Inaugural Fundraiser 2025-26

Were Kicking Off The Year By Supporting Our Students

Your opening line is everything. In CP style, we call it the lead, and it should never be longer than 25 words. Why? Because attention spans are short.

An effective beginning gives readers the “what” and “why” right away. If you bury the point three sentences in, you’ve already lost them. Start bold, start clear.

The Middle: Deliver the Goods

This is where the details live—the who, what, where, when, why, and how.

But here’s the trick: don’t drown people in information. CP style is built on clarity, so use plain language, short sentences, and tight paragraphs. Numbers and dates have their own rules (for example: 10 students, Sept. 26). These small consistencies make your writing look polished, even if readers don’t consciously notice.

The middle is also where editorials build arguments. Maybe you’re giving background, maybe you’re offering evidence—but you’re always guiding the reader, not overwhelming them. Think snackable bites, not a full-course meal.

The End: Leave a Mark

Your closing lines should tie back to where you started. Maybe you offer a call to action, maybe it’s just one clear takeaway. Either way, it’s short and clean.

No rambling, no soft fade-out. Readers should walk away knowing exactly what mattered most.

Why This Works

This structure—short beginning, informative middle, crisp ending—mirrors the way journalists write every single day. It respects the reader’s time, which is why it works for both news stories and opinion pieces.

CP style exists to keep everyone on the same page (literally). From how you write numbers, to when you abbreviate months, to how you present titles, the rules strip away confusion so the focus stays on the content.

At the end of the day, writing an amazing editorial or update is about balance. You want professionalism, but also personality. Authority, but also accessibility.

And if you can do all of that in short, engaging bursts? You’ve nailed it.