Students will see how a simple sentence can be expanded and will come alive. Here is an activity that shows them relationships and relativity. For example, several pieces of wrapped candy and a Skittle, a gumball and a Sweetart. Ask them which don't belong. Discuss what type of paragraph similar things would go into and which would not fit.
Editorials are opinion essays, supported by facts.
For every opinion you state, you should also state a fact supporting your belief. Otherwise, you're just yelling in the wind. Get a current issue of the newspaper. Locate news and opinion stories. Pick a campaign issue.