H4 Writing an article of Opinion

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Period 3 Article of Opinion

Step 1: Your outline

Writing an outline

Parts of the outline of an article of opinion:

• Hook
• Statement: We give you two different statements per topic and you choose 1
• 2 or 3 arguments that support your statement
• Examples for every argument
• Concluding statement

The statements

You always start with the statement (your opinion).

Choose one of these statements and write it on your opinion organizer:

1. The use of social media should be restricted for children younger than 16.
2. Everyone, regardless of age, should be free to use social media as much as they like.

Your arguments

For your opinion article, you have to come up with 2 or 3 arguments that SUPPORT your opinion.

You could also say: your arguments are the reasons why you believe the statement to be true.

Example

If you have to write about whether it is good for teenagers to play video games, you could choose the following statement:

Teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

Example

Now you have to develop your arguments. Why do you believe playing video games is good for teenagers?

Argument 1: Firstly, video games can play a significant role in enhancing cognitive skills. 

Argument 2: Moreover, video games can be a platform for social interaction and teamwork.

Your arguments

On your opinion organizer, state at least two arguments that support the statement that you have chosen.

Remember, arguments are REASONS why your statement is true.

Use a linking word (Choose from: Firstly, / Secondly, / Moreover, / In addition, / Finally, ) at the start of your argument.

Supporting Details

Now you have found your arguments, you will have to back them up. This is where you need the information from the lessons about media literacy.

The first sentence (the topic sentence) in a body paragraph is the argument. The rest of the paragraph consists of the explanation, examples and facts.

Example

The first body paragraph:

Argument (topic sentence)

Firstly, video games can play a significant role in enhancing cognitive skills. 

Supporting details

State statistics / research on how playing video games improves attention, working memory and mental flexibility performance.

Your supporting details

On your opinion organizer, state at least two supporting details per argument.

Use key words (you don't need entire sentences yet)!

The hook

How can you grab the reader's attention? You will have to make the first sentence(s) interesting enough.

An intriguing rhetorical question

A surprising fact or statistic

An interesting anecdote

An evocative image or description

A common misconception

Example

If this is your statement:

Teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

Your hook could be:

Playing video games has often been linked to violence and obesity. However, research has shown that playing video games has no effect on either weight or aggression.

Your hook

On your opinion organizer, write down what your hook will be. How do you grab the reader's attention?

Choose from:

An intriguing rhetorical question

A surprising fact or statistic

An interesting anecdote

An evocative image or description

A common misconception

The concluding statement

An ending or concluding statement should give a sense of closure to your readers. Your last statement should be catchy and prove the importance of your ideas/opinions.

Your last sentence could also be a call to action, if you believe something has to change.

Example

If this is your statement:

Teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

This could be your concluding statement:

By embracing and guiding the gaming experience, parents and educators can help middle schoolers navigate this digital landscape, so that teenagers will benefit from the educational and social rewards it offers.

Your concluding statement

On your opinion organizer, write down what your concluding statement will be. Just like the hook, this needs to grab the reader's attention and leave them with something to think about.

Your final outline

What you have now created is the outline for your article of opinion. Creating the outline takes up most time in the writing process. If you have created a good outline, you will have a much easier time writing the rest of your article.

Tip: start the test by creating this outline!

Step 2: From Outline to Article

Using the outline

This is the outline for the article about playing video games:

Hook: Playing video games has often been linked to violence and obesity. However, research has shown that playing video games has no effect on either weight or aggression.

Statement: Teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

Argument 1: Firstly, video games can play a significant role in enhancing cognitive skills. 

Argument 2: Secondly, video games can be a platform for social interaction and teamwork.

Concluding statement: By embracing and guiding the gaming experience, parents and educators can help middle schoolers navigate this digital landscape, so that teenagers will benefit from the educational and social rewards it offers.

From outline to article

What you have to do now is connect the ideas on your outline with complete sentences.

In the introduction, you have to get from the hook to the statement. How do you link those two?

In the body paragraphs, you have to use complete sentences to give examples and facts.

