Excerpts
The standard advice that you should read and study material in the genre you want to write is applicable to commentaries. Fortunately, it is easy and inexpensive to read opinion pieces. You can access many online or just browse through magazines and tabloids in the library or bookstore and read the opinion pieces you come upon. And because they are short, you don't have to invest a great deal of time. To give you an example of how much you can learn by reading opinion pieces written by others, consider the excerpts that follow.
Acknowledge the Opposition
The following is the beginning of a commentary in Newsweek:
“Unless you've been living in the Himalayas, you know huge numbers of Americans — 46 million last year, or almost one in seven of us — who lack health insurance. By impressive majorities, Americans regard this as a moral stain. At the Democratic National Convention, Sen. Ted Kennedy echoed the view of many that health care is a ‘right’ that demands universal insurance. This is a completely understandable view and one that is, I think, utterly wrong. Take note Barack Obama and John McCain.
“Whoever wins should put health care at the top of his agenda. But the central problem is not improving coverage. It's controlling costs. In 1960, health care accounted for $1 of every $20 spent in the U.S. economy; now that's $1 of every $6, and the Congressional Budget Office projects that it could be $1 of every $4 by 2025.” (Getting Real About Health Care, Newsweek, September 15, 2008)
In this commentary, Robert J. Samuelson so convincingly states the other side's position that he almost lulls the reader into the false impression he is in favor of revamping health insurance and providing universal coverage when in fact he goes on to make a very credible case that the true culprit regarding our health care system is soaring costs. Note the complete lack of ill will to the opposing argument or any tone of fanaticism and the reference to facts that cannot be disputed. Finally, for a man who is a highly respected economist, consider how he writes in a down-to-earth tone yet at the same time establishes a voice of authority.
Recent Incident Spawns Op-Ed
It is very common that a recent occurrence, sometimes itself seemingly unimportant, serves as a springboard for writing an opinion piece on a much broader and weighty topic. An example can be found in the beginning of the following commentary:
“Until recently, I had no idea who Duane “Dog” Chapman was, nor do I care much about him even now. However, when I learned his television show was pulled because he used the “N” word in a private conversation, I became alarmed over what I perceive to be just one more instance of an insidious assault on the free exchange of ideas upon which any democratic society depends.” (Banning Offensive Language Diminishes Free Speech, Philadelphia Inquirer, November 12, 2007, by Richard D. Bank)
David and Goliath
Don't hesitate to take issue with your government, the president, or public officials. As they say, the pen can be mightier than the sword. But if you do so, do not sound like an extremist. Make sure your position is supported by reason and don't hesitate to refer to the larger issues as in the following commentary, in which Lance Morrow raises concerns that the Bush administration skirts the Constitution in its fight against terror and the war in Iraq:
“Sometimes wars are necessary in order to rescue peace and enforce international law and order. I think that is what is going on now….
“Meantime, the least we can do is reread the Constitution and refresh our gratitude and submission to it. Keeping the Constitution will be as vital to the American future as fending off terrorists. More so. If Americans win a war (not just against Saddam Hussein but the longer-term struggle) and lose the Constitution, they will have lost everything.” (TIME, March 17, 2003)
