Opinion Essay Directions

Located on your planner Tues., February 14th

Unit 5 Lesson 3 Believe in Yourself: Comprehension

Draft Due: Tues., Feb. 28 Final Copy Due: Thurs., Mar 16

Required prompt: Choose someone whom you believe is the best at what they do.
State your opinion and tell why you believe they are the best.

The person you write about and what they do will be your topic. How you feel about
the person’s ability and why you feel that way will be your opinion. You can write
about someone you know, such as a teacher, a family member, or a coach. You can
also write about someone you haven’t seen or learned about, such as a sports
figure, an inventor or scientist, or an artist or musician.

Remember that in 5th grade, you should be writing at least a 5 paragraph essay. You
need an introduction, 3 body/detail paragraphs, and a conclusion. An opinion essay
should include the writer’s opinion on the topic clearly stated, relevant evidence
to support your opinion, a logical order saving the strongest reason for the final
body paragraph, linking/transition words to connect ideas, and a conclusion that
inspires the reader!

Helpful Resources

*** Opinion Essay Pacing Guide (see next page). This is your daily guide. DO NOT
turn this in.

Graphic Organizer (do NOT turn this in; this is only to help you organize your
thoughts during the brainstorming phase of writing)

Rubric (do NOT turn this in; this is only to help you understand how you will be
graded)

Opinion Essay Pacing Guide

(You may want to print a copy so you can check off as you go.)
Epic Class Code: Bentley (ait8634)
Date
Topic
Steps I Need to Take Now

Mon..
2/13/23
Getting Ready to Write
Go to Epic
1. Watch Opinion Writing for Kids: Making a Plan
2. Listen to I Want a Cat: My Opinion Essay

Tues.
2/14/23
 Writing Introduction
Go to Epic
1. Watch Opinion Writing for Kids: Writing an Introduction
2. Choose your purpose and audience. Write your introduction for the Opinion Essay

Thurs..
2/16/23
Draft Body Paragraphs
Go to Epic
1. Watch Opinion Writing for Kids: Reasons and Examples
2. Identify reasons and draft your body paragraphs

Mon.
2/20/23
Draft Body Paragraphs
Continue to develop your body paragraphs by adding more details.

Tues..
2/21/23
Evaluate the reasons in your essay
Go to Epic
1. Listen to I Want a Cat: My Opinion Essay
2. Evaluate your chosen reasons for your essay (See Slide 22 of your lesson for
today)

Wed.
2/22/23
Write a Conclusion
Go to Epic
1. Watch Opinion Writing for Kids: Conclusion
2. Write a Conclusion for your essay

Thurs..
2/23/23
Confirming 5 paragraphs
Do you have five paragraphs? If not, what’s missing? Look for an intro., 3
body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Mon..
2/27/23
Catch Up Day
Extra day to catch up

Tues.
2/28/23
Submission Day
SUBMIT your draft in the Connexus Drop Box in this lesson.
Mar. 1- Mar. 7
Awaiting Comments
You will be awaiting feedback for the next several days. You will receive a
webmail stating you have feedback. Go and click on your draft grade in the
gradebook to READ my comments.
A GOOD GRADE ON THE DRAFT DOES NOT ENSURE THAT YOU WILL GET A GOOD GRADE ON THE
FINAL COPY.

Date
Topic
Steps I Need to Take Now

Thurs.
3/9/23
Revise Essay
Go to Epic
1. Watch Opinion Writing for Kids: Revising
2. Revise your essay to address task, purpose, and audience

Fri.
3/10/23
Edit Essay
Go to Epic
1. Watch Opinion Writing for Kids: Editing
2. Make final revisions and edit your writing

Tues.
3/14/23
Share
Share your writing with 3 people to strengthen and edit. The three people who
will review my final copy before I publish my writing will be:

1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________

Wed.
3/15/23
Publish
(TYPED)
Review and TYPE your final copy of the essay.

Thurs.
3/16/23
Submission Day
Submit your final draft to the dropbox in this lesson.

Mar. 16-22
 Awaiting Final Grade
Please review your comments when you get your grade. You can make updates if
you would like your grade higher.

Congratulations! You have been through all the steps of the writing process and
have successfully completed and submitted the Opinion Essay!!