Class

Writing to Persuade

Whether it be a blog post, an essay, a letter to the editor, an op-ed, even a Facebook post, we all want to explain our points of view. Opinion pieces offer opportunities for freelance writers to influence the public conversation. This class is for writers of all levels and backgrounds who want to improve their persuasive writing.

Through lectures, discussions, and personal feedback from a veteran newspaper editor and columnist, it will give students confidence drawing on their expertise—including personal experience. Students will learn how to pitch editors and submit a short opinion piece that will stand out and discuss some of the obstacles that can hold writers back or silence their perspectives.

Students will learn techniques to hold readers' attention and make them think. They'll learn to recognize and avoid common fallacies and clichés. And they'll have a chance to discuss the questions that every opinion writer asks: How do I deal with negative reactions? What can my writing achieve? Can my voice make a difference?

About Loft Flex Classes

Flex Classes are completely online and asynchronous, meaning you can complete the course work on your own schedule. They do run week-to-week so a cohort of students can work together, but you can log in any time during the week. There are no live meetings to schedule around, so these classes are ideal for people with unpredictable schedules. Because you can sign on any time during the week to complete your tasks, and because there is no live video conferencing, they are also a good option for people with unreliable Internet access.

Find out more here about Loft flex classes here: https://bit.ly/2EZdlH2

This class will use the wet.ink platform. Find out more here: https://wet.ink/demos