Editorial

An editorial is an article written by the editorial staff (or an assigned writer) that expresses the newspaper’s collective opinion on an issue.

• It reflects the voice of the publication, not just one person.

• It aims to persuade readers, explain an issue, or call for action.

• Editorials use facts + opinion to make a strong argument.

Opinion Piece (Op-Ed)

An opinion piece is written by an individual, not the editorial board.

• It reflects one person’s point of view.

• It can be from a student, parent, teacher, or community member.

• It uses personal experience, reasoning, and examples to persuade or share perspective.

Typical Editorial Structure

1. Strong Opening Opinion (Thesis)

   • Clearly state your stance in the first sentence or two.

2. Reasoning & Explanation

   • Give 2–3 main reasons why you hold this opinion.

   • Explain why readers should agree.

3. Evidence or Examples

   • Use facts, data, stories, or examples from school/community to support your points.

4. Counterpoint (Optional but strong)

   • Briefly acknowledge an opposing view and explain why your stance is still stronger.

5. Conclusion / Call to Action

   • End by challenging the reader to think, change, or take action.

Sample Editorial (Teen Newspaper Style)

(Original writing, styled like it came from a school or youth publication)

Why Our School Needs a Real Break During Lunch

By the CHear Teen Editorial Board

Students at our school deserve a real lunch break—not just a rushed 22 minutes that barely gives us time to sit down, breathe, and eat. When students don’t have time to rest, talk, and recharge, our afternoon classes suffer. It’s time to make lunch an actual break again.

First, short lunches negatively affect student health. Many students skip half their meal because they feel rushed, and some don’t eat at all. No one can focus in math or science when they’re hungry. Extending lunch by even ten minutes would help students eat properly and feel more successful in afternoon classes.

Second, lunch is the only time many students get to socialize outside of class rules. School is not just about academics—it’s about growing socially, emotionally, and relationally. A meaningful break builds community and reduces stress, which helps prevent burnout.

Some argue that lengthening lunch would take away from learning time, but that simply isn’t true. Students learn better when they are fed, rested, and mentally reset. A slightly longer lunch would increase productivity, not reduce it.

Our school works hard to support students in every way, but lunch should be part of that support. It’s time for students, teachers, and administrators to rethink our midday schedule. If we want a healthier and more focused student body, we need a lunch break that actually gives us a break.

The challenge is simple: let’s value student well-being as much as student performance. A longer lunch is a small change with a big impact—let’s make it happen.