opinion essay for beginners

Opinion Writing: a Guide to Writing a Successful Essay Easily

An opinion essay requires students to write their thoughts regarding a subject matter. Relevant examples and explanations back their point of view. Before starting an opinion paper, it is important to study the definition, topics, requirements, and structure. Referring to examples is also highly useful. Perhaps you need help with our admission essay writing service ? Take a look at this guide from our dissertation writing service to learn how to write an opinion essay like an expert.

What Is an Opinion Essay

A common question among students is: ‘What is an Opinion Essay?' It is an assignment that contains questions that allow students to share their point-of-view on a subject matter. Students should express their thoughts precisely while providing opinions on the issue related to the field within reasonable logic. Some opinion essays type require references to back the writer's claims.

Opinion writing involves using a student's personal point-of-view, which is segregated into a point. It is backed by examples and explanations. The paper addresses the audience directly by stating ‘Dear Readers' or the equivalent. The introduction involves a reference to a speech, book, or play. This is normally followed by a rhetorical question like ‘is the pope Catholic?' or something along those lines.

What Kind of Student Faces an Opinion Essay

Non-native English-speaking students enrolled in the International English Language Testing System by the British Council & Cambridge Assessment English are tasked with learning how to write the opinion essays. This can be high-school or college students. It is designed to enhance the level of English among students. It enables them to express their thoughts and opinions while writing good opinion essay in English.

Get Your Opinion ESSAY READY TODAY!

We will write you a plagiarism-free opinion essay, with a title page, unlimited revisions, and bunch of other cool features included!

What Are the Requirements of an Opinion Essay?

Avoid Going Off-Topic: Always write an opinion essay within relevance to answer the assigned question. This is also known as ‘beating around the bush' and should not be included in any opinion paragraph as it may lower your grade.

Indent the First Paragraph: With most academic papers, opinion writing is not different. Therefore, it contains the rule of indenting the first line of the introduction.

A Well-Thought Thesis: The full thesis statement is a brief description of the opinion essay. It determines the rest of the paper. Include all the information that you wish to include in the body paragraphs

The Use of Formal Languages: Although it is okay to write informally, keep a wide range of professional and formal words. This includes: ‘Furthermore,' ‘As Stated By,' ‘However', & ‘Thus'.

Avoid Internet Slang: In the opinion paper, avoid writing using slang words. Don'tDon't include words like ‘LOL', ‘OMG', ‘LMAO', etc.

The Use of First Person Language (Optional): For the reason of providing personal thought, it is acceptable to write your personal opinion essay in the first person.

Avoid Informal Punctuation: Although the requirements allow custom essay for the first-person language, they do not permit informal punctuation. This includes dashes, exclamation marks, and emojis.

Avoid Including Contradictions: Always make sure all spelling and grammar is correct.

We also recommend reading about types of sentences with examples .

Opinion Essay Topics

Before learning about the structure, choosing from a wide range of opinion essay topics is important. Picking an essay theme is something that can be done very simply. Choosing an excellent opinion essay topic that you are interested in or have a passion for is advisable. Otherwise, you may find the writing process boring. This also ensures that your paper will be both effective and well-written.

Do sports differ from ordinary board games?
Is using animals in circus performances immoral?
Why should we be honest with our peers?
Should all humans be entitled to a 4-day workweek?
Should all humans become vegetarians?
Does a CEO earn too much?
Should teens be barred from having sleepovers?
Should everyone vote for their leader?
The Pros & Cons of Day-Light Saving Hours.
What are the most energy-efficient and safest cars of X year?

Opinion Essay Structure

When it comes to opinion paragraphs, students may struggle with the opinion essay format. The standard five-paragraph-essay structure usually works well for opinion essays. Figuring out what one is supposed to include in each section may be difficult for beginners. This is why following the opinion essay structure is something all beginners should do, for their own revision before writing the entire essay.

You might also be interested in getting more information about: 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY

Opinion essay introduction

Address the audience directly, and state the subject matter.
Reference a speech, poem, book, or play.
Include the author's name and date of publication in brackets.
1 or 2 sentences to make up a short description.
1 or 2 summarizing sentences of the entire paper.
1 sentence that links to the first body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 1

Supporting arguments
Explanation
A linking sentence to the second body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 2

Supporting argument
A linking sentence to the third body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 3

A linking sentence to the conclusion.

Conclusion paragraph

Summary of the entire paper
A conclusive sentence (the bigger picture in conclusion)

If you need some help, leave us a message ' write my essay cheap ' and we'll help.

Opinion Essay Examples

Do you need something for reference? Reading opinion essay examples can expand your knowledge of this style of writing, as you get to see exactly how this form of an essay is written. Take a look at our samples to get an insight into this form of academic writing.

Over the past, American popular culture has been strong in creating racial stereotypes. Images displayed through television, music, and the internet have an impact on how individuals behave and what individuals believe. People find their identities and belief systems from popular culture. Evidently, I believe that American pop culture has created racial stereotypes that predominantly affect other ethnic minorities. Analyzing the history of America reveals that African Americans have always had a problem defining themselves as Americans ever since the era of slavery. AfricanAmericans have always had a hard time being integrated into American culture. The result is that African Americans have been subjected to ridicule and shame. American pop culture has compounded the problem by enhancing the negative stereotypes ofAfrican American. In theatre, film, and music, African Americans have been associated with vices such as murder, theft, and violence.

The family systems theory has a significant revelation on family relations. I firmly agree that to understand a particular family or a member, they should be around other family members. The emotional connection among different family members may create functional or dysfunctional coexistence, which is not easy to identify when an individual is further from the other members. Taking an example of the extended family, the relationship between the mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law may be tense, but once they are outside the family, they can pretend to have a good relationship. Therefore, I agree with the theory that the existing emotional attachment and developed culture in the family is distinctively understood when the family is together.

Opinion writing is a form of academic paper that asks students to include their thoughts on a particular topic. This is then backed by a logical explanation and examples. Becoming more knowledgeable is a practical way to successfully learn how to write an opinion paper. Before writing anything, it is essential to refer to important information. That includes the definition, topics, opinion writing examples, and requirements. This is what turns amateur writers into master writers.

Feeling like you need some assistance with your essay? No matter what kind of writer you need, opinion or persuasive essay writer , our team consists of experts in all fields. Our college essay writing service helps those students who need an extra push when it comes to their assignments.

Need Qualified Essay Help?

Are you struggling with your opinion paper? Hit the button below to get writer's help. All your requests are processed fast.

How to Write a Policy Analysis Paper Step-by-Step

Teacher Habits

Helping Teachers inside the Classroom and Out

How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)

Are you struggling with how to write an opinion essay that effectively communicates your viewpoint on a particular topic while providing strong evidence to back it up? Fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of crafting a quality opinion essay, from understanding the purpose and structure to choosing engaging topics and employing effective writing techniques. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Opinion essays are formal pieces of writing that express the author’s viewpoint on a given subject.
Crafting an effective thesis statement and outline, choosing engaging topics, using formal language and tone, addressing counterarguments and maintaining logical flow are essential for creating compelling opinion essays.
The revision process is key to producing polished opinion essays that effectively convey one’s opinions.

What is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay, also known as an opinion paper, is a formal piece of writing wherein the author expresses their viewpoint on a given subject and provides factual and anecdotal evidence to substantiate their opinion. The purpose of an opinion essay is to articulate a position in a clear and informative manner, following a proper opinion essay structure. Opinion essays are commonly found in newspapers and social media, allowing individuals to articulate their perspectives and opinions on a specific topic, striving to create a perfect opinion essay.

While the focus of an opinion essay should be on the writer’s own opinion concerning the issue, it necessitates more meticulous planning and effort than simply articulating one’s own thoughts on a particular topic. The arguments in an opinion essay should be grounded on well-researched data, making it crucial to consult pertinent information, including the definition, topics, opinion writing examples, and requirements, to write an opinion essay and transform novice writers into proficient writers.

Crafting the Perfect Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is the foundation of a great essay. It clearly expresses the writer’s opinion and sets the stage for the rest of the essay. To craft the perfect thesis statement, start by perusing the essay prompt multiple times to ensure you fully understand the question or topic you are being asked to discuss. Once you have a clear understanding of the topic, construct your opinion and conduct thorough research to locate evidence to corroborate your stance and examine counterarguments or contrasting perspectives.

Remember, your thesis statement should provide a succinct overview of the opinion essay and serve as a guide for the remainder of the paper. By crafting a strong thesis statement, you will be able to capture your reader’s attention and set the tone for a well-structured and persuasive essay.

Building a Solid Opinion Essay Outline

A well-structured opinion essay format is crucial for organizing your thoughts and ensuring that your entire essay flows smoothly from one point to the next. An opinion essay outline typically comprises an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, following the standard five-paragraph essay structure.

Let’s delve deeper into each component of the outline. The introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic and your opinion on it. It should be.

Introduction

The introduction of your opinion essay should hook the reader and provide an overview of the essay’s content. To achieve this, consider addressing the reader directly, introducing a quotation, posing thought-provoking or rhetorical questions, or referring to a remarkable or unconventional fact, concept, or scenario.

It is essential to introduce the topic clearly in the introduction to avoid superfluous phrases and inapplicable facts that are not pertinent to the topic. By crafting an engaging introduction, you will set the stage for a compelling and well-organized opinion essay.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of your good opinion essay should provide arguments and supporting examples to substantiate your opinion. Begin each paragraph with a distinct topic sentence and use credible sources to provide substantiation for your viewpoint with dependable data.

Addressing counterarguments in your body paragraphs can also enhance your essay by illustrating a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and fortifying your stance.

Organize your body paragraphs in a coherent manner, ensuring that each argument and supporting example flows logically from one to the next. This will make it easier for your reader to follow your train of thought and strengthen the overall impact of your essay.

The conclusion of your opinion essay should summarize the main points and restate your opinion in a new manner, providing a sense of closure and completion to your argument. Keep your conclusion concise and avoid introducing new information or arguments at this stage. By effectively summarizing your main points and restating your opinion, you will leave a lasting impression on your reader and demonstrate the strength of your argument.

In addition to summarizing your main ideas, consider providing a final thought or call to action that will leave your reader pondering the implications of your essay. This can further reinforce the impact of your conclusion and leave a lasting impression on your reader.

Choosing Engaging Opinion Essay Topics

Selecting engaging topics for opinion essays is crucial for capturing the reader’s interest and encouraging critical thinking. While there are an abundance of potential questions or topics that could be utilized for an opinion essay, it is important to choose topics that are relevant, interesting, and thought-provoking.

To find inspiration for engaging opinion essay topics, consider browsing the Op-Ed sections of newspapers, exploring social media debates, or even reflecting on your own experiences and interests. Keep in mind that a well-chosen topic not only draws the reader’s attention, but also stimulates critical thinking and fosters insightful discussions.

Opinion Essay Writing Techniques

Effective opinion essay writing techniques include using formal language and tone, addressing counterarguments, and maintaining logical flow.

Let’s explore each of these techniques in more detail.

Formal Language and Tone

Using formal language and tone in your opinion essay is essential for conveying a sense of professionalism and credibility. This can be achieved by avoiding slang, jargon, and colloquial expressions, as well as short forms and over-generalizations. Moreover, expressing your opinion without utilizing the personal pronoun “I” can give your essay a seemingly more objective approach.

Remember that the recommended tense for composing an opinion essay is present tense. By maintaining a formal language and tone throughout your essay, you will demonstrate your expertise on the subject matter and instill confidence in your reader.

Addressing Counterarguments

Addressing counterarguments in your opinion essay is an effective way to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the topic and strengthen your position. To do this, introduce opposing viewpoints in a straightforward manner and provide evidence to counter them. This not only showcases your comprehension of the subject matter, but also bolsters your own argument by refuting potential objections.

By acknowledging and addressing counterarguments, you will create a more balanced and persuasive opinion essay that encourages critical thinking and engages your reader.

Maintaining Logical Flow

Ensuring your opinion essay maintains a logical flow is critical for enabling your reader to follow your arguments and evidence with ease. To achieve this, utilize precise and succinct words, compose legible sentences, and construct well-structured paragraphs. Incorporating transitional words and varied sentence structures can also enhance the flow of your essay.

By maintaining a logical flow throughout your opinion essay, you will create an organized and coherent piece of writing that effectively communicates your viewpoint and supporting arguments to your reader.

Analyzing Opinion Essay Examples

Analyzing opinion essay examples can help improve your understanding of the structure and style required for this type of writing. Numerous examples are available online as a source of reference, providing valuable insights into how other writers have approached similar topics and structured their essays.

By examining opinion essay examples, you will be better equipped to identify the elements of a successful essay and apply them to your own writing. This will not only enhance your understanding of opinion essay writing, but also inspire you to develop your own unique voice and style.

The Revision Process: Polishing Your Opinion Essay

The revision process is essential for polishing your opinion essay, ensuring clarity, logical flow, and proper grammar and punctuation. Start by rereading your first draft, making improvements as you progress and rectifying any grammar errors that may be observed. Having another individual review your writing, such as a family member or friend, can provide candid feedback, allowing you to refine your essay further.

The ultimate step in composing an opinion essay is proofreading. This final review will ensure that your essay is polished and free from errors, resulting in a well-crafted and persuasive piece of writing that effectively communicates your opinion on the topic at hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start an opinion essay.

To start an opinion essay, begin by stating the subject of your essay and expressing your perspective on it. Follow up by using an interesting or provocative statement to capture the reader’s attention.

Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words, making sure to make your opinion clear throughout your essay.

What is the structure of an opinion essay?

An opinion essay is typically structured with an introduction containing a thesis statement, body paragraphs providing arguments or reasons that support your view, and a conclusion.

Each section of the essay should be written in a formal tone to ensure clarity and effectiveness.

What is the format of an opinion paragraph?

An opinion paragraph typically begins with a clear statement of the opinion, followed by body sentences providing evidence and support for the opinion, before finally summarizing or restating the opinion in a concluding sentence.

It should be written in a formal tone.

What not to write in an opinion essay?

When writing an opinion essay, make sure to stay on topic, avoid slang and jargon, introduce the topic clearly and concisely, and do not include unnecessary facts that do not relate directly to the question.

Use a formal tone and keep your conclusion clear in the first sentence.

What is the purpose of an opinion essay?

The purpose of an opinion essay is to articulate a position in a clear and informative manner, providing evidence to support it.

This type of essay requires the writer to research the topic thoroughly and present their opinion in a logical and convincing way. They must also be able to back up their opinion with facts and evidence.

In conclusion, crafting a quality opinion essay requires a clear understanding of the purpose and structure of this type of writing, as well as the ability to choose engaging topics and employ effective writing techniques. By following the guidelines and tips provided in this guide, you will be well on your way to creating a compelling and persuasive opinion essay that effectively articulates your viewpoint and supporting arguments.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you write and revise, the more adept you will become at crafting insightful and impactful opinion essays. So, go forth and share your opinions with the world, backed by strong evidence and persuasive writing!

An opinion essay

Learn how to write an opinion essay.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

MultipleSelection_MjMwNTM=

Information will soon be so easy to find on the internet that people will not need to remember anything. Do you agree?

Nowadays all the information we could ever need is available online and some people say that means the end of having to learn anything.

It is true that these days everything you want to know is a few clicks away as long as you have internet access. However, not everyone has working internet all the time, for example in certain buildings or remote locations, so we do need to be able to remember information. Moreover, it takes time to look up everything you need to know online, whereas remembering something is immediate. The human memory is a much more efficient system.

Another problem is the quality of the information online. How do we know if it is accurate or reliable? We need to think about other facts we know and remember how to compare information from different websites. Knowing (and remembering) how to find certain information will be more important than knowing the information itself.

Finally, the internet is a good tool but it is not a useful replacement for our brains. If we did not remember anything, we would all spend even more time on our phones and computers than we already do, which is not good for society.

In conclusion, the internet offers us many things but it is still important to use our knowledge and memories. We need our memories to function without the internet and we also need to know how to use the internet properly.

Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it.
Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones.
Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words.
Show understanding of both sides of the argument.
Use linking words to connect your ideas.
Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay. Don't introduce new ideas at the end.

What do you think about the question? Would it be better or worse if we never learned anything and just used the internet instead?

Language level

It would be worse. If we only look for information on the internet, for everythingg and every time when we have a question about something we will become ''rusty robots''.

In other words, our minds, without exercising the creativity and memory of our brains, will be almost completly out of purpose. What's more, we will be lazy and with a slow capacity of thinking properly.

It is evidently known that in recent days, the exchange of information is progressive over the network of various channels which we call it as Internet. Experts have made some definite predictions about the availability of data and information on the above mode of communication in near future. This particular development is totally agreeable. With respect to the technological advancements pertaining to the above, the human life shall be prepared to be compatible with the communication platforms on the network of servers. The key strengths will mainly focus on speed of communication, less errors and information accuracy. This aspect of technological development will eventually replace the traditional modes of information storage. This requires no effort in preservation of information on physical devices as all the core information will be stored in virtual servers. On the other hand, the above paradigm shift in terms of data centralization will certainly replace human brains. This attempt will not trigger any living beings to memorize information physically. It is quite obvious that our brains are limited and restricted with space constraints. Hence, this technology of information storage will drastically replace these drawbacks. Overall, this phenomenal trend of networking has provided a seamless mode of gathering, interpreting and storing information. At the same time, the consequences will be tremendous and noticeable as it will lead to an era where in people across the globe can surf and search their expected piece of data with-in no time. Practically, they don’t have to bother about any challenges related to failure of storage elements. Finally, this pattern of information storage is promisingly going to be accepted.

I think the use of the internet is not only in conflict with learning, but It has made the speed of learning faster and more comfortable.

