opinion essay topics for fourth grade

44 Opinion Writing Prompts for 4th Grade

Ice cream is the best dessert.

It comes in more flavors than you can count and goes well with many different toppings.

Many people believe that cake is the best dessert because it is sweet and covered in frosting. However, it is not as versatile as ice cream.

Being able to form a claim and support it is an important step in becoming a skilled writer. In this guide, you will find prompts that will help you improve this skill and encourage you to explore opinions that might never have occurred to you.

How to Use This Guide

As long as you are using the opinion writing skills that you’ve learned in class, this guide is yours to use however you’d like. But if you’re feeling a little stuck and need some inspiration, here are some ways you could use these prompts:

• Pick a random number every day.
• Scan the list and pick a topic that interests you.
• Pick a topic based on what you’ve eaten, read, or watched recently.

Pick a Prompt and Go For It!

• Should all schools require uniforms? Why or why not?
• Why do you think your best friend the best friend?
• Which is better: spring break or winter break?
• In your opinion, why is your favorite food the best food?
• Do you think cafeteria food should be more nutritious?
• What is the most important thing in your pencil box? Why?
• In your opinion, should school days start later?
• At what age do you think kids should have cell phones?
• Which holiday is the best, and why?
• Who is the better hero: Percy Jackson or Harry Potter? Why?
• Do you think students should be allowed to pick their teachers? Why or why not?
• Which is better: skiing or snowboarding? Why?
• Which Marvel character do you think is the most powerful?
• What is one book you think every 4th grader should read?
•  Do you prefer cats or dogs? Why?
• Should students be allowed to pick their own seats in class?
• Would you rather watch a movie at home or in the theater? Why?
• Would you rather live in the city or the country?
• Do you think it is more important to be a good listener or a good speaker?
• Should homework be banned? Why or why not?
• Should kids be allowed to choose their bedtime?
• Which is better: the park or the beach?
• Should you be allowed to eat fast food every day?
• Do you think kids should get an allowance?
• If the world was stuck in one season, which would you choose and why?
• Write a letter to your teacher convincing them to get a class pet.
• What kind of music do you think is best?
• Who is the best Disney princess, and why?
• In your opinion, what is the best dessert?
• Which sport do you think is the best?
• Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
• Should competitive video gaming be considered a sport? Why or why not?
• Insects: Creepy-crawly, or fascinating?
• Do you think parents should make kids do chores?
• Write a persuasive letter to your teacher, convincing them to take you on a special field trip of your choice.
• If you could make one rule for your classroom, what would it be and why?
• Why do you think it is important to be kind?
• Which sports team is the best and why?
• Do you think animals are smarter than humans? Why or why not?
• Which national monument would make the best field trip and why?
• If you were stranded on an island and only had three items with you, what would they be and why?
• If you could be a teacher, a firefighter, or a postal worker, which would you be and why?
• Describe what you like best about being in 4th grade.
• Do you think we are doing enough to help the environment? Why or why not?

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49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

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One of the most common essay types is the opinion, or persuasive, essay. In an opinion essay , the writer states a point of view, then provides facts and reasoned arguments to support that viewpoint. The goal of the essay is to convince the reader to share the writer’s opinion.

Students aren't always aware of how many strong opinions they already hold. Use the following opinion writing prompts to inspire them to start thinking and writing persuasively.

Prompts About School and Sports

School- and sports-related topics often elicit strong opinions in students. Use these writing prompts to kick off the brainstorming process.

• Ch-ch-ch-changes . What is one thing about your school that needs to change? Is bullying an issue? Do students need longer breaks or a dress code? Choose one vital issue that needs to change and convince school leaders to make it happen.
• Special guest. Your school is trying to decide on a famous person to give a speech or presentation to students. Who do you think they should choose? Write an essay to convince your principal.
• Oxford or bust. Is the Oxford comma essential or obsolete?
• Scribble scrabble. Do students still need to learn cursive handwriting?
• Co-ed conflict. Would students perform better if more schools were single-gender rather than co-ed? Why or why not?
• Participation awards. Should there be winners and losers in sports, or is participation the ultimate goal?
• Homework overload. Write an essay to convince your teacher to assign less homework.
• Sports. Which sport (or team) is the best? What makes it better than the others?
• No slacking . Write an essay persuading a fellow student to do their homework.
• Class trip. This year, students get to vote on where to go for a class trip. Write an essay convincing your fellow students to vote for the place you’d like to go.
• Superlatives. Which would you rather be: a top student, a talented athlete, or an accomplished artist?
• Virtual athletes . Video games competitions are often aired on TV and treated like sports competitions. Should video games be considered sports?
• Class debate. Should classes that students may not use or that don’t interest them (such as physical education or foreign language) be required?

Prompts About Relationships

Friendships, dating, and other relationships can be both rewarding and exasperating. These writing prompts about relationships will help students explore their feelings about both the positive and the negative moments.

• Snitch. Your best friend tells you about his plan to cheat on a test. Should you tell an adult? Why or why not?
• Give it a chance. Your best friend is convinced that she would hate your favorite book, even though she's never read it. Convince her to read it.
• Friendships vs. relationships. Are friendships or romantic relationships more important in life? Why?
• Driving age. What age do kids start driving in your state? Is that age too old, too young, or just right? Why?
• Truth or consequences. Your best friend asks your opinion about something, but you know that a truthful answer will hurt her feelings. What do you do?
• Who chooses? Your best friend is visiting, and you want to watch TV together, but his favorite show is at the same time as your favorite show. Convince him that your show is a better choice.
• Fun times. What is the most fun thing you and your best friend have ever experienced together? Why does it deserve the top spot?
• Dating. Are long-term dating relationships good or bad for teens?
• New friends. You want to spend time with a new student at school, but your best friend is jealous. Convince your friend of the importance of including the newcomer.
• Be mine. Is Valentine’s Day worthwhile or just a scheme for the greeting card and chocolate industry to make more money?
• Debbie Downer. Should you cut ties with friends or relatives who are always negative?
• He loves me not. Is it really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
• Elders. Should you respect your elders merely because they are older, or is respect something that must be earned?

Prompts About Family, Pets, and Leisure Time

The following writing prompts related to family, furry friends, and free time will help students reflect on preferences, ethics, and integrity.

• Self-reflection. This time, you're the one who needs convincing! Write an essay to persuade yourself to start a healthy habit (or kick a bad habit).
• Paper wars. Should toilet paper hang with the loose end resting on the top of the roll or hanging from the bottom?
• Movie vs. book. Choose a book that has been made into a movie. Which version is better, and why?
• Weekend wanderings . Do you prefer to stay home on the weekends or get out and do things around town? Write an essay to convince your parents to let you do what you prefer this weekend.
• Sweepstakes. A travel agency is hosting an essay contest to give away an all-expenses-paid trip to the one place in the world you’d most love to visit. Craft a winning essay that convinces them they need to choose you.
• Zoo debate. Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
• Presence of pets. Should there be limits on the types of places pets can go (e.g. airplanes or restaurants)? Why or why not?
• Inspiring stories. What is the most inspiring book you’ve ever read? Why is it so inspiring?
• Dollar discovery. You find a $20 bill in the parking lot of a crowded store. Is it okay to keep it, or should you turn it in to customer service?
• Vacation day. What is the very best way to spend an unexpected day off from school and why is it the best?
• Digital or print? Is it better to read books in print or digitally? Why?

Prompts About Society and Technology

The people and technology around us have a significant impact on our lives. These writing prompts encourage students to consider the effect that society and technological advances have on our day-to-day lives.

