Writing An Opinion Speech Student

Lesson 1
W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts,

supporting a point of view with reasons and
information.
W.4.7: Conduct short research projects that build
Writing an Opinion:
knowledge through investigation of different
aspects of a topic.
Speech
Sharing Opinions
Have you ever felt strongly about something and wanted to share your beliefs
with others? When you do, you’re stating an opinion. You might express your
beliefs about an important issue such as air pollution. Or you might give your
opinion about a smaller topic, like which video game you prefer.
Read the cartoon below. What opinions can you identify?
Hey! Did you know

it costs almost
Finding a two cents to
penny means make a penny
good luck! these days?
Sounds like we should get

? Hey, it’s still
rid of pennies altogether.
good luck!
Opinions can be shared as part of a conversation, as in this cartoon. They

can be also the subject of an article in a magazine, or the reason for
delivering a speech. How do you usually share your opinions with others?
THEME Minerals that Matter
What Is Opinion Writing?

In opinion writing, a writer states an opinion that reflects his or her point of
view—thoughts, feelings, or beliefs—about a topic. The writer supports this
opinion by giving strong reasons and then using evidence, such as facts and
details, to explain each reason.
KEY FEATURES Opinion Writing

• an introduction that gets readers interested in the topic and presents
a clear opinion statement
• strong, convincing reasons that are well supported by evidence
• linking words and phrases that connect the opinion to reasons,
and reasons to evidence
• a conclusion that restates the writer’s opinion and leaves readers
with an idea to think about
Steps for Writing

On the following pages, you’ll learn the steps for writing your own speech.
Step 1 Study a Mentor Text Step 5 Draft Your Speech
Step 2 Unpack Your Assignment Step 6 Revise: First Read
Step 3 Find Text Evidence Step 7 Revise: Second Read
Step 4 Organize Your Evidence Step 8 Edit for Conventions
1
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech
Step 1 Study a Mentor Text

FOCUS Read as a Writer
Before you write your speech, you’ll study a model. First, read to understand what
it’s about. Then reread to understand how it was written.
As you reread the Mentor Text, do the numbered activities. They’ll help you
understand the key features of an opinion speech.
MENTOR TEXT: Speech
Power for Our Town

by Tae Chatman 1 Introduction How does the
question in paragraph 1 help the
1 Imagine that you are about to cast a vote that could affect writer grab his audience’s attention?
the future of our town. Which future would you vote for? On the
one hand, we could have lower unemployment, lower electric bills,
and lower air pollution. On the other hand, we could have more
unemployment, higher electric bills, and more polluted air. If you
voted for the first choice, you’d be voting to keep the nuclear power
plant that now gives our town its electricity. The nuclear power plant
is the best energy option for our town, and I believe we should keep
it and not build a new kind of plant.
2 Opinion Statement In
2 One important reason to keep our nuclear power plant is that it paragraph 1, the writer clearly
employs hundreds of people from our town. Unemployment is quite states his point of view. Draw a
low here. The power plant is one of the reasons for that. If we build a dashed line under the writer’s
different kind of plant, not everyone will have the right skills to opinion statement.
work at the new plant. Many people will lose their jobs.
3 Second, running a nuclear power plant is actually cheap 3 Reasons Paragraphs 2–5 each
compared to the alternatives. Producing electricity from a nuclear develop one reason that supports
power plant usually costs less than producing electricity from coal the writer’s opinion. In each
paragraph, underline the sentence
or natural gas plants. That means we pay less for electricity. Building
that states the reason.
a new power plant may cause our electricity bills to rise.
2 Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech ©Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.
4 In addition, building a new power plant will cost millions of 4 Linking Words and Phrases
dollars. Where will this money come from? Some of the money In paragraphs 3–5, the writer uses
will come from higher local taxes—money we pay to the town certain words or phrases to alert his
readers to a new reason. Draw a
government—so keeping our current plant makes the most financial
box around each of these words
sense for us.
or phrases.
5 One final reason we should keep the power plant is that it
doesn’t pollute the air. According to the U.S. Energy Information
Administration, “Unlike fossil fuel-fired power plants, nuclear
reactors do not produce air pollution.” Fossil fuels, such as coal and
oil, give off harmful emissions when they are burned. Emissions can
be in the form of liquid, gases, or particles, which are tiny bits of
matter. These emissions pollute the air and harm people and the 5 Conclusion In paragraph 6, the
environment. Unlike coal and oil plants, nuclear power plants give writer leaves his readers with an idea
off steam that does not cause pollution. Each year, the use of nuclear to think about. Draw a dashed line
under the sentence that does this.
energy prevents more than a million deaths that would have been
caused by air pollution created by oil or coal plants.
6 In conclusion, I believe that we should keep our nuclear power
plant. It makes financial sense, and it employs people in this town.
It also gives us a source of electricity that is cleaner and less
expensive than other forms of energy. Imagine just how powerful
our wonderful town will continue to be if we keep our current plant. 6 Sources The writer provides a
list of sources at the end of his
7 Sources speech. Explain why he did this.
“Cost and Benefits Analyses.” Nuclear Energy Institute. www.nei.org
“Nonrenewable Uranium (nuclear).” EIA Energy Kids. www.eia.gov
Steen, Susan. “Where does energy come from?” Appleseeds
Quick Write Was Tae Chatman’s

speech convincing? Explain why or
why not.
©Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted. Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech 3
W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech development and organization are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
Step 2 Unpack Your Assignment