On the one hand, With the advent of the internet and access to data whenever we want, we were able to free our minds from memorizing a lot of unnecessary data. It caused that instead of spending our time to remember the formulas and data, we use our time for a deeper understanding of the concepts. Concentration on understanding was a big step in order to make us more clear about how to apply scientific concepts practically, and It made the evolutionary process of turning scientific concepts into experimental tests go faster. Going through this evolutionary process quickly, in turn, caused, firstly, the faster growth of modern technologies and, secondly, the creation of many new data, concepts, and sciences. And now the data volume is so much that not only you can never remember or learn them, but you have to choose the best one that works for you. Somehow, the internet has changed how to learn. It has focused on analyzing the options and choosing the best one to learn Instead of memorizing a bunch of content.

On the other hand, Theoretically speaking, One of the laws In the world is that everything can be useful or harmful in turn. This law also applies to the internet. In fact, how to use the internet determines whether it is useful or harmful. Like many other tools that have been invented such as smartphones, smartwatches, electric cars, and so on we have spent time learning how to use them. In order to get the best out of the internet and don't waste our time, we must take the time to learn how to search. The searching skill is the most important one that helps us find better results.

In conclusion, Given the two analyzed reasons above, I agree with the idea that easy access to Information makes people get rid of memorizing lots of data. But this has nothing to do with the quality or quantity of learning.

I think it depends on the type of information. Some information are easier to remember, and hence it's more efficient to have them in memory instead of looking for them online. However, some complex information is offered online, and it will be impractical if we tried to remember it. Additionally, I believe that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge. It's about learning how to think with this knowledge available and solve problems efficiently. That's why the internet is considered a valuable tool to promote learning, not to replace it.

Nowadays we are witnesses how far technology has developed in a short time. A huge of information is backing up on internet and if you have access of surfing you can find any information that you are looking for. However, there are some relevant aspects that should be taking into account when we are talking about using always internet instead of learning. In this sense, the purpose of this essay will be to explain why it is not a good idea. Firstly, as you know, most of the information on internet is fake. For that reason, it is impossible the learning process can be replaced by internet use. If you are looking for reliable information you have to learn how it works. In other words you need of learning even if you want to use internet all the time because you have to discern what of all information is useful for you purpose. For example, if you are a student and want to write an essay about a specific topic you likely have to search for the best information if you want to get a job position or scholarship. Secondly, there is a high demand for professionals who have specific skills in the field that they are pretending to be involved. That’s why learning always is a must for satisfying the requirements of companies and institutions. For instance, in the education field, the main aim is the learning and knowledge which are essential on a daily life to be an expert in your field of action and these skills can’t be acquired through internet surfing. To sum up learning and knowledge are fundamentals in a current world that is demanding professionals highly qualified even in our daily live and the internet is far away of satisfying the required skills that you get every day through the practice, research and networking.

I think it become worse and dangerous for our society, we need to control it making rules. Without internet, many skills and knowledge could´nt be used.

I believe that, The internet become even more dangerous for young people who barely discovered the world around them, If they count on it for seeking information without parental supervision, it would be a disaster!

In nowadays,there are many ways to reach information.The Internet is just one of them but maybe most promising one.The Internet helps us to find information easily and efficently.

However there are some negative sides of Internet.For instance realibilty of information.There are no real control on Internet.I reckon there will not be soon.This reduces the trust in internet.This is why People will always need another source to be make sure and need to remember information.

It is also necesseray for objectivity. You can not just have one source and expect true and impartial information. It is against nature of science.This is not how science works.People must have and process the information.In this way we expand our knowledge.When we make brainstorm we always end up with another information. If we don’t have and process the information how Science works?

I suppose in the future People will never trust completely to Internet. They will always need another source and they will need to interrogate source of information.In conclusion Internet is by far most promising invention People have ever invented.However Internet is not beyond our brain and imagination.We will always need to posses and process the information.

It is about my hometown: My hometown is a beautiful, attractive and cool. N'beika is one of the most famous places in Mauritania where attractive views and economic capacities are in. It is located in Tagant which is in middle of the map. Therefore, It is one the biggest cities in the country. As there are interesting geographical features such as: high Mountains, nice valleys, light hills and wonderful pools. Historically, N'beika played an important role in culture, trade exchange and fighting colonialist. Also it has saved historical landmarks, for example: manuscripts, books and cities which the most important is Gasr Albarka. In the north, there have tourist views and in the East big mountains with lovely valleys like Matmata where there are some Alligators in and other attractive animals. As well as from the south and the west there are some fields, forests and farms. Moreover, people are interested in agriculture, trade, development and education. Furthermore, there are many schools and Mahidras and three colleges providing well-deserved education to students. What's more, mall shops is offering demands and created jobs for unemployment. There are different favourite for people , some of them are crazy about football as youth, and some people like doing agriculture and development. Moreover, there are entrepreneurs doing a small business like selling clothes, pitch, barbershop... etc. In conclusion, N'beika is a gift of Allah that has given to people to spend nice moments in order to feel happy and to invest for everything we want due to gain lots of money .

I believe it is amazing updated technology which has helped us a lot in our lives. In todays era everyone has access to internet over the globe. you can easily find all the information on internet that is required to you. Even though learn many new skills which aren't even taught you from the help of internet. it is good help for book writer like us where we can be part of book writing communities or book writing resources to enhance our skills and provides more guidance to others.

Online courses

Group and one-to-one classes with expert teachers.

Learn English in your own time, at your own pace.

One-to-one sessions focused on a personal plan.

Get the score you need with private and group classes.

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Opinion Essay + Examples

A personal opinion essay is an essential part of an educational process. Wherever you study, you will surely come across this kind of work. And if you’re stuck with finding ideas, you have come to the right place. In this article, you will learn all the intricacies of writing and get some good opinion essay topics.

Let’s start!

🤔 What Is an Opinion Essay?

🖊️ how to write an opinion essay.

🔗 Linkers and Transition Words

💡 Opinion Essay Ideas

👨‍🎓 opinion essay examples.

An opinion essay is a type of work that involves the expression of one’s own opinion, which has become the product of processing facts and arguments. However, this does not mean there should be no argumentation in the essay. It will be a big plus if you have a couple of examples from your own life or the lives of historical figures, illustrating some facts in your stock. Writing an opinion essay requires the author to clearly state his thoughts on any occasion, without excessive water and long reasoning.

Among other things, it should be remembered that, technically, an opinion essay is a formal type of work that many graduates write at the end of their studies. And this means it has its structure and specific writing rules that must be adhered to. To fully understand the meaning of this type of work, try reading a couple of our free essay samples .

🎯 The Purpose of an Opinion Essay

An opinion essay is an excellent tool for teaching students how to express their position correctly. And also to test the depth of their knowledge and thinking. An opinion essay can help you to boost your skills:

Ability to convey your thoughts . Regardless of the topic of the essay, the teacher wants to see that his wards, leaving the educational institution, will be independent individuals. Therefore, the student needs to show the ability to convey their thoughts on any occasion.
Competent writing skills . Even in the modern world, writing skills do not lose their relevance. This type of work allows you to form it as efficiently as possible. So if you want to impress your boss, remember to pay attention to grammar and punctuation.
Topic knowledge . Unfortunately, there is no error-free way to test a student’s ability. However, opinion essays allow the teacher to examine everyone and ensure that the topic has been mastered. This is especially true for subjects such as history and literature.

And, of course, you should understand that the purpose of any text is to be read. So just be creative, and you will have a fantastic essay!

🗝️ Key Features of an Opinion Essay

Like any other type of writing, an opinion essay has characteristics that make it unique. And, of course, to compose a competent text, you need to know about them.

Focus on the author’s clear and well-reasoned subjective opinion . All proofs, as well as the conclusion, are based on it.
Logical-based structure . Moreover, it entirely depends on the intentions of the writer.
Examples and arguments come primarily from personal experience . However, an author may use history and social life quotes and examples of literary heroes to prove their position.
Speech instruments used . As an author, you will benefit significantly from using a variety of speech constructs . They can help you influence other people. Connecting constructs and clear speech will keep the reader interested and get the most out of the reader.

You just need to get used to all the features to get a little practice. You will succeed!

⚖️ Argumentative, Opinion or Persuasive Essay: the Difference

Before proceeding directly to writing the text, it is worth learning one more important thing. Even towards the end of high school, many people confuse opinion and persuasive essays. These papers look similar.

To help you distinguish the argumentative, opinion, and persuasive essays, we prepare a table of comparisons where you can easily indicate the difference between these papers:

Now let’s move on to which sections the essay consists of and how it should be written. You can safely use this information as a synopsis when completing the assignment.

So, the first one!

📃 Opinion Essay Format

As mentioned earlier, a specific opinion essay structure must be followed. Therefore, before you prepare writing, make up a small outline, which will contain all the components of the text and your ideas for their content. So, how to start an opinion essay?

Opinion Essay Introduction

Of course, any text starts with a short opening. This section should summarize the essence of the problem you are writing about. The main task of the introduction is to entice the audience and familiarize them with the paper’s main topic. Therefore, by the first paragraph, a person will build an impression of your talents.

Moreover, remember that the introduction should be catchy. How to write a hook for an opinion essay? In simple words, this is a proposal that should interest the reader and draw his attention. It should be subject-related and relatively accurate. All you have to do is show the reader that the topic of the essay will be critical and even touch it.

Let’s take a look at some opinion essay introduction examples from our authors, in which you can see all the listed components:

As Ronald Reagan said in one of his speeches, everyone who advocates abortion has been born. The topic of abortion is very controversial, and people still cannot come to a standard solution. That is why, in this abortion opinion essay, I will try to sort out my thoughts and answer whether abortion is a panacea or a hidden evil.
Global warming is a global problem. As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez aptly put it, we cannot sit back while our planet is on fire. But can one person influence the fate of all humanity? I think so, and in this essay, I will try to explain my position

Of course, these examples are conditional, and you can change them as you need to achieve a quality result.

Opinion Essay: Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the final sentence of an introduction . It is an integral part of the entire text. And if your essay will be evaluated, then the absence of the thesis will significantly underestimate the point. So how do you write the last sentence competently so that the reader will like it?

At its core, in the thesis, you should summarize everything that you indicated in the introduction and, in a nutshell, make it clear what will be discussed. You are expected to state your position on the issue clearly. And then, the entire text should be directed precisely to reinforce your words.

For example, take this essay topic: “ Is globalization a positive phenomenon? ” In this case, a good thesis would be “ In my opinion, globalization has many more advantages than disadvantages. ”

See how one small phrase can dramatically improve your overall performance score. Therefore, pay due attention to it!

Opinion Essay: Body Paragraphs

Finally, you come to the main body of your essay, namely the argumentation. The body paragraphs of an opinion essay are aimed at correctly explaining the author’s position to the audience. Here you are expected to have good arguments and examples that will become your assistants in proving your case.

Body paragraphs have two parts: an argument and an example supporting what you said. For example, you might say that the lack of responsibility for actions leads to the corruption of the mind and soul. And as an explanation to these words, briefly support your statement with the story of the protagonist of the novel by Jack London, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”

Moreover, no one limits the number of these same arguments, and often it depends on the maximum volume of the text itself. The standard case is two good arguments, supported by examples from life or literature. Then you can be sure that the reader will correctly understand your idea.

🔗 Linkers and Transitional Words for Opinion Essay

Connecting structures are an invisible companion for the reader throughout the entire essay. They are also called linkers or transitional words . At their core, these two concepts mean the exact phrases. Their task is to make the text more readable and smoothly translate the reader from one idea to another. Moreover, all these constructions are divided into subgroups depending on their purpose. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of good transition words for an opinion essay:

In my opinion…
It is clear that…, etc.
It is widely known that…
It is a well-known fact that…
Research has shown that…
There are definitely…
It is a fact that…, etc.

There are also brilliant linkers for opinion essays on these themes:

In spite of…
However, etc.
To conclude…
In conclusion…, etc.

Using these constructions, you will significantly increase the consistency of your text and help the reader to perceive it better.

Now that you have a basic understanding of writing an essay, let’s look at some good opinion essay topics. Feel free to use them for your creative work and get good points.

💡 30 Opinion Essay Prompts

So, our team has selected 30 excellent opinion essay topics for you. Look for what resonates in your soul and get to work!

Opinion essay: success in life depends on being successful at school. Many of us were assured that it is impossible to reach heights without a good performance at school. What do you think about it?
Mobile phone addiction is the scourge of the 21st century. Give arguments from your life and tell about personal experiences.
Opinion essay about GMO : pros and cons. For many, this topic remains a secret. It’s time to dispel all inaccuracies and find out the whole truth.
Should university study be free? What is your position?
Opinion essay about technologies in our life . What impact do they have?
Compulsory vaccination : pros and cons. If you have any personal experience with this topic, feel free to share it.
Opinion on abortion essay: do people have the right to choose?
US neutrality in World War II : what would have gone differently?
Opinion essay about video games . Is it an addiction or just leisure ? What do you think?
Does the motivation from famous people have an effect, or is it a dummy? Do you have an opinion on this matter?
Essay opinion on junk food : how dangerous it is. Everyone was warned that junk food and junk food kill the body, but maybe it’s all about the quantity?
Parenting is the foundation of a child’s success. Do you think that the parents are responsible for the future education and work of their child?
Opinion essay: buy nothing day or Black Friday sales. What do you choose and why?
The advantages of living in a metropolis and a small town . Which would you choose?
Essay: opinion about global warming . Do you think this is a real threat, or is it just a panic among people?
Homemade food or dining out in restaurants? What do you and your family prefer?
Social media impact opinion essay. Billions of people spend their time on social media . What consequences can this have for humanity?
Consequences of increasing the budget for road construction. How will this affect our cities?
Opinion essay: television promotes violence through broadcasting abusive behavior. Do you agree with this thesis?
Humanity is destroying the ecosystem and making the earth uninhabitable. What arguments can be for and against?
Opinion essay about homework : is this system outdated? How do you feel about this from a student’s point of view?
Artists and internet bloggers make vast amounts of money. Do you support this?
Opinion essay about racism in modern life. What are the dangers of this behavior? Tell us about your personal experience or give an example from the community’s life.
Some people dream of changing their place of residence. Do you think that moving to another country will help you in self-realization?
The best profession to choose opinion essay. What are your thoughts? Where would you like to be after finishing your studies?
People prefer online communication over live communication. How do you feel about this trend?
Opinion essay about same-sex marriages. For some people, this is unacceptable. What do you think about it?
How can movies and television affect human behavior ? Do you think certain viewing films should be limited for people with a weak mentality?
Opinion essay about immigration . Should the state provide maximum assistance to everyone who wants to get into it?
Should people be allowed to carry weapons with them? What restrictions can be used, in your opinion?

These themes are ideal for getting good results.

Now let’s look at some small sample essays from our authors. You can see all the listed components and highlight some interesting ideas for yourself!

Climate change opinion essay, truth or fiction? (250 words)

Climate change has been heading the news for decades. Almost everyone is puzzled by this problem in the modern world, but is there any reason to believe that this is just exaggerated media panic? I think not, and in this essay, I will try to explain my position. The first thing worth paying attention to is the changes that we can see every day. But nature is changing, and this is noticeable with the naked eye. For example, you can look at how the temperature regime has changed over the past decades. In my region, real winter began in the last days of November. Then the temperature dropped to zero, and there was already snow outside the window. However, I would be thrilled to see snowfall this year, at least at Christmas. This raises questions about the veracity of statements from the media and various organizations. You should also look at the publicly available facts. International organizations conduct ongoing research, which clearly shows that the climate is changing, and it is difficult to fix it. One of the most respected teams, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), regularly issues climate change reports. And in them, you can see what reasons for this and what it can lead to. This is excellent and detailed work that deserves everyone’s attention. In summary, we can say that climate change can be seen with the naked eye. This problem affects all people on the planet, and to ignore it is to expose yourself to great danger. Humanity is destroying our world, and can we deny it?

Opinion on death penalty essay, is it moral? (300 words)

Many international treaties have long banned the death penalty, but this does not prevent several countries from regularly using it against criminals. I think this is a terrible practice that has no place in our civilized world. The argument for this may be the simple idea that every creature has a right to life. And this right cannot be taken away under any condition because you can take a dangerous path by creating an incident. One Russian scientist Andrei Sakharov spoke very accurately about this: “The existence of the institution of the death penalty dehumanizes society. I spoke out and am opposed to the death penalty also because this punishment provides for the presence of a constantly terrible apparatus of executors, the whole institution of the death penalty ”. I fully support his words because there is no reason not to kill the second after killing once. It should also be understood that people sentenced to death are not always, in fact, guilty. There is a miscarriage of justice, and no one can be insured against it. The most resonant was the story from 1949. Timothy Evans was hanged on charges of murdering his pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter. Four years later, it wasn’t until serial killer John Christie, who had testified in court against Evans, confessed to the murder. He was hanged, and Timothy Evans was posthumously rehabilitated. The Timothy Evans case is one of the most remarkable stories in the death penalty dispute. To summarize, I can say that there are many reasons for the absolute ban on the death penalty in the world. This is not only inhuman but can lead to unnecessary deaths. Fighting crime in this way, the people who defend the law themselves break it.

Opinion essay on smoking: should the state intervene? (300 words)

Smoking is a global problem. Experts predict that in the coming decades, the number of smokers will reach one billion people worldwide. In my opinion, governments should take strict measures to limit nicotine use among the population. Firstly, smoking poses enormous hardships for addicts. All this can increase the number of cancer patients and people suffering from heart and lung diseases. At the same time, it can be tough to give up cigarettes on your own. We all understand that nicotine in quantities that a person receives from cigarettes is not characteristic of the body. Therefore, our body can react in an extraordinary way to its appearance. An example may well be my family, suffering from heart problems for several generations. All men, from my great-grandfather to my father, visit doctors all the time. And they all have one reason – excessive smoking. At the same time, they cannot quit smoking on their own due to a banal addiction. Secondly, smokers can damage the health of other people nearby. It is a well-known fact that secondhand smoke is no less harmful than the regular use of nicotine. And unfortunately, non-smokers, in most cases, have no choice. You can see it yourself in everyday life. People who are forced to breathe smoke while sitting at bus stops or in public places simply cannot do anything about it. The only way to help them is to introduce more and more restrictions from the state. So, in conclusion, we can say that smoking is not only a problem for the person addicted to cigarettes. Everyone suffers from this, from his family to strangers around him. Unfortunately, these difficulties cannot be resolved on their own. But is the state and society doing enough to help people with addiction?