• Reverse technology. Pick one technological advancement that you think the world would be better off without. Explain your reasoning and persuade the reader.
• Out of this world . Do aliens exist? Why or why not?
• Social media. Is social media good or bad for society? Why?
• Emoji. Has the use of emoji stunted our ability to express ourselves in writing, or does it help us identify our emotions more precisely?
• Auto safety. Have advancements like self-driving cars, blind spot indicators, and lane departure warning systems made driving safer, or have they just made drivers less attentive?
• Exploration Mars. Write a letter to Elon Musk convincing him that you should be part of a colony to Mars.
• Fundraisers. Is it okay for kids to stand outside stores and ask shoppers for money for their sports teams, clubs, or band? Why or why not?
• Inventions. What is the greatest invention ever made? Why is it the best?
• Important cause. In your opinion, what global problem or issue deserves more attention than it currently receives? Why should more time and money be invested in this cause?
• Minimalism. Does living a minimalist lifestyle make for a happier life? Why or why not?
• Gaming gains. Are video games generally a positive or a negative influence? Why?
• Rose-colored glasses. Is the current decade the best era in history? Why or why not?
• Paper or plastic. Should plastic bags be outlawed?
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• How to Write a Persuasive Essay
• Fun March Writing Prompts for Journaling
• 24 Journal Prompts for Creative Writing in the Elementary Classroom
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Opinion writing for grade 4

Presenting a point of view.

These worksheets and writing prompts emphasize the appropriate structure for writing texts that express a particular opinion or point of view.

Counterarguments : Write counterarguments to various claims.

Writing opinion paragraphs : Writing reasons, examples and counterarguments.

Writing opinion essays : Essays using a graphic organizer.

Opinion writing prompts : Various writing prompts for opinion pieces.

Grade 4 opinion writing worksheet

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Developing Opinions: Opinion Writing Topics for 4th Grade

My name is Debbie, and I am passionate about developing a love for the written word and planting a seed that will grow into a powerful voice that can inspire many.

1. Choose a Strong Opinion

2. back up your opinion with evidence, 2. exploring fascinating opinion writing topics for fourth grade students, 3. nurturing critical thinking skills through opinion writing, 4. engaging and relevant opinion writing prompts for fourth graders, 5. crafting persuasive arguments: teaching fourth graders the art of opinion writing, 6. fostering empathy and perspective in opinion writing for fourth grade students, 7. encouraging independent thinking: strategies for developing unique opinions, 8. enhancing writing fluency and confidence through opinion writing prompts, frequently asked questions, future outlook, 1. understanding opinion writing: a guide for fourth graders.

Opinion writing is an exciting form of expression that allows you, as a fourth grader, to share your thoughts, beliefs, and personal experiences with others. It is a chance for you to persuade your readers to support your viewpoint or convince them of the validity of your opinion. With practice, you have the power to become a skilled opinion writer! Here are two essential tips to get you started:

When writing an opinion piece, it’s important to have a clear and well-formed opinion. Think about what you truly believe and feel passionately about. Your opinion should be something that matters to you personally and something you can support with reasons and examples. Avoid selecting topics that are too broad or generic; instead, focus on specific issues that can bring depth and meaning to your writing.

Opinion writing becomes more effective when you provide evidence to support your claims. Backing up your opinion helps convince your readers that your viewpoint is valid. You can use examples from your own experiences, facts, statistics, or expert quotes. Remember, the stronger your evidence, the more persuasive your argument will be. Be sure to explain how your evidence connects to your opinion, allowing your readers to understand the logical reasoning behind your thoughts.

By following these two essential tips, you will be well on your way to becoming a skilled opinion writer. Remember to always express your thoughts clearly, provide strong evidence, and most importantly, enjoy the process of sharing your unique perspective with the world!

Opinion writing is a fantastic way for fourth-grade students to express their thoughts and beliefs on a variety of topics. Encouraging them to develop and communicate their opinions not only enhances their writing skills but also helps them develop critical thinking abilities. To make this learning process engaging and exciting, we have gathered a list of fascinating opinion writing topics that are perfect for fourth-graders:

• The Importance of Recess: Argue why having recess time during school is crucial for students’ well-being.
• Pets in the Classroom: Share your thoughts on whether having pets, such as fish or hamsters, in the classroom is beneficial for students’ learning experiences.
• Should Homework Be Banned: Present your opinion on whether schools should abolish homework or if it plays a vital role in reinforcing learning.

Continuing on, other thought-provoking topics that could ignite students’ passion for expressing their opinions include:

• Should Junk Food Be Banned from School Cafeterias?
• Video Games: Beneficial or Harmful?
• Should Students Be Allowed to Choose Their Own Book Assignments?

These captivating topics are designed to inspire creativity and critical thinking among fourth-grade students, giving them an opportunity to develop persuasive and well-organized arguments while honing their writing skills. Remember, when discussing these topics, encourage students to back up their opinions with concrete reasons and examples. Let their voices shine through their writing, fostering confidence and self-expression in their journey as young writers!

Opinion writing is a powerful tool for nurturing critical thinking skills in individuals of all ages and educational backgrounds. By engaging in this form of expression, individuals are encouraged to analyze and evaluate various perspectives, honing their ability to think critically and develop well-reasoned arguments.

One way to foster critical thinking through opinion writing is by encouraging individuals to research and gather information from reliable sources before forming their opinions. This process emphasizes the importance of evidence-based arguments and challenges individuals to consider multiple viewpoints. In addition, opinion writing provides a platform for individuals to practice presenting their thoughts persuasively while considering counterarguments and incorporating them into their own reasoning. By doing so, critical thinkers are able to understand and appreciate different perspectives, ultimately strengthening their ability to communicate effectively in the pursuit of truth.

• Encourage individuals to explore diverse topics and issues to broaden their understanding and encourage them to think critically about a wide range of subjects.
• Introduce the concept of bias and how it affects opinions, prompting individuals to assess their own biases and strive for greater objectivity in their writing.
• Provide guidance on how to structure an opinion piece, including an introduction, thesis statement, supporting arguments, and a compelling conclusion.

Opinion writing offers a valuable opportunity for individuals to develop their critical thinking skills in a meaningful and practical way. By embracing this form of expression, individuals can navigate the complexities of the world with a discerning eye and an open mind, while cultivating their ability to analyze, reflect, and communicate effectively.

In fourth grade, students are honing their writing skills and developing their own unique opinions. Engaging and relevant writing prompts are a fantastic way to encourage fourth graders to express their thoughts and ideas in a structured and creative manner. Here are some exciting opinion writing prompts that will inspire and challenge your fourth graders:

1. **Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school?** Encourage students to consider the advantages and disadvantages of having cell phones in the classroom. They can explore topics such as communication, distraction, responsibility, and safety.

2. **What is the best book you’ve ever read, and why?** This prompt allows students to share their love for literature and provide thoughtful reasoning behind their choice. They can discuss the plot, character development, writing style, and personal connection to the book.

3. **Should homework be abolished?** This prompt will spark lively discussions about the benefits and drawbacks of homework. Students can delve into the importance of practice, time management, family time, and alternative ways of learning.

4. **What is the most important quality in a friend?** Encourage students to reflect on the qualities that make a good friend. They can contemplate traits like loyalty, trust, empathy, kindness, and shared interests.

5. **Is it better to be an only child or have siblings?** This prompt will prompt students to evaluate the pros and cons of being an only child versus having siblings. They can delve into aspects such as companionship, personal space, support, and different experiences.

