(2.a) Opinion essay

Master opinion essay writing with our comprehensive guide! Learn structure, evidence, and formal tone.

Introduction Hello students. Today you are going to learn how to write an OPINION ESSAY. Before we do that, you are going to revise a type of essay in English which we have already studied this school year - the FOR-AND-AGAINST ESSAY.Let's begin!Grab your book, (Solutions Intermediate 2nd edition), your notebook to write down any information you find relevant and your writing utensils. Do you know what the pros and cons essay is? Yes, correct! It is another name for the for-and-against essay. You can find it in your book on page 71. Study this example of a for and against essay. Remember! For and against essays present both sides of a problem or an issue. They discuss points for (advantages, pros) and against (disadvantages, against) the particular problem or issue.Use the correct register, and be consistent. This essay should be formal. Use formal structures, expressions and linkers. Avoid chatty, colloquial language.Do not give your opinion in the first paragraph; just give a general introduction to the topic.Do not mix up arguments for and against the statement in the same paragraph.Try to write a similar amount for both your for and against paragraphs to show you are giving a balanced view.Support your arguments by giving evidence or thinking about the possible consequences of any changes.Only give your own opinion in the final paragraph. Make sure you give a reason. Opinion Essay Label the for-and-against essay. You think you are familiar with the for an against essay now? Let's see. What linking words do you think fit the gaps in this essay? There is no doubtthat the subject of keeping animals in zoos creates a lot of debate. Some people say zoos are traditional family entertainment and good for animals. Others say keeping animals in zoos is cruel and inhumane.One advantage ofzoos is that they give people the chance to see and learn about animals. This makes people more likely to want to look after animals and protect their natural habitats. Another positive aspect of zoos is that they help to protect endangered species by offering them a safe place to live. In additionzoos help to find mates for endangered species. For example, many pandas would not find a mate to breed with if they were on their own in the wild.On the other handthere are many arguments against keeping animals in zoos. Firstly, zoo animals often suffer from stress and boredom when they are not in their natural habitat. Secondly, unwanted animals are sometimes sold to circuses, hunting parks or for meat. Another drawback isthat animals sometimes escape from their enclosures, which is dangerous for humans.To conclude, there are strong arguments for and against keeping animals in zoos. PersonallyI think it is acceptable to keep animals in zoos, as long as they have enough space and are properly looked after. THE OPINION ESSAY (5-paragraph essay) Let's now turn to our topic for the day. Remember that the opinion essay has in common the introduction and the conclusion with the for-and-against essay. Watch the two videos below. What is important about the introductionand the conclusion? What is different is actually the BODY OF THE ESSAY.Both types of essays are actually persuasive but the difference is that in the opinion essay's body paragraph you are allowed to express your opinion. How do you write the body paragraph? Study this example of anopinion essay. Remember! Opinion essays give the writer’s opinion about the topic. They must be supported by a variety of examples.The opposing viewpoint supported by relevant examples should be presented in a separate paragraph before the conclusion. If possible, highlight a disadvantage of it to reinforce your viewpoint.The writer’s opinion should be clearly expressed in the introduction and then restated in the conclusion.Use the correct register, and be consistent. An essay like this should be formal.Use formal structures, expressions and linkers, and avoid chatty, colloquial language.Introduce the topic at the start. You can give background information or say what other people think. Also, avoid repeating the words in the question. It makes your vocabulary seem limited. Instead, use synonyms to demonstrate your vocabulary.Keep on topic. Discuss the ideas in the question – do not introduce new ideas! Support the reasons for your opinion with examples and explanation.Use a variety of opinion expressions, not just I think, e.g. it seems to me that … ; it is clear to me that … .Linkers show the logical connections between ideas. These may include addition, contrast, concession and sequencing. (You can find some in your workbook on pages 103-105.)End with a clear conclusion summarizing your views. You can qualify your opinion if you don’t 100% agree or disagree. BODYof the opinion essay Check your understanding of the 5-paragraph opinion essay Match the essay paragraphs with their content. Paragraph 1 Briefly introduce the issue and why it's important, and state your opinion. Paragraph 2 Give a reason for your opinion and explain it. Paragraph 3 Give another reason for your opinion and explain it. Paragraph 4 Consider the opposite viewpoint and highlight a problem with it. Paragraph 5 Restate your opinion on the issue and the reasons for it. LINKING WORDS • Coherence and cohesion• Connect paragraphs• Connect ideas inside a paragraphYou can find the linkers and other useful phrases in "Functions bank" in your workbook, pages 103-105.Let's practice some linkers now! Body (Sol-Int) Choose the correct linking words to fill in the gaps of the 3 paragraphs of the body of an essay. Essay Connectors Grouping Int Sol Sort the linking words into groups. Read the sentences and choose the linking word that fits the best. Both may be possible, or neither may be correct. Some people think it is bad to eat carbohydrates. _, most dieticians believe they are part of a healthy diet. However Nevertheless Both of the above Neither of the above _ what many people think, the USA does not have the most obese population. Despite Although Both of the above Neither of the above _ I can see their point, I still believe that they are wrong. Although Even though Both of the above Neither of the above Vegetables are a good source of dietary fibre. _, they contain many nutrients and vitamins. On the other hand In addition Both of the above Neither of the above _ fast food is bad for us, many people enjoy it. Despite Despite the fact that Both of the above Neither of the above _ the economic crisis, the employment rate is falling. In spite of Despite Both of the above Neither of the above _ there is a lot of traffic in city centres, pollution is a problem. Since Because of Both of the above Neither of the above Young people are thought to be lazy. _ most young people I know are extremely hard-working. Another important point is that On the contrary, Both of the above Neither of the above Questions? Disclaimer British CouncilOxford, Solutions