How to write an

opinion essay
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 Menu
1. The task

2. Structure

1. Introduction

2. Body

3. Conclusion

3. Planning
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4. Rubric
 The task

TIME: to write 2 texts (an essay and another type Every country in the world
of text – letter, report, review, proporsal) you will has problems with pollution
have 1h20min. and damage to the
environment. Do you think
ESSAY these problems can be
1. In your English class you have been talking solved?
about the environment and your teacher has Notes
asked you to write an essay. Use all your notes Write about:
and give reason to support your ideas (140-190 1. Transport
words). 2. Rivers and seas
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3. Your own idea

 Dealing with an essay

1. Underline the key points so Situation/topic: problems with

you know what to do and
what information to
include.
2. Think about who’s going to
read your essay and choose
the correct register and
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pollution and damage to the
environment.
Question you need to answer: Do
you think these problems can be
solved?
Three points for discussion:

transport, rivers/seas, your own idea.

tone (formal English)
 STRUCTURE

Introduction Body Conclusion

Put the topic in the Each paragraph of the Summarize the essay
context of today’s world body starts with a topic in one sentence and
and paraphrase the sentence which clearly state your
question of the essay. introduces the main opinion on the
You may include your idea. After that, you add question one last time.
opinion so the reader reasons, examples or
knows from the even acknowledge other
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beginning what you points of view.

think.
 EXAMPLE

Introduction Body Conclusion

Firstly, congestion on roads not
More and more countries To sum up, our environment
only in major cities, but also in
and cities struggle with dirty needs our help and although
smaller towns causes a lot of
air and water and while it is the air we breathe as well as
pollution and noise and even
difficult to find a solution to waterways in many parts of
though this situation seems to
these issues, I believe that the world are heavily
get worse and worse many
there are ways to improve polluted, I strongly believe
countries are trying to
the situation and to protect that we can solve these
encourage people to use
the environment. issues if governments and
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alternatives like electric cars,

the people work together.
which is a good first step to deal
with this kind of challenge.
 PLANNING

To create a plan, make a list of the five

paragraphs of your essay.
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 Your plan

Intro Transport Rivers and My idea: Conclusion

seas farming
Problems CO2 sea life and CO2 summary,
with emissions, plastic, emissions, it’s a big
pollution, is noise, projects to waste, vegan problem but
there a electric cars clean oceans lifestyle, there is hope
solution? sustainable
farms
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 MARKING

There are four marking scales in the writing exam.

1. Content – answering the task, supporting your ideas

2. Communicative achievement – register, tone, clear ideas,
conventions of the specific task type
3. Organisation – structure of the text, logical order, connected ideas
4. Language – grammar and vocabulary
Each scale is scored out of 5 so you can get a maximum of 20 marks
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where 3/5 basically means that you have passed this part of your
writing.
 RUBRIC

YOU NEED TO PASS

BOTH PARTS OF
THE WRITING
WITH A MINIMUM
OF THE 60%, i.e. 3/5
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 EXPRESSING CONTRAST

In pairs, match the linkers with their

structures and definitions.
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 LINKERS

Adding Sequencing Examples Contrast Comparing Result Cause/effect

And Firstly For example However, Similarly In other Because
also finally Such as Instead of In the same words Therefore
way As a result
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Add at least 2 more linkers per category.

 REPHRASING WITH LINKERS

1. The students didn’t behave, so the teacher got angry. (BECAUSE)

2. If you aren’t 18, you’re not allowed to buy alcohol. (UNLESS)
3. There weren’t enough players, thus the match was cancelled. (AS)
4. It snowed heavily, but some skiers didn’t stop skiing. (DESPITE)
5. We have installed an alarm. We want to prevent thieves for breaking in. (SO
AS TO)
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 REPHRASING WITH LINKERS

6. He couldn’t participate in the marathon. Patrick broke his leg last week. (AS A
RESULT)
7. They didn’t go on holiday. My friends hadn’t saved enough money. (SINCE)
8. We missed the bus. We ran for it. (HOWEVER)
9. I made a big dinner. The children might show up. (IN CASE)
10. They moved to a new house. The Jones hadn’t bought the furniture yet.
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(ALTHOUGH)
 At school you have been talking about
problems
facing the world in the 21st century. Write your opinion
Write your essay using all the notes and
giving essay (140-190 words)
reasons for your point of view.
What are the biggest problems facing the
world in the 21st century?

Write about:
1 epidemics
2 changing weather conditions You must plan, state your point
3 (your own idea)
of view and put your final
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product together.