FOCUS Identify Task, Purpose, and Audience
Before you begin writing, you should read your assignment carefully and plan
your work. Begin by identifying your task, purpose, and audience.
• Your task is what you need to do to complete the assignment.
• Your purpose is your reason for writing. In opinion writing, the purpose
is to share your opinion and explain your reasons for having it.
• Your audience is the person or group that will read or listen to your finished
speech. A speech is usually read aloud while the audience listens.
Modeled Instruction
Tae Chatman, who wrote the Mentor Text on pages 2–3, was given the
assignment below. Read Tae’s assignment. Then read the points in his
Think Aloud, which tell how he identified his task, purpose, and audience.
TAE’S Assignment
Think Aloud
Some residents in your town think the nuclear Audience The words residents, town, and mayor tell me
power plant is not safe, and they want to replace it that my audience is made up of people who live in my
with a new source of energy. Your mayor is holding town. I will focus my speech on details that really matter to
a town hall meeting so residents can voice their all of us in the community.
opinions. You will write a speech giving your
opinion about whether the town should keep the Purpose My purpose is to help residents in my town
nuclear plant or invest in a new energy source. understand my point of view about whether our town
should keep the nuclear power plant.
In your speech:
Task I have to write a speech that gives my opinion.
• State your opinion: Should the town keep the
The word reasons tells me that I must explain my opinion by
nuclear power plant, or should it invest in new
telling why I feel this way. The words support, facts, and
sources of energy?
details tell me that I need to find reliable information to
• Provide reasons to support your opinion. support each reason. I also have to list my sources. This
• Support your reasons with facts and details shows that I did my research, and allows people to make sure
from reliable sources. the information I give in my speech is accurate and reliable.
Provide a list of sources at the end of your speech.
Guided Practice
Now it’s your turn to write a speech. Read Your Assignment carefully.
Then complete the activities, using the Hints for help.
Your Assignment
Your Assignment Hi, I’m Luna, and I’m
also going to be doing
Your mayor must decide whether to continue using coal as the primary
this assignment.
source of your town’s electricity. She has called a town hall meeting to invite
residents to give their opinions. You will write and deliver a speech telling
your opinion about whether the town should continue using coal to generate
electricity or explore other options.
To prepare to write your speech, you will read the following sources:
• A Powerful Rock page 10
• Coal Today and Tomorrow pages 11–15
In your speech:
• State your opinion: Should the town continue to use coal as its source of
electricity, or should it explore other options?
• Provide reasons to support your opinion.
• Support your reasons with facts and details from the texts.
Provide a list of sources at the end of your speech.
1 Audience Draw a box around the words that tell what kind of meeting your HINT Who called the meeting?
audience will attend. Who will be in your audience? Who has been invited?
2 Purpose Draw a dashed line under the words that help you understand your HINT Reread t he top of page 4.
purpose for writing.
3 Task Underline the parts of your task that tell what you must do to complete HINT Each of the bullets following
the assignment. In your speech: begins with an action.
Independent Practice Turn and Talk

Discuss some ways that writing a
Quick Write Tell about a time you had to give a speech to your classmates. Was speech is different from writing an
it easier or harder to do than speaking to a different group? Explain why. essay. What are some of the different
choices you will make, and why?
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech
The Research Path

Writing from Sources
Sources
READ Your Sources
Join me on the
Go to pages 10–15
path to gather evidence
from sources!
Read as a • A Powerful Rock
Reader • Coal Today and Tomorrow
Find out what these sources are about and
what you can learn from them.
REREAD Your Sources

Return to pages 10–15
Reread as a Use your mark-up
Writer strategy to identify
important details
in the sources.
6 Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech © Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.
Text Evidence
REVIEW Your Assignment
FIND Text Evidence
Return to page 5 Go to pages 8–9
Reread your task to Learn how to mark
ment
identify the types A ssign
Your important details
of details you will so you can find
need to include them quickly later on.
in your speech.
THINK It Through ORGANIZE Your Evidence

Go to pages 16–17 Go to pages 18–19
Complete the activities gh
Use a chart to
It T hrou
to help you connect Think group your reasons
the ideas from the and supporting
sources to your evidence so that
assignment. you’re ready to write.
Need More Information?