❓ What Are the Characteristics of an Opinion?

The opinion is an entirely subjective position formed due to the influence of certain factors on the mind. It can be characterized as a personal judgment, point of view, and not an exact fact. However, an opinion can be valid only if it is supported by actual knowledge. Otherwise, it can be called more of a guess.

❓ How Many Paragraphs is an Opinion Essay?

The standard structure consists of four main parts: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Nevertheless, if it is not specified in the assignment, it can deviate slightly from such a system. It is pretty standard practice to write three or more body paragraphs. Conversely, if one section fully covers the topic, then the need for other explanations may disappear.

❓ What Is the Structure of an Opinion Essay?

An essay structure is a precise sequence of your thoughts, which will help the reader to understand the topic better. The standard system consists of an introduction, two arguments, and a conclusion. In addition, there are less visible components like a hook, thesis statement, and linkers words. You can expand the structure by adding more argument parts. However, the sequence must remain the same.

❓ What Is a Supported Opinion Essay?

An essay based on a person’s personal opinion implies a clear statement of the author’s thoughts on a specific topic. However, to show understanding of the problem, one should rely on facts, research, or examples from life. A supported opinion essay is precisely when the author’s opinion is based on objective factors.

📎 References

Basic Essay Structure. Port. Ac
An opinion essay. British Council
How to Write an Opinion Based Essay. UCT Language Centre
Recognizing Transitions. MPC.Edu
Writing Your Paper: Transitions. EWU.Edu
Transition Sentences. The College of Saint Rose
Writing Effective Conclusions. Richmond University
Conclusion – How to write an essay. University of Newcastle
Writing a thesis statement. IELTS Buddy
CCSS Argument versus Opinion Writing
Essay Structure. Harvard College Writing Centre
Share to Facebook
Share to Twitter X
Share to LinkedIn

List of 350 brilliant nursing research topics to investigate in 2024, ultimate list of 265 research topics for college students, memorable human trafficking essay: topics & outline [2024].

Essay Editor

How to Write an Opinion Essay – A Beginner’s Guide

What is an Opinion Essay? An opinion essay is a piece of writing in which the writer personally expresses their viewpoint on a particular subject. Unlike research papers that require objective investigation, opinion essays are based primarily on personal sentiments, values, and beliefs. However, it’s not about blindly stating what you think; it’s crucial to build a strong argument supported by reasons and examples.

Opinion Essay Structure An opinion essay, like most academic essays, follows a clear structure:

Introduction : Introduces the topic and clearly states your opinion.
Body : Consists of two or three paragraphs, each explaining a reason for your opinion.
Conclusion : Summarizes the main points and restates your opinion.

How to Start an Opinion Essay? Captivating your reader from the beginning is essential. Use a striking fact, a provocative question, or a memorable quote to start your essay. Briefly outline the topic and your viewpoint. For instance, if you're writing about climate change, you could start with a recent statistic about melting glaciers or rising sea levels.

Revolutionize your writing process: our AI rewrite tool is here to help

How to Write an Opinion Essay?

State your opinion in the introduction : Clearly express your stance on the issue.
Provide supporting points in the body : For each paragraph, start with a clear topic sentence. Then, back up this statement with evidence, examples, or personal experiences.
Address counterarguments : This adds depth to your essay and shows that you've considered various perspectives. However, ensure to refute them effectively.
Conclude with conviction : Summarize your main points and reiterate your stance, ending on a strong note.

Opinion Essay Examples Illustrative examples can guide beginners:

Opinion Essay about Fast Food Fast food, while undoubtedly convenient, has numerous health implications, including obesity and heart issues. Personally, frequent indulgence can have long-term repercussions, making it imperative to strike a balance.

Opinion Essay on the Importance of Exercise Regular physical activity goes beyond just physical well-being; it plays a significant role in mental health. From my viewpoint, a daily routine, even if brief, can drastically improve life quality.

Opinion Essay Sample on Social Media Despite the myriad benefits, social media can be overwhelming and, at times, detrimental to mental health. Periodic digital detoxes, in my belief, are vital.

Opinion Essay Example on College Education While higher education opens numerous doors, integrating life skills and emotional intelligence into the curriculum ensures a comprehensive growth path.

Opinion Essay Outline An outline aids in structuring thoughts coherently:

Introduction : A brief about the topic and your viewpoint.
Reason 1 + Evidence/Example
Reason 2 + Evidence/Example
Counterargument + Refutation
Conclusion : Restate your opinion and summarize your arguments.

Opinion Essay Topics

Impact of technology on youth.
The significance of arts in education.
Global warming effects on marine biodiversity.
Media's role in sculpting public opinion.

Further Reading for Beginners Delving into examples, practicing writing, and seeking feedback are invaluable for novices. It’s also beneficial to read other opinion essays to understand various styles and approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an opinion essay? A piece where the writer expresses their personal views, backed by reasons and examples like: "In my view, preserving the environment is not a choice but an obligation.
How do I start my opinion essay? With the rising debates on free speech, I've always held that...
Can I use personal experiences? Absolutely. Personal experiences, like "My visit to the recycling plant opened my eyes to...", can strengthen your argument.
How do I support my viewpoint? Use evidence, facts, or examples. For instance, "According to a 2020 study by XYZ, 75% of respondents believed...
Should I address counterarguments? Yes. For instance, "While many argue that online learning is impersonal, studies show its efficacy in many learning styles.
How to conclude? End by summarizing and restating your opinion, like: "Given the evidence, it's clear that renewable energy is our future.
What tone should I adopt? Depending on your audience; for example, "In this esteemed journal, I'd like to present the academic case for...
Are emotional appeals acceptable? In moderation. "The sight of a parched land is heart-wrenching, highlighting the urgency of water conservation.
Is it essential to have a strong opinion? Yes. Your essay should clearly convey your stance, like: "Undoubtedly, community service forms the backbone of a society's progress.
How to pick a topic? Select issues you're passionate about. "Having volunteered at shelters, I have firsthand insights on homeless challenges.

Recent articles

Essay - what it is and how to write it with an ai aithor.

Writing concise and persuasive texts is a skill required in many professional settings. One of the ways we learn this skill is by writing essays. However, essays require lots of preparation and research, so they can be hard to write, especially if you struggle to understand how to make your essay better. In this article, you’ll learn what an essay is and how to use the Aithor AI essay generator for writing essays. What is an essay? In a broad sense, an essay is a genre of writing that allows ...

Artificial Intelligence: Evolution of Essay Writing

We live in the age when each new year brings more innovations than the previous one. One of the most debated topics of recent time is AI writing software. Not only did users get a handy helper for composing emails, but a tireless machine for writing pages of text on a variety of topics. It’s only natural that students who often have to write long essays as homework started using it too. This article will dissect how artificial intelligence will change the future essays and if AI generation tool ...

Join the writing revolution: subscribe to our AI article generator tool

Opinion Essay

Write Opinion Essay Like a Pro: A Detailed Guide

11 min read

What is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay is a type of essay writing where someone shares their viewpoint or perspective on a topic.

It is similar to a persuasive essay that requires you to present your point of view through logical arguments and evidence.

However, an opinion essay is not just about presenting your opinion, but also backing it with logical reasoning and examples. Moreover, opposing viewpoints should also be presented together with arguments to make.

How to Write an Opinion Essay?

Let's delve deeper into the steps involved in topic selection, research, and brainstorming for an opinion essay.

Here is how to start an opinion essay:

Step 1 - Select a Topic

Select a topic that genuinely interests you. Look for subjects you're passionate about or have strong feelings towards as it will reflect in your writing.

Let’s take a look at some opinion essay topics to help you get inspired for your essay:

The Importance of Mental Health Education in Schools
Should Animal Testing for Cosmetics be Banned?
The Impact of Social Media on Personal Relationships
Should School Uniforms be Mandatory?
The Benefits of Outdoor Learning for Children
The Role of Technology in Shaping the Future
The Effects of Fast Food on Health and Well-being
Should Recycling be Compulsory in Every Household?
The Importance of Teaching Financial Literacy in Schools
The Pros and Cons of Homework: Does It Help or Hinder Learning?

These topics include daily life, societal concerns, education, and health. They provide enough room to express opinions and back them with reasoning and evidence in an essay.

Step 2 - Do Your Research

Research is an important factor before writing an essay. It provides the substance and depth needed to support your viewpoints effectively.

Here are some tips you should keep in mind when researching:

Diverse Sources: Use a variety of sources to gather information, ensuring a well-rounded view of the topic.
Reliability Matters: Stick to reputable sources to ensure the accuracy and credibility of the information you gather.
Take Notes: Write down key points, quotes, or data you find relevant. Organize these notes based on their relevance to your arguments.

Step 3 - Create an Outline

Creating an outline helps create a structure for your essay and clarify your main arguments. It also keeps your essay focused and prevents drifting away from your main opinion.

Here is an outline for an opinion essay format:

Let’s take a look at an opinion essay structure example to help you have a better understanding;

Opinion Essay IELTS Structure Example

Step 4 - Writing the Essay

Writing a good opinion essay requires not only presenting a point of view but backing it up with facts and evidence.

Here is how you can write a compelling opinion essay:

Introduction:

When starting your opinion essay, your introduction serves as a gateway to captivate readers' interest and set the stage for your viewpoint.

Engaging Hook: Begin with a captivating hook or statement, question, or anecdote related to your topic.
Clear Thesis Statement: A strong thesis statement sets the tone for your entire essay. It should be clear, concise, and arguable. For instance , "In today's digital age, social media significantly influences family member’s relationships.”

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph elaborates on a specific reason supporting your opinion, backed by evidence and analysis.

Structured Development: Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence that introduces a new aspect of your opinion essay.
Supportive Evidence: Provide concrete examples or statistics that back up your argument.
Logical Flow: Ensure a smooth transition between paragraphs to help with the flow of your essay.

Counter Arguments (if included)

Anticipate opposing views and address them, reinforcing your opinion.

Present Opposing Views: Acknowledge differing perspectives on your topic as it can help with the credibility of your opinion.
Rebut with Evidence: Refute these views by offering evidence supporting your stance.

Conclude your essay effectively, summarizing key points and reinforcing your opinion.

Brief Summary: Recap the main arguments and end with a thought-provoking statement.

Step 5 - Revise and Edit

Revising and editing your essay ensures that your arguments are clear, and supported by relevant evidence. It also ensures that your essay flows logically from one point to another.

Keep the following tips in mind when revising your opinion essay;

Focus on Clarity: Ensure each sentence is clear and easy to understand. Avoid overly complex language that might confuse readers.
Consistency in Style: Maintain a consistent tone and style throughout your essay. Check for uniformity in formatting and language usage.
Review the Structure: Check if your essay flows logically. Ensure each paragraph connects to your thesis and transitions smoothly.
Multiple Revisions: Don’t settle after one revision. Revise multiple times to refine and strengthen your essay.

Good Practices When Writing an Opinion Essay

We have told you in detail about how to write an opinion essay and what to include. But it would not be a complete guide without telling you about the best practice when writing an opinion essay.

Best Practice When Writing an Opinion Essay

Let’s take a look at some of the best practices:

Maintain Authenticity Being authentic in your writing can draw readers in, making your essay more relatable and captivating.
Consider Your Audience Tailor your language and arguments to suit your audience. Understanding their perspectives can help in presenting a more persuasive opinion.
Stay Concise and Focused Be concise and avoid unnecessary rambling. Stay focused on your main argument to prevent your essay from losing its impact.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in an Opinion Essay

If you want to write a compelling essay, you should also understand the elements you should avoid.

Here is a list of common mistakes you should avoid in your essay:

Neglecting Counterarguments: Overlooking opposing viewpoints weakens your essay's credibility. Addressing counterarguments showcases a comprehensive understanding of the topic.
Insufficient Supporting Evidence: Presenting opinions without credible evidence or illustrative examples weakens the persuasiveness of your essay. Always substantiate your opinions with reliable sources or relevant data.
Excessive Bias in Language: Using overly biased language without acknowledging alternative perspectives can compromise the objectivity of your essay. Balancing passionate language with fairness and objectivity is crucial.

Opinion Essay Examples

Examples provide insight into how essays are structured, including the introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. They offer a visual representation of a well-organized essay.

Let’s take a look at some short opinion essay examples:

Example 2:

Here are some more examples to help you understand better:

Climate Change Opinion Essay Example

Abortion Opinion Essay Example

Opinion Essay IELTS Example

Tips to Write an Opinion Essay

Here are some tips that can help you write an excellent opinion essay:

Explore Ethical Dimensions: Consider ethical considerations related to your opinion. Discussing the ethical implications adds depth and credibility to your stance.
Balance Passion with Objectivity: While passion strengthens your argument, maintaining objectivity and providing balanced perspectives also enhances the credibility of your essay.
Analyze Credible Sources: Utilize reputable sources to support your arguments. Analyze and critically evaluate the credibility of the sources before integrating them into your essay.
Avoid Generalizations: Support your arguments with specific examples, evidence, or anecdotes. Avoid making broad, sweeping statements without backing them up with concrete support.
Stay Organized: Use headings, subheadings, or bullet points where appropriate to organize your essay. This helps the reader follow your arguments easily.

So there you have it!

By now you must have learned how to write an opinion essay. This guide covers the essential aspects, from picking topics to crafting compelling arguments

By following these steps and examples, you'll be well-equipped to write a compelling piece of writing.

If you want your opinion paper to be written properly, get help from our professional essay writers at MyPerfectWords.com.

The writers at our top essay writing service have extensive experience in writing all sorts of essays.

So, hire our online essay writer now and get a high-quality essay at affordable rates.

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

How to write an Opinion Essay from Start to End

Are you struggling with writing an opinion essay, or is it your first time writing one? Then, you might as well use our ideas, tips, and tricks to write an opinion essay that scores you an A+ grade.

The process of creating a successful essay is different for everyone. Some will prefer working undistracted while others work better with distractions.

Although no guide can comprehensively fit your writing style, one thing is for sure: our guide will help you write an opinion essay in a step-by-step format. We have broken down the opinion-writing process into three core stages: prewriting, writing, and revision to make it easy to grasp.

This guide also covers aspects such as opinion essay topic, structure, and the essential guidelines to set you up with writing an opinion essay.

Our comprehensive opinion essay guide inspires your confidence as a writer from the beginning, mid-way, to the end. Consult with us if you feel you need further help.

What is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing that presents an author's point of view (opinion) supported with reasoning, evidence, and examples and can entail opposing inconsistent viewpoints.

Unlike an argumentative or persuasive essay where you offer counterarguments or counterpoints, you focus more on your opinion about an issue at hand in an opinion essay.

You don't necessarily have to explore the advantages or disadvantages (pros and cons). Besides, you don't have to describe the essay topic from a different perspective. Instead, you give your opinions based on well-researched data.

Opinion writing is all about you giving your point of view or perspective in a layered manner. By layering, we mean that you support your opinion with examples and explanations.

Opinion essays are often written by college and university students. Besides, non-native English-speaking students enrolled in the IELTS must write an opinion piece. Thus, opinion essays help you express your thoughts, perceptions, and opinions while writing in English.

Prewriting Stage

Before you commence writing your opinions in an essay, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to write about in your opinion essay and how you will express it. Here are a few major steps that you must undertake:

1. Understand the assignment

Consider reading the opinion essay prompt as the very first step in your writing journey. As you read the instructions, you will get to know the objective of the assignment/essay, the length and deadline of your opinion essay, the formatting style required, and the number of sources to use when writing the essay.

Reading the prompt also helps you understand the questions you will be tackling as you write. It also helps set out the main points that must feature in your opinion writing. These points include the central idea or thesis and the extent of research required to support the opinions in your essay.

2. Brainstorming

As you read the instructions, you can use mind maps or short notes to brainstorm over the topic provided. You can also do the same to develop ideas that you can turn into topics if one is not given.

In this phase of your writing, you can utilize the freewriting technique to develop as many ideas as possible. Freewriting allows you to download all your thoughts concerning a certain topic.

No idea is terrible, off-topic, or strange during the discovery or investigation phase. As you brainstorm, do some light research to familiarize yourself with concepts, frameworks, and facts about the ideas you have developed.

If you think outside the box, for one moment, you will be amazed at how much there is to write an opinion essay about.

3. Select a topic

If no topic is given, go ahead and select a topic you feel works well for you. Pick something that you are familiar with and find interesting to write about. As you have already brainstormed, choosing a topic should not be hard.

Related: Best argumentative essay topics.

4. Do your research

Read through the primary and secondary sources as you take notes, organize facts, and develop ideas so that you can work out your position, perspective, lens, and perspective on a topic.

This is the evidence that you will be using when drafting your opinion essay.

Research online, read related books, find related peer-reviewed scholarly journals, use Wikipedia to familiarize yourself with concepts, and choose the sources to keep for the writing phase.

5. Formulate a thesis

Are you already familiar with thesis statements? If you are, you do not have to worry about developing an opinion essay thesis statement. The process is the same because an opinion essay thesis is a central idea or argument you want the entire essay to be about. It is the idea that the body paragraphs will be expounding and developing. Remember to have a clear thesis so that you have a focused opinion essay. To do this, refer to your thesis each time you are writing the paper.

6. Choose a befitting title

Like other academic papers, opinion essays must have a short, clear, and precise title. Your title often comes from the topic and the thesis. To develop your title, take your thesis and compress it into 3-4 words. Remember, the title should not tell the entire story; it leaves that to the body paragraphs.

