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Preparing for the Opinion

Essay 1. Focus on Language Skills and Challenges.

Facts and Opinions Analysing the essay title

Understanding the Question

Facts and Opinions

A fact is a statement that can be proven to be true or false. An opinion is an expression of a person’s feelings that cannot be proven. Opinions can be based on facts or emotions

Do you know the difference between a fact and an opinion?

https://siobhansweet.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/fact-opinion-interactive-quiz-edited-copy.ppt

Steps in Planning your Essay

Key Vocabulary

TASK 1:

Put a box around the topic Underline the key words in these essay prompts. Write words with the same or related meanings.

Example:

1. People who throw rubbish on the streets should be fined.

1. Decide what the topic is in the prompt.

2. Underline the key vocabulary in the question and write words with the same or related meaning.

3. Decide whether you agree or disagree with the topic.

4. Brainstorm: Think of key reasons for your opinion.

5. Decide on the supporting ideas for the reasons you have chosen.

roads

have to pay a penalty / pay

moneyيُناِسب

garbageقُمامة

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2. English is a difficult language to study. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

3. People who drive cars without a driving license should go to jail. Do you agree or disagree with this idea?

4. There is too much violence on TV and this influences children in a negative way. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

5. Vending machines on campus should only sell healthy snacks. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

6. Smoking in public places should be made illegal. Do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

TASK 2:

(a) Put a box around the topic Underline the key words in these essay prompts. Write words with the same or related meanings.

Nowadays, it is common for many young people to study abroad at universities in

other countries. Do you think it is a good idea to do this? Use specific reasons

and examples to support your answer.

(b) In the example above, use a highlighter pen to show the ‘task words’ in the essay. The task words tell you what you have to do. Check that you understand the task words.

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Understanding the Question

Points to considerA prompt is a question or topic for writing.

Read the prompt carefully. It is important that you understand what opinion is stated in the prompt. Decide whether you agree or disagree with the opinion given in the prompt.

Be particularly careful when you see the word ‘should’ – this sometimes confuses people.

Example: Students should be given homework.

But look what happens when we use a negative (‘should not’ )

Example: Students should not be given homework.

I agree. [This means I think homework is a GOOD thing]

I disagree. [This means I think homework is a

BAD thing]

I agree. [This means I think homework is a

BAD thing]I disagree.

[This means I think homework is a GOOD thing]

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Be careful when you see words like ‘only’ in the opinion prompt.

Example: University students in the UAE should study in their home Emirate only. Do you agree or disagree (   ضد أو مع )?

Other confusing expressions: ‘enough’, ‘not enough’, ‘too much.’

Some students are confused when they read the words ‘enough’, ‘too much’ or ‘not enough’ in essay prompts. Examine the pictures and table below.

‘Enough’, ‘not enough’ and’ too much’.

I agree. [This means I think that students from the emirate of

Fujeirah must study in Fujeirah – NOT in any other emirate (e.g.

Dubai, Abu Dhabi) These students must not be allowed to

study in universities in Dubai, Abu

Dhabi etc.]

I disagree. [This means I think that students from

the emirate of Fujeirah, for example, should study at a university in ANY emirate

they want (e.g. Dubai, Abu Dhabi)]

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**In the example below ‘too short’ and ‘not long enough’ mean the same thing. **

(NOT) ENOUGH + NOUN ADJECTIVE + (NOT) ENOUGH + TOO + ADJECTIVE

ENOUGH is used in front of a NOUN to express that a quantity is as much as you need in order to achieve a particular purpose.

ENOUGH is used after ADJECTIVES to express that a quantity is as much as you need to achieve a particular purpose

We use TOO before ADJECTIVES to expressthat the amount or degree of something is more than desirable, necessary, acceptable or sensible:

EXAMPLES:I don't have enough time to finish the test.She doesn’t have enough money to arrive buy the dress.I have enough money to buy the handbag!

EXAMPLES:He isn't tall enough to be a police officer.He's intelligent enough to pass the test

EXAMPLES:That skirt is too long for you!I have too much homework.There were too many people outsideThe police should fine people who drive too fast.

TASK 3: Work in small groups. Discuss the following statements. Say whether you agree or disagree and explain your opinion.

Students at university get too much homework and not enough sleep. Is having too much money a bad thing? Children today have too much freedom. It is not enough to fine dangerous drivers – the police should take their cars away

from them.

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Do you REALLY understand the prompt?

TASK 4: Read the following opinions carefully and check ( ✔) the best response. The first one has been done for you.

(e.g.) Time is more important than money

___________ I disagree. I think that time is very important.

_____✔____ I agree. I don’t think money matters as much as time.

(a) Teachers should not take attendance in university classes.

__________ I agree. I think it is important because students will not come

to class if the teacher does not take a register.

___________ I agree. I think it is important because students will not come

to class if the teacher does not take a register.

(b) Women should be allowed to do the same jobs as men.

__________ I disagree. I don’t think women are physically strong enough

to do the same jobs as men.

__________ I agree. I think women are not as physically strong as men.

(c) The government should stop school cafeterias from selling junk food.