Yes, see Write Time, page 17 Begin Writing!
Go to pages 20–21
© Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted. Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech 7
W.4.8: . . . gather relevant information from print . . .
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech sources. . . .
Step 3 Find Text Evidence

FOCUS Gather Information
Before you can form an opinion, you need to first consider both sides of the issue.
For this assignment, that means you should think about details that support using
coal as an energy source, and details that are against it.
Details that support an idea are often called pros. Details that are against an idea
are called cons. As you reread the source texts on pages 10–15, mark details
supporting the use of coal as an energy source with a P, for pro, and details
against using coal as an energy source with a C, for con. Then you’ll be able to
review the details easily when it’s time to form your opinion.
Modeled Instruction
Luna underlined details and marked up the text as she read the first source,
“A Powerful Rock.”
Read the text and Luna’s Think Aloud to learn about the reading
and mark-up strategies she used.
From “A Powerful Rock” page 10 Think Aloud

The first sentence tells me that coal supplies a lot of the
Today, generators fueled by coal supply much
world’s energy. But the second sentence says that the
of the world’s energy. But the processes used to
processes for turning coal into energy actually pollute the
mine coal and convert it into fuel can pollute C air, land, and water. I know from science class that pollute
our air, land, and water. When coal is burned, means “to make dirty.” So if coal is used all over the world,
harmful chemicals are released into the air. and it makes the air, land, and water dirty, then I will
These chemicals get carried through the air by definitely mark this detail with a C, for con.
the wind and fall in the raindrops. This is called
In the second paragraph, I see a lot of positive phrases,
acid rain. It can make plants and animals
such as new technologies, promising solutions, and
very sick. protecting our precious planet. If engineers can develop
Engineers are developing new technologies to cleaner ways to burn coal, then we can probably continue
reduce the potential air pollution from coal. P to use it as an energy source. I’ll underline this sentence
These promising solutions may help us get the and mark it with a P, for pro.
most from this powerful rock while protecting
our precious planet.
Guided Practice
Read the following excerpt from “Coal Today and Tomorrow.” Note the
underlined details. Then complete the activities, using the Hints for help.
From “Coal Today and Tomorrow” page 13

Many countries use coal because it is less expensive than other
energy sources, and right now, there is plenty of it. However, there are
also challenges to using coal. For instance, it is a nonrenewable resource.
Because it is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years, there is a limited
amount of it. While some experts say there is enough coal to supply
energy for another 100 to 300 years, someday the supply of coal will run
out. Renewable energy sources like sun and wind will never run out.
1 Is the first underlined sentence a pro or a con of using coal to generate

electricity? Mark it with a P or C, and explain your answer. HINT Look for reasons why many
countries currently use coal.
2 Underline a detail that is against the idea of using coal to generate electricity,
and mark it with a C. Tell why you marked it. HINT Which word signals that an
opposing detail will follow?
3 Would you mark the second underlined sentence with a P or a C?

Explain your answer. HINT Think about how the ideas
flow logically within the paragraph.
Turn and Talk

Discuss how marking the pros and cons
of using coal will help you form your
opinion and find details to support it.
Lesson 1 Source 1: Online Article
LOG IN | ABOUT | HELP SEARCH
by Patrick Pierce
1 Coal may look like an ordinary black rock. But inside, it contains
powerful energy that can be used for heat and electricity. Coal is made
from plant matter that was buried far below the Earth’s surface for millions
of years. Being buried so deeply and for so long put the plant matter
under intense heat and pressure. The heat and pressure caused the
chemical and physical characteristics of the plant matter to change.
Eventually, the plant matter turned into coal.
2 Coal must be mined, or dug up from below the ground. After it is mined,
the coal travels to a machine that cleans it. This process removes dirt,
rocks, and other unwanted materials. Next, heavy machines crush the coal
until it becomes a fine powder. Finally, the coal is burned to make steam.
Special machines called turbines use this steam to create electricity.
3 Today, generators fueled by coal supply much of the world’s energy.
But the processes used to mine coal and convert it into fuel can pollute
our air, land, and water. When coal is burned, harmful chemicals are
released into the air. These chemicals get carried through the air by the
wind and fall in the raindrops. This is called acid
Coal, before it is
rain. It can make plants and animals very sick.
processed, looks
4 Engineers are developing new like an ordinary
pile of rocks.
technologies to reduce the
potential air pollution from coal.
These promising solutions
may help us get the most from
this powerful rock while
protecting our precious planet.
10 Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion:Speech ©Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.

Lesson 1 Source 2: Magazine Article
by Chris Eboch
A Very Useful Rock

1 How many ways can a rock be used? If the rock is coal, it can be
used in many different ways, from making soap to making steel.
Its most important use, though, comes when it is burned to
produce heat, light, and electricity. For thousands of years, people
have burned coal to cook their food and heat their homes.
2 Today, people in some countries still burn coal in stoves and
open fires. However, in the United States, coal is mostly burned to
make electricity. More than one-third of the electricity used in the
United States comes from coal.
3 Electricity is created in large buildings, or groups of buildings,
called power plants. In a coal-burning power plant, the
coal is burned to heat water. As the water boils,
it makes steam, which turns a wheel with
blades. The energy from this movement
is turned into electricity. This electrical
energy then powers lights, electric stoves,
and microwaves. It also keeps computers
and other electronics running.
This power plant in Utah

uses coal to make electricity.
Lesson 1 Source 2 continued
Sources of Electricity Generation

in the United States in 2012
1%
Petroleum
37%
19% Coal
Nuclear
12%
30%
Renewable Natural Gas
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
4 Coal is a major energy source in the United States because there

is a great deal of it. Coal is mined in twenty-five states. Many coal
beds in the U.S. are near the ground surface, where it is easy to
access. Modern coal mining methods are very efficient, which keeps
costs down. In addition, many current U.S. power plants are
designed to use coal. It is cheaper to use an existing plant than to
build a new one that uses a different fuel. For these reasons, coal is a
fairly cheap source of energy compared to other sources, such as oil,
natural gas, and nuclear energy.
Coal in Daily Life

