4-1 The Opinion Essay

• Make your position clear - it is important that your opinion is clearly stated and that you are not “sitting on the fence.”
• Give clear reasons - Clarity is key for successful academic writing. A clear and well-thought-out supporting argument is more important than the opinion itself.
• Think about who you are trying to persuade - in other words, who would disagree with you and why? Considering the opposing view will help you to prepare a stronger argument.

Opinion Essay Structure

Introduction

• Hook
  • Begin your introductory paragraph with an engaging sentence to get the reader's attention and introduce your topic in an interesting way.
• Background
  • Present general information about your topic to help the reader understand the importance and controversy of the issue.
• Thesis Statement
  • The final sentence of the introductory paragraph, the thesis contains the main idea of your essay. In this sentence, you clearly present your opinion.

Body

• The Argument
  • Several paragraphs supporting your opinion with clear reasons (at least three), each reason expanded upon with specific details to exemplify or explain your points
• The Counter-Argument and Response
  • One short paragraph containing the opposing view. Including the counter-argument shows that you have considered both sides and gives you an opportunity to respond
  • Respond to the counter-argument by refuting or conceding

Conclusion

• Restate the thesis and summarize the main points of the essay.
• End with a strong statement that will leave an impression on the reader, for example, a prediction, warning, etc.

Opinion Essay: Basic Do’s

• Write in formal, impersonal style
• Introduce each point in a separate paragraph
• Use topic sentences for each paragraph
• Write well-developed paragraphs
• Give reasons and examples for each point
• Use sequencing
• Use linking devices

Opinion Essay: Basic Dont’s

• Don’t use contractions
• Don’t use informal/colloquial language
• Don’t use very emotional language
• Don’t use over-generalizations
• Don’t express your personal opinion too strongly
• Don’t refer to statistics without proper referencing it
• Don’t use personal examples