Contextualization

Opinion articles are a form of argumentative and opinionated text, where the author expresses their points of view on a certain subject that may be of public interest. In this type of text, it is common to address controversial issues involving social, political, cultural aspects, among others.

Before diving into the world of opinion articles, it is important to understand some essential concepts. Argumentation is the process of presenting a series of reasons or evidence in support of a conclusion. It is how we defend or justify our opinions or beliefs. Opinion, on the other hand, is our personal perspective or judgment on a certain subject. It is important to highlight that everyone has the right to have their own opinions, however, when expressing them, especially in an article, we must be ready to support them with good arguments.

The structure of an opinion article is divided into three parts: introduction, development, and conclusion. In the introduction, the author presents the topic that will be discussed. In the development, the author argues, presenting facts and examples that support their opinion. Finally, in the conclusion, they end the text, reaffirming their opinion and, in some cases, suggesting solutions to the debated problem.

Opinion articles are part of our daily lives and are present in various media. They are used as a tool to influence society and stimulate critical thinking. Therefore, knowing how to elaborate an opinion article and how to behave as a reader facing them is of utmost importance.

We live in a democratic society, where each citizen has the right to express their opinions. In the information age we live in, with the advent of social media, everyone can become sources of information. Therefore, it is extremely important to know how to express your opinions clearly and consistently, as well as to be able to discern the quality of the arguments presented in an article.

Below is a list of resources that can be used to deepen your understanding of the topic:

1. Opinion Article - What it is, structure, characteristics, and examples
2. Opinion Article (Toda Matéria)
3. Opinion Article (Brasil Escola)

Practical Activity

Activity Title: Opinion Journalism: Let's Create Our Opinion Article!

Project Objective:

Using the techniques learned in the classroom about argumentation and the structure of an opinion article, students, in groups of 3 to 5, should create an opinion article on a topic of their choice.

Detailed Project Description:

The objective of this activity is for students to delve into the concept of an opinion article, understand its structure, and have the opportunity to practice argumentative writing.

The project will be carried out in groups, and each group should choose a topic of public interest that generates debate. The topics can be current or recurring, such as global warming, bullying in schools, the use of social media by children and adolescents, physical education as a mandatory subject in schools, among others.

Students should research the chosen topic, collecting information from different sources and analyzing different perspectives. They should then elaborate a structured opinion article, arguing for or against the chosen topic.

Required Materials:

• Notebooks or sheets for drafting
• Computers with Internet access for research
• Text editing software (Word, Google Docs)

Detailed Step-by-Step Guide for the Activity:

1. Group Formation: Students should organize themselves into groups of 3 to 5 members.

2. Choosing the Topic: Each group should choose a preferred topic that generates debate and is relevant. This will be the topic of the opinion article.

3. Research: Students should research the chosen topic. They should seek to understand different perspectives, collect data, statistics, examples, and any other information that can serve as an argument in the article.

4. Article Draft: Based on the collected information, students should create a draft of the article. At this point, it is important to pay attention to the text structure (introduction, development, and conclusion) and the arguments that will be used.

5. Revision and Editing: Students should revise and edit the article draft, improving the writing, argumentation, and text structure.

6. Finalizing the Article: After the revision, students should finalize the article. The text should be typed, following the formatting standards for opinion articles.

7. Article Presentation: Each group should present their article to the class, explaining the chosen topic, the arguments used, and the conclusions they reached. In addition, they should be prepared to answer questions and comments from classmates.

Project Delivery:

At the end of the project, each group should deliver a report document containing:

1. Introduction: Contextualization of the chosen topic, its relevance, and the objective of the activity.
2. Development: Detailed description of the methodology used to carry out the activity (topic choice, research, article writing), presentation of the arguments used in the article, and discussion of the results.
3. Conclusion: Conclusions drawn about the project, lessons learned, and reflections on the process of elaborating the opinion article.
4. Bibliography: Sources used for the elaboration of the article.

The finalized opinion article should also be delivered as part of the activity.

With this project, it is intended that students develop technical writing and argumentation skills, as well as socio-emotional competencies such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and critical thinking.