5 Coal isn’t just a source of energy. Many of the things you see or
use every day are made using coal. For example, coal is used in the
production of steel. When coal is baked in hot furnaces, it turns
into a material called coke. Coke burns very hot, which makes it
ideal for burning the iron ore needed to make steel. Steel is both
strong and flexible, so it’s used in buildings, bridges, and cars.
6 Some ingredients in coal can be used to make everything from
plastic to makeup, shampoos, and toothpaste. It is used in synthetic
fibers such as nylon and fleece, too. Chemicals from coal can be
used in computer chips, batteries, and electronics. Coal is even used
in some medicines.
7 Coal can also be used to make carbon fiber, a strong, light
material. Tennis rackets and mountain bikes may have carbon fiber
parts. So might aircraft and racecars. In the future, regular cars
may begin using carbon fiber, too. This would make for lighter,
more fuel-efficient cars. Cars that use less fuel are better for the
environment.
The Challenges of Coal

8 Many countries use coal because it is less expensive than other
energy sources, and right now, there is plenty of it. However, there
are also challenges to using coal. For instance, it is a nonrenewable
resource. Because it is a fossil fuel formed over millions of years,
there is a limited amount of it. While some experts say there is
enough coal to supply energy for another 100 to 300 years, someday
the supply of coal will run out. Renewable energy sources like sun
and wind will never run out.
9 Coal can also cause environmental problems. Because coal is
found under the Earth’s surface, it must be mined, or taken out of
the ground. Some coal mines don’t have a big effect on the
environment. Others have more severe effects. The effect on the
environment depends on how the coal is mined. When coal is near
the ground surface, it can be dug up with steam shovels. This is
called surface mining. Some surface mines remove entire
mountaintops and deposit the extra material into the valleys. This
dramatically changes the landscape. Surface mines also release a
small amount of methane. This greenhouse gas is bad for the
environment.
Lesson 1 Source 2 continued
10 Some coal lies far underground. Mines must be dug deep into the
earth. Miners travel underground in trains or elevators to reach the
coal deposits. Underground mines do not change the landscape as
much as surface mines do. However, they release much more methane.
In all, coal mines contribute about 9% of the total methane released
in the United States. Plus, working in underground mines can be
very dangerous for the miners.
11 Coal also affects the environment after it is mined. When coal is
burned, it releases several pollutants into the air. They contribute to
smog, an unhealthy mixture of smoke and fog. Air pollution caused
by burning coal is a major problem in some cities. In 2013, the smog
in Harbin, China, was so bad that people could not see more than a
few feet in front of them. Roads were closed and flights were
canceled. The pollution also caused many health problems. Much of
this pollution was due to heating systems that burned coal. As a
result, the Harbin government is working hard to reduce pollution
in the city.
Vehicles and pedestrians make their
way through heavy smog in downtown
Harbin, China, on October 21, 2013.
12 In addition, pollutants from burning coal can contribute to acid
rain—rain that has chemicals that are dangerous to plants. Burning
coal also releases heavy metals such as mercury. These can get into
lakes and rivers and then into fish. The animals and people that eat
the fish also eat the metals. This is very bad for their health.
A Better Future?
13 Many U.S. government laws apply to coal mining. Some of these
laws are designed to help prevent harm to people and nature. Laws
limit how much pollution a power plant or factory can release from
burning coal. New power plants release much less pollution than
plants built decades ago. Even though more coal is used today,
emissions (substances that enter the air when coal is burned) have
gone down.
14 The U.S. government has also spent billions of dollars developing
and testing new ways of working with coal. Technology has already
solved some problems. Smokestacks now have “scrubbers” that capture
some pollution before it can be released into the air. In the United
States, 99% of the pollutants that cause acid rain are now filtered out
of coal smoke. Waste material from burning coal can be stored
underground, where it is less likely to do harm. Sometimes the wastes
can even be used to create new products, such as concrete and paint.
Other technology makes coal more energy-efficient. That means less
of it needs to be burned to make the same amount of energy.
15 Someday it may be possible to make a coal-burning power plant
that does not release any pollution into the air. Scientists keep
working on ways to make coal cleaner and safer. Their goal is to
create “clean coal”—coal that does little or no environmental
damage.
16 The coal power plants of today are much cleaner and healthier
than those of the past. In the future, they should be even better.
W.4.9b: Apply grade 4 Reading standards
to informational texts.
Think It Through
Use details from your sources to complete the following activities.

