How to write an effective opinion essay?

 Question type:
1. Some people think that scientists experimenting with animals in a
laboratory is the only way we can guarantee new products will be
safe for human use. Do you agree or disagree?
2. Government investment in the arts, such as music and theatre, is a
waste of money. Governments must invest this money in public
services instead. To what extent do you agree with this statement?
3. Nowadays, young people admire sports stars although they often
do not set a good example. Do you think this is a positive or
negative development?
4. The Internet will never replace the traditional textbooks in schools.
Do you agree or disagree?
5. Using computers constantly have
 THE STRUCTURE OF AN OPINION ESSAY:
• Paragraph 1- Introduction
Sentence 1: background information.
Sentence 2- Paraphrase the question
Sentence 3- Outline Statement
• Paragraph 2- Supporting Paragraph 1
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
Sentence 2/3 - Idea 1 + Explain+ Example
Sentence 4/5 - Idea 2 + Explain + Example
• Paragraph 3- Supporting Paragraph 2
Sentence 1- Topic Sentence
Sentence 2/3 - Idea 1 + Explain + Give Example
Sentence 4/5 - Idea 2 + Explain + Give Example
• Paragraph 4- Conclusion
Sentence 1- Summary and reiteration of your opinion.
CÁCH VIẾT
Dạng OPINION ESSAY có 3 cách viết
• Cách 1 : totally agree
• Cách 2: totally disagree
• Cách 3: agree to disagree (partially agree)
1. "HOÀN TOÀN" ĐỒNG Ý (HOẶC KHÔNG ĐỒNG Ý)(totally
agree/ disagree)
• Intro
+ Nêu chủ đề của bài viết(background information)
+Paraphrase the question.
+ Nêu quan điểm của bạn (đồng ý hoặc là không đồng ý) hoàn
toàn (outline statement).
 Personally, I completely(totally/ entirely)
support(agree)/oppose(disagree) this
[idea/development/trend/statement] for a number of
compelling(persuasive) reasons/ factors. (Totally Agree-Totally
Disagree)
Ex: Personally, I completely agree with the above sentiment/
assertion for a number of compelling reasons as follows
• Body 1: “First reason” ,…
• Body 2: “Second reason”,…
• Conclusion: nhắc lại quan điểm của bạn (chú ý paraphrase lại
toàn bộ câu 2 ở phần mở bài )
2. ĐỒNG Ý "MỘT PHẦN"(partially agree or disagree)
• Intro
+ Nêu chủ đề của bài viết
+paraphrase the question.
+ Nêu quan điểm của bạn là đồng ý một phần
 Personally, while I accept that …., I also believe that …. (Partly
agree)
Personally, I partially agree with this statement for a number…..

• Body 1: On the one hand, (what you agree)

• Body 2: On the other hand, …(what you disagree).
• Conclusion: nhắc lại quan điểm của bạn là đồng ý một phần
INTRODUCTION:
• Give background information
“Something” has been a (major) topic of concern in today’s society.
-Education has been a major topic of concern in this day and age
(today).
-With the dramatic development of society and technology, the
internet is widely utilized (used) in many aspects, especially in
education.
• Paraphrase the question
Techniques to paraphrase
- use synonyms (internet= online materials).
“the internet will never replace the traditional materials in schools ”
- change word forms (replace:v=> replacement)
 -> “the conventional documents will be never substituted by the web-
based materials”.
- change the position of components in a sentence.
“Education has been a major topic of concern in this day and age
(today”
->One of the major topics of concern in this day and age is
education.
-“Conventional manuals will never be replaced by the internet-based
materials”.

• State your opinion (outline statement).

Sample of an introduction: some assume that The Internet will never
replace the traditional textbooks in schools. Do you agree or disagree?”
Some assume that-> it is assumed that / some believe-> it is believed/
think that-> it is thought that ; hold an opinion that/ it is believed that/ it
is assumed that/ some suppose that/ it is commonly supposed that/ ….

With the dramatic development of society and technology, the internet is

widely utilized (used) in many aspects, especially in education. Some
assume that the conventional manuals will never be replaced by the
internet-based materials in any institutions. Personally, I entirely
support this statement for a number of compelling reasons as follows.
BODY:
• LINE 1: Topic Sentence
(you have to start with a linking word/ phrase: to begin with/ on the
one hand,….)
 To begin with, there are several reasons/ factors influencing this
decision/ opinion. Obviously, course books outweigh web-based
documents in terms of quality/ design”.
Or
First of all, some individuals believe that…for numerous reasons.
• LINE 2:
Idea 1 “Obviously, course books obviously outweigh web-based
documents in terms of quality/ design”.”
• LINE 3:
Support Idea 1 - Example
• LINE 4:
Idea 2
• LINE 5:
Support Idea 2 – Example
• LINE 6: Conclude/ Link to another paragraph

BODY 2:
-Start by a linking word/ phrase (In the second place, on the other hand,
….)
->On the other hand, there are a number of considerable reasons why
…..

