Opinion Article: What It Is, Characteristics and Examples

What is an opinion article?

An opinion article belongs to the journalistic genre and consists of a text that expresses the author’s opinion on a current topic, after being interpreted and analyzed in a meticulous way.

An opinion piece is usually published in a newspaper or magazine and differs from an editorial article because it bears the author’s signature. The author’s ideas may not be strictly aligned with the editorial profile of the newspaper in which the article is published.

The public interested in opinion articles is usually the one who seeks different points of view based on solid arguments, about the journalistic news of the moment.

Characteristics of an opinion article

An opinion piece is characterized by:

• Length of the text: It is usually short, around 800 words.
• Author’s name: It should always appear. You may not be a journalist, although you must be specialized in the subject to be addressed.
• Opinion analysis: It must have arguments and rationale.
• Type of text: It can be sporadic or be part of an editorial space (called an opinion column).
• Topic to be discussed: It can be the most varied, as long as it is about a current event.
• Freedom of opinion of the author: It may or may not be aligned with the profile of the publisher that publishes it.
• Headline: It must be original and capture the reader’s attention.
• Objective: It consists of providing a personal view of the author to awaken the critical conscience of the reader.
• The receiving and interested public: It is usually very broad, not necessarily specialized on the subject.

Structure of an opinion article

Although an opinion piece usually has a variable structure or with enough freedom to diagram it, it usually consists of four main parts:

• Qualification: Clearly identify the topic being analyzed and it must be attractive to the reader.
• Introduction: It details the most relevant information in a summarized way, to put the reader in context.
• Body: Develop the analysis of the author proper, with arguments and examples.
• Conclusion: It details a summary of the author’s analysis, or it can be a short thought-provoking phrase.

Classification of opinion articles

Opinion articles are classified into different types:

• The columns: They are articles that are published in reserved sections of an editorial so that a journalist, specialist or prestigious personality can express their analysis on a certain topic. The only limitations that these writings usually have are: the length of the article, which cannot exceed the space allocated for the section and the vocabulary, which must be understood by the general public.
• The critics: They are articles that offer an opinion and a specific value judgment. They usually deal with cultural events related to  art , such as film reviews,  theater reviews , painting and book exhibitions  , gastronomic reviews of restaurants, chefs, among others.
• Editorials: They are opinion pieces that do not include the signature of a particular author, but rather represent a collective opinion of an institution or a media outlet. Editorial articles are intended to explain or justify, make a value judgment or capture the attention of the public in the face of a recent public knowledge event.

Essay and opinion article

An essay is characterized by being a writing that does not necessarily address a current topic. It is based on a rigorous scientific analysis (the author must be very informed and have verifiable sources), while the opinion article can offer conclusions and points of view based on valid reasoning and arguments devised by the author, without having evidence scientific.

More on: Essay

References:

• “The opinion piece” on Wikipedia.
• “Opinion and essay article” on the Thought.co.
• “Write an opinion article” on Wikihow