Writing an opinion article

Writing an opinion article is easier than writing an article for scientific journal. Yet the writing strategy to attract readers' attention is quite similar. In addition to the encouraging opinion article title, an impressive article, not only opens with a "kicking" opening paragraph. More than that, it closes with an impressive paragraph. The "kicking" opening paragraph is meant to captivate the reader. While the closing paragraph must give a meaningful impression to the reader. Assembling writing in an effective paragraph is not easy, especially for novice writers.

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An effective paragraph should fulfill two conditions, namely: the existence of unity of meaning (coherence), the existence of unity of form (cohesion), and having only one main thought. A paragraph is said to contain unity of meaning if all the sentences in the paragraph only talk about one main idea, one topic, or one problem. If in a paragraph there are sentences that deviate from the problem being discussed, it means that in that paragraph there is more than one idea or problem. The second requirement is the unity of paragraph form or cohesion. What is meant by paragraph unity or cohesion is that each paragraph contains only one main idea which is embodied in the main sentence. The main sentence placed at the beginning of the paragraph is usually called a deductive paragraph, while the main sentence placed at the end of the paragraph is usually called an inductive paragraph.

As for the characteristics in making the main sentence, such as the sentence made must contain problems that have the potential to be detailed or elaborated further. Another characteristic is that the main sentence can be made complete and independent without the need for connecting words, both connecting words between sentences and intra-sentence conjunctions. Unity of paragraph form or cohesion is realized if the flow of sentences runs smoothly, and logically. Coherence can be formed by repetition, the use of pronouns, and the use of conjunctions or connecting phrases between sentences.

Sentences that makeup paragraphs can generally be classified into two types, namely (1) topic sentences or main sentences, and (2) explanatory sentences or supporting sentences. The topic sentence or main sentence is usually placed clearly as the first sentence of a paragraph. The main sentence is then developed with several explanatory sentences so that the ideas contained in the main sentence become clearer. Some of the characteristics of topic sentences include: (a) containing problems that have the potential to be detailed or elaborated further; (b) is a complete sentence that can stand alone; (c) having a fairly clear meaning without having to be connected with other sentences, and (e) can be formed without the help of conjunctions and transition phrases.

The characteristics of explanatory sentences include: (a) in terms of meaning it is often a sentence that cannot stand alone; (b) the meaning of the sentence is sometimes only clear after being connected to other sentences in the paragraph; (c) its formation often requires the help of conjunctions and transitional phrases; (d) the contents are in the form of details, descriptions, examples, and other data that support the topic sentence. Furthermore, the explanatory sentences or subordinate sentences explain the topic sentence in four ways, namely: (a) By repetition, namely repeating the main idea. The repetition usually uses other words that have the same meaning (synonyms); (b) By distinction, i.e. by showing the meaning contained by the main thought and stating what is not contained by the main thought; (c) By example, ie by giving examples of what is stated in the topic sentence; (d) With justification, namely by adding reasons to support the main idea. Usually, the justification sentence begins/is inserted the word "because".

When viewed from the structure, paragraphs are usually related to the ordering of the location of the main sentence and supporting sentences, based on the category of sentences in the paragraph. Based on these criteria, the paragraph structure can be categorized into (a) Deductive paragraphs, namely paragraphs in which the main sentence is at the beginning of the paragraph and is followed by an explanatory sentence; (b) Inductive paragraphs, namely paragraphs in which the main sentence is at the end of the paragraph and is preceded by explanatory sentences; (c) Mixed paragraphs, which are a combination of deductive and inductive. The main sentences are at the beginning and end of the paragraph, interspersed with explanatory sentences, and (d) Paragraphs without main sentences (narrative paragraphs, namely paragraphs that do not have a main sentence, but have the main idea). Usually found in story texts and the form of descriptions.

To be interesting, the development can be done in several ways, including (a) Natural paragraph development based on the order of space and time. The order of space is a sequence that will take the reader from one point to the next in space. The time sequence is a sequence that describes the sequence of events, actions, or actions, and (b) Paragraph development based on certain positions in a series in the form of the highest or most prominent positions. If the highest position is placed at the end it is called the climax. On the other hand, if the author starts the series with the most prominent position, then it becomes less and less prominent, it is called anticlimactic.

It's not easy. Let alone novice writers, writers who have been around for a long time and are accustomed to writing articles, starting or opening paragraphs is not an easy matter. Renowned writers of the caliber of Ernes Hemingway, are said to have spent a long time just to make the opening sentence of the paragraph—in other stories the opening paragraph. In essence, an interesting opening paragraph, not only provokes readers to glance and read our articles. In fact, according to the confession of several editors of well-known newspapers, in selecting suitable writings, paragraph openings are used as the main indicator.

Some tips to make an interesting opening paragraph and tempt the reader to devour our writing. First, open a paragraph with a question. Some articles are quite popular with readers, opening paragraphs with questions. Second, open a paragraph with a famous quote. Apart from being a basic theory, this quote will also lead and even convince the reader that the theme we are raising is very urgent. Third, open the paragraph with an analogy. The paragraph that opens with this analogy is one type of paragraph developed using the induction method. Or in other words, analogy paragraphs are inductive paragraphs, namely paragraphs that begin with special things and then conclude into a general thing. In addition, analogy paragraphs are paragraphs in which the main idea is conveyed by comparing two different things but have many similarities. These similarities are described at the beginning of the paragraph. Then, the similarities are drawn into one general conclusion. Fourth, open a paragraph with a quote from data or statistics.

As a famous quote, these data or statistics will support and strengthen the paragraphs that we make. Readers will feel confident that our articles are important and worth reading. Statistical data related to the business market, especially, will be very helpful for readers who happen to be starting a business.

An impressive article not only opens with an interesting opening paragraph. More than that, closed with an interesting paragraph as well. This is rarely noticed by novice writers and even seniors. They often think that the closing paragraph is unimportant so that it is made arbitrarily—no need to make it interesting and impressive. This assumption is of course wrong. Readers will have more judgment on our articles when our closing paragraphs are very impressive.

The closing paragraph, in addition to containing the hopes and prayers of the author, usually also contains a conclusion. Beginner writers often draw unattractive conclusions. Many people who seek information from articles want it to be fast. For this reason, people tend to listen to the opening and ending paragraphs of an article—especially for long articles—first and then decide whether they will continue reading or not.

The conclusion that is placed at the end of the article becomes a summary or elaboration of the main idea of the article. From the conclusion, people find the main content of our article and know briefly what interesting things are discussed in the article. Furthermore, the conclusion is a “wrapping up” edition of an article. Conclusions will be carried everywhere by the reader and become a guide if at any time he needs to remember the main information of your writing. The conclusion is also a marker for the end of the writing so that the reader knows the limits of the discussion of your writing (focusing on the topic).

Opinion articles that attract readers require a separate strategy from the author. In addition to the "ticking" title, the opening and closing paragraphs should also be packaged as described previously. Hopefully, this article is useful for you who love writing articles.