7. Create an outline

With the topic, thesis, and title ready, it is time to c reate an outline or a rough template for your opinion essay. An outline helps you to organize your essay into paragraphs. It is the blueprint or the map of the rough structure of your essay. Although many students deliberately skip this step, it is vital as it makes it easier to stay focused when writing an opinion essay.

Writing Stage

Real work begins during the drafting phase, where you begin to write your paper. With all you've done in the preparation phase, you should not be afraid to handle this stage.

You already have a thesis, which is good because a lack of it often leads to drifting, making it hard to frame the fact. As you draft the opinion essay, you will be using the materials from the prewriting stage to build your paragraphs.

Most successful opinion writers will begin with the body paragraphs without an introduction. When you start with the body paragraphs, you get the independence to work through your ideas without restriction to a thesis. However, this is only useful if you are unsure about the direction you need your opinion essay to take. However, we will explain it step by step and leave the approach for your choosing.

1. Write the introduction

Your opinion essay must have an introduction as the first paragraph after the title page. The introductory paragraph presents your subject and states your opinion clearly, concisely, and precisely.

Since it is the first part your reader focuses on, you need to impress them immediately. Using a solid essay hook, you can only beckon them off the bat.

When you introduce a hook in the opinion essay introduction, you will capture your audience's attention, psyche, and interest, motivating them to keep reading. For example, you can begin your essay with a statistic, fact, rhetorical question, addressing the readers directly, anecdote, or a quote of your choosing. It should be the first sentence in your introduction.

After hooking your reader, provide the background on your topic to help your readers understand: the intent and significance of your opinion essay. Offer some overview of the critical debates about the topic, but do not provide too many details in the introduction.

Finally, present your thesis statement in your last one or two sentences. You already have your thesis statement from the prewriting stage. Present it so that your reader understands your central argument, and focus and so that you can signal your readers about your position on the topic.

If you are writing a longer opinion essay, say eight pages and beyond, you can end your introduction by briefly describing the contents of every section of the essay. Thus, you provide a roadmap of your essay so that your reader grasps the structure and has a preview of how you will develop arguments in your opinion essay.

2. Write the main body (body paragraphs)

The main body of your essay needs to support your thesis statement, set out in the introduction. For a standard five-paragraph essay, your opinion essay will have three linked body paragraphs. Each paragraph should present a separate idea or point of view that is supported by evidence, examples, and facts that must be well-cited.

Each body paragraph must begin with a unique topic sentence, a mini-thesis, or the main idea that you will back with arguments and evidence in the paragraph. Ensure that you do not start a new paragraph because the one you are writing has become longer. Instead, begin a new paragraph only when you want to discuss another idea.

As you write the body paragraph, use the right tenses, transition or linking words, formal vocabulary, right punctuations, and cite the sources well.

The body paragraphs account for 80% of your essay, which means that you should balance the word count among the three body paragraphs.

After the topic sentence, present evidence that can include quotes, data, or examples from relevant scholarly sources. Then, interpret and explain the evidence and show how it builds your thesis.

3. Write the conclusion

The third step in writing an opinion essay is concluding it. The conclusion of an opinion essay should restate the main opinion/thesis statement using different words. It should also contain a brief summary of the main points supporting your arguments. Finally, it should equally show why your main opinion matters.

Refrain from introducing new ideas or apologizing for your opinions in the essay. But, on the other hand, never undermine your arguments as well. You should also avoid cliché concluding phrases like to sum up, in summary.

The conclusion should engage your readers. You can end with a warning, ask a provocative question, make recommendations, or suggest consequences if your opinion is not considered.

For a great and meaningful conclusion for an opinion essay, end your essay with an impactful or memorable sentence to create one last strong impression in the mind of your readers.

Revision Stage

After writing your first draft, take a break from writing. This is the time to close your computer, arrange your table, catch that movie or series, drink some water, or take a walk.

Once you have rested enough, assuming your essay is not urgent, you can proceed to the revision stage when fresh. Some call it the editing and proofreading phase; whatever it is, it is the last part of writing an opinion essay where you make sure you dot your i's and cross your t's.

In the revision phase:

Evaluate the overall organization of your essay
Revise the content of each paragraph in your opinion essay
Proofread for grammatical and language errors
Check for plagiarism so that you have the acceptable similarity level
Revise your opinion essay for issues such as cohesion
Check whether there are transitions in your essay
Check the clarity in sentences and coherence of your ideas
Check whether you have used varied sentence structures
Edit the paper by reading what you have written. Look for any punctuation errors
Read your paper aloud so that you can catch some errors
Check the formatting of your paper in MLA, Harvard, APA, CSE, or ASA format
Ensure all the inner-text citations are as per the formatting
Check capitalization and vocabulary are well placed
Check the title and reference pages
Check the numbering
Assess your choice of words, ease of reading, and flow

An opinion essay is written in prose form. Therefore, ensure that you do not have listicles in your essay; it is not a camping list either way!

If crafted the right way, your opinion essay will become an excellent piece of writing that your professor can use as an example of the best opinion essay for the following classes. The tips we have shared above can help you pull your a-game when writing an opinion essay.

Related Read: How to write a comprehensive A+ essay .

Opinion Essay Outline/Template

You have probably already encountered and used the basic five-paragraph essay structure, which works well with opinion essays.

I. Introduction

An introductory statement, mostly a hook statement .
Background information.
A great thesis statement that clearly states your opinion on the given topic or issue.

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Body Paragraph 1

Topic sentence with the chief argument that supports your opinion.
Evidence and facts supported the ideas in the thesis statement.
Analysis and explanation of your facts and pieces of evidence.
A closing remark that points out the correlation between the thesis statement and your arguments in paragraph one
Transition to your next paragraph .

B. Body Paragraph 2

Topic sentence with the principal argument that supports your opinion.

C. Body Paragraph 3

Topic sentence with the main argument that supports your opinion.
Evidence and facts supported the ideas in the thesis statement .

III. Conclusion

Restate your thesis using new words and sentence structure
Give brief remarks on the arguments, examples, evidence, and facts in the body paragraphs.
A closing statement that leaves your readers impressed.

Expressions to use when writing an Opinion Essay

We already covered some phrases to use when writing essays. However, when you are undertaking opinion writing, the chances are that you need to explain your point of view in the best way. So, here are some basic expressions that you can use to expose how good a critical thinker and a creative writer you are, which is the key to scoring an A+ grade.

If you want to fix an opinion essay assignment faster and better, use some of these expressions or phrases to put through your opinions:

Nothing is cast in stone; you can always choose your words wisely. However, the ultimate goal is to write an outstanding opinion essay that seduces the best grade from your instructor or professor. Remember, you can use adverbs, adjectives, and nouns when writing but mind the flow of ideas and simplicity of your opinion piece.

Dos and Don'ts when Writing an Opinion Essay

As you set out to write an opinion essay, we have gathered some dos and don'ts to help you write a great essay. Read them and keep them in mind when researching, drafting, writing, and editing your opinion essay.

150 Plus Opinion Essay Topics

Here is what to write your opinion essay about

Should American citizens serve on the jury?
Should the voting age be changed to allow minors?
Laws should apply equally to anyone
Is the president above the law?
Should political leaders be held accountable for misbehavior in the media?
Should governments tax churches?
Can wars be avoided?
Are wars the creation of stable governments?
Do we need to spend much on military and defense might?
Are private prisons ethical?
Socialism is still the best philosophy.
Is capitalism killing the world?
Does the media have freedom of speech?
Should governments gag the media?
Are protocols necessary during national celebrations?
Can politicians represent the interests of certain media outlets?

Related Read: How to choose topics for your essay .

Social Media Opinion Essay Topics and Ideas

Is Facebook becoming a surveillance tool?
Social media has a role in governance
Is slacktivism legitimate action or a lazy move?
Can clicktivism shape public opinion
Social media creates rifts between people
Social media affects the family values
Social media is the primary divisive tool in the U.S
Social media and hate crimes
Social media leads to depression and suicide among teens
Anorexia nervosa and the rise of social media influencers
Does social media normalize material wealth?
Social media promotes an unrealistic lifestyle.
Twitter is for elite thinkers in the society
Twitter is a political messenger
Youths are influenced by social media
Social media is an integral tool of changing society today
Modern students rely too much on technology
Social media helped students during the Covid-19 pandemic
Facebook affects the personal relationship
Social media promotes stalking
Social media encourages body shaming
Memes shared through social media relieve depression
Social media negatively impacts body image

General Opinion Essay Topics

Children should not watch too much television
Schools should teach sex education
Countries should create buffer zones that accommodate refugees to curb emigration.
Laws prohibiting heroin should be applied to tobacco
Animal use in scientific research should be regulated
Parents are a student's first and the best teachers
Children who grow in the countryside are well mannered compared to those from big cities
Zoos are not cruel to animals
Education is vital in the development of a country
Politicians should be educated to make great laws
Ministers should be professionals in the ministries they head
Luck has little to do with success
Hard work beats luck when it comes to succeeding
Private cars are the leading cause of pollution
Using hybrid and electric vehicles does not curb pollution
Anybody can do without a TV
Smartphones are addictive
Does traveling have benefits?
Does fasting help reduce weight?
Are feminists destroying society?
Should schools still teach handwriting?
Should university and college education be free?
Does failure in school mean failure in life?
Should doping be allowed in extreme sports?
Is graffiti part of art?
Mass media has a role in shaping public opinion
Are women better parents compared to men?
Childhood obesity leads to an obese society
Leaders should be fit
Rich countries should forgive the debts from developing countries
Rich countries should pay more for pollution
Sometimes telling the truth hurts
It is justifiable to tell lies if the truth is dangerous
Students should be allowed to evaluate their teachers
The media should give famous people privacy
Corrupt leaders should be jailed
Corrupt presidents should be dethroned
Proceeds from corrupt governments hidden abroad should be used to fight hunger and poverty in the respective continents.
Rich people should pay more taxes.
Are hormonal birth control pills bad for women's health?
Fraternities promote misogyny on campus
First-year students should reside on campus
Rich peoples have no obligation of helping the poor
The internet brings the world close together
Face to face communication is deteriorating thanks to technology
Retirement age should be compulsory at 65 years
Governments should reserve certain leadership positions for women
Access to law and lawyers should be affordable to poor citizens
Homeless people are desperate
Homelessness is not the end of the road
The use of animals in circuses is unethical
Poachers should be hanged
Automakers are greenwashing electric cars
Drug use is becoming a culture in the USA
The American Dream is dead
CEOs should not earn too much while employees contribute to the success
Teens should be barred from sleepovers
We should be honest with our peers
Ill-gotten wealth does not last
Celebrities are the cause of hate online
Children should be encouraged to read physical books
Classical music is valuable
Hip hop music gives youths false hopes
Music videos promote materialism over values
Music piracy affects creatives
The use of the internet should be charged
Classical music boosts productivity
Music boosts academic performance
Physical activity promotes healthy life
Emojis help people express themselves better
Vegetarians are as healthy as meat-eaters

Related Read: Political science essay topic ideas .

Sports Opinion Essay Topics

You can decide to write an opinion essay on a sports topic. If sport is your thing, focus on the current affairs, arising issues, and the news. Here are some topics:

The use of animals in sports is ethical
Athletes should be exempted from taxes
Teams with successful coaches are successful
Hunting sports should be banned
Doping is unethical and bad sportsmanship
Professional athletes deserve better pay
College athletes should be paid
College athletes should have scholarships
Female athletes should participate in extreme sports
Mountain biking is a demanding sport
Olympic games promote global unity
Cheerleading is part of sports
Hooliganism in football affects brand image
Athletes should continue getting full-ride scholarships
Sports psychologists ensure teams' wellbeing
Athletes are fit and strong
Golf is a sport for the wealthy
Winter sports athletes should wear helmets
Basketball players are vulnerable to racial discrimination
Sportspeople today champion for equality
Sportspeople influence political processes

Check this out, too : Sports topics for essays.

Psychology Opinion Essay Topics

Anorexia is widespread among the youth
Telepsychiatry can help people in remote areas with mental illnesses
Autistic children are gifted learners
Having pet animals reduces stress
Soldiers with PTSD take a long to recover
Homelessness leads to mental illness
Imprisonment can affect the psychology of an individual
School counselors save children from suicidal thoughts
Meditation and Yoga help relieve stress
Racism is linked to mental illness

Related: Adoption topics to consider for essays .

Culture-related opinion essay topics

Culture has become a hot topic for almost every essay. Many students realize the importance of culture in society. Under it, you can explore mentality, fashion, arts, beliefs, religion, and language. Here are some topics to write an opinion essay about culture:

Left and rightwing politics, do they matter?
Impacts of social media on national culture
Are we developing a ubiquitous global culture?
Family values depend on our culture
Religion and culture peacefully coexist
Religion directs national values
Millennials are challenging old traditions, customs, and norms, and they are right.
Food has a national cultural origin
Culture defines how we engage others
Students going abroad should be taught how to manage culture shock
UNESCO does a better job preservice heritage and culture
Governments must preserve national cultures
Museums are a great place to learn a given people's culture
Cultural anthropologists and archeologists are influential professionals
Our cultural mindset reflects in our language

Related: Black death essay topics .

Parting Shot!

In a nutshell, our article has comprehensively covered the opinion writing process. Coming this far means you know how to write an opinion essay introduction, body, and conclusion. Whether it is a three-paragraph essay or a five-paragraph opinion essay, our tips will see you through to success.

Related Article: Descriptive essay writing guide .

As a final remark, once you have entirely fixed every part of your essay outline, turn the first draft into a final draft by thoroughly proofreading your paper. Remember to also revise for organization, language, grammar, vocabulary, style, and spelling. And when choosing the sources to use, utilize the CRAAP test to get credible and reliable sources.

As you write, remember not to use I when stating your opinion. Instead, use an objective and formal style when writing an opinion essay. It is a paper where you express your opinion, yes, but try to do it objectively.

If you need help writing or editing your opinion essay, you can consult with our professional writers .

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

Opinion Essay

Last updated on: Jun 9, 2023

How to Write an Opinion Essay - Structure, Topics & Examples

By: Cordon J.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Nov 2, 2021

The opinion essay is a type of persuasive writing that reflects the writer's point of view. It shows what the writer thinks or how they feel about a specific subject.

Moreover, such an essay requires good writing skills as well as an understanding of its format. Continue reading to know more about how to write a good opinion essay in no time. Also, find below the examples and topics for better guidance.

On this Page

What is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing in which the writer expresses their viewpoints on a specific issue. It is done to persuade or convince readers.

To do this successfully, you need to present your opinions and reasoning with logical examples for both sides of the argument. The opposing viewpoint is also presented.

Similarly, an opinion essay is also known as agree or disagree essay. Writing an opinion essay is similar to writing a persuasive essay. It requires you to explain why your viewpoint is right, but it's more like the conclusion of a research paper. Here, the writer defends rather than trying to convince someone else about what they should think or do about the topic.

Consider the following points while writing a good opinion paper.

Always support your opinion by using a strong piece of evidence from credible sources.
Write all sentences in a proper sequence.
Avoid using copied content from the internet and state your own opinion.
Write formally and avoid using slang words.
Ensure that the essay is free from any grammatical and spelling mistakes.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Opinion Essay Structure

Writing any type of essay requires proper format and structure. The same is the case with an opinion essay that follows a standard five-paragraph structure.

Let us have a look at the detailed opinion essay format structure given below.

Introduction

Grab the audience’s interest with a hook statement
Present your opinion
Introduce the main topic
State the thesis statement

Body Paragraph 1

Write a topic sentence with the first reason
Supporting evidence
Facts/ Examples

Body Paragraph 2

Write a topic sentence with the second reason

Body Paragraph 3

Write a topic sentence with the third reason
Summarize your opinion
Restate the thesis statement

How to Write an Opinion Essay?

Writing an opinion essay requires proper planning and preparation. Here are some important steps that you should follow to write a perfect essay in no time.

1. Prewriting Stage

Before you start writing your opinion essay, collect evidence to support your viewpoint. Make sure that the information collected is relevant in order for it to be considered a good argument.

After you start brainstorming, consider answering these questions to get more ideas.

What are the central arguments being conveyed in the essay?
What did the audiences want to know?
Is my opinion relevant to the main theme?
How can I improve my opinion?

Look at this list for ideas and organize their answers in a detailed opinion essay outline.

2. Begin Writing the Essay

There are three major sections included in an opinion essay. These comprise an introduction paragraph, main body, and a conclusion. The following is a detailed description of these sections.

Introduction - It is the first section that discusses the subject and states your opinion about it. Always start this paragraph with an attention-grabbing hook statement and present the thesis statement at the end.
Body Paragraphs - These paragraphs contain all the relevant information to support the main thesis. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence and use present tense while writing this essay. Never use phrasal verbs and idioms and add in-text citations properly. Lastly, make sure to use transitions for a logical flow of ideas. The opposing side who disagrees with the statement should also be represented in your writing.
Conclusion - This section is as important as the introduction. It should not only be restating the thesis statement but also present the central arguments. However, you should avoid introducing any new ideas.

3. Proofreading and Editing

The final step to your essay is proofreading. Make sure that the grammar, vocabulary, and spellings are all correct before submitting the final draft. Check for plagiarism, as this will also help protect you from being accused of cheating.

Don't forget about the essay’s structure. Make sure there is a clear introduction followed by well-developed body paragraphs and a conclusion.

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Opinion Essay Examples

Examples are a great way to get a detailed idea of writing any type of essay. Below we have attached some samples for you to get a comprehensive understanding of the writing process.

OPINION ESSAY SAMPLE

OPINION ESSAY ABOUT COVID 19

OPINION ESSAY ABOUT FAST FOOD

Opinion Essay Topics

Here is a list of topics for an opinion essay that you can select for writing your own paper.

