Op-ed Guidelines

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• Op-eds are 750-900 words long unless otherwise specified after communicating with our editors (Interviews and feature articles may turn out longer than 1000 words).
• We accept submissions in English, Arabic, and French.
• An op-ed is not a news article. You should not narrate events or tell us what happened. Instead, tell us what you think about certain events (while providing the brief but necessary context) and analyze them so your argument can shine through.
• Be opinionated. Every op-ed must have a clear thesis (the central argument) that can be communicated in simple terms. 
• Write clearly and concisely. Avoid overly complicated style and language to keep sentences simple. Your reasoning should flow smoothly. Even if your argument seems logical to you (it should, you are the writer), it might not be clear to the reader. Take great care in articulating your thoughts. 
• You should be able to summarize the whole point of your article in a few sentences. If you cannot do that, then your article is likely too complicated or unclear, which would not make for a good read.
• Do not include words or phrases you wouldn't use in a conversation. Your op-ed should sound like you! This is where your 'voice' shines through as a writer, leaning into it will make your submission more unique, personal, and recognizable the more you publish.
• Do not use jargon. Overusing complex terms when there is no simpler substitute will bother the reader and will probably make them want to stop reading. Artificial intelligence can help identify jargon where you are unsure, simply submit a paragraph to an AI program and ask it if you are using jargon or being unneccesarily wordy, they are usually quite honest.
• All op-eds must include in-text source hyperlinks where appropriate. Provide well-sourced evidence to make your arguments. If your writing lacks sources then it will likely lack the evidence needed to support your claims.
• Ensure your writing and the sources you use are accurate and trustworthy.
• Structure your arguments into short paragraphs to keep readers engaged.
• Hate speech, incitement, calls for violence, resorting to insults, and purposely polemic language will not be tolerated.
• We accept anonymous submissions.

Structuring the Op-ed (Drawn from the Washington Post's guide)

1. Headline: Lure the reader in with a catchy, and unique headline.
2. Introduction/The 'Lede': Open with a strong 'lede' (also known as lead). This is your set of opening sentences that draws in an audience and convinces them to keep reading. If your lead is weak, readers will likely not continue reading. Your lead can (but does not have to be) your thesis. In other words, get to the point, you only have 750-900 words. You need to start with your argument quickly.
3. Reasoning/Body: Present your argument and evidence. Avoid second-guessing yourself as you anticipate counterarguments. Provide your whole argument before you begin discussing counterarguments to defend your point. As a rule of thumb, you should provide at least three reasons that support your argument, then you can address potential counterarguments if suitable.
4. Conclusion/The Kicker: The last paragraph should bring your article to an elegant close. The last sentence, known as the 'kicker,' should leave readers thinking that they have gotten the gist of your article and that it was worth reading in its entirety. Do not introduce new ideas in the kicker, it will often nudge the reader to think why you didn't write about the new ideas in the first place. If a new idea seems worth mentioning to you at the end, then it was probably worth including in the middle, or in an entirely different article. If you are having issues writing a kicker, rereading from the beginning may help. If it does not 'feel' right, it may be beneficial to leave the draft then come back to it after a while. The kicker is the place to be witty, leaving the reader with a short and sweet conclusion.