Brainstorming session to generate opinion articles

Use the prompts below to encourage discussion of ideas for opinion/comment pieces.

• Students could think about the prompts individually writing down any of their own ideas
• They could then be paired or put into slightly larger groups of three or four.
• Their ideas could then be shared with the class as a whole in a plenary style session.

Optional Prompts for discussion:

• Students could focus on any issues which they have strong opinions: (they need to think about things they rant about frequently!)
• From this list they could choose one issue.
• Outline briefly their opinion on this issue.
• Note aspects of this issue that they feel they would need to research or explore further. (Remind them they will need
  facts to back up their opinions!)
• Separate to their opinions on this issue, who else do they feel is affected by it?
• How do they think they could persuade people to pay more attention to this issue?
• Decide on main points might be and how they might sequence them

Students then could be challenged to create their own opinion piece and enter it in the Young Journalist competition.