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Writing lesson · Opinion writing
Opinion Writing: Give Reasons, Examples and a Strong Ending
Write an opinion paragraph that convinces: state your opinion clearly, back it with reasons and examples, link ideas, and end by restating it in new words.
The idea
An opinion is what you think or prefer, such as "Winter is the best season for a class trip." A fact can be checked and proved, such as "Our class trip is in February." In opinion writing, you share an opinion and try to help a reader agree with you.
A strong opinion paragraph has four parts. First, state your opinion clearly in one sentence. Second, give a reason: why do you think so? Third, back each reason with an example or detail, such as something you saw, a fact or a short story. Fourth, end by saying your opinion again in new words.
Reasons are the heart of opinion writing. "Because it is the best" is not a reason; it just says the opinion again. A real reason tells why: "because there are activities you can only do in the snow." Then an example makes the reason believable: "We could go snowshoeing at a conservation area."
Linking words from the transitions lesson help a reader follow your thinking. Use because and since to give a reason, for example and for instance to add an example, also and another reason is to add a second reason, and that is why or in the end to finish.
Good opinion writers stay polite and fair. You do not need to say that people who disagree are wrong or silly. A strong paragraph convinces with reasons, not with insults or with lots of exclamation marks.
See the difference
A first attempt
I think recess should be longer. It is the best! Everyone loves recess. Recess is really, really fun and it should be longer. So recess should be longer.
I think our school should make morning recess five minutes longer. One reason is that students would have time to play a real game. For example, my friends and I often have to stop a soccer game just after picking teams. Another reason is that a longer break could help us focus afterwards, because we would come back to class after more time moving around. That is why five extra minutes of recess would be good for our whole class.
Why this works: Both paragraphs are invented examples. The first repeats the opinion five ways but never gives a real reason, and "everyone loves recess" cannot be checked. The stronger paragraph states a clear, specific opinion, gives two reasons, backs the first with an example from real life, uses linking words (One reason, For example, Another reason, because, That is why) and ends by restating the opinion in new words. It says "could help", because the writer has not proved it.
Worked examples
Example 1 · Fact or opinion?
Sort these: (a) Snow falls in Ontario in winter. (b) Winter is the most fun season. (c) Our school has 300 students. (d) Pizza day should be every week.
- Ask of each sentence: can it be checked and proved?
- (a) and (c) can be checked with weather records or a school count, so they are facts.
- (b) and (d) say what someone thinks or wants. Other people could disagree, so they are opinions.
- Words like best, most fun and should are clues that a sentence may be an opinion.
Facts: (a) and (c). Opinions: (b) and (d).
Example 2 · Turn a weak reason into a real one
Opinion: "Our class should have a reading corner." Weak reason: "because it would be great." Make it a real reason.
- Ask: what would a reading corner actually do for the class?
- Name a specific effect: a quiet place to read, a place for class books, a reward after finishing work.
- Write it after because.
Our class should have a reading corner because it would give us a quiet place to read when we finish our work early.
Example 3 · Add an example
Reason: "Dogs make good class visitors because they help shy students relax." Add an example.
- Ask: what would show this reason in action?
- Use something you saw or a believable situation, and label it honestly.
- Start it with For example or For instance.
For example, when a reading-therapy dog visited our library, my quiet classmate read a whole page aloud to it. (An invented example: in your own writing, use something that really happened or say "imagine".)
Example 4 · Write the ending
Opinion: "Every student should learn to skate." Write an ending that restates the opinion in new words.
- Do not copy the first sentence word for word.
- Use an ending phrase such as That is why, In the end or For all these reasons.
- Remind the reader of the reasons in a few words if you can.
For all these reasons, learning to skate is a skill every student deserves the chance to try.
Common mistakes
Why this fails: A reason must explain why. Ask yourself: what makes it good? Write that.
Why this fails: A reason with no detail is hard to believe. Back each reason with an example, fact or short story.
Why this fails: Readers may not trust a claim that cannot be checked. Use words such as many or most only when you know, or give your own example instead.
Why this fails: If you start with "winter is best" and then praise summer, the reader is confused. Every reason should support the same opinion.
Why this fails: Restate the opinion in new words so the paragraph sounds finished, not repeated or cut off.
Foundation
Foundation practice
Tell opinions from facts and find the parts of an opinion paragraph.
1. "Pumpkins are orange or yellow on the outside." Is this a fact or an opinion?
- Opinion
- Fact
2. "Hot chocolate is the best winter drink." Is this a fact or an opinion?
- Fact
- Opinion
3. Which sentence states an opinion that could start an opinion paragraph?
- Our class goes to the library on Tuesdays.
- The library has more than a thousand books.
- Our class should visit the library twice a week.
- The librarian's name is Ms. Singh.
4. Opinion: "Our school should have a garden." Which is a real reason?
- because gardens are the best
- because I really, really want one
- because a garden is a garden
- because students could learn how plants grow by caring for one
5. "For example, last spring our class grew bean plants on the windowsill." Which part of an opinion paragraph is this?
- An example
- The opinion
- The ending
- A reason
Practice
Practice practice
Choose and write reasons, examples and endings.
