abbreviated for oposite editorial, and op-ed, in simplest terms, is an article which expresses the particular opinion of the author. Usually a writer will chose a subject such as politics, world issues, or even Hollywood and express their opinion on the matter in article form.
When writing an op-ed, it is important to have a solid opinion on your topic. It is also very important that you have done extensive research and know your material very well prior to writing. Knowledge on the topic is obviously the most important aspect when writing an op-ed so you avoid making false statements.
Op-eds are always very infomative and deliver a strong point of view. Sometimes op-eds are used in order to act as a persuasive piece on a certain subject. Because these articles are so opinionated they usually do come across as rather persuasive. I have posted a link to an op-ed in one of my previous posts. Through this article you will be able to sense the author’s strong opinion on his subject.
When doing any kind of writing, it is important that you have a target audience. This audience will usually be either an academic audience or a popular audience. Academic audiences are more concerned with the analytical side to what they read. They like to absorb the information presented and try to learn as much as possible. on the other side of the spectrum is the popular audience. These readers are more interested in reading about things which grab their attention. Rather than looking for statistics and facts, they look for topics which seem new and interesting. Because my research paper is on a topic I am very passionate about, I am targeting the academic audience. I want people to be aware or what is going on around them. Rather than being ignorant and just assuming that Uganda will ‘figure things out on their own’ it is important that people abandon their lazy ways and put forth the effort to make a difference. Because of this, I believe that an academic audience will be most beneficial when presenting my paper.
When I first found out that we had to write a research paper for class, I could not have been happier. Although it may seem strange, I absolutely love writing research papers. I love going out and researching new topics. I am always trying to learn as much as I can, so what better way to do this than by writing a research paper? What made me love this assignment even more, was the fact that I was able to write about a topic I am extremely passionate about. I love being able to educate others about different issues our world is facing everyday. I like knowing that I have brought awareness to others or even one person. Because of this, I really enjoyed writing my paper and the assignment as a whole.
For decades now, western territories of Uganda have been dragged into a seemingly aimless state of war and terror. This war was initiated by a violent rebel group who call themselves the Lord’s Resistance Army as well as the Ugandan government itself. This war has affected tribes, cultures, and traditions from these war stricken areas. But, more importantly, this war has taken an enormous toll on the children of Uganda. These children have been scared both mentally as well as physically as a result of the LRA’s violent rampages throughout their homes. In order to stop this country from falling to the hands of sadistic leaders, awareness needs to be heightened among Americans. Although some action has been taken in order to help these people, more help is still needed to ensure freedom and stability in Uganda.
Each year the situation in Uganda worsens. Each year more and more children are abducted from their homes and forced to fight along side their own enemies, the LRA. These children are condemned to a hellish life of torture, starvation, and brain washing. The LRA threatens the children’s lives on a daily basis if they do not carry out their demands. Children as young as eight years old are commanded to kill their peers. Older children, usually in their teens, are forced to kill family members or commit sexual acts with rebel officers. These children live a life so horrific, it is impossible to imagine. Statistics don’t do justice when referring to what they have been through. Words alone cannot do them justice. These children are not children anymore. They are soldiers. They have become numb to all feelings and thoughts of freedom. They can no longer fathom the idea of home or family. Their main concern in life now is staying alive, and avoiding the LRA at all costs. This situation in Uganda should not be considered a crisis when hundreds of thousand of people are dying every year. It should be considered a crisis when one innocent person is being hacked into pieces for no reason. It should be considered a crisis merely for the fact that this army is performing macabre acts of violence every day. It is time for change to greet these terrorized people. It is time to numb the pain and end this war.The United States has, for centuries now, been referred to as a world power because of its seemingly endless supplies and governmental stability. As a result of this, other countries have looked to us in times of need. These countries rely on the United States to send them aid in any form so long as it helps fix their problems. The United States has been helping different countries for years now by sending food, money, medicine, and general aid when needed. With all the aid and support being sent out, there is no reason the United States should not be highly involved in Uganda. With all the information and statistics that have been reported on Uganda’s circumstances, the United States should have been sending help overseas years ago. Because of the United State’s reluctance to join forces with Uganda in order to save its people, hundreds of thousands of innocent people have been killed. There is no excuse for this lack of involvement on behalf of the American people. Although, ideally, it would be amazing for the United States as a nation to get involved, it does not seem like this will happen. But, this involvement does not need to be on a national level. It can start with concerned individuals willing to lend a helping hand to a hurting nation. Nothing is impossible to accomplish when people pull together and fight. People need to get involved with different organizations available world wide, namely the Invisible Children organization. Here people can help send financial support over to Uganda by purchasing merchandise off of the Invisible Children website. So far, this organization has been able to raise awareness as well as funds to help save Uganda. If any progress is to be made here, it is up to the people of America to make a difference.