Your answers will help you write your speech.
1 List three details that support continuing to use coal as an energy source.
After each detail, write the number of the source it came from. HINT Why does coal currently
supply much of the world’s energy?
Detail:
Detail:
Detail:
2 List three details that support exploring options other than coal for energy.
After each detail, write the number of the source it came from. HINT What are the main
differences between using coal for
energy versus wind or sunlight?
Detail:
Detail:
Detail:
3 Based on the information you’ve read, should your town continue to use coal
as an energy source, or should it explore other options for energy? Write your HINT Consider all the details that
you marked P or C, not just those
opinion statement below. that you listed above.
4 List the strongest reasons that support your opinion. The example below
shows how you can combine related details into a single reason. HINT The reason sums up what
the details have in common.
Example:
Detail: Mining coal can Detail: Burning coal
remove mountain tops creates acid rain
and fill valleys. and smog.
Reason: Mining and burning coal are harmful to the environment.
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:
5 Complete the frame below to express your opinion and reasons in

one statement. HINT Use your responses to
Items 3 and 4.
I believe that the town continue to use coal as an energy source
because [reason 1] ,
[reason 2] ,
Write Time
and [reason 3] . Return to your sources to identify
facts and details that support each
of your reasons. Mark evidence for
each reason with the code R-1, R-2,
or R-3.
©Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted. 17
W.4.5: With guidance and support from peers and
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by
planning. . . .
W.4.8: . . . take notes and categorize information. . . .
Step 4 Organize Your Evidence

FOCUS Plan Your Speech
Now that you’ve formed your opinion and identified your supporting reasons,
it’s time to plan your speech.
Each of your reasons helps explain why your audience should agree with your
opinion. In the same way, evidence—the facts and details you marked in the
sources—helps explain each reason. As you write your speech, each reason and
its supporting evidence will make up one paragraph.
Modeled Instruction
To organize her reasons and supporting evidence, Luna created the chart below.
Look at Luna’s opinion, her first reason, and the detail that supports her
reason. Find another fact or detail in the passage that supports this reason.
Underline it and add it to the chart.
From “A Powerful Rock” page 10

Coal must be mined, or dug up from below Luna’s Chart
the ground. After it is mined, the coal travels to a
My Opinion: Our town should stop using coal and
machine that cleans it. This process removes dirt,
find a new source of energy.
rocks, and other unwanted materials. Next, heavy
machines crush the coal until it becomes a fine Reason 1 Evidence
powder. Finally, the coal is burned to make Mining and • Coal must be dug up from below the
burning coal ground.
steam. . . . harm the
. . . But the processes used to mine coal and environment. •
convert it into fuel can pollute our air, land, and
water. When coal is burned, harmful chemicals
are released into the air. These chemicals get
carried through the air by the wind and fall in
Reason 2 Evidence
the raindrops. This is called acid rain. It can
make plants and animals very sick.
Guided Practice
Luna’s classmate Beau has the opposite opinion. Help him continue filling out
his chart by completing the activities. Use the Hints for help.
Beau’s Chart
From “Coal Today and Tomorrow” page 12
Coal is a major energy source in the United My Opinion: Our town should continue to use coal
States because there is a great deal of it. Coal is as a source of energy.
mined in twenty-five states. Many coal beds in Reason 1 Evidence
the U.S. are near the ground surface, where it Coal is widely • Coal is mined in 25 states.
available.
is easy to access. Modern coal mining methods
•
are very efficient, which keeps costs down.
In addition, many current U.S. power plants
are designed to use coal. It is cheaper to use an
existing plant than to build a new one that uses
a different fuel. For these reasons, coal is a fairly Reason 2 Evidence
cheap source of energy compared to other • Coal mining methods are very efficient.
sources, such as oil, natural gas, and • It is cheaper to use an existing plant
nuclear energy. than to build a new one.
1 Find an additional detail that supports Reason 1. Underline it, and add it to
the chart. Explain why it supports Reason 1. HINT Available means “ready for
use” and “easy to get.”
2 Read the Evidence in the row labeled Reason 2. Then fill in the reason these HINT Reread the excerpt and look
for the idea that connects these details.
details both support. Explain your answer.

Discuss the difference between reasons
Write Time In your own chart, record the reasons for your opinion and then and evidence, and why it is important
organize the evidence you identified to support each reason. to use evidence to support each reason.
W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts,
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech supporting a point of view with reasons and
information.
W.4.1a: Introduce a topic or text clearly, state
Step 5 Draft Your Speech an opinion, and create an organizational structure

in which related ideas are grouped to support the
writer’s purpose.
FOCUS Write an Introduction
Use the chart below to learn more about the main parts of an opinion speech.
Then refer back to this information as you write your draft.
Parts of an Opinion Speech

INTRODUCTION
During a speech, you have to keep your audience
Explains your topic interested every step of the way. You should:
and clearly states • Grab the audience’s attention by describing a scenario,
your opinion asking a question, or stating a fact about the issue.
• Describe both sides of the issue. Help your audience
understand what choices your opinion is based on.
• State your opinion clearly. This lets your audience
know what the rest of your speech will be about.
BODY
Each paragraph or section of the body should develop one
Supports your reason that supports your opinion. You should:
opinion with reasons • Present your reasons in a logical order. For example,
and evidence you may want to end with the most important reason.
• Support each reason with facts and details.
• Connect ideas with linking words and phrases to
help them flow together smoothly.
CONCLUSION
Your conclusion should remind your audience of your
Restates your opinion opinion and your reasons for having it. You should:
and summarizes • Briefly restate your reasons.
your reasons
• Leave your audience with an idea to think about.
Draft Your INTRODUCTION
Practice writing the parts of an introduction. Study each example from the
Mentor Text below. Then try writing each part of your own introduction. INTRODUCTION
Grab the Audience’s Attention BODY
Mentor Imagine that you are about to cast a vote that could affect the future of our CONCLUSION
Text town. Which future would you vote for?
Your
HINT Think about how coal
Speech impacts people in their daily lives.
Describe Both Sides of the Issue

