Opinion pieces can be categorized in several ways. The most obvious is by author: editorials are written by editors or editorial board members. Columns are written by columnists. Letters are written by letter writers, or, one might say, by concerned residents.
Less obvious ways to include categorizing by the quality of English prose. Some pieces are so misspelled and ungrammatical that only heavy editing by a kind copy editor can save the author from the disdain of the literate public. Others are so erudite, or witty, or succinct, or poetic that the editor need not bestir himself to alter so much as an Oxford comma.
Pieces can be categorized by tone: humorous, touching, informative, or abrasive. Or by topic: politics, philosophy, or personal narrative. Or by scope: universal, international; national, statewide, or local.
One of the best ways to categorize opinion pieces is to ask simply if the author has succeeded in supporting his points.
Sometimes a writer will make a sweeping statement without any attempt whatsoever to support the point. If the statement is a simple matter of fact, it can stand alone, e.g. “Al-Zarqawi is dead.”
But if there is any shred of opinion in the statement, then it should be supported. Take for example the statement of Ms. Sharon Stone on June 14: “We can ALL agree that the Republican Party of present … is NOT the same party of Lincoln …” [Caps hers.]
The word “all” is extremely dangerous. Its inclusion practically ensures that the writer will commit the fallacy of hasty generalization. And it is devastatingly easy to disprove. All I have to do is find one person who disagrees: I disagree; her statement is false.
Now, if one reads something on the opinion page with which one disagrees, there is a right way and a wrong way to respond. The right way is to address the issue and refute the argument.
For example, recently the statement “Remember what Republicans have done for this country – nothing!” appeared in a letter to the editor. In my column of June 10, I pointed out several things that Republicans have done for this country, including abolishing slavery.
(One other item was pointed out to me post-publication. When the Southern states seceded, the Republican Party promulgated the Civil War to “restore the Union.” Were it not for the Republican Party, we would not have a United States of America. Perhaps restoring the Union is doing nothing for the country … But I digress.)
The wrong way to respond is to launch an ad hominem attack. For example, one could characterize one’s ideological opponents as “a group of belligerent, intolerant, angry people who are against ANYONE who looks, speaks, believes, or acts outside the realm of their OWN comfort levels. Then they use the Bible to rationalize their behavior!” as Ms. Sharon Stone does in the same letter.
Ms. Stone indulges in even more name-calling, and the interested reader is invited to view her letter, as well as my column, on www.gilroydispatch.com, and decide for himself who is attacking whom.
Ms. Stone: “Whose house is of glass, must not throw stones at another.” George Herbert, 1640. (Not the Bible.)
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Co-columnist Ben Anderson puts the cart before the horse when he attempts to blame Gavilan for Gilroy High School’s lackluster math performance. Mr. Anderson, if hundreds and thousands of incoming students were placing into Math 1A, Calculus, Gavilan would offer more sections of calculus and fewer sections of Math 400, Elements of Arithmetic.
It is indeed a “stretch” to assume that Gavilan is to blame because Gilroy High School does not adequately teach its students arithmetic, algebra, and trig. If there is anyone at GHS who is saying that it doesn’t matter if a student becomes proficient in high school math because he can just take it later in college, than that person is guilty of malfeasance.
The problem with high school math begins in middle school, and the problem with middle school math begins in fourth grade. Part of the problem is that we pass students into the next class when they are not proficient. At least at the doors of Gavilan, the assessment test brings that process to a screeching halt.
Cynthia Anne Walker is a homeschooling mother of three and former engineer. She is a published independent author. Her column is published in The Dispatch every week.