In the conclusion, you have to summarise your arguments and restate your statement. You have to use different sentences than in the rest of the article.

Example: Introduction

The first sentence in your introduction is your hook:

Playing video games has often been linked to violence and obesity. However, research has shown that playing video games has no effect on either weight or aggression.

The last sentence in your introduction is your statement:

Therefore, teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

What can you write to connect these two?

-> Give some background information about the problem.

-> Use linking words to connect your ideas and sentences

Example: Introduction

Playing video games has often been linked to violence and obesity. However, research has shown that playing video games has no effect on either weight or aggression. On the contrary, video games offer valuable benefits that are educational, social, and recreational to players. Therefore, teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

Your introduction

What is your hook?

What is your statement?

1. Therefore, the use of social media should be restricted for children younger than 16.
2. Therefore, everyone, regardless of age, should be free to use social media as much as they like.

What can you write to connect the two?

Body Paragraphs

You start a body paragraph with a linking word (Choose from: Firstly, / Secondly, / Moreover, / In addition, / Finally, ).

The first sentence is the topic sentence: your argument.

The rest of the paragraph consists of the explanation, examples and facts. In addition, you have to link your argument back to the statement.

Example: Body paragraphs

Statement: Teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

Argument 1: Firstly, video games can play a significant role in enhancing cognitive skills. 

Argument 2: Secondly, video games can be a platform for social interaction and teamwork.

Body paragraph

Firstly, video games can play a significant role in enhancing cognitive skills. 

-> Supporting details: Explanation, examples, facts (show what you've learned)

-> Link back to the statement

Example: First body paragraph

Firstly, video games can play a significant role in enhancing cognitive skills. Many video games require players to strategize, plan, and make quick decisions. Games such as puzzle-solving adventures or strategy-based simulations stimulate critical thinking and problem-solving abilities. Games like Minecraft, for instance, encourage creativity and resourcefulness as players build and explore virtual worlds. Studies have shown that regular engagement with these types of games can enhance spatial awareness, memory, and attention to detail, contributing to overall cognitive development. Because of these positive effects, parents and teachers should allow teenagers to play video games.

Your body paragraphs

What is your first argument?

And your second? 

(and third?)

Write your (two or three) body paragraphs in which you develop your arguments.

Pay attention to linking words and linking your argument back to your statement.

Conclusion

In the conclusion, you summarise your arguments with different words than you've used in the body paragraphs. In addition, you restate your statement. Finally, you end with a catchy sentence, or a call to action.

Example: Conclusion

In conclusion, playing video games as a teenager can be a beneficial and enriching experience. The cognitive skills developed through problem-solving and critical thinking, along with the social interactions and teamwork fostered in the gaming environment, contribute positively to a teenager's overall growth. By embracing and guiding the gaming experience, parents and educators can help middle schoolers navigate this digital landscape, so that teenagers will benefit from the educational and social rewards it offers.

Your conclusion

How do you start the concluding paragraph?

Summarize your arguments in different words.

Link them to the statement.

End with a catchy sentence, or a call to action.

Title

The final part of your article that you have to come up with is the title. The title is always last, because it has to reflect the opinion as you have stated it in your article.

A title should follow four rules :

1. It should be catchy. If a title is not interesting, people are not going to read an essay.

2. It should be between one and eight words long.

3. It should not be a complete sentence, so leave out the main verb.

4. It should give readers an idea of what is to come.

Example: Title

If this is the topic, what could be the title?

Playing video games has often been linked to violence and obesity. However, research has shown that playing video games has no effect on either weight or aggression. On the contrary, video games offer valuable benefits that are educational, social, and recreational to players. Therefore, teenagers should be stimulated to play video games.

Your title

What could be a good title for your own practice article?

Remember - A title should follow four rules :

1. It should be catchy. If a title is not interesting, people are not going to read an essay.

2. It should be between one and eight words long.

3. It should not be a complete sentence, so leave out the main verb.

4. It should give readers an idea of what is to come.