Assignment #1

Due: In section, week 2 (September 17-21)

Objective: Publication of an "op-ed" in a major newspaper is considered an example of professional success, and perhaps even a professional requirement, in many fields. Therefore it is an important skill to master early in one's career. A number of incoming students will not be familiar with this writing format. For more information on writing an op-ed please consult the following websites:

The International Herald Tribune - provides examples of op-ed pieces

DeWitt Wallace Center op-ed resource at Duke - A center at Duke dedicated purely to the study op-eds. Click here to find examples of op-eds and to find information on writing effective op-eds. Make sure you read Thomas Friedman's article listed in the examples section of this website.

How to write an op-ed column - from Fairness and Accuracy in reporting

The objectives of this assignment are three-fold: (1) to introduce students to this important writing style, (2) to give students the opportunity to practice a written assignment before official evaluation of the student's written work commences, and (3) to allow the instructors to become acquainted with students' interests and writing styles.

Assignment: Write a 750-word maximum "op-ed"-style piece on the international affairs topic of your choice. Technical requirements for the assignment as well as standards for evaluation are provided below.

Technical Requirements: As with all written assignments for this course, please include your name, course number, name of your instructor, time of your assigned section, and the date. Written assignments should be single-sided, double-spaced with one-inch margins on all sides of each sheet. They should be stapled, not paper-clipped. Since this assignment is to produce an op-ed piece which could be submitted "as-is" to a major newspaper, it should not include footnotes, endnotes or a bibliography.

Evaluation: This assignment is a course-requirement but will not be given a letter grade. Students are encouraged to produce a high-quality written product, however, as the first graded assignment for the course will be evaluated by the same standards. The following criteria will be used to determine the overall success of the op-ed:

1. Technical: Does the op-ed satisfy the requirements as set-out by the instructor(s)? (ie., does it fit within the length requirement, follow the required format, and was it submitted on time?)

2. Content: Does the piece clearly define the issue the author seeks to address? Does the author muster relevant facts to support her/his argument? Does the author acknowledge pertinent counter-arguments?

3. Style: Is the piece well-written? Is the piece well-organized?

4. Over-all: Does the piece identify a clear perspective, outline a convincing argument, and suggest clear policy recommendations? Is the argument persuasive?