These opinion writing prompts will help fourth graders develop their critical thinking skills, express their opinions eloquently, and engage in meaningful discussions with their peers. Encourage your students to use persuasive language, provide evidence to support their opinions, and consider different perspectives. Happy writing!

In today’s era of rapidly expanding digital communication, the ability to form persuasive arguments has become an essential skill. As educators, it is our responsibility to equip our students with the tools necessary to express their opinions clearly and eloquently. In this module, we will delve into the art of opinion writing, focusing specifically on teaching fourth graders how to craft persuasive arguments.

During this module, we will explore various techniques that will empower our students to express their thoughts effectively and convincingly. By the end of the program, fourth graders will have gained a solid foundation in opinion writing, including:

• Understanding the power of persuasive language: We will delve into the art of selecting impactful words and phrases that can sway the reader’s opinion in their favor. Fourth graders will learn how to use strong adjectives and verbs to evoke emotion and convey conviction in their writing.
• Structuring persuasive essays: Students will learn the importance of organizing their arguments coherently. We will guide them through constructing persuasive essays with clear introductions, well-structured body paragraphs, and compelling conclusions.
• Research and evidence gathering: Fourth graders will practice the skill of conducting research to support their arguments. They will learn how to find credible sources, gather relevant evidence, and use it effectively to strengthen the credibility of their opinion.

Through engaging activities, interactive discussions, and writing exercises, this module aims to foster critical thinking and effective communication skills in our fourth-grade students. Let’s embark on this journey together, as we empower our students to become confident and persuasive opinion writers!

In order to foster empathy and perspective in opinion writing for fourth grade students, it is important to introduce them to different points of view. Encourage students to consider alternative perspectives by exposing them to diverse opinions on various topics. This can be achieved through interactive discussions, reading materials, and engaging activities that challenge their assumptions and broaden their understanding.

Another effective strategy to foster empathy and perspective is to encourage students to put themselves in someone else’s shoes. This can be done through role-playing activities or writing exercises where they are asked to imagine themselves as someone with a different background, experience, or belief. By stepping into the shoes of another person, they can better understand their feelings, motivations, and reasons behind their opinions. This helps develop empathy and expands their ability to see a topic from multiple angles.

When it comes to fostering independent thinking, there are several effective strategies that can empower individuals to develop unique opinions. These approaches not only encourage critical analysis but also nurture a sense of self-confidence in one’s ideas. By adopting these strategies, you can unlock your potential for independent thinking:

• Embrace diverse perspectives: Engage with a variety of viewpoints, both online and offline, to broaden your understanding of different perspectives. Actively seek out opinions that challenge your own, allowing you to develop a more well-rounded point of view.
• Question everything: Cultivate a questioning mindset, and don’t be afraid to challenge assumptions and conventional wisdom. By questioning the status quo, you can uncover new insights and perspectives that others may have overlooked.
• Seek intellectual curiosity: Foster a genuine desire to learn and explore new ideas. Invest time in reading books, attending lectures, or pursuing hobbies that stimulate your intellectual curiosity. This thirst for knowledge will allow you to form unique opinions rooted in deep understanding.

Furthermore, it’s crucial to create an environment that supports independent thinking. Here are additional strategies that can help:

• Encourage open discussions: Foster an atmosphere where different ideas can be freely exchanged without judgment. Respectfully engage in conversations with others, valuing their opinions even if they differ from your own, as this will encourage others to express their independent thoughts too.
• Emphasize critical thinking: Teach and practice critical thinking skills, such as evaluating evidence and reasoning logically, to help individuals analyze and question information effectively. This will empower them to form well-founded opinions rather than accepting ideas blindly.
• Celebrate individuality: Remember that having a unique opinion is a virtue. Encourage and celebrate individuality, cultivating an environment where diverse perspectives are valued and respected. This will inspire individuals to embrace their independent thinking abilities and contribute to a richer collective understanding.

Opinion writing prompts are an excellent tool to develop and improve writing fluency and confidence in individuals of all ages. These prompts not only encourage self-expression but also foster critical thinking skills. By sharing their thoughts and opinions on various topics, individuals can sharpen their writing abilities while building confidence in their unique voice.

One of the key benefits of opinion writing prompts is that they allow individuals to explore a wide range of subjects. Writers can freely choose a topic they feel strongly about and express their viewpoint on it. This freedom not only engages them in the writing process but also piques their interest, making it easier to overcome writer’s block. Additionally, opinion writing prompts encourage writers to support their arguments by conducting research and providing evidence, thus enhancing their critical thinking skills.

To further enhance writing fluency and confidence, it is essential to provide feedback and encouragement. Constructive feedback helps individuals improve their writing skills by addressing areas that need development. Through this process, writers can identify their strengths and weaknesses, allowing them to focus on areas that require improvement. Encouragement, on the other hand, boosts confidence and motivates writers to continue honing their skills. By creating a supportive and nurturing environment, individuals can feel more comfortable in expressing their opinions and become more confident writers.

In conclusion, opinion writing prompts offer a powerful tool to enhance writing fluency and confidence. By providing an avenue for self-expression, critical thinking, and feedback, individuals can develop their writing skills while gaining confidence in their unique voice. So why wait? Dive into the world of opinion writing prompts and witness the transformation in your writing!

Q: What is opinion writing? A: Opinion writing is a type of writing where students express their thoughts and beliefs on a particular topic. It involves forming an opinion, providing reasons to support it, and developing a persuasive argument.

Q: Why is opinion writing important for 4th graders? A: Opinion writing helps 4th graders develop critical thinking skills, enhance their ability to express their ideas, and strengthen their persuasive writing skills. It encourages students to think independently and form their own opinions based on evidence and logical reasoning.

Q: What are some good opinion writing topics for 4th graders? A: There are various interesting topics that 4th graders can explore when developing their opinions. Some popular topics include: “Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school?” “Is homework beneficial?” “Should schools require uniforms?” “Is it important to protect endangered animals?” “Should junk food be banned in schools?”

Q: How can teachers help students generate ideas for opinion writing? A: Teachers can facilitate idea generation by conducting brainstorming sessions, providing topic prompts, discussing current events, encouraging group discussions, and encouraging students to draw from their personal experiences. This allows students to explore different perspectives and choose a topic that genuinely interests them.

Q: How can 4th graders structure their opinion pieces effectively? A: 4th graders can structure their opinion pieces by following a basic essay format. They should start with an introduction that clearly states their opinion. Then, they can provide three or more reasons to support their opinion in separate paragraphs, along with supporting evidence. Finally, they should conclude by restating their opinion and summarizing their main arguments.

Q: How can students strengthen their persuasive writing skills? A: To strengthen their persuasive writing skills, students can use strong and convincing language, cite reliable sources or expert opinions, anticipate counterarguments, and address them appropriately in their writing. They should also include examples, anecdotes, or statistics to make their arguments more persuasive.

Q: How can teachers provide constructive feedback on students’ opinion writing? A: Teachers can provide constructive feedback by highlighting strengths and areas for improvement in their students’ writing. They can offer specific suggestions for organization, clarity, and reinforcing arguments. Encouraging students to revise and edit their work helps them grow as writers.

Q: What are some real-world applications of opinion writing? A: Opinion writing is a skill that students will use throughout their lives. They can express their opinions in letters to the editor, persuasive essays, and even when discussing topics with their peers and family. Being able to articulate opinions effectively is essential for participating in democracy and public discourse.