On the one hand, we could have lower unemployment, lower electric bills, and
Mentor
lower air pollution. On the other hand, we could have more unemployment,
Text
higher electric bills, and more polluted air.
HINT What factors make the

Your decision to keep or replace coal a
Speech difficult one?
State Your Opinion

If you voted for the first choice, you’d be voting to keep the nuclear power
Mentor plant that now gives our town its electricity. The nuclear power plant is the
Text best energy option for our town, and I believe we should keep it and not build
a new kind of plant.
HINT What do you think should
happen? Your answer is your opinion
Your statement.
Speech
Turn and Talk

Independent Practice Discuss why having a good introduction
is important when your audience will
Write Time Use your ideas from this page to begin drafting your introduction. be listening to your speech rather than
Then begin drafting your body paragraphs. reading it.
W.4.1b: Provide reasons that are supported
by facts and details.
Lesson 1 Step 5 Draft Your Speech continued
FOCUS Add Facts and Details
Draft Your BODY

As you draft your body paragraphs, remember that each paragraph or section
should begin with a reason that supports your opinion. You should use details INTRODUCTION
and facts to develop each reason.
BODY
• Details provide additional information to help your audience understand
your ideas. Details include facts, descriptions, and examples. CONCLUSION
• A fact is a specific kind of detail that can be proven. Facts include numbers,
dates, and definitions.
Modeled Instruction
Read the excerpt from “Power for Our Town.” Note the underlined detail,
and complete the activities to see how details and facts support each reason.
From MENTOR TEXT page 3
In addition, building a new power plant will 1 Draw a dashed line under a sentence in each paragraph
cost millions of dollars. Where will this money that tells a reason why the town should keep its nuclear
come from? Some of the money will come from power plant. Label the first reason R-1 and the second R-2.
higher local taxes—money we pay to the town 2 Read the underlined detail. How does this detail support
government—so keeping our current plant the writer’s first reason?
makes the most financial sense for us.

One final reason we should keep the power
plant is that it doesn’t pollute the air. According
to the U.S. Energy Information Administration,

“Unlike fossil fuel-fired power plants, nuclear
reactors do not produce air pollution.” Fossil 3 Underline a fact that supports Reason 2. Why do you
fuels, such as coal and oil, give off harmful think the writer included this fact?
emissions when they are burned. Emissions can

be in the form of liquid, gases, or particles, which
are tiny bits of matter. These emissions pollute
the air and harm people and the environment.

Guided Practice
Luna used her notes to write the draft below. Now she must find ways to develop
her ideas in the underlined sentences.
Read Luna’s notes and draft. Complete the activities, using the Hints for help.
Luna’s Chart
My Opinion: Our town should not continue to use Luna’s Draft
coal and should find a new energy source. Coal mining can harm the Earth’s surface.
Reason 1 Evidence
Burning coal can also release dangerous chemicals
Mining and • Some mining processes cut off mountain into the air. This can cause many problems.
burning coal tops or fill in valleys. It caused a big problem one time in China. For
harm the this reason, we should look for cleaner options.
• When coal is burned, harmful chemicals
environment. are released into the air.
• In 2013, smog in Harbin, China, was so
bad that it shut down the city.
4 How can Luna use a detail from her notes to support the first underlined sentence?
HINT What type of harm can coal
mining cause?
5 In the second underlined sentence, Luna refers to a fact from her notes.
Underline the fact. Then help her rewrite the sentence to be more specific. HINT What important information
has Luna left out?
HINT Reread the definition of fact

6 Explain why adding the fact above will improve Luna’s speech. on the previous page.
Turn and Talk

Read your partner’s body paragraphs,
Independent Practice and draw a star beside each fact or
detail that supports a reason. Discuss
Write Time Finish drafting the body of your speech. Then draft a conclusion whether each paragraph has enough
using the tips from the chart on page 20 for help. evidence.
W.4.4: Produce clear and coherent writing in which the
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech development and organization are appropriate to task,
purpose, and audience.
Step 6 Revise: First Read adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed
by . . . revising. . . .
FOCUS Ideas and Elaboration
As you revise, use your Opinion Writing Checklist to check your writing. Work
through the checklist, one line at a time. Reread the related parts of your speech
to decide whether you did your best possible work for each trait described. In this
step, you will practice checking your speech for three of the traits in the categories
of Ideas and Elaboration.
Modeled Instruction
The Mentor Text writer, Tae Chatman, used the same checklist to evaluate
his draft.
Read his Think Aloud to see how he checks his speech.
MENTOR TEXT Draft Think Aloud

