Today you will use your thesis, arguments, and outline to write a full opinion editorial on a global issue you care about. You will turn outline points into clear paragraphs with strong introductions, body sections, and conclusions. Then you will condense your message into a short mini social media editorial that highlights your key idea. As you write, you will think about audience, tone, and clarity. By the end of the lesson, you will have a complete draft and a short message ready to share.
🎯 Learning Goals
By the end of the lesson, you will be able to:
- Use a completed outline to draft a full opinion editorial on a global issue with a clear introduction, at least two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
- Apply appropriate tone, transitions, and evidence so that your arguments are clear, coherent, and suitable for your target audience.
- Create a short mini social media editorial that summarizes your main message and call to action in a clear, engaging way.
🧩 Key Ideas & Terms
- Draft – the first full version of your writing, based on your outline, that you can revise later.
- Coherence – how well ideas stick together and flow logically from one sentence or paragraph to the next.
- Transition – a word or phrase that connects ideas (for example, “first,” “however,” “as a result”).
- Voice – the sound of your writing that shows your attitude and personality as a writer.
- Tone – the feeling or attitude in your writing (for example, urgent, hopeful, respectful).
- Mini social media editorial – a very short, focused message for a social media post that shares your opinion and call to action.
- Hook – an opening idea that catches the reader’s attention and leads into your thesis.
- Call to action – a direct statement telling readers what you want them to do, support, or think after reading.
- Focus sentence – a short line that captures the heart of your message in simple words.
- Audience awareness – the way you adjust word choice, tone, and details to fit the people you are writing for.
🔄 Quick Recall / Prior Knowledge
Before drafting, remind yourself what you already prepared in the last three days.
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Read your current thesis statement aloud. Does it still match the global issue and focus you want to write about?
Show Answer
Your thesis should name the issue clearly, show what should change, and mention who needs to act. If your focus has shifted, update a few words so the thesis matches your real message.
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Look at your argument-and-evidence plan. How many body paragraphs are you planning, and what are their main arguments?
Show Answer
Most learners will have two or three main body paragraphs, each built around one argument, such as “harm to nature,” “harm to people,” or “urgent need for policy change.”
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Check your outline. Which part feels the clearest to you right now: introduction, body, counterargument, or conclusion?
Show Answer
Your clearest section is probably the one with the most specific subpoints and evidence in your outline, which will be easier to expand into full sentences.
📖 Explore the Lesson
Use these checkpoints as a guided path. After each one, pause and write in your notebook or on your drafting paper before checking the suggested answers.
Checkpoint 1: Warming Up for Drafting from Your Outline
Mini-goal: Get comfortable turning outline notes into full sentences and paragraphs.
Drafting can feel scary if you imagine it as “starting from zero.” The good news is that you are not starting from zero today. You have a thesis, arguments, evidence ideas, and a clear outline. Drafting simply means adding full sentences, transitions, and your own voice to that plan. Instead of thinking “I must be perfect,” think “I will put my ideas on paper so I can improve them later.”
Begin by reading your entire outline from top to bottom. As you read, picture the editorial in your mind: the hook scene, the statistics, the expert voices, and the ending that calls readers to act. Notice where you already feel confident and where you feel unsure. Put a small star beside sections that you are excited to write and a question mark beside sections that might need more time or help.
Next, choose one short part of your outline and practise expanding it into two or three sentences. For example, if your subpoint says “Harming marine animals,” you might write: “Sea turtles often mistake plastic bags for jellyfish. When they swallow them, the plastic blocks their stomachs, causing slow and painful deaths.” You are not trying to write the final version yet; you are simply practising moving from notes to full sentences.
As you warm up, remind yourself that a first draft is allowed to be imperfect. Spelling and punctuation can be polished later. Today’s main job is to get your ideas out in a clear order so that you can see them all at once and revise them in the next steps.
Mini-summary: Drafting uses your outline as a guide. You expand short notes into full sentences and paragraphs, accepting that the first draft does not need to be perfect.
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Which part of your outline did you mark with a star, and why do you feel confident about drafting it?
Show Answer
You might feel confident because you have strong evidence, a vivid example, or a clear image in your mind that you want to describe.
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Which subpoint did you expand into a few sentences during the warm-up? How did it feel to grow a note into a paragraph start?
Show Answer
Many learners discover that once they start writing one or two sentences, more ideas quickly follow, making drafting feel easier than expected.
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In one sentence, write a promise to yourself about how you will treat your first draft today.
Show Answer
Example: “I will let myself write freely and save corrections for later, because my ideas matter more than perfection in this first draft.”