In conclusion, developing opinions in 4th grade is crucial for critical thinking and communication skills. These topics offer diverse perspectives and encourage students to form their own opinions on important issues.

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Best Opinion Essay Topic Ideas

List of 88 Opinion Writing Topics for 4th Graders

Opinion essay topics for 4 th grade should be compiled carefully. This article offers 88 unique opinion essay ideas 4th grade students would enjoy. With these opinion essay topics, 4th grade students can write about things they care about.

Opinion Essay Topics 4th Grade Students Can Write On

Below is a list of 88 different grade 4 opinion writing topics. With these opinion essay ideas, 4th grade teachers can rest easy, knowing their students will give their best.

• Children should determine what they eat
• Hygiene should be taught at home and in schools
• Teachers are not given enough credit
• Pop culture trends are bad for young people
• Fast fashion is a form of environmental abuse
• Activists are not the bad guys
• Children should be taught about their rights
• Self defense should be taught to children of all ages
• Parents need to pay more attention to their children’s education
• Schools should teach students to interact with people with special needs
• Children under 18 should take on minor jobs
• Helicopter parents are bad for children’s growth
• Should minors have a say in politics?
• Should teenagers have a say in politics?
• Children should be taught to take care of their younger ones
• Competition teaches people to be wary of each other
• Siblings should not be made to compete against each other
• Human food is better for pets than pet food
• Balloons should be compulsory for birthdays
• Clowns should not be allowed to children’s parties
• Every child should get money on their birthday
• Children should not be sent to the principal’s office
• Children’s rooms should be painted with bright colours
• There are not enough pictures in children’s books
• Hospitals should hand out stickers to all patients
• Orange juice is better than apple juice
• Vegetables do not make you stronger
• Cheese is better than milk
• Cold showers are better than hot showers
• Hot showers are better than cold showers
• Fruit juice is better than canned soda
• Carrots are better than broccoli
• Children should not be made to take medicine
• Schools should not hire mean teachers
• Everybody should have a best friend
• Are injections better than medicines?
• Adults should get time-outs too
• Are frogs better than lizards?
• Having a pet goldfish is hard work
• Can a dog be your best friend?
• Are sweets really bad for your teeth?
• Girls are smarter than boys
• Boys are smarter than girls
• Should children have smartphones?
• Does talent play any role in getting good grades?
• Does a good handwriting help you get good grades?
• Should schools dictate students’ dress codes?
• Should parents dictate their children’s dress codes?
• Parents’ high expectations stress their children
• School causes stress for young people
• Should children have a say in how many siblings they should have?
• Are the Child Protective Services the good guys or the bad guys?
• Can a bug be a good pet?
• Children should be allowed to dress like their favourite artists to school
• Should pyjamas be allowed in school?
• Children should not be made to do chores
• Every child should have a video game
• Every home needs a television
• Are superheroes better than normal people?
• What is the best kind of musical equipment?
• Does water make your skin smooth?
• Should children drink wine?
• Schools should close earlier
• Parents should be allowed to leave work to pick up their children from school
• Is texting better than calling?
• Should the anthem be sung in schools?
• Is hiphop better than slow music?
• Are jaguars faster than tigers?
• Is tap water better than bottled water?
• Does fish taste better than meat?
• Do you always have to bathe with a sponge?
• Sunsets are better than sunrise
• Does coke taste better than pepsi?
• Dry shampoo is better than regular shampoo
• Is cable better than Netflix?
• Is santa clause real?
• Should you have more than three friends?
• Pizza is better than fries
• Reading outdoors is better than reading indoors
• Cartoons are better than movies
• Reality tv shows are fake
• Dog shelters need more volunteers
• Hippos have the strongest jaws
• Do sharks count as fishes?
• Is a laptop better than a television?
• Breakfast is more important than lunch
• Desserts should be compulsory for every meal
• Movie theaters should let people bring food

With the above opinion essay topics, 4th grade students have a chance to argue for what they are passionate about. All they have to do is pick the most suitable option.

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101 Interesting Persuasive Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Use your words to sway the reader.

Persuasive writing is one of those skills that can help students succeed in real life.  Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative , but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to sway the reader. It’s important to know your audience so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try reading some mentor texts to show kids great examples of opinion writing. Then use these persuasive essay topics for practice.

School and Education Persuasive Essay Topics

Life and ethics persuasive essay topics, science and technology persuasive essay topics, sports and entertainment persuasive essay topics, just for fun persuasive essay topics.

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?

• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?
• Should we stop giving final exams?
• Is it better to be good at academics or good at sports?

• Which is better, private schools or public schools?
• Should every student have to participate in athletics?
• Do you think schools should ban junk food from their cafeterias?
• Should students be required to volunteer in their communities?
• What is the most important school subject?
• Are letter grades helpful, or should we replace them with something else?

• Is it ever OK to cheat on homework or a test?
• Should students get to grade their teachers?
• Do you think college should be free for anyone who wants to attend?
• Should schools be allowed to ban some books from their libraries?
• Which is better, book smarts or street smarts?

• Should all students have to learn a foreign language?
• Are single-gender schools better or worse for students?
• Is it OK to eat animals?
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• If you find money on the ground, should you try to find the person who lost it, or is it yours to keep?

• Who faces more peer pressure, girls or boys?
• Should all Americans be required to vote?
• Is it better to be kind or truthful?
• Which is better, giving or receiving?
• Is it OK to keep animals in zoos?
• Should we change the minimum driving age in the United States?

• Which is more important, happiness or success?
• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is social media helpful or harmful?
• Should parents be punished for their children’s mistakes or crimes?
• Should kids have set bedtimes or just go to bed when they’re sleepy?
• Do you think the government should find a way to provide free health care for everyone?

• Is it better to save your allowance or spend it?
• Should we ban plastic bags and bottles?
• Which is better, living in the city or in the country?
• If I could make a new law, it would be …
• Is Pluto a planet?
• Should human cloning be legal?
• Should vaccines be mandatory?
• Is it right for countries to still maintain nuclear weapon arsenals?

• Should testing on animals be made illegal?
• Will expanded use of artificial intelligence be good for humanity?
• Should all people have free Internet access in their homes?
• Is there intelligent life on other planets?
• Does technology create more jobs than it eliminates?
• Should parents use their children’s cell phones to track where they are?
• Should scientists try to develop a way for people to live forever?

• What’s the best type of smartphone: Android or iPhone?
• Which is better, Macs or PCs?
• Do people rely too much on technology in the modern world?
• Should cryptocurrencies replace cash?
• Should there be a minimum age requirement to own a smartphone?
• Is it important to keep spending money on space exploration, or should we use the money for other things?

• Should kids under 13 be allowed to use social media sites?
• Should we ban cigarette smoking and vaping entirely?
• Is it better to be an animal that lives in the water or on land?
• Should kids be allowed to watch TV on school nights?
• Which is better, paper books or e-books?
• Is the current movie rating system (G, PG, PG-13, etc.) effective?
• Are video games better than board games?
• Should we allow little kids to play competitive sports?

• Which is better, reading books or watching TV?
• Does playing violent video games make people more violent in real life?
• Are graphic novels just as valuable as traditional fictional books?
• Should everyone play on the same sports teams, regardless of gender?
• Choose a book that’s been made into a movie. Which was better, the movie or the book?

• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• Which is better, fiction or nonfiction?
• The best music genre is …
• What is one book that everyone should read?
• What new sport should be added to the Olympics?