CONCLUSION:
• Start with a linking phrase
-In conclusion (You should always use this),
 “The existing data provides a concrete foundation to conclude that
……”(Quite fancy to use)
• Paraphrase the main points of your essay
Techniques to paraphrase
- use synonyms
- change word forms
- change the position of components in a sentence.
Sample of a conclusion:
To briefly recapitulate (in conclusion), all of the aforementioned
factors already shed light on my opinion about the stated sentiment.
It stands to reason that the conventional manuals, with their
undeniable merits, are set to be irreplaceable by the web-based
materials.
In conclusion, all of the above-mentioned factors already throw light
on my attitude toward the stated sentiment. It is extremely obvious
that the web-based documents, with all of their considerable
drawbacks, will never be the substitute for the conventional manuals.

 Some useful phrases:

MORE FORMAL ACADEMIC PHRASES WITH ‘THAT’
“IT WOULD SEEM THAT + [YOUR SENTENCE]”
IT WOULD SEEM THAT THE CONVENTIONAL MANNUALS
DOMINATE (OUTWEIGH) THE WEB-BASED DOCUMENTS IN TERMS
OF QUALITY AND DESIGN.
 “It would seem+ that children learn best when they are feeling
comfortable.”
“IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT + [YOUR SENTENCE]”
IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT SOME SOURCES OF INORMATION
AND KNOWLEDGE ON THE INTERNET ARE NOT INSPECTED BY
ANY ORGANIZATIONS.
 “It could be argued that the benefits outweigh(vượt trội hơn hẳn) the
drawbacks in this situation.”
 It is arguable that_______
“THIS SUGGESTS THAT + [YOUR SENTENCE]”
Use this when you don’t want to fully commit to an opinion. You’re giving
yourself some distance.
 “The evidence suggests that people who speak more than one language
have more job opportunities.”
“THIS PROVES THAT + [YOUR SENTENCE]”
Use this when you are confident with your opinion. This phrase is quite strong*
 “This proves that the best way to lose weight is through a controlled diet
and a good exercise program.”
 This proves that the internet-based document is definitely not a replacement
for textbooks.
“THIS SUPPORTS THE IDEA THAT + [YOUR SENTENCE]”
Use this one when you are supporting an opinion that you have already made.
 “This new research supports the idea that successful English learners
look for opportunities to use English.”
 The recent scientifically proven research support the idea + your
sentence.
A scientifically proven fact that …
“The recent scientifically proven fact supports the idea that the domestic art
galleries and museums should also be the place displaying a big collection
of artifacts from other parts of the world”

PRACTICE:

1. The Internet will never replace the traditional textbooks in schools.

Do you agree or disagree?
Introduction:
1. Background information
2. Paraphrase the question:
-The internet: The internet-based materials= Online materials=
online documents =web-based materials.
-replace: substitute = interchange.
-traditional textbooks= conventional/ traditional manuals=course
books= paper-based materials
 -Schools= institutions= educational environment/ setting=
educational system= academic setting/ environment.
3. Outline statement:
Personally, I totally/ completely support/ agree with this sentiment/
statement/ idea for a number of compelling reasons as follows/ for a
number of following compelling reasons.
II: Body:

1. Body 1: For textbooks:

Topic sentence:
Textbooks obviously/ apparently/ evidently/ undoubtedly/
clearly outweigh/ dominate the web-based documents in
terms of quality and design.
-Absolutely/ definitely/ it stands to reasons that/ In fact,
course books/ conventional documents are well-designed
according to the academic curriculum decided by the board
of education.
+More importantly, this is led by many/ a number of top
pedagogical experts.
->Hence, only essential details and necessary information are
printed in the textbooks-> ensure the accuracy.
-Moreover, the traditional documents are also considered the
criteria of assessment in many formal examinations.
->Needless to say, what students meet in any institution’s
exams is totally involved in the textbooks-> enable/ entitle
students/ learners/ studiers to improve their academic
achievements/ school performances as well as enhance/
foster/ enrich/ improve/ strengthen the potential for further
education(higher education) in the future.
Enhance= foster=boost = improve =enrich.
2. Body 2: internet:
It cannot be denied that (It is undeniable that) the Internet has
been a beneficial source/ supplement for learning, but contains
a number of considerable drawbacks. (Topic sentence)
-In particular, online materials include some inaccurate and
harmful/ toxic information which is not inspected by any
organization. =>Negatively impacts on students’ learning
results/ outcomes.
-What is more, learners easily get distracted by some external
factors such as Facebook, Zalo, Instagram and many others
while learning.
->For instance, students get messages from their friends and
spend time replying -> study less effectively.
-> mental problems (become insensitive with others)
Insensitive (adj)
III. Conclusion:
To briefly recapitulate, all the aforementioned factors already
shed light on/ throw light on my opinion about the above
sentiment/ statement. The conventional materials, with their
undeniable merits, are set to be irreplaceable by the internet-
based documents.