Is social media damaging to our personal relationships?
Does traveling benefit young people?
Are high school dress codes biased against female students?
Should primary schools still teach handwriting?
Should public transportation be free for city residents?
Should college and university be free?
Should doping be allowed in competitive sports?
Are professional sports players’ salaries too high?
Should physical education be mandatory in high school?
Should hormonal birth control be sold over the counter?

The comprehensive guide mentioned above will help you write a perfect opinion essay in no time. However, if you still need help with the writing process, contact a professional essay writing service like 5StarEssays.com .

Tired of the tedious research and writing that goes into every paper you write?

Our expert essay writers have what it takes to make your work stand out from everyone else's. With years of experience, they know how to get things done in no time at all!

Just tell them exactly what you need help with - whether that be a simple high school essay or an advanced dissertation, we'll take care of everything for you. Call us now and place your order to get an impressive opinion essay at affordable rates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an opinion essay called.

An opinion essay is also known as an argumentative, persuasive, or position essay.

What is the purpose of an opinion essay?

An opinion essay aims to explain something from a subjective position of a writer. It is also used to convince someone of anything by proving the stance.

What are the features of opinion writing?

Some of the main features of opinion writing include:

Concrete details
Language and content-specific words
Relationships between and among ideas
Linking reasons and evidence to the opinion

How do you introduce an opinion in writing?

An opinion is mainly introduced by stating the topic and providing reasons that are supported by facts and details drawn from credible sources.

What is a supported opinion essay?

Supported opinion essays are a great way to show your opinion on the subject and back it up with sound evidence. The goal of this essay isn't just convincing readers that you're right but also letting them see how well-researched all aspects were for their own learning.

Can you use I in an opinion essay?

It's not true that there is such a rule as, never use (I) in an opinion essay . It depends on the circumstances, but these kinds of expressions should be used when you think it will help your writing and thematics to get across to the readers.

College Admission Essay, Law

Cordon. is a published author and writing specialist. He has worked in the publishing industry for many years, providing writing services and digital content. His own writing career began with a focus on literature and linguistics, which he continues to pursue. Cordon is an engaging and professional individual, always looking to help others achieve their goals.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

How to Write A Bio – Professional Tips and Examples

Learn How to Write an Article Review with Examples

How to Write a Poem Step-by-Step Like a Pro

How To Write Poetry - 7 Fundamentals and Tips

Know About Appendix Writing With the Help of Examples

List of Social Issues Faced By the World

How To Write A Case Study - Easy Guide

Learn How to Avoid Plagiarism in 7 Simple Steps

Writing Guide of Visual Analysis Essay for Beginners

Learn How to Write a Personal Essay by Experts

Character Analysis - A Step By Step Guide

Obesity Essay: A Complete Guide and Topics

Thematic Statement: Writing Tips and Examples

Expert Guide on How to Write a Summary

How to Write a Synopsis - Easy Steps and Format Guide

Learn How To Write An Editorial By Experts

How to Get Better at Math - Easy Tips and Tricks

$Opinion essay$

How to Write a Movie Review - Steps and Examples

Creative Writing - Easy Tips For Beginners

Types of Plagiarism Every Student Should Know

Search form

An opinion essay.

Look at the essay and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then do the other exercises.

Preparation

Check your understanding: multiple selection

Check your writing: matching - useful words and phrases, worksheets and downloads.

Are video games really a good way to keep fit? What do you think?

We will process your data to send you our newsletter and updates based on your consent. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of every email. Read our privacy policy for more information.

49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

Lesson Plans
Grading Students for Assessment
Becoming A Teacher
Assessments & Tests
Elementary Education
Special Education
Homeschooling

One of the most common essay types is the opinion, or persuasive, essay. In an opinion essay , the writer states a point of view, then provides facts and reasoned arguments to support that viewpoint. The goal of the essay is to convince the reader to share the writer’s opinion.

Students aren't always aware of how many strong opinions they already hold. Use the following opinion writing prompts to inspire them to start thinking and writing persuasively.

Prompts About School and Sports

School- and sports-related topics often elicit strong opinions in students. Use these writing prompts to kick off the brainstorming process.

Ch-ch-ch-changes . What is one thing about your school that needs to change? Is bullying an issue? Do students need longer breaks or a dress code? Choose one vital issue that needs to change and convince school leaders to make it happen.
Special guest. Your school is trying to decide on a famous person to give a speech or presentation to students. Who do you think they should choose? Write an essay to convince your principal.
Oxford or bust. Is the Oxford comma essential or obsolete?
Scribble scrabble. Do students still need to learn cursive handwriting?
Co-ed conflict. Would students perform better if more schools were single-gender rather than co-ed? Why or why not?
Participation awards. Should there be winners and losers in sports, or is participation the ultimate goal?
Homework overload. Write an essay to convince your teacher to assign less homework.
Sports. Which sport (or team) is the best? What makes it better than the others?
No slacking . Write an essay persuading a fellow student to do their homework.
Class trip. This year, students get to vote on where to go for a class trip. Write an essay convincing your fellow students to vote for the place you’d like to go.
Superlatives. Which would you rather be: a top student, a talented athlete, or an accomplished artist?
Virtual athletes . Video games competitions are often aired on TV and treated like sports competitions. Should video games be considered sports?
Class debate. Should classes that students may not use or that don’t interest them (such as physical education or foreign language) be required?

Prompts About Relationships

Friendships, dating, and other relationships can be both rewarding and exasperating. These writing prompts about relationships will help students explore their feelings about both the positive and the negative moments.

Snitch. Your best friend tells you about his plan to cheat on a test. Should you tell an adult? Why or why not?
Give it a chance. Your best friend is convinced that she would hate your favorite book, even though she's never read it. Convince her to read it.
Friendships vs. relationships. Are friendships or romantic relationships more important in life? Why?
Driving age. What age do kids start driving in your state? Is that age too old, too young, or just right? Why?
Truth or consequences. Your best friend asks your opinion about something, but you know that a truthful answer will hurt her feelings. What do you do?
Who chooses? Your best friend is visiting, and you want to watch TV together, but his favorite show is at the same time as your favorite show. Convince him that your show is a better choice.
Fun times. What is the most fun thing you and your best friend have ever experienced together? Why does it deserve the top spot?
Dating. Are long-term dating relationships good or bad for teens?
New friends. You want to spend time with a new student at school, but your best friend is jealous. Convince your friend of the importance of including the newcomer.
Be mine. Is Valentine’s Day worthwhile or just a scheme for the greeting card and chocolate industry to make more money?
Debbie Downer. Should you cut ties with friends or relatives who are always negative?
He loves me not. Is it really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
Elders. Should you respect your elders merely because they are older, or is respect something that must be earned?

Prompts About Family, Pets, and Leisure Time

The following writing prompts related to family, furry friends, and free time will help students reflect on preferences, ethics, and integrity.

Self-reflection. This time, you're the one who needs convincing! Write an essay to persuade yourself to start a healthy habit (or kick a bad habit).
Paper wars. Should toilet paper hang with the loose end resting on the top of the roll or hanging from the bottom?
Movie vs. book. Choose a book that has been made into a movie. Which version is better, and why?
Weekend wanderings . Do you prefer to stay home on the weekends or get out and do things around town? Write an essay to convince your parents to let you do what you prefer this weekend.
Sweepstakes. A travel agency is hosting an essay contest to give away an all-expenses-paid trip to the one place in the world you’d most love to visit. Craft a winning essay that convinces them they need to choose you.
Zoo debate. Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
Presence of pets. Should there be limits on the types of places pets can go (e.g. airplanes or restaurants)? Why or why not?
Inspiring stories. What is the most inspiring book you’ve ever read? Why is it so inspiring?
Dollar discovery. You find a $20 bill in the parking lot of a crowded store. Is it okay to keep it, or should you turn it in to customer service?
Vacation day. What is the very best way to spend an unexpected day off from school and why is it the best?
Digital or print? Is it better to read books in print or digitally? Why?

Prompts About Society and Technology

The people and technology around us have a significant impact on our lives. These writing prompts encourage students to consider the effect that society and technological advances have on our day-to-day lives.

Reverse technology. Pick one technological advancement that you think the world would be better off without. Explain your reasoning and persuade the reader.
Out of this world . Do aliens exist? Why or why not?
Social media. Is social media good or bad for society? Why?
Emoji. Has the use of emoji stunted our ability to express ourselves in writing, or does it help us identify our emotions more precisely?
Auto safety. Have advancements like self-driving cars, blind spot indicators, and lane departure warning systems made driving safer, or have they just made drivers less attentive?
Exploration Mars. Write a letter to Elon Musk convincing him that you should be part of a colony to Mars.
Fundraisers. Is it okay for kids to stand outside stores and ask shoppers for money for their sports teams, clubs, or band? Why or why not?
Inventions. What is the greatest invention ever made? Why is it the best?
Important cause. In your opinion, what global problem or issue deserves more attention than it currently receives? Why should more time and money be invested in this cause?
Minimalism. Does living a minimalist lifestyle make for a happier life? Why or why not?
Gaming gains. Are video games generally a positive or a negative influence? Why?
Rose-colored glasses. Is the current decade the best era in history? Why or why not?
Paper or plastic. Should plastic bags be outlawed?
Writing Prompts for Elementary School Students
January Writing Prompts
Writing Prompt (Composition)
How to Write a Persuasive Essay
Fun March Writing Prompts for Journaling
24 Journal Prompts for Creative Writing in the Elementary Classroom
October Writing Prompts
May Writing Prompts
September Writing Prompts
Creative Writing Prompts for High School Students
December Writing Prompts
February Writing Prompts
Writing Prompts for 5th Grade
Christmas Journal Writing Prompts
Should You Write Your Own Recommendation Letter for Graduate School?
Martin Luther King Jr. Writing Prompts

Essay Writing for Beginners: 6-Step Guide with Examples

If you need to write an essay, whether for a college course or to pass a writing test, this guide will take you through the process step-by-step.

Even if you have never written an essay before, this guide will make the process simple and easy to follow.

It is divided into two parts.

First, I’ll show you the steps of writing an essay from scratch using a simple example.

And in the second part, we’ll go through the process together and write a complete sample essay.

Let’s dive right in.

Writing an essay is a 6-step process.

Step 1. Decide on your main point and write it down

You could be in one of the following situations:

Your teacher or professor gave you a prompt, and you have to follow it
You are allowed to make up your own essay topic
You must pass a writing test and are practicing

Whatever the case, let’s assume that you have some kind of a topic or an idea for an essay. Many essay prompts ask you to decide for or against an idea. You must agree or disagree.

And in your first step, you need to simply make that decision – whether you agree or disagree – and just write it down as a simple sentence.

This is a very simple example, but it shows you what a thesis essentially looks like. It is also your main point.

Try not to make your thesis sentence too complicated. Keep it simple so that the point is perfectly clear to both you and the reader.

In this case, our example thesis is:

And we’re ready for the next step.

Step 2. Come up with three supporting ideas

Whether you need to write 300 or 3,000 words, as a beginner you only need three supporting points to prove your main point.

This is why I teach the Power of Three.

So, why three? You see, you need to divide your topic into subtopics. If you don’t, the whole essay writing process will be harder than it has to be.

If you divide it into only two parts, that’s okay. But it doesn’t give you enough meat when you’ll be writing the body of the essay.

If you divide it into more than three, that is also a recipe for frustration. It’s just too many.

Three is a very comfortable number for the brain to deal with. Trust me. I’ve taught many, many people.

Let’s apply the Power of Three to our simple example.

Why do I love apples? I love them for three reasons. Not one, not two, not seven. Just three reasons.

I love apples because they are:

Nutritious

In this step, your job is to make sure that these three reasons are really different from one another. In this case, they are.

Here is a wrong way to do it:

In this case, apples being filling is too similar to being nutritious. This means that when you’re writing the body of the essay, you may run into writer’s block.

This happens because you realize that you’ve already said everything there is to say about the nutrition of apples, and now them being filling is too closely related. And you’re out of words to write.

Don’t let that happen. Just keep your supporting points really distinct from one another.

Step 3. Write out the complete thesis statement

Now you have everything you need to write a complete thesis statement. You have your main and supporting points.

Take them and write them out as complete sentences in one paragraph. Let’s do it very simplistically, using our apples example:

Again, this is overly simple, and I don’t expect you to write such short sentences one after another this way.

But it’s crystal clear. And the supporting points really sound like good evidence for the main point.

In other words, this thesis statement works.

Your Thesis Statement Is Also Your Outline

Students often ask how to write an essay outline. But once you have written your thesis statement the way I just showed you, you have yourself a nice outline.

In addition, you already have the first paragraph. It may not be complete. You may choose to add some words to it. You will also add an introduction in a later step.

But your first paragraph is, for the main, done. It exists, and it’s good to know that you just wrote a nice paragraph.

We are ready for the next step.

Step 4. Write the body of the essay

We already know that we have three sections in our little example. And you will also have three main sections if you apply the Power of Three to your essay.

Each of your sections will contain one or more paragraphs.

But as a beginner, just stick to one paragraph per section. Each of your sections will be a paragraph, and you need to write only three paragraphs in the body of the essay.

Body Paragraph Structure

You must begin each of your body paragraphs with a lead sentence (also known as a topic sentence). And then your job is to fill the rest of the paragraph with evidence to support what you just stated in the lead sentence.

You may have heard that in your essay you should proceed from more general to more specific ? That is exactly right.

The lead sentence (the first sentence in the paragraph) is the most general statement in that paragraph.

For example, in our essay about apples, the second section is about how nutritious apples are. So, you would begin your paragraph with something like this:

This is the most general statement. And now, your job would be to unpack that, to write a little more specifically.

As an explanation , you can write a sentence or two on what kinds of nutrients apples contain.

And as examples , you can write about what some of these nutrients do in the body that makes them nutritious.

Does this make sense? You are proceeding from general to specific. We’ll take a closer look at this process in the essay topic sample that is coming up.

Once you’ve written the body paragraphs, you’re ready for the next step.

Step 5. Write the introduction and the conclusion

Introductions.

The introduction is really just a sentence (two at most) that you add in the beginning of your first paragraph.

Introductions are not necessary. Many instructors will expect that you write them while others won’t. You can go straight to the point by starting your first paragraph with the thesis.

However, most instructors will expect an introduction, and you should know how to write one.

To write an introduction, just zoom out a bit and write a more general and less relevant sentence. For example, we can start our essay about apples with this sentence:

And then we proceed straight to the thesis: “I love apples.” And so on…

Conclusions

In your conclusion you can do one of several things. But I recommend that, as a beginner, you stick to the time-proven restatement .

Basically, you simply repeat what you stated in your thesis statement, using different words.

Yes, this is repetitious, but that is the nature of conclusions. Don’t worry.

You can literally copy your thesis statement, paste it at the end of your essay, and make sure you change the wording so that it reads like a new paragraph.

For example, this is how we can write our conclusion about apples:

Yes, your conclusion can be just one sentence. But it can also contain many sentences.

Step 6. Proofread

Our final step in writing an essay is to go back and proofread our draft.

We must look out for:

Any contradictions (to make sure we don’t contradict our own points)
Any irrelevant material (stuff that doesn’t belong in the essay at all)
Grammatical errors
Misspellings

One good, thorough round of proofreading can be enough to be ready to submit your essay for grading.

You can use a variety of tools sto spell-check your essay. Google docs is one great tool for that. But many others, such as Grammarly, are available as well.

Guess what! Now you know how to write an essay, even if you’re a beginner.

And now, let’s apply what we learned.

Let’s take a sample topic and follow the 6 steps to write a nice sample essay.

Let’s do this!

Sample Essay: “Parents are the best teachers.”

This essay topic came from one of my readers. Let’s develop it into an essay by following the steps we just learned.

Step 1. Decide on the main point and write it

Let’s say that we are given a choice – whether we agree or disagree that parents are the best teachers.

All we have to do is take a stand. We have to simply decide – yes or no.

Let’s decide that parents are indeed the best teachers.

We simply state this as the main point:

Step 2. Think up three supporting ideas

Why could parents be the best teachers?

This will take some thinking. But that’s what we need to do.

Let’s use the Power of Three . And here is what we came up with:

They are the first teachers, and that’s very important.
They have the child’s best interests in mind.
They spend more time with their child than anyone else.

We really want to make sure that these supporting points are different from one another. Are they?

If we read them over, we’ll see that each of them is indeed distinct. Great!

Step 3. Write out the thesis statement

We have our main point. We have our supporting points. And writing the full thesis statement is now easy.

Let’s do it:

We really just took the thesis and the supporting statements and wrote them all in a sequence as one paragraph.

As a result, we now have a nice, clear opening paragraph.

We also now have our outline:

We know exactly how many sections our essay will have.

We also know in which order we’ll be presenting our support. It’s all in the thesis statement, which is also our outline.

Now our job is to write three good supporting paragraphs, one at a time.

Let’s start with the first body paragraph.

The first sentence is always the lead sentence – the most general sentence in a body paragraph.

Writing the Lead Sentence

Let’s first copy and paste our first supporting point from our thesis statement:

I copied this because this is exactly what my paragraph is about. And this would be a perfect lead sentence if it were not repetitious.

To make sure it’s not simply repetitious, we’ll tweak and expand it a little:

We made sure that the subject is clear – that it is not “ They ” but “ Parents .”

And we expanded the sentence by adding an explanation: “…because what is imprinted early stays with the child forever.”

You don’t have to necessarily add an explanation in the lead sentence like this. But this is an option that you have.

All we really want to do in the lead sentence is just expand it slightly over the initial supporting point that it came from.

Writing the Rest of the Paragraph

Let’s review our body paragraph structure:

In our paragraph, we proceed from more general to more specific. Our lead sentence is the most general statement.

The next most general part of the paragraph is where you explain your point. You can provide a scientific explanation with data and research. You can explain it logically, using your own rationale.

But it is still a general part. Let’s write it.

Explanation

We are keeping it simple and not using any references to scientific studies. You can and should cite sources in your essay when necessary.

