Module 7: Realism in the Family
Realism Newspaper Editorial
Imagine that you are a journalist working for a prestigious newspaper praised internationally for its hard-hitting exposés on the social injustices and corruption in the world. Your boss is the editor and has just sent you an email asking you to write an editorial for an upcoming "special edition" of the newspaper. This is a great career opportunity for you as it will expose more people to your work and could launch your career further than you ever dreamed. The editor wants a dynamic editorial that is based on fact but also creatively addresses the topic. Below is a copy of the editor's notes regarding the assignment.
Good morning! Great job on your recent article that we published last week! I have an assignment that's a great opportunity, and I think you're the best person for the job.
I need a hard-hitting, fact-based editorial about some kind of ongoing, modern-day social injustice, but I also need you to connect this social injustice to the past. You know, make connections and draw parallels; connect the dots for the readers, so to speak. It doesn't matter which issue you write about. You could connect the Civil War or Vietnam War to the War on Terrorism, compare racial inequalities from the 1850s to now, talk about the treatment of women, or discuss the drastic change in the treatment of immigrants. You can write about any social injustice as long as you can draw a parallel to the past.
Also, I need you to incorporate direct quotations from writers and literary works from the Realism era that support your editorial. It wouldn't hurt to find some modern quotes either. Use song lyrics or political speeches if you want. People usually tend to like that. But whatever you decide, be sure to use at least three direct quotes and cite your sources. I'm going to include some of my personal favorite writers from the Realism era below, just in case you need some help getting started:
- Mark Twain
- Ambrose Bierce
- Edwin Arlington Robinson
- Edgar Lee Masters
- Frederick Douglass
- Stephen Crane
- Harriet Jacobs
- Kate Chopin
- Jack London
- Charlotte Perkins Gilman
- Walt Whitman (his poetry spans the gap between Romanticism and Realism, so… you can use him too.)
- There are others, so feel free to find one not listed here.
So remember, you're going to compare two different social injustices (one from the Realism era and one from today) in the editorial. Talk about how they are alike and similar. Make sure the average reader can understand the connection. To help with that, pull in quotes from Realist and contemporary writers. Got it? If you can do all of that, you just might earn a raise and promotion!
Editor-in-Chief
How to Write an Editorial
An editorial in a newspaper is an opinion article that expresses the views of the writer or newspaper and generally touches on topics that are current events. Like a persuasive essay or speech, editorial articles strive to influence public opinion and effect change. They usually include the following:
- An introduction paragraph that objectively explains the issue
- The writer's stance on the topic with supporting evidence or reasons
- The opposing viewpoint on the topic that is refuted, or disproved
- Recommended solutions to resolve the problem (It is not enough to present a problem; the effectiveness of the editorial stems from the solution offered.)
- A strong concluding paragraph that concisely summarizes the editorial's stance and recommended solution
Before you begin, review the Realism Editorial Rubric to help you complete your assignment and understand how your work will be graded. You may need to use resources outside of this course to complete this assignment. If so, please submit a Works Cited document. If you need assistance, visit the Developmental Module for information on citing resources.
Reflection
The editorial is your chance to express your own opinions regarding the Realism era and modern social injustices. You have been supplied with several examples of social injustices through the course of this module. Some issues are more easily righted than others. For instance, while the fight for equal rights among all Americans has come a long way, there is still a long road ahead to ensure equality for all, especially as modern society becomes more and more diverse. The important thing to remember is that change does not happen if there is no one pushing for it.
After you have completed the assignment, think about the following questions and write your responses to them. Submit your work to the dropbox when you have completed your reflection.
- What kind of change would you like to see in the world?
- What wrongs do you feel need to be righted?
Once you have completed your Realism Editorial and reflection, please submit them with the Works Cited document to the dropbox.
Once you have completed the module, please complete the module test.