Checkpoint 2: Drafting a Clear Introduction that Matches Your Title
Mini-goal: Write an introduction with a hook, context, and thesis that connects to your chosen title.
Your introduction is the doorway into your editorial. It prepares readers for the journey that your title has promised. A strong introduction usually includes three parts: a hook, a little context, and your thesis statement. You already planned these in earlier lessons; now you will write them out fully.
Start with your hook idea from the outline. Turn it into two or three sentences that create a picture, ask a question, or share a surprising fact. Keep the tone serious but engaging. For example, if your hook was “polluted beach,” you might describe the smell of the trash, the sight of plastic bottles, and the feeling of stepping on broken plastic instead of sand.
Next, add one or two sentences of context that move from your hook to the wider global issue. Show readers that this is not an isolated story but part of a larger pattern. You might mention how similar scenes appear in many countries, or how international organisations have warned about the problem.
Then write your thesis statement clearly, in one sentence. Place it near the end of the introduction. Make sure it matches your working title. If your title is “Cut Plastic Waste to Protect Our Seas,” your thesis should clearly talk about reducing plastic and protecting seas, not about a different topic like air pollution only.
After drafting, read your introduction and title together. Ask yourself: “If someone only read these two pieces, would they understand my main opinion and topic?” If the answer is no, adjust either the title or the thesis so they fit like puzzle pieces.
Mini-summary: A strong introduction uses a hook, context, and thesis that all point toward the same global issue and opinion shown in your title.
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What type of hook did you use (story, question, or statistic), and why do you think it fits your audience?
Show Answer
You may have chosen a story to create emotion, a question to make readers think, or a statistic to shock them with facts, depending on what your audience responds to best.
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Read your thesis sentence. Does it clearly answer the questions “What do I believe?” and “Who should act or change?”
Show Answer
If either answer is missing, you may need to add a subject (who) or a stronger action verb (what they must do) to make your thesis complete.
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Does your introduction “feel like” it belongs under your chosen title? Why or why not?
Show Answer
If it feels disconnected, you may need to change either the title or the first few sentences so that both clearly point to the same issue and opinion.
Checkpoint 3: Turning Arguments and Evidence into Strong Body Paragraphs
Mini-goal: Draft at least two body paragraphs that each develop one argument with evidence and explanation.
Your body paragraphs are where your editorial does most of its thinking work. Each paragraph should focus on one main argument from your plan, supported by evidence and clear explanation. You already decided which arguments you will use; now you will turn each one into a full paragraph with a beginning, middle, and end.
For each body paragraph, begin with a topic sentence that clearly states the argument. For example: “First, plastic pollution is destroying the marine life that keeps our oceans healthy.” This sentence tells readers what the paragraph will be about and links back to your thesis.
After the topic sentence, use two or more sentences to explain the argument in your own words. Help readers imagine the situation by describing real or realistic examples. Then add your chosen evidence: statistics, expert opinions, or anecdotes. Use credibility phrases like “According to a 2022 report…” or “Local health workers report that…” to show that your information comes from trustworthy sources.
Make sure you include commentary. Do not just drop a fact and move on. Add at least one sentence beginning with “This shows that…” or “This means that…” to explain how the evidence supports your argument and your thesis. This commentary is where your voice and thinking are strongest.
Finally, use a short linking sentence or transition to move to the next paragraph. You might write, “While the damage to marine life is serious, plastic pollution also harms human communities,” to lead into a new argument.
Mini-summary: Each body paragraph should have a clear topic sentence, explanation, evidence from credible sources, and commentary that links back to your main opinion.
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Choose one of your body paragraphs and check: does every sentence connect clearly to your topic sentence?
Show Answer
If a sentence feels off-topic or random, you might need to move it to another paragraph or remove it so the argument stays focused and strong.
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How did you show your evidence was credible in at least one paragraph?
Show Answer
You may have named the source, year, or type of report, which helps readers trust that your information is based on real research or experience.
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Underline one “This shows that…” sentence (or similar) in your draft. How does it help connect evidence back to your thesis?
Show Answer
That sentence should explain what the evidence means and remind readers how it proves your larger claim about the global issue.
Checkpoint 4: Writing a Conclusion that Stays with the Reader
Mini-goal: Draft a conclusion that revisits your hook, restates your opinion, and ends with a clear call to action.
When readers finish your editorial, what do you want them to remember and do? Your conclusion answers this question. Rather than simply repeating the introduction, it gathers your main points, shows what they mean together, and offers a clear next step. A strong conclusion can stay in a reader’s mind long after they close the page.
