Writing an Opinion Essay | Part 1

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image from https://themindsjournal.com/most-popular-unpopular-opinions/

Does adding a period at the end of a text message make it appear aggressive?

definitely

nope

maybe?

Do tomatoes ruin sandwiches?

Yes. 100% gross.

No! They make them more delicious.

Learn about writing an opinion piece through video.

Watch this video about writing a simple opinion piece, then answer some questions.

Something that's true for you but not for everyone is called an... .

True or false?
You don't need to use any facts in an opinion piece.

1. true
2. false

What is this introduction missing?

I love a warm cookie and a cold glass of milk. Chocolate chip cookies melt when they're warm and are easy to make.

1. a strong statement of opinion
2. a hook to draw the reader in
3. supporting examples
4. a fact about cookies

Which of these does not introduce an opinion?

1. "I think..."
2. "To me..."
3. "In my opinion..."
4. "According to the dictionary..."

The topic of your opinion piece is the

1. opinion you are arguing.
2. supporting reasons.
3. introduction.
4. conclusion.

Which one of the following adjectives could you use to show an opinion?

1. cold
2. worst
3. purple
4. healthy

Lucinda is writing an opinion piece about why horses are the best animals. Which of the following could she use to support her opinion?

1. Horses can run almost as soon as they're born.
2. Horses can help people recover from accidents.
3. Lucinda rides a horse named Raisins at the stable.
4. all of the above

_________ are always true.

1. Facts
2. Support
3. Opinions
4. Personal reasons

What can the author do to improve the following conclusion?

~ In conclusion, I think that recycling is the most important thing to do for our planet. ~

1. Add linking words like 'first,' 'then,' and 'finally.'
2. Write a hook to draw in the reader's attention.
3. Restate some of the supporting reasons.
4. State a new opinion.

Which of the following is a list of all the things you should do when writing an opinion piece?

1. State your opinion and then restate it in the conclusion.
2. State your opinion then support it with facts and reasons.
3. Support your opinion with facts and reasons, then restate your opinion.
4. State your opinion clearly, support your opinion with facts and reasons, restate your opinion and reasons to conclude.

What's your opinion?

The first step in writing an opinion essay is 

to have an opinion! 

Choose a topic from the list on the next slide 

(or think of your own!) 

1. The best animal is... 
2. My favourite snack food is... 
3. My favourite subject at school is... 
   
4. The best social media platform is...

On the next slide, write a clear statement of your opinion.

Choose one or make up your own! (2 minutes)

1a. Ostriches are the best/worst animal.
2a. Baby carrots are the best/worst snack food.
3a. School is/is not a waste of time.

4a. Social media has a positive/negative influence on society.

The choices on the right have the same subject as those on the left and are slightly more specific.

(Write your clear opinion statement here.)

Example: In my opinion, we should have silent
work time during the school day.

Nice work.

For further explanation, keep clicking!

If you are ready to move on, go to 

Writing an Opinion Essay | Part 2.

Extra explanation

1. opinion vs fact
2. introduction
3. support
4. conclusion

An opinion piece is a piece of writing that tells people what you think, and why. Your opinion is something that is true for you, but may not be true for other people. Opinions are different from facts, which are always true for everyone. Opinion pieces are only about things that can be argued for or against. For example, you wouldn’t write an opinion piece that says that George Washington was the first president. That is a fact, a true statement about the world. But you could write an opinion piece that says that George Washington was the best president. This is an opinion. It is not a true statement about the world.

1. Opinion vs. Fact

Which of these is a fact?

1. Baby tigers are the cutest animals.
2. Apples are more delicious than oranges.
3. The oldest person ever recorded lived to be 122.
4. Fall is the best season because the changing leaves are so beautiful.

The introduction of an opinion piece is the first part that people will read. The introduction should clearly state your opinion. This is the topic of your piece. It should also give the reader an idea of how you will support it. You can use an interesting fact or story to get your reader’s attention. Then state your opinion and list your reasons for it.

You can show the reader that the statement is an opinion by using phrases like “I think,” “for me” or “my favorite.” Adjectives can also show that a statement is an opinion. Words like “best,” “worst,” “most beautiful” and “tastiest” all suggest that a statement is an opinion because what is the best for one person may not be the best for another person. Be careful about adjectives though. They don’t all show opinions. “Oldest,” “longest” and “fastest” are all things that can be measured and might point out facts!

The introduction of an opinion piece is the first part that people will read. The introduction should clearly state your opinion. This is the topic of your piece. It should also give the reader an idea of how you will support it. You can use an interesting fact or story to get your reader’s attention. Then state your opinion and list your reasons for it.

You can show the reader that the statement is an opinion by using phrases like “I think,” “for me” or “my favourite.” Adjectives can also show that a statement is an opinion. Words like “best,” “worst,” “most beautiful” and “tastiest” all suggest that a statement is an opinion because what is the best for one person may not be the best for another person. Be careful about adjectives though. They don’t all show opinions. “Oldest,” “longest” and “fastest” are all things that can be measured and might point out facts!

1. Introduction 

The introduction of an opinion piece is the first part that people will read. The introduction should clearly state your opinion. This is the topic of your piece. It should also give the reader an idea of how you will support it. You can use an interesting fact or story to get your reader’s attention. Then state your opinion and list your reasons for it.

You can show the reader that the statement is an opinion by using phrases like “I think,” “for me” or “my favorite.” Adjectives can also show that a statement is an opinion. Words like “best,” “worst,” “most beautiful” and “tastiest” all suggest that a statement is an opinion because what is the best for one person may not be the best for another person. Be careful about adjectives though. They don’t all show opinions. “Oldest,” “longest” and “fastest” are all things that can be measured and might point out facts!

Read the following introduction to an opinion piece, then answer the question on the next slide.

~ 

It is a hot summer day. The air is sticky and the sun beats down on the sidewalk. You walk down the street to get a treat: an ice cream cone. I think ice cream is the best summer treat. It is the best because it is cool and sweet and because it comes in many different flavours.

Which sentence from the passage clearly states the author’s opinion?

1. “It is a hot summer day.”
2. “The air is sticky and the sun beats down on the sidewalk.”
3. “I think ice cream is the best summer treat.”
4. “You walk down the street to get a treat: an ice cream cone.”

The introduction of an opinion piece is the first part that people will read. The introduction should clearly state your opinion. This is the topic of your piece. It should also give the reader an idea of how you will support it. You can use an interesting fact or story to get your reader’s attention. Then state your opinion and list your reasons for it.

You can show the reader that the statement is an opinion by using phrases like “I think,” “for me” or “my favorite.” Adjectives can also show that a statement is an opinion. Words like “best,” “worst,” “most beautiful” and “tastiest” all suggest that a statement is an opinion because what is the best for one person may not be the best for another person. Be careful about adjectives though. They don’t all show opinions. “Oldest,” “longest” and “fastest” are all things that can be measured and might point out facts!

You need to support the opinion in your piece. You can use reasons, facts and examples to do that. This will help convince your readers of your opinion. It’s not enough to say that you think Amelia Earhart was the most inspiring woman of the 1900s; you also need to support that opinion. Try using a fact: “Amelia Earhart was the first female pilot to fly alone across the Atlantic Ocean.” You can also support your opinion by explaining your personal reasons: “I want to be a pilot, so I admire and respect Amelia Earhart.”

An opinion piece needs at least two reasons or examples to support it. You can link these ideas by using words like “first,” “next,” and “last” to guide the reader through your piece.

3. Support

The introduction of an opinion piece is the first part that people will read. The introduction should clearly state your opinion. This is the topic of your piece. It should also give the reader an idea of how you will support it. You can use an interesting fact or story to get your reader’s attention. Then state your opinion and list your reasons for it.

You can show the reader that the statement is an opinion by using phrases like “I think,” “for me” or “my favorite.” Adjectives can also show that a statement is an opinion. Words like “best,” “worst,” “most beautiful” and “tastiest” all suggest that a statement is an opinion because what is the best for one person may not be the best for another person. Be careful about adjectives though. They don’t all show opinions. “Oldest,” “longest” and “fastest” are all things that can be measured and might point out facts!

Read the following passage, then answer the question on the next slide.

~

 

The bell rings. It is 2:45. My heart beats fast, and my feet skip down the hall. It is time for show choir! To me, show choir is the greatest afterschool activity. There are three reasons I think this. First, singing and dancing are the best pastimes, so everything we do in show choir is extremely fun. Next, in show choir we learn to sing in harmony and dance complicated routines, so it teaches us skills. Lastly, at our final show every year everybody is extremely impressed, and making my parents proud is something I always try to do.

Which of these is a fact the author uses to support their opinion?

1. “Singing and dancing are the best pastimes.”
2. “Show choir is the greatest afterschool activity.”
3. “Making my parents proud is something I always try to do.”
4. “In show choir we learn to sing in harmony and dance complicated routines.”

The introduction of an opinion piece is the first part that people will read. The introduction should clearly state your opinion. This is the topic of your piece. It should also give the reader an idea of how you will support it. You can use an interesting fact or story to get your reader’s attention. Then state your opinion and list your reasons for it.

You can show the reader that the statement is an opinion by using phrases like “I think,” “for me” or “my favorite.” Adjectives can also show that a statement is an opinion. Words like “best,” “worst,” “most beautiful” and “tastiest” all suggest that a statement is an opinion because what is the best for one person may not be the best for another person. Be careful about adjectives though. They don’t all show opinions. “Oldest,” “longest” and “fastest” are all things that can be measured and might point out facts!

When you’re ready to end your opinion piece, make sure to restate your opinion and reasons. You can say something like “In conclusion, I believe that because of her fearlessness, Amelia Earhart is the most inspiring woman of the 20th century.”

You can find opinion writing all around you. It is on blogs and in newspapers and magazines. You can improve your opinion writing by reading some of these pieces and seeing how these writers support their opinions.

4. Conclusion

What should you do at the end of an opinion piece?

1. State a new opinion and new reasons.
2. Restate your opinion and your reasons.
3. Restate all your reasons but not your opinion.
4. Don’t restate any of your reasons or your opinion.