Our town is about to vote on whether to Ideas Did I state my opinion clearly? I said, “I believe
change its power plant. The nuclear power plant we should do that.” That is not very clear because I didn’t
say exactly what we should do. I believe that nuclear power
would close, and a new plant would be built.
is best for our town, and we should keep the plant we have.
Which would you vote for? If you voted for the
I will replace the last sentence of my introduction with a
nuclear plant to stay open, you’d be voting for sentence that says this.
more jobs and cheaper electricity. I believe we
should do that, not build a new plant. Ideas Did I give enough reasons to support my opinion? So
far I say that we should keep the nuclear power plant because it
One reason to keep our power plant is that
protects hundreds of jobs and provides a cheaper source of
hundreds of people work there. If we build a
electricity. Those are good reasons, but I also know that nuclear
different kind of plant, not everyone will have energy does not create pollution. I will add a paragraph that
the right skills to work at the new plant. Many explains this to make my speech even stronger.
people will lose their jobs.
Elaboration Are my reasons supported by facts and
Second, running a nuclear power plant is
details? I say that it costs less to make electricity in a
actually cheap. It costs less to make electricity in nuclear power plant, but I didn’t say what it costs less than.
a nuclear power plant. That means we pay less I know electricity made from coal or natural gas costs more.
for electricity. Building a new power plant may I’ll add a sentence that says, “Producing electricity from a
cause our electricity bills to rise. nuclear power plant usually costs less than producing
electricity from coal or natural gas plants.”
Guided Practice
Read the excerpt below from Luna’s draft of the assignment. Then complete
the activities. Use the Hints for help.
Luna’s Draft
Creating electricity from coal is inexpensive, and building a new
plant that uses gas or nuclear power would cost a lot of money. But we
can’t just think about money. There are many things to think about
before we decide if we should keep using coal or look for another option.
Coal pollutes our air, water, and land. The chemicals it releases can
cause acid rain. Using coal also changes the landscape because mining it
destroys mountains.
1 Ideas Luna believes her town should replace its coal power plant. Did she state
her opinion clearly? Explain your answer. HINT Is there a single sentence
that says what the writer thinks?
2 Ideas Luna’s second paragraph gives examples that show how coal harms the
environment. What sentence could she add that clearly states her reason for HINT Remember, a reason explains
why the writer holds an opinion.
wanting to replace the coal power plant?
3 Elaboration Does Luna provide enough facts and details in her second
paragraph to support her reason? Explain your answer. HINT As a reader, do you think
you have enough information to
understand her point of view?

Take turns reading aloud your
Write Time Use the Opinion Writing Checklist passed out by your teacher to introductions. Discuss whether you
evaluate your draft for Ideas, Organization, and Elaboration. have included a clear opinion
statement.
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed
by . . . revising. . . .
L.4.6: Acquire and use accurately . . . domain-specific
Step 7 Revise: Second Read words and phrases, including those . . . that are basic to
a particular topic.
FOCUS Domain-Specific Vocabulary
In this step, you’ll look for places to add domain-specific vocabulary. These are
words and phrases that belong to a particular subject, or domain, such as science
or social studies. These terms help writers express their ideas precisely.
When revising your writing for language, ask yourself: Is there a domain-specific
word I can use that will be more effective? Have I clearly explained any words my
audience might not know?
Here are some domain-specific words you might use in your speech about coal:
• emission – a solid, liquid, or gas made by burning a fuel
• environment – the natural world or part of it, including air, water, and land
• fossil fuel – a fuel formed from the remains of plants or animals
• generator – a machine that uses fuel to create electricity
Modeled Instruction
Read the following excerpt from “Power for Our Town.” Note how
Tae Chatman used domain-specific vocabulary to develop his topic.
Then complete the activities.
From MENTOR TEXT page 3
One final reason we should keep the power 1 How does Tae help his readers understand the domain-
plant is that it doesn’t pollute the air. According to specific term fossil fuels?
the U.S. Energy Information Administration,

“Unlike fossil fuel-fired power plants, nuclear
reactors do not produce air pollution.” Fossil fuels,
such as coal and oil, give off harmful emissions
2 Underline another example of a domain-specific word.
when they are burned. Emissions can be in the
Then explain how Tae makes its meaning clear to readers.
form of liquid, gases, or particles, which are tiny
bits of matter. These emissions pollute the air and
harm people and the environment. . . .

Guided Practice
Read the following paragraph from an early draft of the Mentor Text.
Then use the Hints to complete the activities that follow.
MENTOR TEXT Draft
Any power plant needs a source of energy to run the generator.

Not all sources of energy are the same, however. The burning of
coal, a substance made from plant material that was buried
millions of years ago, produces gas, dust, smoke, and other
substances that can damage the surrounding earth, air, and water.
3 The writer wants to add a definition to help his audience understand the
domain-specific term generator. Which is the best definition for the writer HINT Generator comes from
generate, which means “to make.”
to add? Circle the correct answer.
A a building in which electrical energy is produced
B a process that turns plants into electrical energy
C a type of fuel that can be burned to produce electricity
D a part of a power plant that makes electrical energy
4 Read this sentence from the draft of the Mentor Text.