Begin your conclusion by returning to an idea or image from your introduction. If you opened with a scene on a polluted beach, imagine how that beach could look in the future if people act—or what will happen if they do not. This creates a satisfying “full circle” feeling.
Next, restate your thesis and main arguments in fresh words. Instead of copying earlier sentences, summarise your key points in one or two new sentences. Show readers how your reasons and evidence fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Avoid listing every detail again; focus on the most important ideas.
Finally, write a strong call to action. Decide exactly who you are speaking to: classmates, community members, school leaders, government officials, or a mix. Tell them what they can realistically do. Use clear verbs, such as “reduce,” “support,” “protect,” “listen,” or “change.” Try to end with a line that is memorable, hopeful, or challenging.
When you finish drafting, read only your introduction and conclusion together. Ask: “Do they feel like two parts of the same message?” If yes, you have given your editorial a strong frame.
Mini-summary: A good conclusion reconnects with the opening, restates your message in new words, and leaves readers with a clear action they can take.
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What image or idea from your introduction did you return to in your conclusion?
Show Answer
You might have returned to the polluted beach, the affected learner, the worrying statistic, or the key question you asked at the beginning.
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Who is the main audience you name in your call to action, and what do you ask them to do?
Show Answer
Your answer might mention classmates taking part in clean-up drives, local leaders changing waste policies, or families reducing single-use plastic at home.
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In one sentence, explain how your conclusion shows the importance of your issue for the future.
Show Answer
Your sentence might show that today’s actions will shape whether future generations inherit a damaged or healthy world.
Checkpoint 5: Writing a Mini Social Media Editorial
Mini-goal: Condense your main message into a short, clear social media–style post.
Many people meet ideas first through social media rather than full articles. A mini social media editorial is a short version of your opinion that can fit into a post or caption. It does not replace your full editorial; instead, it invites readers to care and, if possible, to read more or take action. Writing a short version helps you focus on the heart of your message.
First, identify your focus sentence from the full editorial. Ask yourself: “If I could only keep one sentence from my draft, which one would it be?” It might be a powerful line from your thesis or conclusion. This sentence will be the core of your mini editorial.
Next, decide who your online audience is. Are you writing to classmates, schoolmates, community members, or a wider group? Choose simple, clear words that they will understand. Avoid very long sentences or heavy technical terms. You can still sound serious and respectful while being direct and easy to read.
Now draft a mini social media editorial of about 30–60 words. Include three parts: a short hook or feeling, your focus sentence, and a brief call to action. For example: “Our oceans are choking on plastic. Leaders and citizens must cut single-use plastics and improve waste systems now. Let’s stop treating the sea like a trash bin and protect it for future generations.” You may decide to add one short hashtag that fits your topic, if appropriate.
Finally, read your mini editorial out loud. Does it sound natural? Does it still match your full editorial’s message and tone? If yes, you now have both a full editorial and a short version ready to share.
Mini-summary: A mini social media editorial is a short post that captures your main message and call to action in clear, simple language that fits your online audience.
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What focus sentence from your full editorial did you choose as the heart of your mini post?
Show Answer
It might be your thesis in simpler words or a strong line from your conclusion that clearly states what must change and why.
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How did you adjust your language for social media readers while keeping a respectful tone?
Show Answer
You may have chosen shorter sentences, simpler verbs, and fewer statistics, while still sounding serious and hopeful about solving the issue.
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In your notebook, write one reason why sharing a mini social media editorial can support the goals of your full opinion editorial.
Show Answer
For example, you may say that short posts can reach more people quickly, raise awareness, and encourage others to read or act on the full editorial’s ideas.
💡 Example in Action
Look at these worked examples related to drafting an editorial and a mini social media editorial. Use them as models, not as text to copy.
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Sample Introduction (Shortened)
“Every morning, the waves on our town’s beach carry more plastic bottles than seashells. Children step around sharp pieces of broken plastic instead of building sandcastles. This is not just our problem; it is a sign of a global plastic crisis. Leaders and citizens must cut single-use plastics and improve waste systems if we want to protect our oceans and our future.”
Task: Identify hook, context, and thesis.Show Answer
Hook: the image of the beach covered in plastic instead of shells. Context: the sentence “This is not just our problem; it is a sign of a global plastic crisis.” Thesis: “Leaders and citizens must cut single-use plastics and improve waste systems if we want to protect our oceans and our future.”
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Sample Body Paragraph Structure
Topic sentence: “First, plastic pollution is destroying marine life that keeps our oceans healthy.”
Evidence: “A 2022 report from marine scientists found plastic in the stomachs of over 1,000 sea turtles studied in different oceans.”
