ENGLISH V

2023-2

ACADEMIC FILE ENG V 1

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT: WRITING 1
AN OPINION ESSAY
GUIDED PRACTICE
Name: Date: 21 / 09 /2023

Teacher: CLAUDIA DONAYRE CHANG Class: S-005

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

 Develops writing skills and strategies

 Writes an opinion essay on a life lesson from a movie
o Develops the arguments of an academic essay in a cohesive and
coherent way
o Employs language and vocabulary from Unit 2
 Develops critical thinking skills

Strategies 1 &2: Previewing/Activating prior knowledge

LEAD-IN ALLOTTED TIME: 5 minutes

In the previous courses, we have learned the basics of paragraph and essay
writing. Complete the chart showing the relationship between the parts of a
paragraph and the parts of an essay on the activity created on UE Virtual.

STUDY SKILL 1: ALLOTTED TIME: 5 minutes

Writing an Opinion Essay

This type of essay is an academic piece of writing that requires the writer’s opinion on a
topic. In this type of text, the writer presents a point of view and provides proven
evidence to support the point of view taken.

The introduction
This is the first paragraph of an opinion essay. It
explains the topic with general ideas (an overview of
the situation). It has a thesis statement, which is the
most important element of the essay. In the thesis
statement, the writer clearly states his/her opinion on
1
 ENGLISH V
2023-2

the topic given.

The body
The body refers to the paragraphs that explain and support the thesis and come
between the introduction and the conclusion. It should begin with a topic sentence.

The conclusion
This is the last paragraph of the essay. It summarizes, restates the thesis and the
supporting ideas of the essay, makes a final comment, or calls to action.

Remember that transition words are used to connect sentences together or relate ideas
and paragraphs to one another.

Comparison Contrast Additional Examples Cause and Concluding

information effect ideas
Likewise However In addition For Therefore In summary
Similarly On the Furthermore example So To wrap up
As… as other hand Moreover For Thus To conclude
Yet Another instance As a result To summarize
In spite of In particular Because Overall
In contrast Because of
Although
Instead

TASK 1: ALLOTTED TIME: 8 minutes

Read the following essay and answer the questions below.

Stress and our mental health

1
Stress is one of the biggest and most important problems of this age because stress
always affects people’s lives in a negative way. 2 In the past people had an easy life,
and they did not feel stress so much, but today their life is getting worse day by day
because of stress. 3 Stress can affect people in different ways but the most important
one is its effect on people’s mind.
2
 ENGLISH V
2023-2

4
People who are stressed may have psychological problems. 5 One reason is that
these people are generally pessimistic, and they usually see the negative sides of
events. 6 This is the reason why they are unhappy. 7 Furthermore, if people are
stressed, they want to be alone. Therefore, it is difficult to have friends for them. 8
Besides, extreme stress threatens people’s lives. 9 For example, stressed people tend
to commit suicide more than other people and this is a scientific fact.
10
To conclude, stress has a negative impact on people’s psychology. 11 Therefore,
people should develop some techniques to embrace it as it is something we cannot
avoid.

1. What is the topic of the essay?

2. How many paragraphs does this essay have?
3. Underline the thesis statement. What is its role in the essay?
4. Circle the topic sentence
5. What type of supporting details are there in the body paragraph?
…….. example …… explanation … evidence
6. Underline the final message
7. How are the ideas connected in the paragraphs?

What parts of the essay do the numbers refer to?

Background information
Thesis statement
Topic sentence
Supporting details
Restatement of the thesis
Final message

STUDY SKILL 2: ALLOTTED TIME: 5 minutes

THESIS STATEMENT / TOPIC SENTENCE RELATIONSHIP

The Thesis Statement Topic sentence

The thesis statement gives the reader a A topic sentence is the first sentence
clear idea of what the essay will discuss. of a body paragraph. This sentence
The thesis statement is usually the last indicates for your reader how the

3
 ENGLISH V
2023-2

sentence in the introduction. In a three- paragraph will support your thesis.

body paragraph essays, its elements That means that the topic sentence
are: embodies what your paragraph says
and shows how it is related to your
Topic + claim/opinion thesis statement.
Example

Thesis Statement Topic Sentences

Example:
Metrobus is not an effective solution to the Metrobus has already exceeded its capacity
public transportation system of Istanbul. and cannot function properly.

TASK 2: ALLOTTED TIME: 8 minutes

Write the thesis and topic sentence for the following topic:

A way to achieve happiness.

Thesis statement

Topic sentence

An effect of media violence

Thesis statement

Topic sentence

STUDY SKILL 3: ALLOTTED TIME: 5 minutes

Supporting Sentences

Supporting sentences explain, describe, clarify or give examples of the main idea in the
topic sentence. They answer questions like Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
They explain the topic sentence in greater detail and give the reader more information.

Topic sentence People should consider joining a health club.

Supporting sentence Health clubs gives members an opportunity to
exercise and socialize at the same time.

4
 ENGLISH V
2023-2

TASK 3: ALLOTTED TIME: 8 minutes

Identify the different types of supporting sentences on the activity created on UE

Virtual.

STUDY SKILL 4: ALLOTTED TIME: 5 minutes

WRITING AN OUTLINE

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start
writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will
cover in each paragraph, giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

TASK 4: ALLOTTED TIME: 8 minutes

Refer to Task 1 and complete the outline with key ideas.

OUTLINE:

I. Introduction
A. Background information:
1. Definition of stress
2. …
B. Thesis statement:
Stress affects people’s mind
II. Body paragraph
A. Topic sentence: (Write it in full)
...
B. Supporting sentences
1. They are pessimistic
a. Usually unhappy
2. They want to be alone
a. …
3. …
a. …
III. Concluding Paragraph
1. Restatement of the thesis
Negative impact
5
 ENGLISH V
2023-2

2. Final message
…

References:

Humbert Libraries. (2020, May). Humbert Libraries: APA 7th in Minutes: In-Text
Citations. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=xXn2UITEqlo

Kokaeli University. (2014 – 2015). Writing Pack for Prep Classes.

Monash University. (2020). Research & writing for assignments: Writing body
paragraphs. Retrieved from https://www.monash.edu/rlo/research-writing-
assignments/assignment-types/writing-an-essay/writing-body-
paragraphs#:~:text=The%20body%20of%20the%20essay,academic%20books
%20and%20journal%20articles

University of New England (2021) Academic Writing Course - Supporting evidence.

Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://aso-resources.une.edu.au/academic-
writing-course/information-basics/supporting-evidence/

Writing Better. (2020, February). Writing Better: How to Write Body Paragraphs for an
Essay. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi9-
acR3AgY

Zemach, D. E., & Rumisek, L. A. (2015). Academic writing: From paragraph to

essay. Oxford: Macmillan Education.

English V Team 2023-2