WP Number 1: Op-Ed Essay Guidelines & Conciseness Strategies

WP Number 1: Op-Ed Essay Guidelines and Submission

• Word Count: Your essay needs to be approximately $1,000$ words, with a permissible variation of plus or minus $50$ words ($950$ to $1,050$ words).
• Format and Submission: The essay must be submitted as a PDF document on Canvas. Turnitin is embedded in the assignment for plagiarism detection.
• Turnitin Score Requirements:
  • For your work to be graded, it must receive a blue or green score from Turnitin.
  • If you receive a red or yellow score, it indicates potential plagiarism (direct similarity to other university submissions or online sources).
  • It is your responsibility to fix any issues and resubmit the paper before the deadline if you receive a red or yellow score.
  • False Positives: While Turnitin might flag common phrases, the primary concern is with full sentences or paragraphs that are identical to other sources.
• Source Citation Options:
  • Recommended: Hyperlink sources directly within the document. This is considered a conversational and preferred method.
  • Alternatives: You may use the narrative memo style (as shown in op-ed slides) or MLA format. However, the body of your paper must still maintain a conversational tone.
• Seeking Assistance:
  • You can visit during office hours or schedule an appointment if necessary.
  • You can also utilize the Writing Center for one-on-one tutoring.
• Important Resources on Canvas:
  • Refer to the Modules section, then scroll to WP number one.
  • Here you will find necessary Directions and Rubric and Examples.
  • You can also find thousands of op-ed examples online published by newspapers and student organizations.
• Checking Your Turnitin Score:
  • After submission, wait approximately $20$ minutes for Turnitin to process.
  • Navigate to Grades on Canvas.
  • Click on the small blue box associated with the assignment to view your score report (specifically if it's yellow or red to investigate).
  • It is your responsibility to achieve a blue or green score before the Sunday $11:59$ PM deadline.
  • The professor will, for the first assignment, offer additional checks on Monday at $4:30$ PM to ensure everyone understands their score, but self-checking and resubmission are expected for incorrect scores.
• Draft Feedback: If you desire feedback on your draft, you must email the professor during weekdays to be added to the list. Feedback is not available on Saturdays due to logistics.

Transition to WP Number 2: Business Plans

• Today marks the final day dedicated to op-eds.
• On Wednesday, the class will transition to the next major writing project, WP Number 2, which involves developing business plans.

Six Concrete Strategies for Conciseness

These strategies are vital for crafting effective op-eds and will be assessed in your final draft of WP Number 1.

1. Pick a Stronger Verb

• Issue: Common verbs such as "to do," "to make," "to give," "to get," and "to be" are often weak, overly general, and lack descriptive power.
• Action: Identify these common verbs and replace them with more descriptive and active alternatives.
• Example: Instead of "I'll get my SJSU degree," use "I'll earn my SJSU degree."
• Benefit: Stronger verbs convey meaning more precisely, demonstrate effort, and enhance the overall impact and descriptiveness of your writing.

2. Make it Active (Active Voice)

• Issue: Passive voice constructions (e.g., "mistakes were made") obscure the actor, lack accountability, and can be vague or evasive.
• Action: Clearly identify the noun, organization, person, or group responsible for the action.
• Example: Instead of the evasive "Mistakes were made," use the direct "He made a mistake."
• Benefit: Active voice clarifies responsibility, adds power, and makes your statements more direct and impactful, which is particularly beneficial for op-eds where taking a stance is crucial.

3. Remove Meaningless Words

• Issue: Many sentences include filler words or phrases that add length without contributing significant meaning.
• Action: Identify and eliminate words or phrases that are redundant or can be expressed more simply.
• Example: When discussing a conference location, instead of saying "Marriott Hotels and Resorts in Maryland," specifying "Marriott Hotels and Resorts in Granger, Maryland" provides necessary detail while removing vague descriptors only if the original meaning is preserved or enhanced.
• Additional Tip: Reassess verbs that might be "too much" (e.g., pretentious or overly formal). "Convene" might be replaced with "host," "hold," or "have" in a conversational op-ed.

4. Cut Adverbs

• Definition: Adverbs modify verbs and often end in "-ly" (e.g., "immediately," "quickly").
• Action: Locate verb-adverb combinations. Delete both the adverb and the verb, then replace them with a single, stronger, more descriptive verb that inherently includes the action and the manner.
• Examples:
  • Instead of "went quietly," use "sneaked," "tiptoed," or "crept."
  • Instead of "looked menacingly," use "glared," "sneered," or "scowled."
  • Instead of "cried loudly," use "wailed," "sobbed," "wept," "bawled," or "despaired."
• Benefit: Eliminates wordiness and results in more powerful and concise language.

5. Replace Phrasal Verbs

• Definition: Phrasal verbs are two-word verbs (a verb plus a preposition) common in Old English, often better suited for spoken language than formal writing (e.g., "found out," "pick up"). They can also have different meanings than their constituent parts.
• Action: Identify phrasal verbs and replace them with a single, equivalent verb, often one of Latin origin.
• Examples:
  • Instead of "found out," use "discovered," "learned," or "realized."
  • Instead of "point out,"
    use "show," "imply," or "suggest."
• Benefit: Reduces word count and contributes to a more concise and formal writing style.

6. Cut Adjectives (When Appropriate)

• Definition: Adjectives describe nouns (e.g., "red," "tall," "defensive"). This is considered the most challenging strategy.
• Action: Find adjectives in your text. If possible, consider if the meaning conveyed by the adjective and its associated verb can be combined into a single, more descriptive verb. This strategy is less universally applicable and depends heavily on context.
• Example: Instead of "The defensive child sat down," one might consider "The child slouched." (Note: This is not always a perfect translation, as "slouching" can occur while standing, but it aims to combine the defensive posture with the act of sitting into one verb).
• Benefit: When effective, it can significantly condense meaning and reduce word count, though it requires careful consideration to maintain precision.

Application Examples from Class Exercise:

• Original 1: "I received your communication in which you wrote about the subject of tennis rackets, and I thoroughly read it."
  • Concise: "I read your message about tennis rackets." (Eliminates redundant phrases like "received your communication," "in which you wrote about the subject of," and the unnecessary qualifier "thoroughly.")
• Original 2: "It goes without saying that we are acquainted with your policy regarding the filing of tax returns, and we will absolutely comply with them."
  • Concise: "We understand your policies on tax returns and will comply." or "We will comply with your regulations of filing tax returns." (Removes "it goes without saying that," replaces "acquainted with" with stronger verbs, and removes "absolutely.")
• Original 3: "In our company, we constantly make opportunities for professional growth and enjoy an incredible record of possibility in the dynamic atmosphere of aerospace tech."
  • Concise: "Our company generates growth and stability." or "Our company is a trailblazer in the aerospace industry and provides professional development opportunities." (Cuts unnecessary prepositions, removes adverbs, uses stronger/active verbs, and eliminates filler phrases).
• Original 4: "It is expected that the bus schedule will be released within the next few days or next week."
  • Concise: "The bus company will release a new schedule soon." or "The bus company will release a new schedule next week." (Makes the sentence active, removes "it is expected that," and condenses vague timeframes where appropriate to the context).

These six strategies should be actively incorporated into the final draft of your WP Number 1 op-ed essay to enhance its clarity, impact, and conciseness.