinion. This will make your writing more appealing and respectable (even if you think the opposition is full of idiots). Note the correct point of the opposition. ^{[8] X Research Source} For example:

To be sure, proponents of library closures are also right to think that the local economy is in trouble. Businesses shut down everywhere because people don’t buy their products. However, to think that closing libraries can solve economic problems is a misconception.

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Propose a solution to the problem. A commentary that is empty and does not suggest a solution (or at least steps to solve it) is less likely to be published than one that offers alternatives and solutions. This is where you discuss improvements and resolution steps so stakeholders can deliver the best results.

For example, if we come out on behalf of the community, the possibility of saving the library is huge. Through fundraising and petitions, I think the local government will understand and consider closing the library. If the government had allocated funds to maintain the library instead of pouring it into the mall, this beautiful place of ours would not have been closed.

Complete the comment

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Strong conclusion. To end your commentary, you need a strong conclusion that reaffirms the argument and makes the reader remember the article even after putting the paper down. ^{[9] X Research Source} For example:

The local library is not only a home to the outstanding work of authors from around the world, it is also a place where people can come together to learn, discuss, evaluate, and inspire. If the library is closed as planned, our community will lose a beautiful testament to the town’s history, a center of curiosity for young and old alike.

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Count words in your head. Usually, you should write short, concise sentences. You often want to rely on short, simple statements to make your point in your comments. Each newspaper has different regulations, for most commentaries, the maximum limit is 750 words. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Newspapers are always re-edited, but they will retain your style, style and point of view. This does not mean that you submit a long draft and wait for them to cut it short. Articles are often skipped if the word limit is not met.

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Be careful not to spend too much time thinking about the title. Newspapers will write headlines for your commentary even if you include a headline or not (varies depending on the newspaper toad). Therefore, it is not necessary to spend too much time thinking about the title.

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Check evidence. You should include a short introduction about yourself that is relevant to the topic being written about and builds your credibility. You can add phone numbers, email addresses, and home addresses. ^{[11] X Research Source}

Example short intro related to library review: John Smith is an avid reader, he holds a PhD in Creative Writing and Political Science. He lived in this town and it became his life.

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Add pictures if available. Previously, the commentary had very few images. But today, newspapers have online publications, so photos, videos, or other media supporting the commentary are acceptable. In your letter, you should mention that you have visual material to go with the article or scan it into a file and include it in the mail.

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Check the newsroom’s submission guidelines. Each newsroom has its own requirements and guidelines, you need to find out how and information to submit articles. See the newsroom’s website or, if you’d like to submit a hard copy, check out the newspaper’s Comments page. Usually you should send articles via email address. ^{[12] X Research Source}

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Follow up. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get an immediate response. Remember to email or call about 1 week after submitting. Page editors are often very busy, and if they receive a letter at the right time, they may have forgotten to read it. Calling or mailing also provides an opportunity to further communicate with the editor, giving you an edge over your competitors.

Advice

You can add a little humor, sarcasm, wit to the article.
If your topic focuses on a national or international issue, you should submit your articles to many different newsrooms, not just one place.

Steps

Choose a theme

Write a comment

Complete the comment

Advice

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