__________ I agree. The government has a responsibility to help keep

students healthy.

__________ I agree. Parents, not the government, are responsible for

keeping students healthy.

(d) It is better to be happy than rich.

__________ I agree. Money is important.

__________ I agree. Money can’t buy happiness.

(e) Students should have to share rooms in hostel.

___________ I agree. I believe each student should have his/her own

room.

___________ I disagree. I believe each student should have his/her own

room.

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(f) Students should not have to do physical education classes at university.

___________ I agree. I think it would be wrong to make students do

exercise classes.

___________ I disagree. I believe students need to do these as part of

their curriculum.

(g) Vending machines on campus should only sell healthy snacks.

___________ I agree. Students should be able to choose what they want

to eat.

___________ I disagree. Students should be able to choose what they

want to eat.

Giving the best possible reason for your opinions..

We often have many reasons for having an opinion. Your job is to give the best possible

reason for your opinion.

Task 5: Check ( ✔) the reason you think best supports the opinion.

(e.g.) Asma is a good student because...

________ everybody likes her.

________ she comes to class on time.

___✔____ she learns from her mistakes.

(a) The police should fine people who break the speed limit because….

_________ too many people drive too fast.

_________ people don’t like to waste their money.

_________ there are speed cameras on all the main roads.

(b) People who speed should have their cars taken away from them by the police

because...

________ it is not enough to just give them fines.

________ if they get fines, they will just pay the money but continue to drive

too fast.

________ there is too much traffic on the road.

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(c) The government should stop school cafeterias from selling junk food because…

________ it is bad for students’ health.

________ it is expensive.

________ they should promote healthy eating habits.

Choosing the right prompt.

Remember: A prompt is a question or topic for writing.

For your writing projects, and in your final exam, you are given two prompts. You need

to choose one of these prompts and write a good essay. But how do you choose the

right prompt for you?

Don’t choose one because it looks easier or because you like the title better.

Do choose the one you for which you know you can write at least two good

reasons – reasons you can explain and for which you can give relevant

examples.

Task 6: Read through the relevant part of the rubric below – Task Fulfillment – highlight

key words in the rubric.

5Exceptional Pass

4High Pass

3Pass

2Fail

1 – 0.5Low Fail

Task

Ful

fillm

ent

& C

onte

nt

Prompt is completely thoroughly addressed with depth in thought and style. Essay content is above and beyond the minimum expectations for a level 2 student.-Clear position taken with thesis statement.-Main ideas are extremely well supported with a wide variety of relevant, original and interesting ideas.-Content in all paragraphs is clear and precise.-Very fluent style.

Prompt is addressed. Essay content is mostly clear and main relevant points have been well explained throughout.- Clear position taken with thesis statement).-Content in all paragraphs is clear.-Content is supported by relevant ideas – there may be minimal inaccuracy in explaining or developing main points.

Prompt is addressed. Task is satisfied but some parts are not completely developed or explained.-Student understands prompt and position is taken although thesis statement is somewhat not clearly stated.-Content in all paragraphs is reasonably clear but the explanation of ideas may be weak at times due to some irrelevancies, inaccuracies and perhaps repetition.

Student does not fully understand the prompt. Task is partially satisfied-No clear position taken-Four paragraphs may exist, but in most paragraphs main points are missing.-Essay lacks clarity and has very little support of ideas.-Lack of details/examples.-Lots of repetition.

Does not satisfy task/Prompt is minimally or not addressed at all./Student may be completely off topic.-Throughout entire essay, there is irrelevant and inaccurate information.-Main important points are missing or unclear.

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It is clear that you have to have good ideas (reasons) – and, later, to be able to develop these ideas with explanations and examples. We will look at how to develop ideas a bit later.

Task 7: Below are three different prompts. For each prompt, give two reasons why you

either agree or disagree with it.

a) Prompt: Women should be allowed to do the same jobs as men. Do you agree or disagree?

1. __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

b) Prompt: The government should stop school cafeterias from selling junk food. Do you agree or disagree?

1. __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

c) Prompt: Teachers should not take attendance in university classes.

1. __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

2. ___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

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Explaining your opinion

In the body paragraphs of your essay you are asked to give your opinions and explain

them – to give reasons for your opinions. (Sometimes you give an opinion and a reason

in the very first sentence – your topic sentence.)

Task 8: Match the opinions with the reasons given below.

__c_ 1. It is better to drink coffee in the morning than at night because…

____ 2. They should be allowed to study in any emirate…

____ 3. Many students need peace and quiet to study ….

____ 4. The UAE is a developing country and businesses need to employ people

with different skills,….

____ 5. It is important to exercise regularly…

____ 6. Children will sit in front of the TV for hours and not do their homework…

____ 7. Irresponsible students will not go to classes…

a) if their parents do not set strict time limits to their viewing time.

b) when teachers don’t take attendance registers.

c) if you drink it at night, it might keep you awake.

d) so if they have to share a room they might not be able to concentrate.

e) because the courses they want to do might not be available at one of their

local universities.

f) it is not important if they are male or female.

g) if you want to have a healthy mind and body.

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