Commentary: “This shows that plastic waste is not only ugly on the surface; it is entering the bodies of animals and pushing them toward slow, painful deaths, which affects the entire ocean food chain.”
Task: Explain why this paragraph is effective.Show Answer
It has a clear topic sentence, specific evidence with a source and year, and commentary that explains what the evidence means and why it matters for the global issue.
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Sample Conclusion Sentence
“If we choose to act now—at home, at school, and in our government offices—we can turn the tide on plastic and leave cleaner, safer seas for the next generation.”
Task: Identify the call to action and the hopeful image.Show Answer
Call to action: “If we choose to act now—at home, at school, and in our government offices…” Hopeful image: “turn the tide on plastic and leave cleaner, safer seas for the next generation.”
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Sample Mini Social Media Editorial
“Our oceans are choking on plastic. Leaders and citizens must cut single-use plastics and fix broken waste systems now. Let’s stop treating the sea like a trash bin and protect it for the young people who will inherit this planet.”
Task: Point out hook, focus, and call to action.Show Answer
Hook: “Our oceans are choking on plastic.” Focus: “Leaders and citizens must cut single-use plastics and fix broken waste systems now.” Call to action: “Let’s stop treating the sea like a trash bin and protect it for the young people who will inherit this planet.”
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From Outline Note to Draft Sentence
Outline note: “Blocked drainage pipes cause flooding.”
Task: Turn this note into a full sentence for a body paragraph.Show Answer
Sample sentence: “When plastic waste blocks drainage pipes, heavy rain has nowhere to go, so streets flood quickly and water rushes into homes and shops.”
📝 Try It Out
Use these tasks to complete and strengthen your own draft. Answer in your notebook or on your drafting paper before checking the suggested answers.
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Draft your full introduction (hook, context, thesis) in 4–6 sentences based on your outline.
Show Answer
Your introduction should include a clear picture or question, a sentence linking the local situation to a global issue, and one strong thesis statement that shows your opinion and who should act.
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Write your first body paragraph based on Argument 1. Include at least one piece of evidence and one explanation sentence.
Show Answer
The paragraph should follow: topic sentence → explanation → evidence → commentary that connects the evidence to your thesis.
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Write your second body paragraph based on Argument 2. Make sure it adds a new reason, not just repeats the first one.
Show Answer
The second paragraph should introduce a different angle, such as health, economy, or fairness, while still supporting your main opinion about the global issue.
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If you planned a counterargument, draft a short section that shows another point of view and your respectful response.
Show Answer
You might start with “Some people argue that…” and then explain why your position still makes more sense, using at least one piece of evidence or reason.
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Draft your conclusion in 3–5 sentences, including a clear call to action.
Show Answer
The conclusion should revisit your opening idea, restate your thesis in new words, remind readers of your strongest points, and end with a realistic action your audience can take.
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Underline all transition words and phrases in your draft (for example, “first,” “in addition,” “however,” “as a result,” “finally”).
Show Answer
If you see few or no transitions, add some to help your ideas flow smoothly from one paragraph to the next.
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Circle one sentence where your voice feels especially strong. What makes that sentence effective?
Show Answer
A strong sentence often uses vivid verbs, clear images, or firm but respectful language that shows your personal commitment to the issue.
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Write a mini social media editorial (30–60 words) based on your full draft.
Show Answer
Your mini editorial should include a short hook, your main opinion in simple words, and a call to action. It should still match the message and tone of your full editorial.
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Read your mini editorial aloud to yourself or a partner. Ask: “What is the strongest part?” and note one improvement you can make.
Show Answer
You might improve the hook, make the call to action clearer, or cut extra words so the message feels sharper and easier to share.
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On a new page, write a short checklist of things you will revise later (for example, “stronger verbs,” “more precise statistics,” “clearer call to action”).
Show Answer
This checklist will guide your next revision session, helping you focus on content and clarity instead of only spelling and punctuation.
✅ Check Yourself
Use this self-check to see how well you understand drafting an opinion editorial and a mini social media editorial.
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Multiple-choice: What is the main job of a first draft?
a) To be perfect and ready for publishing
b) To put your ideas into full sentences and paragraphs so you can revise them
c) To list as many facts as possible with no structure
d) To copy another writer’s editorialShow Answer
The correct answer is b).
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Short answer: Name the three main parts of a strong introduction in an opinion editorial.
Show Answer
A hook to grab attention, context to link to the global issue, and a thesis statement that clearly shows your opinion.