HINT Use the list of terms and
he burning of coal, a substance made from plant material that
T definitions on the opposite page to
was buried millions of years ago, produces gas, dust, smoke, and other choose the best replacements.
substances that can damage the surrounding earth, air, and water.
Rewrite the sentence on the lines below, replacing the underlined words with
domain-specific terms that convey the same meaning.

Take turns reading your draft with a
Write Time Use the Opinion Writing Checklist passed out by your teacher to partner and identify places where you
evaluate your draft for Language. can add domain-specific vocabulary. Be
sure to include definitions or other
information to help your audience
understand each term.
Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion: Speech adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by
. . . editing.
L.4.1g: Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g.,
Step 8 Edit for Conventions to, too, two; there, their).
FOCUS Commonly Confused Words
The last step is to make sure that your spelling, grammar, and punctuation are
correct. In this step, you’ll focus on making sure you are using the correct forms of
words that sound the same but have different meanings.
The words in the charts below are commonly confused.
Word Meaning Word Meaning
two “a number” there “in that place”
too “also” their “belonging to them” Language Handbook To learn

more about commonly confused
to “in a certain direction” they’re contraction of they are words, turn to page 196.
Modeled Instruction
Read the following excerpt from a draft of “Power for Our Town.”
Then complete the activities.
MENTOR TEXT Draft
Nuclear power plants are better than coal or

1 The words with wavy lines are incorrect forms. Cross out
natural gas plants. I can give too reasons for this. each incorrect form. Then write the correct form of each
word directly above the word you crossed out.
First, nuclear power plants give off steam.
2 There are three other instances in which the writer uses
They’re steam does not pollute the air or send off
the incorrect form of a word. Find and cross out each
soot too distant towns. Second, once there built, incorrect form. Then write the correct form of each word
directly above the word you crossed out.
nuclear plants are inexpensive to run. Their
some of the cheapest sources of electricity we
have. I’m sure it’s not just me who thinks this.
Other members of our community do, to.
Guided Practice
Read the following excerpt from an early draft of “Power for Our Town.”
Then complete the activities. Use the Hints for help.
MENTOR TEXT Draft
If you travel too the next town, you’ll find people their are happy
with the nuclear plant. There pleased with how clean it is and the low
cost of energy, to. These too reasons are why they like the plant.

HINT The sentence talks about
If you travel too the next town, you’ll find people their are happy with a person going somewhere.
the nuclear plant.
On the lines below, write this sentence correctly.

HINT The sentence talks about
There pleased with how clean it is and the low cost of energy, to. a group of people who are also happy.

HINT The sentence refers to a pair
These too reasons are why they like the plant. of reasons.
Turn and Talk

Read your partner’s draft and look for
Independent Practice any incorrect forms of words such as
there, their, and they’re. Then discuss
Write Time Use the Opinion Writing Checklist passed out by your teacher to how using the wrong forms of words
evaluate your draft for Conventions. could affect how seriously a reader
takes your ideas.

Writing An Opinion Speech Student

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Lesson 1

W.4.1: Write opinion pieces on topics or texts,

Hey! Did you know

Sounds like we should get

Opinions can be shared as part of a conversation, as in this cartoon. They

What Is Opinion Writing?

KEY FEATURES Opinion Writing

Steps for Writing

Step 1 Study a Mentor Text

MENTOR TEXT: Speech

Power for Our Town

Quick Write Was Tae Chatman’s

Step 2 Unpack Your Assignment

Independent Practice Turn and Talk

The Research Path

REREAD Your Sources

THINK It Through ORGANIZE Your Evidence

Need More Information?

Step 3 Find Text Evidence

From “A Powerful Rock” page 10 Think Aloud

From “Coal Today and Tomorrow” page 13

1 Is the first underlined sentence a pro or a con of using coal to generate

3 Would you mark the second underlined sentence with a P or a C?

Turn and Talk

LOG IN | ABOUT | HELP SEARCH

10 Lesson 1 Writing an Opinion:Speech ©Curriculum Associates, LLC Copying is not permitted.

A Very Useful Rock

This power plant in Utah

Sources of Electricity Generation

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

4 Coal is a major energy source in the United States because there

Coal in Daily Life

The Challenges of Coal

Use details from your sources to complete the following activities.

Reason: Mining and burning coal are harmful to the environment.

5 Complete the frame below to express your opinion and reasons in

Step 4 Organize Your Evidence

From “A Powerful Rock” page 10

Independent Practice Turn and Talk

Step 5 Draft Your Speech an opinion, and create an organizational structure

FOCUS Write an Introduction

Parts of an Opinion Speech

Grab the Audience’s Attention BODY

Describe Both Sides of the Issue

HINT What factors make the

State Your Opinion

Turn and Talk

Draft Your BODY

From MENTOR TEXT page 3

HINT Reread the definition of fact

Turn and Talk

FOCUS Ideas and Elaboration

MENTOR TEXT Draft Think Aloud

Independent Practice Turn and Talk

FOCUS Domain-Specific Vocabulary

From MENTOR TEXT page 3

MENTOR TEXT Draft

Any power plant needs a source of energy to run the generator.

4 Read this sentence from the draft of the Mentor Text.

Independent Practice Turn and Talk

Step 8 Edit for Conventions to, too, two; there, their).

FOCUS Commonly Confused Words