• What’s the best video game system?
• Does playing video games make you smarter?
• Does reality TV actually depict real life?
• Should all neighborhoods have free parks and playgrounds?
• What’s the best holiday?
• The very best food of all time is …
• Which is better, artificial Christmas trees or real ones?

• What’s the best season of the year?
• Should you put ketchup on a hot dog?
• Is a taco a sandwich?
• Does fruit count as dessert?
• Should people have to go to school or work on their birthday?
• Are clowns scary or funny?
• Which is more dangerous, werewolves or vampires?

• The best pizza topping is …
• What would be the best superpower to have?
• Should everyone make their bed every day?
• Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
• Should you put pineapple on a pizza?
• Should you eat macaroni and cheese with a spoon or a fork?

• Describe the world’s best ice cream sundae.
• Is Monday the worst day of the week?
• Would you rather travel back in time or forward in time?
• Is it better to be too hot or too cold?
• Are there aliens living among us here on Earth?

What are your favorite persuasive essay topics for students? Come exchange ideas in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (120+ ideas) ..

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Opinion and Informational Text Sets: Reading and Writing from One Text Set (+ a Freebie)

This past year I have been wrapping up a project that has been quite the labor of love: Monthly Text Sets. The monthly text sets solve a list of problems I consistently ran into when teaching 4th Grade ELA. But first, what are the monthly text sets? The monthly text sets are a set of nonfiction passages based around one topic. Students use the passages/articles to write in response to reading. The text set includes an opinion or informational writing prompt and reading comprehension questions. This means that you can use ONE set of texts to teach both reading and writing. 

What does each monthly text set include? 

• 2 – 3 Nonfiction Passages based around one topic
• Comprehension Questions aligned to standards
• Writing Prompt for Opinion or Informational Text-based writing in response to reading
• Graphic Organizer for Students
• Teacher Model Graphic Organizer
• Teacher Model Essay
• Differentiated for Grades 3-5

Reading Comprehension

Each text set includes 2 – 3 passages/articles (texts). They are nonfiction topics and the texts are differentiated for grades 3-5. The 4th and 5th grade articles sometimes remain the same, but the questions are different for each grade level. The questions follow the type of questions students might see on a state test such as the Florida State Assessment, and are aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Even if your state doesn’t exactly follow common core standards and they have their own, the questions are based on skills as well such as main idea, text structure, cause and effect, etc. 

You can see examples of the question types below. Each grade level is included. I kept it this way so that even if you teach another grade level, you can differentiate for your students if needed. Don’t forget to grab this  free shark text set before you go! Click here or on any of the images. 

3rd Grade Reading Comprehension

4th Grade Reading Comprehension

5th Grade Reading Comprehension

You will also get a link that gives you access to the Standards Alignment Google Sheet. This way you can keep track of which standards each text set is covering. If you wanted to cover a specific skill, you have an easy way to track and access which standards are covered in which text set. 

The writing portion includes a prompt in which students will write using both texts to respond. The prompt for this text set is an informational writing prompt:

Write an essay in which you explain the importance of sharks in the ocean ecosystem. 

If you are familiar with my writing units, then you know that boxes and bullets are the standard around here. I have a lot of thoughts about that, but the gist is that they are so simple and provide a consistent structure for your students. Each text set includes a boxes and bullets graphic organizer for students and a teacher example to model or guide your students. Depending on where you are in your writing instruction, you can also have students do this in their notebook.

Writing paper is also included for a final published piece. Depending on how long you have and/or if you are in test-prep mode, you may choose to have students write a rough draft on notebook paper or in their writing notebook and then write a final copy on the publishing paper. Then, display in your classroom or hallway for the world to see all of your students’ amazing writing! 

The plan and example essay includes 2-3 body paragraphs. So your students will be writing 4 – 5 paragraph essays. Depending on which you prefer to have your students write, you’ll just add/remove a body paragraph.

• Paragraph 1: Introduction
• Paragraph 2: Body Paragraph 1
• Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph 2
• Paragraph 4: Conclusion

There is also an editable teacher plan and essay available as a PowerPoint and Google doc so that you can edit and adapt the essay to your needs.

You might also use a Google Doc/PowerPoint to write the essay with your students and use the example as a guide. 

What are the topics for each month? 

One of my favorite parts about these text sets is that they have a monthly theme. HOWEVER, most topics can be used at any point in the year. Some topics are month-specific such as “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” in January and “The Benefits of Bees” in April (it mentions Earth Day), but you can definitely fit these into to your current curriculum. And I have to tell you that even though all 12 months have been released, we’re still creating these each month. 

• January:   MLK Day (Opinion Writing Prompt)  → Read the blog post here.
• February: Equality in Education: Mary McLeod Bethune and Thurgood Marshall (Informational Writing Prompt)
• March: Ants: Perk or Pest? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• April: The Benefits of Bees (Informational Writing Prompt)
• May: Save the Sea Turtles (Informational Writing Prompt)
• June: Shark Shenanigans (Informational Writing Prompt) Grab this one for FREE here or at the end of this post.
• July:  Hurricanes (Informational Writing Prompt)
• August: Video Games: Helpful or Harmful? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• September: Homework: Helpful or Harmful? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• October: Bats: Benefit or Bother? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• November: Paid to Play: Should College Athletes be Paid? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• December: Polar Bear Problems (Informational Writing Prompt)

WHY use monthly text sets? 

Let’s talk about WHY you might want to use text sets in your classroom. While teaching 4th grade in a self-contained classroom, I consistently felt like we were giving our students too many texts to grapple with. At any point in time, we juggled some (and sometimes ALL ) of the following texts: 

• Read Aloud (chapter book)
• Read Aloud (picture book)
• Writing Mentor Text (picture book)
• Reading Text Sets (passages as part of a center or independent practice)
• Guided Reading Text (small groups)
• Shared Reading Text (textbook used in whole groups or small groups)

        (This is  JUST  for Reading)

• Writing Text Sets for test prep or writing in response to reading (In 4th and 5th Grade, this was ALLLLL the time.)
• Science Textbook
• Social Studies Text

When you list it out like that, it’s a LOT of texts. And they all serve a purpose. And they’re all important.  But we continuously ran into problems. 

❌We couldn’t fit them all in. (Shocking, right?)

❌We felt behind or overwhelmed because we were trying to do too much and unable to get in #allthethings.

❌Science and social studies were not getting the time they deserved. And honestly, I don’t think the future of our world can afford to not make science and social studies a priority.

The bottom line is we were trying to use TOO. MANY. TEXTS. One big issue that I began to see is that we treated the texts that we were using for writing as if we didn’t have to actually read them. As if we didn’t have to read them closely, dissect, analyze, and synthesize to produce a clear and concise essay with a controlling idea, supporting details, voice, etc. And, of course, in a way that did not copy the text. You and I both know that’s a lot to ask of a 4th grader (or 3rd grader or 5th grader or quite frankly – an adult.)

There had to be a better way.  So I decided to ELIMINATE or INTEGRATE.

✅Eliminate  the texts that we didn’t  need to use, that didn’t support other content area standards or that didn’t offer high-engaging content or just weren’t the best quality of texts in the first place. If my students weren’t interested in it and it didn’t align to other content area standards – I needed to find better texts. 

✅ Integrate  Science and Social Studies into our ELA curriculum.

How do the monthly text sets fit into this? 

Each monthly text set can be used for both Reading and Writing. The topic of each text set is either high-engaging or supports Social Studies/Science standards. It may not directly align with science or social studies standards, but topics support those areas. For example, many of the animal topics discuss life cycles and roles in the ecosystem.  