6. Reason: "Board games are good for indoor recess because they teach us to take turns." Which detail supports this reason best?
- Board games come in boxes.
- In our game of checkers, we had to wait and watch while the other player moved.
- Some board games are very old.
- Board games are better than video games.
7. Which word or phrase best fills the blank? "Our class should go skating in December. ___, the outdoor rinks open then, so the trip would be easy to plan."
- However
- Finally
- In the end
- For one thing
8. Opinion: "Our school should have a book swap every month." Which is the strongest ending?
- Book swaps are fun.
- Our school should have a book swap every month.
- That is why a monthly book swap would help every student find something new to read.
- The end.
9. Opinion: "Every class should have a pet fish." Write one real reason using because.
10. Reason: "Walking to school is good for students because it gives them exercise." Add an example that starts with For example.
11. Make this opinion clearer and more specific: "Recess is kind of okay, I guess, maybe it could change."
Think
Think practice
Judge reasons and fairness like an editor.
12. Opinion: "Fall is the best season for a class nature walk." Which sentence does NOT belong in the paragraph?
- The colourful leaves give us lots to observe and sort.
- The weather is cool, so walking does not make us too hot.
- Summer is great for going to the beach.
- Squirrels are busy gathering food that we can watch.
13. Which sentence is the fairest way to answer people who disagree?
- Some people prefer summer trips, but fall walks avoid the heat and still let us see lots of wildlife.
- Anyone who likes summer trips is wrong.
- Summer trips are boring and silly!!!
- Nobody should disagree with me.
14. A writer says, "Everyone in Canada loves hockey." Why is this a weak sentence for an opinion paragraph, and how could you fix it?
15. Put these in order: (a) For example, our class read three mystery novels last month. (b) That is why mysteries are the best books for a class read-aloud. (c) I think mysteries make the best read-aloud books. (d) One reason is that everyone wants to guess the ending.
Your turn to write
Choose one opinion and write a paragraph of 6–8 sentences: the best season for a class trip, a new club or activity your school should start, or the best game for indoor recess. State your opinion, give at least two reasons, back each reason with an example or detail, and end by restating your opinion in new words.
Helpful sentence starters
- I think ... should ...
- One reason is that ...
- For example, ...
- Another reason is ...
- Some people might think ..., but ...
- That is why ...
Write in a notebook or a document. The model and checklist are available without signing in.
Check and improve
- My first sentence states a clear opinion.
- I gave at least two real reasons that explain why, not just how much I like it.
- Each reason has an example, fact or detail.
- I used linking words such as because, for example and another reason.
- Every sentence supports the same opinion, and I was polite to people who disagree.
- My last sentence restates my opinion in new words.
This checklist is for parent-and-child self-review. No automatic writing score is assigned.
Answer key
- 1. Fact
You can check it by looking at pumpkins. Most are orange, though some are white or green, which you could also check. - 2. Opinion
Best is a clue. People could disagree, and there is no way to prove which drink is best. - 3. Our class should visit the library twice a week.
Should shows what the writer wants, so readers could agree or disagree. The other sentences are facts that could be checked; they might be details, but not the opinion. - 4. because students could learn how plants grow by caring for one
It explains why a garden would help. The other choices repeat the opinion or show how strongly the writer feels without saying why. - 5. An example
For example signals a detail that supports a reason. It does not state the opinion, give the reason itself or finish the paragraph. - 6. In our game of checkers, we had to wait and watch while the other player moved.
It shows turn-taking in action. Boxes and the age of games are true but do not support the reason, and the last choice is a new opinion, not an example. - 7. For one thing
For one thing introduces a first reason. However signals the opposite idea, and Finally and In the end belong near the close. - 8. That is why a monthly book swap would help every student find something new to read.
It restates the opinion in new words and reminds the reader of the benefit. The first choice copies the opening, Book swaps are fun is weak and vague, and The end does not restate anything. - 9. Example: Every class should have a pet fish because students could take turns feeding it and learn to be responsible.
A real reason tells why. Check that it does not just say "because fish are great". - 10. Example: For example, my walk to school takes fifteen minutes each way, so I am moving for half an hour every school day.
An example from your own life makes the reason easy to picture. Use real details from your life, and avoid inventing statistics about other people. - 11. Example: I think afternoon recess should be ten minutes longer.
A clear opinion says exactly what you think should happen. Words like kind of, I guess and maybe make it sound unsure. - 12. Summer is great for going to the beach.
It praises a different season and does not support a fall nature walk. The other sentences give reasons or details for fall. - 13. Some people prefer summer trips, but fall walks avoid the heat and still let us see lots of wildlife.
It admits another view and answers it with a reason. Calling others wrong or silly, or adding exclamation marks, does not give the reader a reason to agree. - 14. Not everyone loves hockey, and the writer cannot check everyone. Fix it with something you know, such as "Many students in my class play hockey on weekends."
Use claims you can support. Words like everyone, nobody and always are often too strong. - 15. c, d, a, b
Opinion first, then a reason, then an example that supports it, then the ending.