Opinions Writing Preview Activity

"Apple refuses to violate privacy of users"

1.  Editorial (anonymous, the opinion of the whole staff).
2.  Apple refusing to crack open an iPhone, which would compromise the security of all other iPhones.
3.  "This doesn't change our opinion about creating backdoors for anyone to gather information about iPhone users."
4.  Yes.
5.  No.
6.  No.
7.  First point of view.

"Drug dog investigations have students feeling as though their rights are being violated at school"

1.  Granger Coats
2.  Students feeling like their rights at school are being violated due to drug investigations.
3.  "I believe the DAEP should be a punishment saved only for severe cases such as students considered a threat to the school, the well-being of students, or themselves."
4.  Yes.
5.  No.
6.  No quotes except for the information sources from a website.
7.  First point of view.

"Social media, back at it again"

1.  Alicia Molina
2.  A piece about "Damn, Daniel," and how the people who became famous used their fame for good reasons instead of sucking up the fame and using it for their own benefit.
3.  "I think that it's great that people are using their fame for good and they are not keeping it all to themselves."
4.  No.  It was more story-mode, and it was enjoyable.
5.  No.
6.  They're contextual quotes, used in the middle of paragraphs to add an entertaining quality and also give insight on the people being written about.
7.  First point of view.

"Beyonce causes controversy"

1.  Fuaad Ajaz
2.  Beyonce causes controversy through her stance on police brutality.
3.  "But apparently people think that celebrating an organization that among other things fought for equal rights, provided breakfast for little kids, and protected their communities is wrong."
      --that one was extremely sarcastic and bitter, which indirectly stated his opinion very strongly.  Here is a direct statement:
     "She is trying to say that not all wealthy people are white, that there are wealthy people who aren't white and don't get noticed.  Sadly this is true in today's world.  If someone is white and rich they are known worldwide but if someone is black and rich, not many people know who they are."
4.  Yes, but not thoroughly--it was more with the quote above, where it was sarcastic and biased but still addressing the other side's argument.
5.  He felt very strongly about his opinion, so, no.
6.  There were quotes, but not from his own sources.
7.  A very strongly biased third point of view.  Like, third POV limited.

"Is the AP world history test worth it?"

1.  Mia Barbosa
2.  Whether or not the AP world history test is worth the time and money to take.
3.  "I think that the test is a great way for students to get ahead in the competitive race for college."
4.  She addressed the other side, but more as an issue to solve rather than a defense for an opposing opinion.
5.  No.
6.  No.
7.  First point of view.

Final Questions

A.  A major difference between a news story and an opinions piece is the structure--the structure of an opinions is much more free, while a hard news story, almost 100% of the time, has to be done in a very specific format.
    Another major difference between a hard news story and an opinions piece is the optional point of view.  Opinions pieces are allowed to be from first point of view, while hard news stories are required to be from third--no first point of view pronouns allowed, unless they're in a quote.
    The most significant difference between and hard news story and an opinions piece is the objectivity--an opinions piece is biased, and gives the opinion of the writer, shows what the writer thinks about a topic and why.  A hard news story is objective, and states the facts and only the facts.

B.  There aren't very many photos on this page because the people who write commentary or opinions pieces aren't required to go out and observe an event or interact with people to get interviews from them to use for a story.  There isn't something to take a picture of, because opinions are mostly given on a popular topic, not something that can easily be photographed.

C.  Having FIT all week, because ew; the new state policy making Bowie students have longer school days because elementary and middle schools weren't meeting requirements (even though we were); AP class workloads and expectations.