HOW do I teach writing using the text sets? 

If you’re looking for more support in  teaching writing, then you may be interested in the complete writing units . Both the  informational and opinion writing unit include daily lesson plans, PowerPoints that help you navigate writing workshop. 

Are you ready to try the monthly text sets?

If you’re ready to give the monthly text sets a try in your classroom, you can grab the Sharks Text Set freebie by clicking on the button below.

Just click here or on the image below to snag them.

Opinion Writing (Grades 4-6)

Our Opinion Writing lesson plan for grades 4-6 will introduce your students to the basics of opinionated writing, and help them craft their own opinionated responses to open-ended questions.

Included with this lesson are some adjustments or additions that you can make if you’d like, found in the “Options for Lesson” section of the Classroom Procedure page. One of the optional additions to this lesson is to help struggling students brainstorm reasons for an opinionated topic by giving them different subjects that they can choose from.

Description

Additional information, what our opinion writing (grades 4-6) lesson plan includes.

Lesson Objectives and Overview: Opinion Writing guides students through the process of brainstorming a topic, outlining their paper, and writing a five-paragraph essay on a topic of their choosing. At the end of the lesson, students will be able to successfully write a well-organized and persuasive opinion paper. This lesson is for students in 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade.

Classroom Procedure

Every lesson plan provides you with a classroom procedure page that outlines a step-by-step guide to follow. You do not have to follow the guide exactly. The guide helps you organize the lesson and details when to hand out worksheets. It also lists information in the green box that you might find useful. You will find the lesson objectives, state standards, and number of class sessions the lesson should take to complete in this area. In addition, it describes the supplies you will need as well as what and how you need to prepare beforehand. The only supplies you will need for this lesson are the handouts, and to prepare ahead of time, you can copy them.

Options for Lesson

Included with this lesson is an “Options for Lesson” section that lists a number of suggestions for activities to add to the lesson or substitutions for the ones already in the lesson. This lesson lists two optional additions for students who may be struggling with the lesson material. With these students, you can help them brainstorm reasons for an opinionated topic by giving them different subjects that they can then choose from. You can also have them create a pros and cons list for each side to discover the reasons for each topic.

Teacher Notes

The teacher notes page includes a paragraph with additional guidelines and things to think about as you begin to plan your lesson. This page also includes lines that you can use to add your own notes as you’re preparing for this lesson.

OPINION WRITING (GRADES 4-6) LESSON PLAN CONTENT PAGES

Opinion writing.

The Opinion Writing (Grades 4-6) lesson plan includes two content pages. It begins by discussing opinionated writing. Opinions are how you think or feel about a subject. People have opinions on everything that you can think of, from favorite school subject to least favorite vegetable. Different people have different opinions. Your favorite fast food restaurant may be different from someone else’s. It’s normal for people to have different opinions, and this is what makes people unique!

The lesson next states that opinion writing allows writers to share what they believe. Opinionated writing aims to share your opinion and back it up with reasons. You can use opinion writing to let other people know what and why you’re thinking. There are specific words that we use when writing in this way. We often use words such as like, I believe, and I think in opinion writing. When you write an opinion essay, you must include reasons for your opinion. The best way to find these reasons is to think about why you believe that way. You must then back these reasons up with specific examples. This will make your argument more compelling and will help people understand your opinion.

The lesson then includes two paragraphs. Students should read the paragraphs and try to determine which is informational and which is opinion-based. The first paragraph explains to readers what a natural habitat is. The author gives examples of habitats and what they offer different species. It doesn’t tell how the author feels about the subject and primarily share information about it. This paragraph is the informational paragraph. The second paragraph is opinion-based and discusses why the author thinks people shouldn’t cut down natural habitats. They use strong language, like the words awful and wrong to explain how they feel.

OPINION WRITING (GRADES 4-6) LESSON PLAN WORKSHEETS

The Opinion Writing (Grades 4-6) lesson plan includes three worksheets: an activity worksheet, a practice worksheet, and a homework assignment. You can refer to the guide on the classroom procedure page to determine when to hand out each worksheet.

INFORMATIONAL VS OPINIONATED ACTIVITY WORKSHEET

Students will work with a partner to complete the activity worksheet. They will read two passages and decide which passage is informational and which is opinion-based. They will then underline the opinion-based words and circle the reasons the author gives.

PASSAGE PRACTICE WORKSHEET

The practice worksheet asks students to read a passage and answer questions about it. These questions ask whether the passage is informational or opinion-based, what their personal opinion on the topic is, and more.

OPINION WRITING HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT

For the homework assignment, students will read a short prompt and answer the questions in a way that shows what they believe. The questions are open-ended and students should back up their opinion with specific reasons.

Worksheet Answer Keys

This lesson plan includes answer keys for the practice worksheet and the homework assignment, though they note that students’ answers will vary.  If you choose to administer the lesson pages to your students via PDF, you will need to save a new file that omits these pages. Otherwise, you can simply print out the applicable pages and keep these as reference for yourself when grading assignments.

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Opinion writing allowed me to guide the students how to share their opinions. Students all identified that opinions differ from facts. However, opinions can be supported by facts.

Opinion Writing 4-5 Grade

It was very helpful in helping my student write evidence based opinion essays.

GREAT resource and very beneficial

I was so pleasantly surprised by the lesson plans and variety of topics!!

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Opinion Writing Unit FOURTH GRADE

Grade Level: 4th Grade

My fourth grade opinion writing unit includes 8 weeks of done-for-you writing lessons about how to write a strong opinion essay . This unit contains detailed lesson plans, mentor texts, anchor charts, student writing tasks, and rubrics –everything you need to be a capable, confident writing teacher with students who love to write.

More about this resource

If teaching writing has ever made you cry, weep, tear out your hair, question your existence, or binge-watch reality television—because it’s just that frustrating and overwhelming—this writing unit is perfect for you. 

If your students dread writing time more than meatloaf in the school cafeteria…this writing unit is perfect for them, too. 

Teaching writing can be tough. Teachers tell me that their district-provided writing curriculum is:

• too complicated

Or worse, they don’t have any curriculum at all. Yikes! 

But my fourth grade opinion writing unit makes teaching writing easy . It takes all the guesswork out of teaching writing and gives you the tools you need to teach engaging and effective writing lessons without breaking a sweat.

The ready-to-use lessons and activities in this opinion writing unit will teach your students h ow to use supporting facts, reasons, and examples, consider opposing viewpoints, write topic and concluding sentences, and structure paragraphs . And all you have to do is print and teach . The lesson plans are that simple. Seriously.

Student-friendly mentor texts  make it easy to provide illustrative examples of new writing skills. You don’t have to waste your time and money hunting down just the right book.   Focused mini lessons  and  daily writing tasks  simplify the writing process helping ALL students, even reluctant writers, experience success.  Preprinted anchor charts  make it easy to model new skills and engage in shared writing without wasting valuable time.

And best of all, my opinion writing unit  makes writing fun  for  ALL  your students – from  reluctant writers  to  excited writers . The  Student Success Path  helps you identify where your students are on their writing journey and plan just-right lessons and  interventions .  Short, focused lessons  keep students engaged. Simple, direct writing tasks help kids develop confidence.  Conference materials,  including outlines and topic cards, you can use to guide small group discussion make it easy for you to  differentiate lessons.

Choice empowers students  to write about things they care about and makes them more invested in their writing. And that’s a big deal because  students who enjoy writing and get lots of practice perform better on standardized testing.

