THE CHECKLIST

I/ BEFORE WRITING

1. Find a topic

Make sure that your topic satisfies the below criteria

Narrow your topic to a more specific issue that answers the question

2. Research

3.Note down the sources

Relevance: Is it relevant to the course you are taking?

Currency: Is it a recent matter?

What is one particular aspect of the topic that you want to communicate with your audience? In other words, what do you want your readers to know?

Use keywords related to your topic and put them in search engines to see what is being discussed (e.g. news articles).

Read examples in forums to form a basic idea of how an op-ed should be written.

Keep a record of the sources that you feel likely to be included in your op-ed.

Prioritize the sources according to their potential use.

1. The title

2. Proofread

3. Revise

Relate to and sum up the op-ed.

Keep it at a certain length.

Make it impactful and interesting (if possible).

Check for any errors (punctuation, spelling, grammar, citations, etc.).

Keep revising.

Check for coherence and unity.

Avoid having long paragraphs.

For examples of op-eds, please visit: https://www.eastasiaforum.org

In addition, this website has a consistent style of writing op-eds. It also contains articles written by a former TIU student.

For more tips on how to write an op-ed: