Opinion essays

1. OPINION ESSAYS
WRITING SCHOOL

2. An opinion essay should consist of:
Introduction
Main body
Conclusion

3. Introduction
……………………………………………………
Paragraph 1
Introduce the subject and state
your opinion clearly

4. Main Body
……………………………………………………
 Paragraph 2
First viewpoint and reasons/examples
 Paragraph 3
Second viewpoint and reasons/ examples
 Paragraph 4
Opposing viewpoint and
reasons/examples
*The number of paragraphs in the main
body depends on the number of viewpoints
included.

5. Conclusion
……………………………………………………
Final paragraph
Restate your opinion, using
different words

6. 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

7. 1 Introduction: subject and opinion

8. 2 Main body: first viewpoint and
examples
 VIEWPOINT
 EXAMPLES

9. 3 Main body: second viewpoint and
examples
 VIEWPOINT
 EXAMPLES

10. 4 Main body: opposing viewpoint(s)

11. 5 Conclusion: restate opinion

12. LINKING WORDS/PHRASES
To LIST
points
To ADD
more points
To
introduce
OPPOSING
viewpoints
To
introduce
EXAMPLES/
REASONS
To
CONCLUDE

13. LINKING WORDS/PHRASES
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

14. LINKING WORDS/PHRASES
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

15. LINKING WORDS/PHRASES
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

16. LINKING WORDS/PHRASES
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

17. LINKING WORDS/PHRASES
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

18. Underline the correct phrase
It is argued/One reason that
testing new drugs on animals is
necessary before giving them to
humans.

19. Underline the correct phrase
It is argued that testing new drugs
on animals is necessary before
giving them to humans.

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

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

22. Underline the correct phrase
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.

23. Underline the correct phrase
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.

24. Underline the correct phrase
Secondly/Especially, regular
exercise helps you to stay in good
health.

25. Underline the correct phrase
Secondly, regular exercise helps
you to stay in good health.

26. Underline the correct phrase
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.

27. Underline the correct phrase
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.

28. 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…

29. 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…

30. 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.

31. 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
Supporting
sentence

32. 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
Supporting
sentence

33. 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
Supporting
sentence

34. 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

35. 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
Supporting
sentence

36. 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.