Plus, these materials are  easy-to-use . Everything is organized in folders to help you find just what you need. A  Quick Start Guide  makes it simple to get started and provides tips on how to prep materials for long-term use.

The 2-week  Starting Writing Workshop mini-unit  will help you start your writing instruction on the right foot. Detailed teacher directions show you exactly how to use all the resources and activities.

How Our Writing Curriculum is Aligned with the Science of Reading :

• Structured writing routine: Our writing curriculum is organized into 4 genres. Each 8-week unit is carefully structured, beginning with foundational skills before moving into more advanced skills. Students are taught a systematic approach to writing including: brainstorming, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing.
• Explicit instruction: Daily lessons begin with explicit instruction including access to examples via mentor texts, modeling, and directed practice. Each skill is broken down into bite-size pieces so that students can learn one skill at a time. Students practice skills independently, working on one sentence or paragraph at a time.
• Differentiation: Writing is differentiated through small group instruction that provides reteaching, additional practice, and support at appropriate levels.
• Daily opportunities to write: The majority of the writing lesson is reserved for independent writing time, providing students with large blocks of time to write and practice skills every day. 
• Demonstrates the connection between reading and writing: Mentor texts provide concrete examples of writing skills and allow children to experiment with and apply sophisticated skills and language in their own writing. In addition, constructing their own writing pieces helps students recognize, connect, and understand these strategies when reading.  

What’s Included:

• Detailed teacher directions and suggestions for simple implementation
• Unit-at-a-glance calendar for each unit
• 7 exclusive videos walking you through how to get the most out of these writing units
• 40 days of lesson plans that include guiding questions, materials, mini lessons, student work tasks, student share tasks, intervention, and several extension activities
• 14 original mentor text passages
• 24 opinion writing task cards (identifying whether a topic is an opinion)
• 24 opinion writing prompts task cards
• 11 teacher anchor charts (blank and filled in versions)
• Student anchor charts and printable for writing notebooks
• Conference and goal tracking forms
• Writing grades tracking forms
• List of 10 additional mentor text books (Remember, using them is optional, because I’ve included all the mentor texts you need) 
• 6 different writing publishing papers
• Student writing notebook cover and dividers
• Teacher notebook covers and binder spines
• Multiple ideas for author share celebration
• DIGITAL writing notebooks on Google Slides
• Conferencing Materials – Conference outlines, a sample conference, and topic cards you can use to guide your small-group conferences
• Student Success Path – Identify where your students are on their writing journey
• Starting Writing Workshop Bonus – Two weeks of writing lesson plans to help build stamina and set your students up for writing success

Skills Covered:

Students learn h ow to craft a strong opinion essay using supporting facts, reasons, and examples, topic and concluding sentences, and structured paragraphs. Lessons include:

• Setting goals
• What is an opinion essay?
• Generating essay ideas
• Writing strong opinion statements
• Writing a lead
• Supporting your opinion with reasons
• Considering your audience
• Consider opposing opinions
• Supporting your opinion with examples
• Topic and concluding sentences
• Word choice
• Transitions
• Writing a conclusion
• Generating deeper topics (research based)

How to Use it in the Classroom: 

A typical day of writing:.

I recommend you set aside thirty minutes for writing each day (or more if you have it). Check out the sample schedules below. Each day follows the same plan:

• Mini-Lesson (8-10 minutes):  The day kicks off with a mini-lesson to teach a particular skill. The mini-lesson uses mentor text (remember, it’s included in the unit) and anchor charts. For the teacher version of the anchor charts, you can project and fill them out with the class, or print and display them in your classroom. The student versions are smaller so they can fill them out and keep them in their writing notebooks for reference.
• Work Time (18-20 minutes) : Students will apply the skill they just learned into their writing each day. The included writing tasks make it crystal-clear what to do during independent writing time–for you and your students. By the end of the unit, they will have completed two full masterpieces and many other independent writings.
• Share Time (2 minutes) : Students are encouraged to share a piece of their writing with a partner or with the entire class. This makes writing more meaningful to kids and holds them accountable.

Organization Made Easy:

• The opinion writing unit is organized into multiple folders and files so it’s easy for you to find what you need.
• A 40-day daily schedule so you know exactly what to teach each day.
• Detailed daily lesson plans make teaching writing easy.

Differentiation:

There are many ways to differentiate writing assignments:

• Use the Student Success Path to identify where students are on their writing journey and use the suggested interventions to modify lessons.
• These daily writing prompts are intentionally short and sweet so that all students, even those below grade level, can feel successful. Most tasks can be completed in 1-2 sentences.
• More advanced writers can write longer responses, or work on a second masterpiece if they finish early.
• Students can complete fewer task cards or work with a partner; you can also provide support to students as they work on task cards.
• The process for teaching writing includes group conferencing time. These groups should be based on ability so that you can individualize your instruction to meet the specific needs of the group. Use the topic cards to guide your small group lessons.

Why you’ll love this writing unit: 

• You’ll save hours of prepping and planning time. The daily lesson plans are easy to implement. All you have to do is print and teach. 
• Mentor texts are included. You do not need to hunt down or purchase any additional books! (Unless you want to. Far be it from me to stand between a teacher and new books.) 
• Digital anchor charts project onto your white board-so you don’t have to be Picasso or Renoir to anchor your kids in the lesson.
• Pre-printed student anchor charts make it easy for students to follow along without having to write every word and draw complicated diagrams.
• Digital student notebooks are perfect for 1:1 classrooms and a great way to save paper.
• These lessons work for all students, even students below grade level.
• Task cards incorporate movement, reinforce concepts, and make learning fun. Daily share time encourages students to take pride in their writing.
• Direct writing instruction provides a solid foundation of writing skills that leads to increased test scores.
• Aligned with the Science of Reading.

*****************************

More Fourth Grade Writing Units:

Personal Narrative for Fourth Grade

Informational Writing for Fourth Grade

Fiction Narrative for Fourth Grade

Frequently Asked

Yes. I also have personal narrative , informational essay , and fiction narrative writing units available.

This opinion writing unit is available for grade 4. I also have opinion writing units available for grades two , three , and five .

I prefer composition notebooks because they are sturdy and easy to use and store. But other teachers have used spiral bound notebooks or three-ring binders.

Yes. These writing lessons are based on Common Core standards.

The lessons for consecutive grade levels are very similar because the standards are similar. The biggest difference is that the reading level on the mentor text passages is modified to meet the specific grade level. Other differences include new examples in the lesson plans and anchor charts and new task cards. It is generally fine to use units that are one level above or below grade level. You might want to select the lower grade level to ensure that the mentor texts are easier for students to read.

Each unit includes eight weeks of materials. I recommend spending 30-45 on writing each day. The lesson takes 8-10 minutes and the rest of the time would be used for independent writing.

Students complete two masterpieces in each unit. But they may work on additional pieces if they finish daily assignments early.

My writing units are a standalone curriculum. They are not based on or aligned with any other curriculum. However, they are based on the writing standards. My curriculum is organized into units of study and formatted in the workshop model and hundreds of teachers have successfully used my writing units with their district provided curriculum.

My writing units are a standalone curriculum. They are not based on or aligned with any other curriculum. With that being said, I have hundreds of teachers who have chosen to use my units as a supplement to their Lucy curriculum because it is more manageable and engaging for students.

