Persuasive Writing

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Writing an Opinion Essay

Writing an Opinion Essay

Once you finish prewriting, you are ready to create the first draft of your essay. These writing activities will help you create a strong beginning, middle, and ending for your opinion essay. You'll also read examples from another student's essay to see how each part works.

Writing the Beginning Paragraph

The beginning paragraph of an opinion essay is very important. It should introduce the topic, get the reader’s attention, and state your opinion. To get the reader’s attention, you can ask questions, make a dramatic statement or two, or share important information.

Review a sample and write your beginning.

Read this beginning paragraph and then write your own.

Dramatic Statements It is expensive and dangerous. It doesn’t always work in cold weather, and it pollutes. Would anyone possibly want such a thing? The answer is yes. Topic Named People in the United States and around the world all want their own cars. Opinion Statement People can’t wait to drive them, even though they do cause problems.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Prewriting for Opinion Essays

Prewriting for Opinion Essays

Prewriting is your first step in writing an opinion essay. These prewriting activities will help you select a topic to write about, develop an opinion statement, and gather and organize your details before you begin a first draft.

Prewriting to Select a Topic

For your own opinion essay, you need to select a topic that is debatable and that you feel strongly about. A debatable topic is one that people have differing opinions about. There is no debate that young people need to exercise, but there is debate about extending the school year.

Brainstorm topics.

For each category, list at least two debatable opinions that you could write about.

School Classes

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Reading an Opinion Paragraph and Essay

Reading an Opinion Paragraph and Essay

Before you write your own essay, you can read an opinion paragraph and essay that others wrote. As you read, think about how the writers put ideas together and how you might support an opinion in your essay.

Reading an Opinion Paragraph

An opinion paragraph has three main parts. The topic sentence states the opinion. The body sentences support the opinion with reasons. The ending sentence restates or emphasizes the opinion.

Listen to “Keep Art.”

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Sample Paragraph

Keep Art

Topic Sentence:
Opinion Waterford schools must keep the art program. The School Board has said that art may be cut because of money issues. Before they decide, the board members need to understand certain things about art. First of all, art helps students learn. When students work on an art project, they plan, experiment, and make choices. Working like this will help them learn in all their classes. Body Sentences:
Reasons Second, art helps students express themselves. In art classes, students create their own projects rather than answer questions or read chapters. And finally, art helps students understand their world. Art is part of our culture, and students need to participate in this culture. Because of its value, the School Board should Ending Sentence:
Call to Action think of creative ways to keep art rather than just cutting it.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Warm-Up for Opinion Essays

Warm-Up for Opinion Essays

An opinion essay makes a case for a personal feeling you have about an important topic. This lesson will help you think about your opinions on different topics and your reasons for feeling the way you do.

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What Is an Opinion?

Writing Opinion Essays
(c) Thoughtful Learning 2016

An opinion essay explains a writer’s view about an important topic. Stating an opinion is easy: “I love that movie!” you might say, even though your friend might feel differently, or “I can’t wait for gym,” even though a classmate dreads it. Giving reasons for your opinion is not as easy. It requires you to think about why you feel the way you do.

Writing an opinion essay is all about careful thinking. Your opinion statement must be well thought out, and it must be supported by reliable reasons. As a result, opinion essays usually require some research. Once you have gathered your reasons, you can arrange them from most important to least important, or the other way around. In the end, your goal is to produce an essay that convinces your reader to agree with you.

Watch the video "What Is an Opinion Essay?"

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Thinking About Opinions

For an opinion to be strong, it must be believable and worthy of arguing for. It must also be based on a foundation of solid thinking. Here is a strong opinion statement.

  • Lincoln School should consider starting a chess club.

    (A phrase like should consider signals that an opinion is probably reasonable.)
By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Understanding Persuasive Paragraphs

Understanding Persuasive Paragraphs

In a persuasive paragraph, you give your opinion on a subject and try to get your reader to agree with you. To do this, you need to give facts and other reasons to support your opinion. Otherwise, you won’t persuade your readers.

Read a persuasive paragraph.

Note the opinion that the writer is presenting and supporting. Pay special attention to the reasons the writer gives for the opinion.

Listen to "Perfect Tree House Place"

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Opinion Statement Kids need a place to call their own, and a tree house is the perfect place. For instance, a tree house gives my friends and me a chance to get away from the pressures of school, homework, and little brothers or sisters. We can just hang out and be ourselves. Body Sentences We can also decorate our tree house any way we want. In addition, a tree house is a good place for thinking, playing music, looking at the sky, or just being with friends. Reasons Sure, if we didn’t have this kind of place, we’d find other ways to keep busy. We’d go to the mall, text our friends, play video games, or just watch TV. Ending Sentence But doesn’t a tree house sound like a better place for kids to spend their time?

Persuasive Writing