If you’re writing an essay in an exam or test, you won’t need any references. You can just make things up as you go along. And it works as long as your content is logical and supports the main point.

If you’re writing for a college course, you will likely need to cite sources, unless it’s English 101 where you write basic essays like this one.

But now, we have three explanatory sentences in our paragraph. Our next step is to add at least one example. You can add more, but one should do it for a beginner.

This example presents a phenomenon that is well known in psychology. It is an example because it describes one extreme kind of a phenomenon. It is also much more specific than our explanation.

Note that we can add more words by talking about a specific wild child from history. But let’s stop here and look at our full paragraph:

We have 113 words in this paragraph. And it’s a perfect body paragraph that supports the first part of our thesis statement.

Let’s write the next one.

Again, let’s copy the second supporting point and then tweak and expand it.

This sentence already starts with the subject, which is “ parents .” Now, all we need to do is to expand it slightly:

We added a short phrase just to make the lead sentence a little longer and more detailed. Now it doesn’t read like plain repetition.

Let’s write the next most general part of this paragraph – the explanation:

These three sentences explain why it makes sense that parents would have the child’s best interests in mind. She is the most precious thing to them in the world.

It’s time for an example. And I’ll use my personal experience:

It’s totally okay to use personal examples in an essay. You can use them even in advanced research papers. Your personal experience is valuable. Use it.

Let’s take a look at our second body paragraph in its entirety:

This paragraph contains 98 words of evidence to support the second point.

It’s time for the final body paragraph.

Again, you know what we’ll do. We’ll just copy our third supporting point and tweak and expand it a little:

Let’s make sure the reader knows what the real subject is in this sentence. And let’s also expand it just a bit:

Great! It’s time for the explanatory part:

Again, we won’t be citing any sources here and will keep it simple. This explanation works really well because it provides evidence for the third supporting point.

Let’s be even more specific and write at least one example.

Again, I’m using a personal example to show that whoever spends the most time with the child will have the most influence.

And let’s take a look at our third body paragraph as a whole:

We have here 116 words of great, general-to-specific content that supports our third point.

As a result, if we look back at what we’ve done, we’ll see that everything we wrote in the body paragraphs supports the main point that parents are the best teachers.

It’s time for the next step.

Introduction

Our introduction will be just one sentence, which is enough.

First, let’s revisit our complete thesis statement. We will write the introductory sentence based on it.

In this paragraph, we go straight to the point, and there’s nothing wrong with that.

However, as we know, most instructors will expect some kind of an introduction. So, we’ll add one sentence before we get to the main point.

This sentence must be more general. We are zooming out a little. Let’s do it:

And let’s take a look at the full paragraph together with the introduction:

Note that I took out the phrase “for three reasons.” It is unnecessary because it is clear that you are providing three supporting points. And the whole paragraph sounds better this way.

To write the conclusion, we’ll simply reword the thesis statement. We only need to make sure that we don’t sound like we’re just repeating things.

That was not too hard, was it?

It’s time for the final step.

In this step, we just need to go over our essay, making final edits and corrections. And that’s all.

I hope this tutorial really helps you in your essay writing.

Stay tuned and we’ll talk soon!

How to Write a 300 Word Essay – Simple Tutorial

How to expand an essay – 4 tips to increase the word count, 10 solid essay writing tips to help you improve quickly, 6 simple ways to improve sentence structure in your essays.

Tutor Phil is an e-learning professional who helps adult learners finish their degrees by teaching them academic writing skills.

You Might Also Like...

How to Paraphrase in an Essay - Tutorial with Examples

https://youtu.be/1cCD66urqwo Paraphrasing is expressing the contents of a passage in different words. It allows the student to use other people’s content without copying or...

How to Expand an Essay - 4 Tips to Increase the Word Count

Do you feel that you’ve written all you could in this essay, but it’s still short of the word count requirement? Maybe you need to add a few hundred or even a thousand words. If so, you’ve...

Opinion Essay

A Step-by-Step Guide to Write an Effective Opinion Essay

17 min read

Published on: Feb 28, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

What Exactly is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay is a piece of writing that presents and defends an opinion or viewpoint on a particular topic. To make your argument convincing, you must back it up with facts, evidence, and logical reasoning.

What Makes an Opinion Essay Different from Other Types of Essays?

Opinion essays differ from other types of essays, such as argumentative or persuasive essays. It requires the writer to express their own opinion on a given topic.

Here's a table that compares the three types of essays:

How to Structure an Opinion Essay?

When crafting an opinion essay, itâs important to follow a specific essay structure. The basic opinion essay structure is as follows:

Introduction: An opinion essay introduction should introduce the topic and provide a clear statement of the authorâs opinion. It should also include any background information necessary to understand the argument.
Body Paragraphs: Each body paragraph should present a point or argument in favor of the writerâs opinion. It would be followed by evidence or examples to support it. Counter-arguments against the opinion can also be presented and discussed in this section. Although, they should not detract from the main points being made.
Conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the main points and arguments made throughout the essay. Also, restate the authorâs opinion in a clear, concise way. It may also point out any potential implications of accepting or rejecting their viewpoint.

Struggling to write an opinion essay? Check out this video for some helpful pointers!

Opinion Essay Outline

An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing that presents an argument or point of view on a particular topic. An outline will help organize your thoughts and provide structure for your essay.

Here is an example of what an outline for a great essay might look like:

Here is another example for opinion essay ielts - structure:

By following this basic outline, you can ensure that your opinion essay will be well-structured and organized.

What to Include in an Opinion Essay

To craft a compelling opinion essay, it is important to include the following elements:

Logical Reasoning: Use logical reasoning to connect your evidence to your opinion. Clearly explain how the evidence supports your viewpoint and address any potential counterarguments. Ensure that your reasoning is clear, coherent, and easy for the reader to follow.

Personal Reflection: Share your personal experiences or observations that have influenced your opinion. This adds depth and authenticity to your essay and helps the reader understand the perspective from which you're approaching the topic.

Counter Arguments: Anticipate and address counterarguments to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the issue. Present counterarguments objectively and refute them with well-reasoned responses. This shows that you have considered alternative viewpoints and strengthens your position.

Clear Structure: Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each paragraph should focus on a single point or supporting argument. Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph and provide smooth transitions between ideas.

Use of Persuasive Techniques: Employ persuasive techniques such as rhetorical questions, analogies, or emotional appeals to engage and persuade your readers. However, be cautious not to rely solely on emotional appeals without logical reasoning.

Proper Citations: If you use external sources or references, ensure proper citations and adhere to the appropriate citation style (e.g., MLA, APA). This demonstrates integrity and strengthens the credibility of your essay.

What not To Include

While writing an opinion essay, it is important to be mindful of certain elements that should be avoided. Here are some things you should not include in an opinion essay:

Personal Bias: Avoid basing your arguments solely on personal beliefs or biases. Instead, support your opinion with objective evidence and logical reasoning.

Emotional Appeals without Reasoning: While it is acceptable to evoke emotions in your readers, do not rely solely on emotional appeals without providing solid reasoning and evidence. Emotions should supplement your arguments, not substitute for them.

Sweeping Generalizations: Avoid making broad generalizations without sufficient evidence or support. Ensure that your claims are backed by credible sources and specific examples.

Lack of Counterarguments: Failing to acknowledge or address opposing viewpoints weakens your essay. Engage with counterarguments and provide counter-evidence to demonstrate your ability to consider different perspectives.

Informal Language: Maintain a formal tone throughout your essay. Avoid slang, colloquialisms, or overly casual language. Use appropriate academic language and vocabulary.

How to Write an Opinion Essay?

Writing an opinion essay requires careful organization and evidence in order to make your point convincingly.

Here are the necessary steps to write an opinion essay:

Choose a Topic

The first step is to decide on a topic that appeals to you and that you can research easily. Make sure you are familiar with the subject matter. It would help you to write about it from an informed perspective.

Organize Your Thoughts

Before beginning to write, take some time to organize your thoughts and opinions on the topic. Jot down notes or draw diagrams to visualize how each of your points relates to the main argument.

Find Evidence to Support Your Point of View

After you have taken the time to organize your thoughts, it is important to find evidence that supports your opinion. Research reputable sources and collect quotes, facts, or other information relevant to each point you are making.

Write Essay Conclusion

End with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and reiterates your main argument. Give a final thought about your chosen topic. Keep in mind how it has impacted you and how it could be used to make a difference.

Be sure to reference the evidence that you have gathered throughout your essay as well.

Finally, proofread and edit your work for clarity and accuracy. Reviewing what you have written can help ensure that everything flows logically. Check grammar, punctuation, and spelling while youâre at it!

Do's and Don't of Writing an Opinion Essay

When it comes to writing an opinion essay, there are certain guidelines that should be followed.

Here are some essential doâs and donâts of writing an opinion essay:

Evidence: In order to make a convincing argument, your essay should include evidence that supports your point of view.
Relevant facts and statistics: Use facts and statistics from reliable sources to back up your arguments.
Logical flow: Make sure the points you are making logically follow one another in a clear and cohesive manner.
Counter-arguments: Address any counter-arguments against your opinion by providing evidence that disproves them.
Clear conclusion: The conclusion should restate your opinion clearly. It summarizes the main points made throughout the essay.
Unsupportive evidence: Make sure to avoid any irrelevant evidence in your essay that isnât valid. Do not make claims that you cannot back up with facts or examples.
Unrelated information: Stick to the topic at hand and avoid introducing any irrelevant ideas or tangents into your essay.
Too much opinion: Although an opinion essay is based on personal beliefs, it should still be supported by evidence-based arguments.
Weak conclusion: Avoid summarizing the main points without restating your opinion or taking a stand on the issue you are discussing.
Poor grammar and punctuation: Make sure to review your work for any spelling, grammar, or punctuation mistakes before submitting it.

Examples of Opinion Essays

An opinion essay can be written on any topic that has two or more sides to it.

Here are these opinion essay examples:

Learn how to write with these potential opinion essay examples:

Opinion Essay PDF Example

Opinion 3 Paragraph Essay Example

Short Opinion Essay Examples PDF

Opinion Essay IELTS Example

Opinion Essay IELTS Band 9 Example

Opinion Essay About Internet Example

Opinion Essay Topics 5th Grade

5-paragraph Opinion Essay Examples

Abortion Opinion Essay Example

Climate Change Opinion Essay Example

Opinion Essay Topics

Looking for opinion essay topics? Opinion essays are a great way to express your beliefs and thoughts on various subjects.

Here are some topics to consider when writing an opinion essay:

Social media sites create more harm than good, Agree or Disagree?
Should the legal drinking age be lowered?
Is animal testing necessary?
Should the voting age be lowered?
Are video games beneficial or harmful to childrenâs development?
Should the death penalty be abolished?
Are beauty pageants beneficial to society?
Is it important to consume organic foods?
Should nuclear energy be used in place of fossil fuels?
What are the positive and negative effects of technology on our lives?

Here are some more opinion essays topics - IELTS:

Should governments ban smoking in public places?
Should the government fund space exploration?
Should students be required to wear school uniforms?
Is social media a positive or negative influence on society?
Should the voting age be lowered to 16?

If you're looking for advice on expressing your beliefs in an opinion essay without sounding too "preachy". Read this blog for more useful tips!

Opinion Essay Template

Check out the opinion essay template below to help you get started:

Transition Words for an Opinion Essay

Transition words are an essential part of any opinion essay. These words help to link your ideas and provide a logical flow for your paper.

Here are some examples of opinion essay phrases :

In my opinion
On the whole
I strongly believe
Besides that
To conclude
For this reason
Most importantly
Nevertheless
Accordingly
As a result
In conclusion
Without doubt
Likewise/similarly
On the contrary

Using transition words effectively can help make your opinion essay easier to read and understand.

Tips for Writing an Effective Opinion Essay

Writing an effective opinion essay requires good research skills and an understanding of how to present your argument clearly.

Here are some tips to help you get started.

Research: Before writing an opinion essay it is important to do research. Familiarize yourself with different arguments surrounding the topic.
Organizing Your Thoughts: Take some time to think about your main points and organize them into a logical order.
Gathering Evidence: Find evidence or examples to support each of your points.
Structuring Your Work: Organize the evidence into a clear and logical structure. Make sure each body paragraph is focused on one main point and develops this idea in detail.
Writing the Introduction: Provide a brief overview of the topic and state your opinion clearly.
Writing the Conclusion: Summarize the main points made throughout the essay and restate your opinion.

Need help with structuring your essay conclusion? Check out this Read and learn how to write an impactful conclusion for any essay!

Follow these tips to make sure your opinion paper is well-written, organized, and persuasive!

To wrap it all up,

Writing an opinion essay is a great way to express your thoughts and opinions on any given topic. With some research, organization, and structure, you can easily convey your point of view. By following the steps outlined in this blog, you can write an effective opinion essay and make a strong argument.

Do you need help with essay writing? We provide essay writing help online for your academic writing needs. Our team of professionals ensures that every essay is written to perfection and meets the highest academic standards.

You can also trust our essay writer to deliver quality papers to you!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 3 parts of the opinion paragraph.

The 3 parts of the opinion paragraph includes:

Introduction: It should provide the reader with an overview.
Body Paragraphs: The paragraphs should present information to support your arguments.
Conclusion: It should summarize your main points and restate your thesis statement.

What are some examples of opinion writing?

Examples of opinion writing include opinion articles, persuasive essays, editorial pieces, and reviews.

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

Legal & Policies

Privacy Policy
Cookies Policy
Terms of Use
Refunds & Cancellations
Our Writers
Success Stories
Our Guarantees
Affiliate Program
Referral Program
AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

TOEFL Writing Correction Topics
OET Course & Mock Test
Writing Correction
Speaking Mock Test
Reading Course
Listening Practice Tests
FREE Practice Tests
OET Writing Correction
OET Reading Course
OET Speaking Mock Test
TOEFL Writing Correction
PTE Writing Correction
OET Listening Practice Tests
OET (Occupational English Test)
PTE (Pearson Test of English)
Essay Task 2

IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS

Essay Types
Double Question
Advantage Disadvantage
Problem Solution
Essay Length

Opinion essays are a very common writing task 2 essay type. As you would expect from the name, you need to write a well-structured IELTS writing essay topics that give your opinion. We’ve put together a guide with everything you need to know to write a great IELTS writing task 2 opinion essay. Let’s get started!

1.1 understanding the question, 1.2 example opinion questions.

Essay Structure for Opinion Essays
3.1 Identify key words and phrases

3.2 Organise your ideas

3.3 identify vocabulary, 4.1 introduction, 4.2 main body paragraphs, 4.3 conclusion.

5.1 Complete the sample opinion essay

5.2 Opinion Sample Essay

1. opinion essay overview.

An opinion essay is also known as an agree or disagree essay . As with all writing task 2 essays, you will have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words .

Read on to find out how to produce a great opinion essay.

It is important that you first understand what writing task 2 essay question you have been given before you start writing. The type of essay question you get will slightly change the structure of your essay.

Remember, there are five main types of writing task 2 questions:

Advantage/disadvantage
Double question
Problem/solution

You will be given an IELTS statement and a question . Here are some common questions/sentence starters that tell you that you have been given an opinion essay:

What is your opinion
Do you think…

To what extent do you agree?

To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

The main aims of this type of essay are:

Choose one side of the argument
To state your opinion about a given topic
Support your opinion with clear reasons and examples

A common mistake test takers make when writing an opinion essay is that they treat it like an advantage/disadvantage essay and try to write about both sides of the argument in detail (see our guide on advantage/disadvantage essays and compare the difference).

For an opinion essay, you need to pick a side : it does not matter which side of the argument you choose, just pick the one that you can develop the best argument for.

However, you should briefly acknowledge the other side of the argument, and will show you how to do this in your introduction , main body paragraphs, and conclusion .

You should not give reasons to support the opposing argument , only support one side with reasons and examples.

Make it clear to the examiner what your opinion is from the beginning to the end of your essay (this is called a thesis-led approach: leading with your opinion).

Here are some example opinion writing task 2 questions to help you recognize them in the IELTS exam:

Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money.

What is your opinion?

Also, read the following IELTS Essay Writing Guides

IELTS Discussion Type Questions
Double Question IELTS Essay Topics
IELTS Advantage Disadvantage Essay Type
Problem Solution IELTS Writing Task Statement

Systems of funding university education are different from country to country. While some countries charge students for studying at university, others offer university education for free.

Do you think students should pay for higher education?

Every school system in the world includes regular tests and exams, and many people think that it is important for students to take lots of exams.

Children should not start school until the age of six or seven because they need to have more time to play and develop before they go to school.

Scientists and technology experts seem to be more valued by modern society than musicians and artists.

2. Essay Structure for Opinion Essays

Although there is more than one way you could choose to structure your essay, we have provided you with a foolproof structure you can always use for opinion essays to score highly in Coherence and cohesion , as well as address all parts of the task to do well in Task achievement :

3. Planning your Opinion Essay

Don’t skip this step! Taking 5 minutes to plan your essay could be the difference between your desired score and a missed opportunity.

3.1 Identify keywords and phrases

By identifying the topic of your essay, you are making sure that you are going to write about the correct topic and not go off-course. Test takers that rush and panic can make the mistake of writing about a completely different topic to the one they have been asked to write about. Don’t be one of those test taskers and make a plan !

Let’s take a look at the question for our sample answer where we have underlined the topic words:

The topic words are underlined and show the general topic of this essay question is protecting endangered species .

Now that we have identified the topic sentence, we should also look for any other keywords or phrases that give more information about the topic. Look at the words in bold below:

Some people think that more money should be spent on protecting endangered species while others think it is a waste of valuable money .

So this question is not only asking you to give your opinion on protecting endangered species, but also the amount of money that is spent on this cause.

A test taker that had only addressed the first point would likely have scored poorly in Task achievement.