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Scaffolding an Opinion Writing Essay With Frames and Templates

Teaching opinion writing to your 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade students soon?  Use the sentence starters and paragraph frames below in your lessons to help students structure their writing, use transitional words, stay on topic, and support their opinions.

Templates like the examples below are a great way to introduce opinion writing.  The hope is that eventually, students will go on to write without a provided outline and add a little of their own personality to their writing, but starting off with a clear structure helps students learn to become better writers.

Start Small - With Opinion Writing Sentence Starters or Frames

3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students love giving their opinions, so help them structure their opinions with sentence starters and frames. This is a great way to introduce opinion writing and doesn't frustrate students.

Providing structure is especially beneficial for your ELL and low language students, but ALL students can improve their writing with this scaffolding.

Some example sentence starters are below.  Depending on the topic being discussed and the opinion being shared, not all sentence frames will work in all situations.  Adapt them for your particular scenario!

Example Sentence Starters

• In my opinion, _____ is better than _____ because _____.
• The best thing about _____ is _____.
• I am strongly against _____ because _____.
• Although some people believe _____, I believe _____.
• Ever since _____, I have believed _____.

Using a Paragraph Template or Frame

Example paragraph frames.

In my opinion, __________ is better than __________ because __________.  For example, _______________.  Furthermore, _______________.  Clearly, _______________ is the worse option.

I prefer __________ because __________.  For instance, _______________.  Also, _______________.  Finally, _______________.

Opinion Writing Essay Template / Structure / Outline

Going from writing paragraphs to writing an entire essay can be overwhelming for upper elementary students - and middle school students as well!

Modeling how to write an opinion essay is an essential first step.  (My Scaffolded Opinion Writing Resource includes a teacher model to make this easy for you.)

After modeling an opinion essay, provide students with an opinion writing template/outline to help them structure their own writing.  This will help students stay on topic, use transitional words, and provide support for their opinions.  And, most importantly, it will keep students from feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.

If you know your students would benefit from this type of scaffolding but don’t have the time to create it yourself, check out my Scaffolded Opinion Writing Resource.

It walks students through the writing process with support each step of the way. This resource also provides a model essay so that you can model expectations for your students. Plus, it can be used over and over again with different topics.

If you found these opinion writing tips to be useful, then you will probably like these tips for teaching students how to write a compare and contrast essay. 

Want a Compare and Contrast Freebie?

Download these reading passages with a compare and contrast activity for free and use it to today!

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Tue, 12 Oct, 2021

Different effective Opinion Writing Prompts for 4th grade students to enhance writing skills!

Linked table of contents, introduction, what are opinion writing prompts.

Random opinion writing Prompts

Poem/Book Opinion Writing Prompts

Animal Opinion writing Prompts For Grade 4

Other Opinion Writing Prompts For $th Graders

Journal Writing Prompts For Class 4

How to convince your 4th grader to write prompts.

Want to improve the writing and thinking abilities of your 4th grade student? Writing prompts can be given from the very start; even from grade 1. The only difference is the difficulty level. As the age and grade progress, so should the writing prompts.

An opinion writing prompt is focused on prompts that allow a student to provide their opinion on a certain subject. An opinion prompt should urge a 4th grader to think out of the box. They can be funny, thoughtful and witty. If you are searching for opinion writing prompts for class 4, here are some ideas to kick start the activity.

Random Opinion Writing Prompts

Would you like to have a birthday party or go on a family vacation? Express your opinion.

Who would you like as your substitute teacher and why?

Which popular sports person/famous person would you like to be, and why?

What if you find your lunch box empty in school? What will you do?

What's your worst nightmare? Describe how you will get through it.

What would you do if someone is bullied in front of you?

Describe what your dream home/place looks like in your imagination.

You wake up to the sound of someone forcibly entering the house. What will you do next?

Try to write a poem about someone you love.

Write a haiku on waking up early in the morning.

Imagine you need to write a book. What would its first paragraph be?

Imagine meeting your favourite author. What would you say to him/her?

Write a poem explaining the weather outside.

Write four lines about how you spent your day today.

How would you describe your day in a bookstore? Describe it.

Write a poem about your favourite pet animal and how you would take care of it.

Write a poem on why you cried last time.

Express Your Unique Opinions with Engaging Writing Prompts. Book a FREE class NOW and share Your Voice Today!

Animal Opinion Writing Prompts For Grade 4

If you could turn into an animal, which one would it be and why?

What if one day you wake up, and your dog could talk to you? Describe the moment.

What is the one thing you love and one thing you hate about your pet? And Why?

If you could wake up to be a different person/animal one day. What would it be and why?

Choose between the two: would you want to grow bird wings or horns over your head. And why?

Imagine if you could add a new animal to this world. Describe and name it.

Book a FREE class NOW!

Other Opinion Writing Prompts For 4th Graders

Should there be a break after 3 weeks of school? And why?

Do you think 4th graders should be allowed to use phones and why?

Should 4th graders be allowed to dress up? Why?

What one thing would you like to change about your present life, and why?

How will you approach a crying baby? Describe your thoughts.

Describe things you love about being in 4th grade.

What are the three things you cannot live without and why?

Is climate change real? What steps would you take to protect your environment?

Would you choose to cook your favourite food or eat your least favourite food? Why?

Would you like to use stairs or an elevator? Describe the benefits of your choice.

Write about all the things you miss about being a toddler.

Make a list of things you are thankful for.

Write the positive affirmations you should say out loud to yourself every day.

Write five things you like to do in your free time and why?

What is the one thing you would like to do on your own when you grow up?

Would you like to describe celebrating Christmas or Diwali on your terms?

Unleash Your Imagination with Journal Writing Prompts for Class 4. Reflect, Express, and Grow! Book a FREE class NOW!

Asking your kids to write prompts every day can be a difficult task. Sometimes they’ll do it willingly and other times they won’t. Adding writing prompts to their daily homework is one way to ensure they complete them.

Do not allow your kid to know it's an optional activity. Fixing the time and specific days on which writing prompts are done can be beneficial as well.

If your kid is not able to think it through, provide little hints and encourage them to think harder. It can also be turned into a fun conversation before they start writing. Allow your kids to enjoy the process and don’t forget to complement their train of thought.

You can make it fun by writing prompts on a different piece of paper. Put them together in an attractive jar. Allow your kid to pick one, read the prompt out loud and then start writing.

For more information, talk to our experts NOW!

What is the meaning of the prompt in writing?

A prompt is a question asked in a few sentences that needs to be answered in the form of an essay. For younger kids, this essay could be a small paragraph and its length could increase as the grades change.

What is a prompt example in writing?

Prompts can be of many kinds – fictional prompt , opinion writing prompt, narrative prompt or animal prompt. A few examples include ‘describe a body part in detail” or “describe a secluded and empty place”.

What type of writing is opinion writing?

Opinion writing as the name suggests involves prompts that seek the opinion of the writer. It's in the form of a question that seeks a viewpoint. It can be on any topic like environment, pets, festivals, social events, etc.

What are opinion writing prompts for 4th graders?

Opinion writing prompts for 4th graders revolve around basic topics like the opinion on certain changes, opinions on being stuck in a strange situation and others. Opinion writing is always followed by facts, issues and arguments.

How to encourage your kid to do opinion prompt writing?

You can allow your kid to do prompt writing by,

Making it fun for them.

Make it a part of their homework.

Make the topic interesting and elaborate.

Brainstorm the topic with them.

People who read this blog, also read this:

How To Introduce Opinion Writing To Elementary Students?

Here are the benefits of Stimulating Writing Prompts for Class 1!

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