You have recently graduated from UTSC and you wish to increase your chances of being employed in a big organization that values good opinions, research, facts, current topics and good writing. Your career advisor suggests that you write a 400-word Op-ed for a national Canadian newspaper. When you contacted the editor of your chosen newspaper, you learned that 5 years earlier, she took GGRC25 with Prof. Kepe. She encourages you to consider writing on the topic relating to that course. The editor goes on to suggest that you skillfully write on an issue that combines several key words into a powerful editorial opinion that could be of interest to Canadians and other readers overseas, where the newspaper stories are syndicated.
While you are free to write on a topic of your choice, your key words are: Land, Development, Food Security, the State, Decolonization, Violence. All these key words must appear in the op-ed, but not as mere mentions, but as key parts of your flowing argument. They must be connected, not in any particular order, to make a solid argument that shows your knowledge of the subject. This cannot be a random topic. I must be absolutely based on the core lessons from GGRC25.
Ensure that your Op-Ed is accessible and has flow. This means that your argument should be easy to follow. It should be educational. It should be clear why any of your points are made. Your points must relate to each other, in terms of being building blocks of a point your want to drive across. Your Op-Ed must tell a ‘story’ that makes sense, using what you have learned in GGRC25.
Think carefully about how you introduce and conclude your Op-Ed.
Provide your Op-Ed with a catchy title, which should match your key argument.
Op-Eds are usually not referenced; so do not put in-text citations, but list full reference information of a minimum of five (5) journal articles or book chapters that informed the Op-Ed. This may include sources prescribed for GGRC25 or those from elsewhere. List them in full under the heading: Sources consulted. Class slides should not be listed. The list of references do not count in the word limit. But, just do not cut and paste or take huge chunks from the slides or readings.
