Opinion essays

OPINION ESSAYSWRITING SCHOOL

An opinion essay should consist of:

Introduction

Main body

Conclusion

Introduction……………………………………………………

Paragraph 1

Introduce the subject and state your opinion clearly

Main Body……………………………………………………

Paragraph 2First viewpoint and reasons/examples Paragraph 3Second viewpoint and reasons/ examples Paragraph 4Opposing viewpoint and

reasons/examples*The number of paragraphs in the main body depends on the number of viewpoints included.

Conclusion……………………………………………………

Final paragraph

Restate your opinion, using different words

English and Maths are more important subjects than Art and

Music

Read the paragraphs and label them with the headings below:

Introduction: subject and opinion

Main body: first viewpoint and examples

Main body: second viewpoint and examples

Main body: opposing viewpoint(s)

Conclusion: restate opinion

1 Introduction: subject and opinion

2 Main body: first viewpoint and examples

VIEWPOINT

EXAMPLES

3 Main body: second viewpoint and examples

VIEWPOINT

EXAMPLES

4 Main body: opposing viewpoint(s)

5 Conclusion: restate opinion

LINKING WORDS/PHRASES

To LIST points

To ADD more points

To introduce

OPPOSING viewpoints

To introduce

EXAMPLES/REASONS

To CONCLUDE


To LIST points

To ADD more points

To introduce

OPPOSING viewpoints

To introduce

EXAMPLES/REASONS

To CONCLUDE

Firstly

To begin with

For one thing

Lastly

Secondly


To LIST points

To ADD more points

To introduce

OPPOSING viewpoints

To introduce

EXAMPLES/REASONS

To CONCLUDE

Firstly

To begin with

For one thing

Lastly

Secondly

Also

Moreover

Apart from this

In addition

Furthermore


To LIST points

To ADD more points

To introduce

OPPOSING viewpoints

To introduce

EXAMPLES/REASONS

To CONCLUDE

Firstly

To begin with

For one thing

Lastly

Secondly

Also

Moreover

Apart from this

In addition

Furthermore

Although

On the other hand

However

Nonetheless

While


To LIST points

To ADD more points

To introduce

OPPOSING viewpoints

To introduce

EXAMPLES/REASONS

To CONCLUDE

Firstly

To begin with

For one thing

Lastly

Secondly

Also

Moreover

Apart from this

In addition

Furthermore

Although

On the other hand

However

Nonetheless

While

For example

Such as

Therefore

In other words

In particular

For instance

Because

Since


To LIST points

To ADD more points

To introduce

OPPOSING viewpoints

To introduce

EXAMPLES/REASONS

To CONCLUDE

Firstly

To begin with

For one thing

Lastly

Secondly

Also

Moreover

Apart from this

In addition

Furthermore

Although

On the other hand

However

Nonetheless

While

For example

Such as

Therefore

In other words

In particular

For instance

Because

Since

To sum up

All things considered

Taking everything into account

Underline the correct phrase

It is argued/One reason that testing new drugs on animals is necessary before giving them to humans.


It is argued that testing new drugs on animals is necessary before giving them to humans.


In my view, we can all do something to protect the environment. For example/In addition, we can recycle newspapers and magazines.


In my view, we can all do something to protect the environment. For example, we can recycle newspapers and magazines.


Taking holidays abroad is usually no more expensive than taking them in your own country. What is more/However, it gives you the opportunity to experience other cultures.


Taking holidays abroad is usually no more expensive than taking them in your own country. What is more, it gives you the opportunity to experience other cultures.


Secondly/Especially, regular exercise helps you to stay in good health.


Secondly, regular exercise helps you to stay in good health.


On the other hand, it can be argued that what individuals do to protect the environment makes very little difference, in particular/since it is factories and power stations which create the most pollution.


On the other hand, it can be argued that what individuals do to protect the environment makes very little difference, since it is factories and power stations which create the most pollution.

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR GIVING OPINIONS

…………………………………………………....

I believe/think/feel (that)….I strongly believe…

In my opinion/view,…

The way I see it,…

It seems/appears to me (that)…

To my mind,…

I (do not) agree that/with…

USEFUL EXPRESSIONS FOR GIVING OPINIONS

………………………………………………….... My opinion is that…

As far as I am concerned,…

I (completely) agree that/with…I (strongly) disagree that/with…

I am totally against…

I couldn’t agree more that/with…I couldn’t disagree more that/with…

Each main body paragraph should start with a topic sentence which clearly states the main idea of the paragraph. This should be followed by appropriate supporting sentences which justify the idea and/or give examples.

We/help/elderly their lives be easier

I strongly believe that we should help the elderly. If we were to do this, then their

lives would be easier.

Topic sentence

Supportingsentence

All students/learn/foreign languages

have better career opportunities

To my mind, all students should learn a foreign language. If we were to do this,

then they would have better career opportunities

Topic sentence

Supportingsentence

People/give up smoking have fewer health problems

It seems to me that people should give up smoking. If they were to do this, then

they would have fewer health problems.

Topic sentence

Supportingsentence

Teenagers/get/part-time job

learn to be more responsible

I couldn’t agree more that teenagers should get a part-time job. If they were to

do this, they would learn to be more responsible.

Topic sentence Supporting

sentence

We/all do/ voluntary work

our community be a better place to live

My opinion is that we should all do voluntary work. If we were to do this, our

community would be a better place to live.

Topic sentence

Supportingsentence

Finally,...

You normally use present tenses in this type of writing.

Opinion essays are normally written in a formal style, therefore you should avoid using colloquial expressions, short forms or personal examples.

Opinion essays

Education

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