In our latest studies, we have talked about argumentative essays and how to compose a very

strong one. Todays lesson is about how to write an opinion essay. On your books the lesson is on
page 90.

Step 1. The difference between an opinion essay and a argumentative essay.

Opinion essay: in an opinion essay the writer states his opinion and supports it with facts,
evidence and examples but he doesn’t try to convince the reader.

Persuasive essay or argumentative essay : in a persuasive essay the writer tries to convince the
reader to agree with his opinion. The author uses logic and facts, definitions and examples in
order to persuade the reader to share his point of view.

Step 2. Top tips for writing an opinion essay

1 Basic do’s when writing an opinion essay

 Introduce each paragraph with a topic sentence, outlining the main ideas.
 Do not write about advantages or disadvantages or points for or against.
 Write in formal style.

2. Basic don’ts when writing an opinion essay

 Don’t use colloquial expressions (the use of informal words, phrases, or even slang in a
piece of writing)
 Don’t use short forms.
 Don’t use emotive vocabulary.

3. Decide whether you agree or disagree with the title. Try to think of at least two or three good
reasons to support your opinion, including examples of why you think the alternative point of
view is wrong.

4. Organise your essay into clear paragraphs.

 Introduction: Introduce the topic and give your opinion. Say whether you agree or
disagree with the statement.
 Body: 2 or 3 paragraphs. For each paragraph give a reason to support your opinion.
 Conclusion: Summarize your ideas and repeat your opinion using different words.
Step 3. Useful expressions and linkers

TO EXPRESS OPINION
 In my opinion,
 Personally, I think/ I believe (that)
 I strongly believe that….
 It is clear (to me) that
 I (completely) agree/disagree with …
 It seems to me that…
 As I see it, …
 In my view,...
 From my point of view, …
 As far I am concerned, ...
 I am sure/ convinced that …
 I (dis)agree with the statement, because …

TO GIVE REASONS
My main reason is…./Another reason…
 One reason for… is ….
 Many people say/ believe that…
 Because…
 Since…
 Because of/ due to..
TO EXPRESS FACTS
It is widely known that…
 It is a well-known fact that …
 Research has shown that…
 There are definitely…
 It is a fact that…
 It is clear/ true that…
 For example/ for instance,...
TO CONCLUDE
To sum up,…
 To conclude...
 In conclusion...
 It is clear that...
Example: It's never too late to learn a new language

Many people think that they are too old to study a new language. I strongly believe that everyone
is young enough to study. Personally, I think it depends on your motivation.

           In my opinion, learning languages can be a good hobby and very useful if you like
travelling. Everyone is able to speak a new language fluently if they work hard in spite of feeling
frustrated when they started to learn it. However, it is clear that you need to make an effort and
try to do everyday something in that language.

           From my point of view, it is important to understand other languages to communicate

with foreign people, to apply for a job and even to travel. People think that it is not necessary to
learn another language for travelling and I agree with them, but it is always better if you can
speak more languages than your mother tongue.

           In conclusion, it is clear that people who are over 40 need to spend more time studying,
while teenagers can do it in less time. However, they can learn by watching TV or listening to
the radio. I think that learning is the most important thing even though it might take them longer.

As far as you can see, opinion essay is related to your opinions and they way how you
support them. Since the lesson on your books is about telling the truth , I ask you to write
an opinion essay about : “ Some people say it’s not always a good idea to be completly
honest. Do you agree?” Write your essay in 140-190 words.