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Multiple-choice: Which sentence is the best topic sentence for a body paragraph about health effects of burning plastic?
a) “Plastic is everywhere in the world.”
b) “Fire can be dangerous and interesting.”
c) “Burning plastic releases toxic smoke that harms people’s lungs and can cause serious breathing problems.”
d) “Some people like to burn trash outside.”Show Answer
The best answer is c), because it clearly states a specific health effect.
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Short answer: Why should you include commentary (for example, “This shows that…”) after presenting evidence?
Show Answer
Because commentary explains what the evidence means and how it supports your argument, instead of leaving readers to guess.
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Multiple-choice: Which part of your editorial usually contains the call to action?
a) Title
b) Introduction
c) Body paragraph 1
d) ConclusionShow Answer
The correct answer is d).
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Short answer: Give one example of a transition phrase that could introduce your second argument.
Show Answer
Examples: “Another serious effect is that…”, “Beyond harming nature, this issue also…”, or “In addition to damaging the environment, it…”.
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Multiple-choice: Which description best fits a mini social media editorial?
a) A full four-page essay with many paragraphs
b) A short, focused post that shares your opinion and call to action
c) A list of random facts with no opinion
d) A private note only for the writerShow Answer
The correct answer is b).
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Short answer: Why should the mini social media editorial match the message and tone of your full editorial?
Show Answer
Because both pieces represent your voice and opinion; if they do not match, readers may be confused about what you really believe or want.
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Multiple-choice: Which pair of words best describes the tone you should aim for when writing about a serious global issue?
a) Rude and sarcastic
b) Calm and hopeful
c) Confused and playful
d) Silent and distantShow Answer
The best answer is b), calm and hopeful.
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Short answer: What is one advantage of drafting from an outline instead of writing with no plan?
Show Answer
Drafting from an outline helps you stay focused, follow a logical order, and remember to include all your planned arguments and evidence.
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Multiple-choice: Which sentence is most suitable for a mini social media editorial?
a) “In this essay, I will talk about pollution.”
b) “Pollution is bad and stuff.”
c) “Our rivers are turning into trash bins; it is time for us to cut plastic use and demand cleaner waste systems.”
d) “I am writing a paper for school.”Show Answer
The best answer is c), because it is clear, focused, and includes a call to action.
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Short answer: What is one thing you should not worry about too much in your very first draft?
Show Answer
You should not worry too much about perfect spelling or punctuation at first; focus on getting your ideas and structure onto the page.
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Multiple-choice: After finishing your first draft, which step is most helpful?
a) Hiding it so no one can see
b) Reading it aloud and marking places to improve
c) Deleting it and starting again with no plan
d) Posting it online immediately with no reviewShow Answer
The best answer is b).
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Short answer: Write one question you could ask a peer if they are reading your draft to give feedback.
Show Answer
Example: “Which part of my editorial was most clear, and where did you feel confused or want more information?”
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Reflection check: In one or two sentences, explain how writing a full editorial and a mini social media editorial has changed the way you think about your chosen global issue.
Show Answer
Your answer might say that writing helped you see more connections, understand people affected by the issue, or feel more ready to speak up for change.
🚀 Go Further
Use these optional activities if you want to deepen your work or if you are a teacher planning extension tasks.
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Swap mini social media editorials with a partner and discuss which words or phrases catch your attention the most.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Encourage learners to give specific feedback, such as “This line made me feel…” or “This part confused me because…”.
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Choose one body paragraph and revise it to make the voice more vivid by changing verbs and adding one sensory detail.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Focus learners on precise verbs (“chokes,” “clogs,” “floods”) and concrete images that help readers see and feel the issue.
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Create a side-by-side version of your thesis: one written for a formal newspaper editorial and one for a friendly social media post.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Use this to highlight differences in tone and word choice while keeping the core message the same.
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Record yourself reading your mini social media editorial aloud (if allowed) and listen to how it sounds.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Ask learners to note where they stumble or sound unsure, then revise those lines for smoother, clearer phrasing.
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Design a simple “Draft to Share” plan that shows where you might share your ideas (school newsletter, class display, community board) and what you need to revise before sharing.
Show Answer
Teacher guidance: Help learners think about responsible sharing and the importance of revising before publishing, even in school spaces.
🔗 My Reflection
Notebook task: In 7–9 sentences, reflect on your journey from idea to full editorial and mini social media editorial.
- How has your opinion about your chosen global issue changed or deepened through writing?
- Which part of the writing process (planning, outlining, drafting, or mini editorial) helped you express your ideas most clearly?
- What is one specific goal you have for revising and sharing your editorial in the future?
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