2.

ESSAY STRUCTURE

NAME: Sara Natalia Cuartas Arrieta CODE: 0000292308 GROUP: 3981

HOW TO WRITE AN OPINION ESSAY

OBJECTIVES: To identify the purpose of an opinion essay and its parts.

Watch the video in VS and complete the following activities.

ACTIVITY 1: What is an opinion essay?

It is an assay in which you agree or disagree with a fact or on issues, using reasons to support your opinion.

You have to take a stand on a issue, support your stand with solid reason, and support your reasons with solid evidence.

Example: Overpopulation has become an issue around the world, especially in big cities since there is not enough space
for everyone in those place.Some people consider that one of the solutions id to construct exclusively high building and
forget about traditional and large houses.

What are you thoughts on this matter?

ACTIVITY 2: Complete the chart:

What is the structure of an opinion essay? Main characteristics

1. HOOK An appealing sentence or fact to grab your
reader´s attention.
Paragraph 1
2. Background Information to help your reader understand the
INTRODUCTION issue. You can paraphrase the context
provided in the question.

3.Thesis statement State your point of view in regards to the topic.

1.First argument - Main idea of the paragraph (argument)

Paragraph 2 Topic sentence

1st ARGUMENT 2.Explanation Supporting idea

3.Example or further Closing sentence

idea

BODY 1.Second argument - Main idea of the paragraph (argument)

Paragraph 3 Topic sentence

2nd ARGUMENT 2.Explanation Supporting idea

3.Example or further Closing sentence

idea

1.State your opinion Restatement of thesis

Paragraph 4
2.Summarize the main Concluding sentence
CONCLUSION points
 Hook Yellow
Background information Blue
Thesis statement Red
Topic sentence # 1 Purple
Explanation Orange
ACTIVITY 3: Read the essay Example of further idea Green titled: FREE SPEECH: SHOULD IT BE “FREE”?
Highlight with different colors Topic sentence # 2 Pink and name the parts of the essay’s structure.
Explanation Brown
Example of further idea Grey
Opinion restated Light blue
Summary of main points Green

FREE SPEECH: SHOULD IT BE “FREE”?

HOOK

Grammar tenses
It is commonly assumed that everyone has the right to freely express their opinions. used:
Unfortunately, most people do not know the limits to express themselves in virtual Present simple:
Introduction

platforms, which has been causing serious problems in terms of online regulation and -It is commonly
people’s safety. In my opinion, free speech in social networks needs to be controlled assumed,
by the local government as the main authorities. -most people do not
know,
has been causing
-needs to be
controlled

Grammar tenses
used:
Firstly, free speech is causing cyber-bulling. The latest empirical studies have Present
Argument 1

demonstrated a link between the use of social networks and this new form of peer continuous:causing
aggression that takes advantage of the massiveness of internet where the information
can be easily and rapidly shared. A good illustration of this is an experiment conducted Present perfect: have
in Germany which demonstrated that a rumor that started at a random node of Twitter demonstrated
network in average reaches a considerable amount of members within only a few Past simple :started at
a random mode of
hours.
Twitter network.

Grammar tenses
Secondly, free speech generates violence and affects people psychologically. When a used:
person is exposed to insults in social networks, it could cause lower levels of Present simple :
psychological well-being and higher levels of emotional stress. Usually adolescents generates
are the main victims of this type of situations as online hate speech produces anxiety violence,affects
Argument 2

and body image concerns. people

psychologically.

Present conditional:
could cause lower
levels of
psychological well-
being.
 Grammar tenses
In conclusion, the term “free speech” is too wide and should be limited in social used:
networks. If authorities, specifically in the ICTs Ministries, established certain rules, Present simple: the
social media users could still communicate “freely” and responsibly without the risk of term 'free speech' is
Conclusion

being cyberbullied and suffering possible psychological negative effects. too wide,should be
limited.

Conditional: could still

communicate freely.

Adapted from a text written by a student in the period 2018-1