WRITING AN OPINION ESSAY

WHAT IS AN OPINION ESSAY?

It is a writing exercise where you must give your opinion about a topic. You must make your
opinion clear from the very beginning. You must include arguments, reasons and examples to
support your opinion.

STRUCTURE
The structure of an opinion essay (or any other text) must be well defined. The reader must be
able to see the different parts even before starting reading.

INTRODUCTION

State your opinion about the topic.

Here are some expressions you can use:

• In my opinion, …
• I (strongly / honestly) think/ believe (that) …
• From my point of view, …
• As I see it …
• I (completely / totally) agree / disagree with…
• It seems to me that …

TIPS FOR THE INTRODUCTION

✓ A good way to start if you don’t know how is to compare the present situation with the
past, especially if there has been an important change. Remember actually doesn’t
mean actualmente. You can use nowadays, currently, now, these days …
✓ Try not to use I think that… It is not wrong but it denotes lack of vocabulary.
✓ Use intensifiers: completely, totally, quite, extremely, …
✓ Start with a question. It will lead the reader to the arguments you will give to support
your opinion. Ge careful, though. If the structure of your question is wrong, you will
give a bad impression from the beginning. Besides, if your arguments are not related
to the question, your text will me incoherent.
 BODY
Present different ideas in different paragraphs. Give reasons and / or examples to support
your ideas. Use connectors to link different paragraphs.

Idea 1: First of all, … To begin with, …

Idea 2: Secondly, …. Moreover,…. In addition to this, …

Final idea: Finally, … Last but not least, …

Do not state an idea without reasoning it.

CONCLUSION
Summarize the body but don’t repeat the same words. Try to replace the common In
conclusion with other expressions like In short, or To sum up. Be coherent, don’t write a long
paragraph after In short.

BE MATURE
Elaborate your arguments. Try not to give simple or plain reasons.

INTENSIFIERS
• Very (I am very happy)
• Really (I am really happy)
• Quite (We felt quite tired)
• Pretty (She was pretty rude)
• Even (The experience was even
better than we thought)
• Too ( It was too difficult to explain)
• Enough ( You aren’t old enough to
drive)

CONNECTORS AND TEXT ORGANIZERS

ADDING SEQUENCING ILLUSTRATING CAUSE AND EFFECT

and first, second, third, .. for example because

also finally such as so
as well as next for instance therefore
moreover meanwhile in the case of thus
too after as revealed by … consequently
furthermore then illustrated by hence
additionally subsequently

COMPARING QUALIFYING CONTRASTING EMPHASIZING

similarly but whereas above all

likewise however instead of in particular
as with although alternatively especially
like unless otherwise
equally except unlike
in the same way … apart from on the other hand …