There are so many ways you could choose to organize your ideas. We have chosen to note down our ideas by paragraph:

We give more note taking and idea generation tips in Master Guide for IELTS writing task 2 .

If any useful IELTS vocabulary for writing comes to mind during the planning process, it is useful to write it down so you don’t forget (remember to cross out any notes or planning before the end of the 40 minutes so the examiner does not mark this as your essay).

4. Writing your Opinion Essay

Paraphrasing means being able to write something in your own words without changing the meaning . This is an essential skill needed for the IELTS exam, especially writing task 2.

There is no one right way to paraphrase an IELTS statement. You could choose to use synonyms or parallel expressions (phrases with more than one word but have the same meaning). You could also change the sentence structure, but make sure it is still grammatically correct. Another paraphrase technique is to change a word class, for example, a noun to a verb form.

Take a look at our example, can you see the main changes we have made?

Although this is a formal essay, you are still allowed the use of the first person ‘I’ and ‘my’, you will need to use this when giving your opinion (just don’t over-do it).

Notice that in this example, the opinion has been clearly stated whilst presenting both sides of the argument :

Opinion: However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation.

Other side of the argument: It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful.

Not all sample essays will show this, but you can choose to briefly state what your essay will do, for example:

This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.

Now let’s move on to the main body paragraphs.

A topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of your paragraph. This should give the reader the main idea of your paragraph in one sentence.

Here are two examples taken from the sample answer:

One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem.
Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity.

The start of your sentence indicates to the reader that you are clearly stating a reason for your opinion and that you are going to develop this idea throughout the paragraph.

You could also choose to start your topic sentence with the following structures:

One reason that I believe…
One argument in favor of… is that…
The main reason that I think…
Another reason to second…. (note that second here means ‘ to agree with an idea ’ )

You could also use the grammatical structure ‘ Not only… but also…’ to avoid repetition and put emphasis on the second reason, for example:

Not only does spending money on conservation help the animal kingdom, but it also benefits society as a whole.

Not only will preventing the extinction of species help the animals themselves, but it will also have a positive effect on the quality of air, water, and agricultural land.

As this is an opinion essay, it is essential that you use a range of phrases to give your opinion. Far too often, candidates just repeat the phrase ‘In my opinion…’ Here are some other sentence starters you can use to impress the examiner

My point is that…
I am of the opinion that…
My argument is that…
As far as I am concerned,…
In my view…

Your conclusion is a very important part of your essay. You need to restate your opinion (in different words than your introduction) as well as choose the most convincing argument from your essay.

Remember to also briefly mention the other side of the argument to show the examiner that you understand there are two sides and you have clearly chosen one.

Here is a useful structure to do this:

Although it is true that… on balance I believe that/ I am of the view that/ another opinion phrase)…

And here is the full example from our sample essay :

… although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species.

5. Example Opinion Essay and Exercise

Now it’s time to test your knowledge about IELTS writing task 2 opinion essays. We’ve created a model answer, but removed some of the keywords and phrases.

You need to select the correct missing words and complete the model answer. Good luck!

5.1 Complete the Sample Opinion Essay

These days, the number of species facing extinction is growing, and as a result, a larger number of people are becoming involved in environmental issues. It is argued by some that the protection of endangered animals is wasteful. However, my view is that more government funding should be used for wildlife conservation. This essay will explain my opinion in more detail.

One reason that I believe more money should be spent on the conservation of wildlife is that animals are an essential part of maintaining the health of an ecosystem. If a species becomes endangered, it signals that an ecosystem is out of balance. As a result, the loss of one species may trigger the loss of others and may lead to irreversible consequences for the animal kingdom.

Another reason to support spending on wildlife protection is that it also benefits humanity. For example, if the ecosystem is out of balance then the health of the environment is also negatively affected, for example, the loss of wildlife can affect the quality of clean water and air for a population. In addition, the fertility of agricultural land may also be reduced with the loss of certain species. Having said that, there are those that argue that this is a costly and inefficient use of public funds. They think that money would be better spent on other schemes such as renewable energy projects.

In conclusion, having looked at the topic in detail, although it is true that there are valuable uses for funding that could aid environmental protection, on balance I am of the opinion that governments should invest in the protection of endangered species. The main reason is that the protection of wildlife will not only benefit the animal kingdom, but also the human race and the environment we inhabit.

2 thoughts on “IELTS Writing Task 2: Opinion Essays- Benchmark IELTS”

Hey. Thanks for a great material. I have one concern though. In the ” common questions in opinion essay” part, you mentioned this question ” Discuss both view and give your opinion.” But isn’t it included to the “Discussion essays”??

Hi, I just wanted to ask this question cuz it made to think about it thoroughly.

Exam Updates & Tips!

Signup for preparation and special offers!

You have successfully joined our subscriber list.

The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers

The Importance of Opinion Writing

Encouraging our students to express their personal opinions is an important part of the learning process; healthy even. To do this effectively, it is equally important that we help them acquire the necessary skills to express these opinions in a reasoned and coherent manner when teaching opinion writing.

Writing is one of the best possible vehicles for our students not only to express their opinions but to explore the strength and validity of those opinions.

CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE WRITING AN OPINION ESSAY

For our students to competently express their opinions in writing, they must first understand the specific requirements of the type of question they are answering. Of course, there are many types of questions and fun opinion writing prompts that are geared towards coaxing personal opinions from a student and each will require its own specific tailored response.

It’s clear that personal opinions permeate a wide range of genres and media. We find opinions everywhere from hotel reviews and infomercials to political commentary and newspaper editorials. But, despite the diversity of forms opinion writing can take, we can helpfully identify some general criteria that will assist our students in navigating the challenge of most opinion writing prompts and questions.

Let’s take a look at some of these criteria in more detail.

A COMPLETE UNIT FOR TEACHING OPINION WRITING

opinion writing | opinion writing unit 1 | The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

Teach your students to write EXCELLENT PERSUASIVE ESSAYS and master INFLUENTIAL WRITING SKILLS using PROVEN TEACHING STRATEGIES with this 140-PAGE UNIT.

ALL RESOURCES AND ASSESSMENT TOOLS INCLUDED – NO PREP REQUIRED.

30+ 5-star Ratings ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

OPINION WRITING CRITERIA TO ADDRESS

1. identify the audience: speak clearly.

Writing is about language and language is about communication; students should understand that we do not write in a vacuum. The purpose of an essay, letter, or any other form of writing we care to name, is ultimately to be read.

This means that it is essential that consideration be given to the character of the intended audience. Also, remind students that when they are writing, the reader is not privy to the inner workings of the writer’s mind. They must make their thoughts explicit in their writing and ensure that these thoughts are expressed in a coherent manner.

The student writer should always avoid making the assumption that the reader knows things that are not expressed explicitly in the writing.

2. Take a Stance: Stand Firm

From the very outset, the student should state their position boldly. More than that, they must stand firm in that opinion throughout the entirety of the piece.

Opinion writing is not about communicating a series of pros and cons or discussing at length the various related advantages and disadvantages, the place for that is not here. The opinion piece should open with a bold statement of opinion that is clearly expressed, and that opinion should be held unwaveringly and reinforced constantly throughout the text.

As with many other writing genres , employing a hook to grab the reader’s attention is good practice too. This hook can take the form of a quotation, an anecdote, a statistic, or even a joke. Whatever form the hook takes, it should reveal the writer’s take on things too.

To summarize, whatever the topic and however the student opens their opinion piece, they should ensure they express their opinion immediately and coherently. There should be no doubt in the reader’s mind as to where the student-writer stands on the issue.

3. Choose Appropriate Evidence: Back It Up

There is no doubt that subjectivity is an important aspect of opinion writing in general. That does not mean, however, that opinions do not need to be substantiated.

Your students will need to recognize that each and every statement of opinion will need to be supported by appropriate evidence. This will also help students to develop their critical reading skills as they will be able to better recognize when unsubstantiated claims are made by other writers. Opinions backed up with evidence help lead the reader along the writer’s pathways of thought; making the writing more convincing as a whole.

This evidence can take a wide variety of forms, ranging from personal anecdotes and quotations to statistics and references to scientific studies. Students should also always be encouraged to choose evidence that is broadly suited to the subject they are writing about.

4. Draw Conclusions: Wrap It Up

In the well-organized piece of opinion writing, as with many other types of extended writing, the writing should be structured in paragraphs. Paragraphs are essential elements of good writing organization.

Generally speaking, an opening paragraph gives way to body paragraphs. These body paragraphs, or development paragraphs, describe in more detail the ideas laid out in the initial opening paragraph by further exploring, explaining, and providing supporting evidence for each point.

The final concluding paragraph serves to close the circle by restating the central points in a closing endeavor to drive home the writer’s opinion.

5. A Word on Words

Writing is an art form. Attention to detail is important. But, it isn’t only important to look at the big picture things like structure, students should be encouraged to shift their focus from the text level down to the word and sentence levels too. In an opinion piece, strong, forceful verbs should be the order of the day. There is little space for passive forms when engaged in the construction of convincing arguments.

Things should be kept interesting too. Students should vary their sentence structures grammatically and in length. Variety is key.

As always in writing, editing should be emphasized. The editing process polishes the well-wrought opinion piece by putting the final gloss on the student’s work.

The OREO Opinion Writing Process Explained

As with all genres, there’s a lot to remember here and acronyms are a helpful way to commit these important things to memory. Luckily, few things can be easier to commit to memory than the name of a delicious cookie:

O – Opinion

R – Reasons

E – Evidence or Examples

O – Opinion (restated)

This memorable acronym will help students remember some of the main elements of opinion writing as outlined above. But, sometimes the hardest thing for students to do is to get the writing ball rolling.

opinion writing | 4 opinion writing28129 | The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

Opinionated Sentence Starters

Sentence starters provide students with great ways to kick-start their writing. Reminding students of simple ways of introducing opinion sentences can be helpful. Here are a few for ‘starters’ for starters:

● In my opinion…

● I think that…

● It seems to me that…

● It appears to me…

● I feel that…

opinion writing | 1 0001 sentence structure guide for teachers and students | The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

Once the student-writer has effectively expressed their opinion on a matter, they then will need to provide the reader with the reasons for why they think what they think. In an essay, these reasons will usually be found in the body paragraphs or development paragraphs. Normally, these paragraphs will explore a single reason each.

Some helpful sentence starters for introducing these reasons include:

● One reason I feel this way is…

● Evidence to support this can be found in…

● I believe this to evident in…

Opinion Writing Activities for Students

Students will certainly need practice completing sustained pieces of opinion writing, but some of the most valuable activities to help students evolve their opinion writing abilities barely require a pen to be put to paper.

While the following two activities do not require students to engage in extended pieces of writing, the activities below will assist students in grasping some essential concepts. These activities demonstrate good practice through modelling and also encourage dialogue, discussion, and debate as a means to strengthen opinion writing.

Activity 1: Opinion Writing – What Is It?

This exercise is a good follow-up to introductory work outlining the criteria of opinion writing as described above.

● Start by passing out copies of a piece of opinion writing you have selected to read with the class. Read the text aloud as the students follow along with their copy. The opinion text chosen can come from a wide range of genres, including advertisements, letters, editorials, essays, articles, or reviews.

● Assign students a talking partner and instruct students to take five minutes to identify the various criteria employed in the text. Encourage students to mark and annotate their copies of the text accordingly. You may even wish to supply students with a checklist compiled from the criteria mentioned previously in this article.

● As a whole class, discuss how successfully the text fulfills the criteria. What did the writer do well? What could they have done better? You can record their responses on the whiteboard.

The aim of this exercise is for students to hone their critical faculties while internalizing the criteria. This will reap rewards when the students later engage in their own extended opinion writing.

Activity 2: The Collaborative Case

This activity employs collaboration to help students build a stronger case for their opinion on a divisive issue.

● First, define the parameters of the exercise by presenting an either/or conundrum to the class. This doesn’t have to be overly controversial in nature, just stated in such a way that it forces the students to take one side or another. This could be stated simply as a choice, e.g. Dogs or cats? City or countryside? Beach or Mountains? Sweet or savory?

● Students then divide into two groups according to their stated preferences. In their groups, they then discuss and compile as many supporting reasons for their choice as they can come up with. As a group, they will discuss the relative merits of each reason, before agreeing on their top five.

● The groups then share their reasons in a debate format, using arguments and counter-arguments, leading into an open, free-ranging discussion.

The value of this exercise lies in the collaborative and ‘combative’ natures of the exercises. Just as our physical muscles can grow through resistance, so too can the strength and resilience of our opinions and arguments.

This activity can also be used as a lead-in to opinion writing as it works well as a prewriting preparation exercise. The complexity of the issue to be discussed and debated can easily be modified to suit the abilities of the students too.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

opinion writing | figurative language Unit 1 | The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers | literacyideas.com

❤️The use of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE is like “SPECIAL EFFECTS FOR AUTHORS.” It is a powerful tool to create VIVID IMAGERY through words. This HUGE 110 PAGE UNIT guides you through a complete understanding of FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE as both a READER and WRITER covering.

OPINION WRITING VIDEO TUTORIALS

These videos from teaching without frills are an excellent starting point for opinion writing. You can view the entire collection here.

The Wrap Up

Opinion writing is a higher-level skill that makes many demands on our students. It will challenge them to move beyond parroting the facts and figures they have acquired in their learning to formulate their own thoughts on topics they have learned about in class, or in the wider world beyond the school gates.

It will make demands on their skill as writers too. Our students must learn to mold and mechanically manipulate the language on the page to express their beliefs persuasively and effectively. To do this successfully, they will need ample opportunities to practice their writing craft. Once a firm understanding of the structures involved has been established, the student can become more fluid in their expression. They will add art and flair to their craft. But first, they must build on these firm foundations.

Top 5 Persuasive Writing Techniques for Students

5 Top Persuasive Writing Lesson Plans for Students and Teachers

How to Write Perfect Persuasive Essays in 5 Simple Steps

23 Persuasive writing Topics for High School students

How to Write a Winning Debate Speech

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser or activate Google Chrome Frame to improve your experience.

50+ Stellar ESL Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Students (Plus Resources to Find More Prompts)

Ever find yourself staring at a blank page with no good ideas of how to fill it?

We all do, even the most experienced writers.

But for many ESL students, the dreaded blank page isn’t just intimidating—it’s immobilizing.

After all, they’re working in a second language that might not even share the same writing system as their own.

Today, we’re going to look at more than 50 different writing prompts and how you can use them to give students a boost in the right direction.

Then we’ll cover the web’s top resources to find more great writing prompts.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Process Writing

Process writing is a good place to start with your beginner students.

Simple process writing can be nothing more than a numbered list of steps written in the simple present with imperative grammar.

You can also use these prompts for intermediate and advanced students by asking them to write full paragraphs using smooth transitions.

Process Writing Prompts

What’s your favorite food from your home country? How do you make it?
How did you travel from your home country to the U.S.?
What’s the best way to study for an exam?
How does a person learn to read? What are the necessary steps?
What’s something you’re good at? How did you learn to do it?
How do you get ready every morning? Discuss each step of your morning routine.
How does a person get a job? What steps must they take?
How do you get a driver’s license? What steps must you follow?
How does an acorn grow into a tree? What are the stages of its life?
What are the stages of the water cycle?

How to set your students up for success

When brainstorming ideas, ask your students to list the steps of how they came up with the content to write about. If you want to challenge intermediate and advanced students, have them write paragraphs describing the brainstorming process rather than writing a numbered list.

For certain topics, students may need time for additional research, like when writing about science.

Also, be aware of any vocabulary that may be specific to the process students are describing. For example, if they’re describing a food from their home country, students may need to define a particular ingredient (e.g. kimchi, herbs de provence ) that may not have a good English equivalent.

Opinion Writing

Opinions are everywhere. From social media posts to commentary on news programs, we’re constantly exposed to other opinions and ideas. For this reason, it’s important for students to be able to both express their own opinions and evaluate the opinions of others.

And what better way to express one’s opinions than with a written argument? Here are some prompts to help your students vocalize their opinions.

Opinion Writing Prompts

Should people under the age of 21 be allowed to drink alcohol? Please explain.
Should college students be allowed to choose their own courses or study from a set list of required courses? Please explain.
Is it better for young adults to live at home with their parents or to live on their own? Please explain.
Should your country require young adults to serve in the military? Why or why not?
Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics? Why or why not?
Should people be allowed to smoke in restaurants? Please explain your opinion.
Should parents be allowed to arrange marriages for their children? Why or why not?
Should students be required to take physical education? Why or why not?
Should teenagers be allowed to make decisions about their sexual health without the consent of their parents? Please explain your opinion.
Should students be required to clean their schools? Please explain.

Before starting the assignment, review modal verbs with your class . Explain to your students that the verb, “should,” is a signal word for opinion writing and is commonly used when expressing one’s thoughts, opinions and ideas.

Graphic organizers are a great way to help students think through what they believe about a given topic and get those thoughts in the right order for writing. Curriculum developer, Scholastic, has some great organizers you can print and give to your students to help them gather their thoughts before they write.

Good opinion writing takes both sides of an argument into consideration. While students should devote the majority of their essay to supporting the facts they agree with, they also need to dedicate a section to addressing the opposition’s argument and explaining why it’s wrong. This is called the rebuttal and should come just before the conclusion in an opinion piece.

Narrative Writing

Narrative writing tells a story.

It has a beginning, a middle and an end, and aims to engross the reader and make them feel as if they’re experiencing the story firsthand. Moreover, narrative writing covers a sequence of events, telling the reader how these events relate to one another.

Narrative Writing Prompts

Think about a time in your life when you were disappointed. What caused this, and how did you get over it?
Did you have a pet as a child? If so, tell the story of how you got it.
Who’s your hero? What did they do to gain your respect and admiration?
What was an important event in your childhood? Write about what happened and how it has affected you.
Tell about a time you were embarrassed.
How did you meet your significant other? Tell the story of that first meeting. (For younger students, you can ask the question, “How did your parents meet each other?”)
When did you first think about traveling overseas to study English?
What would the perfect day look like? Discuss how you would spend it from when you woke until you went to sleep. (Note: Your students need to use the conditional form for this narrative. Take time to review it with them before assigning this prompt.)
Describe the life of a dollar bill, from when it comes off the printing press until it retires.
Describe the life of someone famous in your culture. Where did they come from? How did they become famous?

