Opinion Writing: What’s Your Point?

Saturdays, November 13 & 20, 2021

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM AKDT

Via Zoom

This class takes place on more than one date (November 13 & November 20) but must be registered for as a single class. Registration information is available by selecting the first date of the class in this events calendar.

Are you writing an opinion piece to make yourself feel better, or to change minds? Are you doing it to show others why you are right and they are wrong, or is the purpose to use facts to lead people in a better direction? Bludgeoning, mockery and ridicule are not an effective way to make points, at least not productive points if you are looking to win over the other side of the debate. What’s the difference between sarcasm and nastiness? And are the best opinion pieces long and full of citations and exhaustive in their argument, or is it more effective to focus on one issue per column? The class will discuss what works, what doesn’t, ideas for better opinion writing, including sharing everyone’s work in class for group reviews. All opinions allowed.

Bio

Larry Persily is a longtime Alaska journalist (since 1976), with breaks for federal, state and municipal service in oil and gas, taxes and fiscal policy work. He is currently owner and editor of the weekly Wrangell Sentinel newspaper, and frequently submits opinion pieces to newspapers statewide. His previous work in Alaska journalism includes stints with the Anchorage Times, Anchorage Daily News, Associated Press, the Juneau Empire, Petroleum News and his own weekly newspaper in Juneau.

49 Writers dedicates our 2021-2022 programming season to the memory of Frank Soos (1950-2021), our 2021 Program Chair.