Absolutely essential for narrative writing, transitions ensure the sequence of events flows smoothly. Before beginning the writing exercise, take a few minutes to review transition words and phrases with your students. You can even give them a copy of this list to help them get started.

Another important part of narrative writing is action words. Great for boosting the imagination, action words help the reader visualize the story while reading. Encourage your students to add extra color to their stories by having them brainstorm a list of action words at the beginning of the lesson.

Lastly, make sure that your students use proper verb tenses throughout their writing. Regardless of whether the story is being told in past or present tense, students must learn to keep the verb tense is consistent throughout the story without switching from past to present, or vice versa, unless talking about two different points in time.

Descriptive Writing

A person writing with a fountain pen on paper

Descriptive writing is all about writing the details, and mixing them in with sensory words and literary devices . While there’s definitely a stylistic component to descriptive writing, anyone with a good-sized vocabulary and a little bit of practice can write a vivid story.

Descriptive Writing Prompts

Go to a coffee shop or restaurant and watch the people. Describe what you see.
Write a travel brochure for your favorite vacation spot. Describe in detail why others should visit this location.
Describe a classroom in your home country. How’s it different from our classroom?
Think about a time you were scared. Describe where you were and what frightened you.
Think of a scene in your favorite movie. Describe what happened without referencing characters in the movie.
What’s something that is very valuable to you? Describe that object.
Close your eyes. Tune in to what you can hear, smell and feel. Now open your eyes and write about what you observed.
(First, have your students close their eyes, then play them a clip from a movie scene) What did you picture as you listened to the scene?
Describe your favorite Halloween candy, making note of how it tastes and smells.
Describe your dream car.

The best way to help your students master descriptive writing is to get them accustomed to using sensory words —the words that describe how something looks, sounds, smells, feels and tastes.

If your students are describing a person, have them start at their head and move down to their feet, or vice versa. If they’re describing a room, have them start at the door and work their way around the room clockwise. That way, their descriptions are organized and structured, making it easier for the reader to form a clear picture of the imagery in their mind as they read.

Creative Writing

A neon sign in a window that says "what is your story?"

Everyone loves a good story, but not all people feel confident writing one of their own.

With a solid setting, character and conflict, anyone can come up with a gripping and exciting story—even your students.

Here are some writing prompts to get your students expressing themselves with stories.

Creative Writing Prompts

A young boy sees what appears to be a UFO land outside his home late one Tuesday night. What happens next?
Use the following scene for inspiration: The boat rocks as each towering wave tosses it into the air and then lets it plunge. You hang over the edge of the boat waiting for the current wave of nausea to pass. Suddenly you hear at least a dozen sets of boots running along the deck…
The year is 1880, and a young girl whose bonnet hangs down her back from its strings sighs in relief. She’s in a ghost town. How did she get there? Tell the story of her past.
This morning is just like any other school morning, except one thing: No one else is at school. The doors are opened and unlocked, but you’re completely alone. Write the story of what happened.
Start a story with the following phrase: It was the worst mistake he’d ever made.
Use the following scene for inspiration: She’d never seen an animal like this before, but it seems to be friendly. Just then a news alert comes over the radio…
Start a story with the following phrase: He could see eyes in the shadows.
Use the following scene as inspiration: They said I was free to leave, but sitting in a helicopter with the city beneath me, where could I really go?
Choose a favorite character from a book or movie. Then put this character in a setting from a different movie or book—for example, Harry Potter finds himself on the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca. Then, tell the story of what happens next.
Have each person in class write down a setting, one character and one object on three separate slips of paper. Collect each category separately, shuffle them and redistribute the papers to your students. Each person must write a story incorporating the setting, character and object they received.

For a story to be successful, it needs three important elements: setting, character and conflict .

Take a few moments to talk about each of these elements with your students before they begin the activity. Have them think about these elements and how they’ll be presented in their own stories by asking the following questions:

Where will the story take place?
Who’s the main character of the story?
What conflict will that person face?
How will they overcome what is stopping them?

Once they can answer these essential questions, they’re ready to begin writing.

If you’re teaching beginner or intermediate students, separate the language from the story elements by having them write a story they already know. They can write a story of their favorite movie, rather than come up with a plot of their own.

Also, if your students are struggling to come up with their own stories, use comic books for inspiration . Writing comics is also a great way to give students writing practice without requiring imagination to go along with it.

Resources for Finding More Inspiring ESL Writing Prompts

Writer’s Digest

The Writer’s Digest website and magazine is full of tips and tricks for writing, interviews with authors, and insight into what it’s like to be in the writing business. The prompts section contains mostly fiction and creative writing prompts, and is updated every week with a new prompt.

Reddit is a huge community of people who love to share things they find around the Internet, and have conversations. The Writing Prompts section has some really creative ideas, and you can even see what other people have written in the comments.

Tumblr is a great place to find ideas. It’s a place where people can blog about whatever they want, but it’s more visual than most other blogs. (That means it focuses more on pictures.) The “Writing Prompts” Tumblr uses pictures to share prompts, both creative and nonfiction. There’s even one prompt for a song!

Lindsay Ann Learning

The prompts on this website are meant for school children, but they are excellent writing starters for any age. The page focuses on journal writing, so these prompts are mostly for nonfiction writing.

Language Is a Virus

The Writing Prompts Generator on this site has a huge number of ideas for fiction and nonfiction writing, which you can see one at a time. This website also has some fun word games to get you thinking and being creative.

This website has over 300 prompts for you to try. Just reading through the prompts will give you some new words to learn! Most of these prompts are for creative writing, but there are a small number of nonfiction thoughts in there too.

Writing Forward

This list of creative writing prompts has 25 story starters. Just pick a first sentence and see where the story takes you! There are also some questions and ideas to explore. When you’re done here, head over to the Grammar section for some tips from the pros.

Writing Prompts by 21×20 Media

Want to get your prompts in a phone-friendly format? Try the Writing Prompts app from 21×20 Media. It’s not free, but at just $1.99 you get hundreds of prompts organized by type. Look through pictures, place and character ideas, and much, much more.

Wrighting Words

You’ll find almost 500 creative writing prompts on Wrighting Words. The long list has everything from interesting story starters to fun with vocabulary words. There are even some titles and dialogue ideas. You’re sure to find something to inspire you here.

Pinterest has many great collections of writing ideas and exercises. You can really browse the entire website for ideas and inspiration. For some more focused writing, check out the Writing Picture Prompts board linked to above, which has nearly 400 picture prompts meant to inspire you.

Think Written

How about a prompt for each day of the year? Think Written has that. The list here focuses on words and themes, so you can write fiction or nonfiction—it’s up to you. For a real challenge, try following the list, doing one prompt every day. How far down the list can you make it?

Visual Prompts

If you prefer to see your prompts and not just read them, you will love the Visual Prompts website. Each prompt is written over a picture that can help you imagine what you’re writing about. There’s also a nice mix of creative and nonfiction prompts here.

The Write Prompts

The Write Prompts has almost 2,000 prompts, but you might find the word prompts the most useful. Each prompt comes with a list of vocabulary words that you have to use in your story. Can you string the words along and make an interesting story or essay?

Seventh Sanctum

The Seventh Sanctum is a collection of writing generators—websites that create prompts for you. There is a nearly infinite (never-ending) number of possible prompts! You can also try any of the other generators, like the setting (place) one , or the one that asks creative “What if…?” questions . There is so much to play with here!

Buzzfeed is mostly known for its funny picture articles , but this article has an excellent list of prompts for all kinds of writing. These prompts can be used in a school, but they can also be used by adults. Some of these will get you feeling creative, and some will make you think. Have fun with both!

The Journal

The Journal is another website for nonfiction and blog writing ideas. There is even more here too—get ideas for writing your opinions about topics, your memoirs (writings about yourself), and free-writing, which is when you don’t stop writing for 10 or 15 minutes.

Education World

Education World is a website for teachers, so these prompts are meant for the classroom. This means that they will make you think, and each prompt has a helpful tip box with some ideas for what you can write on the topic.

These are just some of the ways to get your students thinking about how to fill the page with their thoughts and ideas. A list of writing prompts and a helpful teacher can go a long way in preventing writers’ block and helping students look at every empty page as an opportunity to express themselves.

Enter your e-mail address to get your free PDF!

We hate SPAM and promise to keep your email address safe

IMAGES

How-to-Start-an-Opinion-Essay
Opinion Writing: Multi-Draft Opinion Essay for Grade 4 (CCSS)
How To Write An Essay Beginners
💐 How to write an opinion essay outline. How to Write an Opinion Essay
009 Writing An Opinion Essay Creative Tasks How To Write ~ Thatsnotus
opinion essay creative writin…: English ESL worksheets pdf & doc

VIDEO

Opinion essay analysis
Expressing Opinions in English: Key Phrases for Speaking & Listening
Opinion Essay/IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Academic/ Essay Structure/ Essay Templates
HOW TO WRITE BOTH VIEWS AND OPINION ESSAY (IELTS WRITING MODULE)
Cold girl mekuplook simple essay beginners mekeuplook
An Opinion Essay

COMMENTS

How to Write an Opinion Essay: Structure, Examples
Opinion Essay Structure. When it comes to opinion paragraphs, students may struggle with the opinion essay format. The standard five-paragraph-essay structure usually works well for opinion essays. Figuring out what one is supposed to include in each section may be difficult for beginners.
How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)
Body Paragraphs. The body paragraphs of your good opinion essay should provide arguments and supporting examples to substantiate your opinion. Begin each paragraph with a distinct topic sentence and use credible sources to provide substantiation for your viewpoint with dependable data. Addressing counterarguments in your body paragraphs can ...
An opinion essay
Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words. If the essay asks you to what extent do you agree?, make your opinion clear throughout. You can either agree, partially agree or disagree with the statement, explaining and justifying your opinion. The structure should be: Introduction.
An opinion essay
Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it. Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones. Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words. Show understanding of both sides of the argument. Use linking words to connect your ideas. Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay.
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Opinion Essay + Examples
An essay based on a person's personal opinion implies a clear statement of the author's thoughts on a specific topic. However, to show understanding of the problem, one should rely on facts, research, or examples from life. A supported opinion essay is precisely when the author's opinion is based on objective factors.
Beginner's Guide: How to Write a Compelling Opinion Essay
Introduction: A brief about the topic and your viewpoint. Body: Reason 1 + Evidence/Example. Reason 2 + Evidence/Example. Counterargument + Refutation. Conclusion: Restate your opinion and summarize your arguments. Opinion Essay Topics. Impact of technology on youth. The significance of arts in education.
How to Write Opinion Essay: With Tips and Examples
Creating an outline helps create a structure for your essay and clarify your main arguments. It also keeps your essay focused and prevents drifting away from your main opinion. Here is an outline for an opinion essay format: Opinion Essay Outline: 1. Introduction. Hook: Intriguing opening sentence to grab attention.
An Opinion Essay Writing Guide for Students and Beginners
1. Write the introduction. Your opinion essay must have an introduction as the first paragraph after the title page. The introductory paragraph presents your subject and states your opinion clearly, concisely, and precisely. Since it is the first part your reader focuses on, you need to impress them immediately.
Opinion Essay Writing
Let us have a look at the detailed opinion essay format structure given below. Introduction. Grab the audience's interest with a hook statement. Present your opinion. Introduce the main topic. State the thesis statement. Body Paragraph 1. Write a topic sentence with the first reason. Supporting evidence.
How to Write an Opinion Essay
You will need to reference a play, book, poem, or speech to do this. You should also reference the name of the author and, of course, the date of the publication you are referencing in brackets. Thesis statement. The thesis statement is the full form of your point of view. It follows the introduction for opinion essay.
PDF Strategies for Essay Writing
When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a source or collection of sources, you will have the chance to wrestle with some of the
An opinion essay
Worksheets and downloads. An opinion essay - exercises 806.72 KB. An opinion essay - answers 284.99 KB. An opinion essay - essay 657.49 KB. An opinion essay - writing practice 187.62 KB.
49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students
49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students. One of the most common essay types is the opinion, or persuasive, essay. In an opinion essay, the writer states a point of view, then provides facts and reasoned arguments to support that viewpoint. The goal of the essay is to convince the reader to share the writer's opinion.
Essay Writing for Beginners: 6-Step Guide with Examples
Writing an essay is a 6-step process. Step 1. Decide on your main point and write it down. You could be in one of the following situations: Your teacher or professor gave you a prompt, and you have to follow it. You are allowed to make up your own essay topic. You must pass a writing test and are practicing.
Writing an Engaging Opinion Essay: Examples & Tips
Make sure each body paragraph is focused on one main point and develops this idea in detail. Writing the Introduction: Provide a brief overview of the topic and state your opinion clearly. Writing the Conclusion: Summarize the main points made throughout the essay and restate your opinion. Expert Tip.
Opinion Writing: Everything You Need To Know (+ 8 Examples)
Here are some features that every piece of opinion writing should have. Supporting reasons and evidence. Well-researched and well-presented arguments. A definite, well-organized structure. Quotes or experiences by credible authorities on the subject that lend credence to the writer's opinion. Relevant and authentic facts and statistics.
Opinion IELTS Essay Type
Example Opinion Essay and Exercise. 5.1 Complete the sample opinion essay. 5.2 Opinion Sample Essay. 1. Opinion Essay Overview. An opinion essay is also known as an agree or disagree essay. As with all writing task 2 essays, you will have 40 minutes to write at least 250 words. Read on to find out how to produce a great opinion essay.
How to Write an Essay for Beginners
Learn to write an essay from the outline to the draft. Use these pdfs to take notes and practice: https://www.englishunits.com/wp-content/uploads/How-to-Writ...
How to Write an Opinion
Writing in English. Int - High Int. Teens & Adults. Grades 9-12. In this lesson, students learn tips for expressing their opinions. Students view a sample opinion paragraph and practice writing their own paragraphs. Teacher Discretion. Launch Tasks.
The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers
OPINION WRITING CRITERIA TO ADDRESS. 1. Identify the Audience: Speak Clearly. Writing is about language and language is about communication; students should understand that we do not write in a vacuum. The purpose of an essay, letter, or any other form of writing we care to name, is ultimately to be read.
50+ Stellar ESL Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Students (Plus
Giving good ESL writing prompts is important because inspiring prompts inspire students to write more and writing more is how they improve. Read this post to learn 50 excellent ESL writing prompts for all essay types: process, creative, opinion writing. Then look into our list of resources to find more great prompts.
49+ Opinion Writing Prompts to Get Your Creative Juices Flowing
Absolutely. Opinion writing prompts can help reluctant writers by giving them a clear starting point for their writing. They can stimulate thought and make the task of writing less daunting. Additionally, writing about their opinions can often be less intimidating, as it's a topic they are familiar with and can connect to on a personal level.

Opinion Writing: a Guide to Writing a Successful Essay Easily

What Is an Opinion Essay

What Kind of Student Faces an Opinion Essay

Get Your Opinion ESSAY READY TODAY!

What Are the Requirements of an Opinion Essay?

Opinion Essay Topics

Opinion Essay Structure

Opinion Essay Examples

Need Qualified Essay Help?

Related Articles

How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)

Key Takeaways

What is an Opinion Essay?

Crafting the Perfect Thesis Statement

Building a Solid Opinion Essay Outline

Introduction

Body Paragraphs

Choosing Engaging Opinion Essay Topics

Opinion Essay Writing Techniques

Formal Language and Tone

Addressing Counterarguments

Maintaining Logical Flow

Analyzing Opinion Essay Examples

The Revision Process: Polishing Your Opinion Essay

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure of an opinion essay?

What is the format of an opinion paragraph?

What not to write in an opinion essay?

What is the purpose of an opinion essay?

An opinion essay

Preparation

Language level

Online courses

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Opinion Essay + Examples

🤔 What Is an Opinion Essay?

💡 Opinion Essay Ideas

🎯 The Purpose of an Opinion Essay

🗝️ Key Features of an Opinion Essay

⚖️ Argumentative, Opinion or Persuasive Essay: the Difference

📃 Opinion Essay Format

Opinion Essay Introduction

Opinion Essay: Thesis Statement

Opinion Essay: Body Paragraphs

🔗 Linkers and Transitional Words for Opinion Essay

💡 30 Opinion Essay Prompts

Climate change opinion essay, truth or fiction? (250 words)

Opinion on death penalty essay, is it moral? (300 words)

Opinion essay on smoking: should the state intervene? (300 words)

❓ What Are the Characteristics of an Opinion?

❓ How Many Paragraphs is an Opinion Essay?

❓ What Is the Structure of an Opinion Essay?

❓ What Is a Supported Opinion Essay?

📎 References

You might also like

How to Write an Opinion Essay – A Beginner’s Guide

How to Write an Opinion Essay?

Frequently Asked Questions

Recent articles

Artificial Intelligence: Evolution of Essay Writing

Write Opinion Essay Like a Pro: A Detailed Guide

What is an Opinion Essay?

How to Write an Opinion Essay?

Step 1 - Select a Topic

Step 2 - Do Your Research

Step 3 - Create an Outline

Step 4 - Writing the Essay

Step 5 - Revise and Edit

Good Practices When Writing an Opinion Essay

Best Practice When Writing an Opinion Essay

Common Mistakes to Avoid in an Opinion Essay

Opinion Essay Examples

Tips to Write an Opinion Essay

Keep reading

How to write an Opinion Essay from Start to End

What is an Opinion Essay?

Prewriting Stage

1. Understand the assignment

2. Brainstorming

3. Select a topic

4. Do your research