opinion essay topics for esl students

30 Writing Topics and Writing Prompts For ESL Students

When learning a new language like English, developing writing skills is essential. Many beginner ESL students find it difficult to write essays, especially if they have to come up with the essay topic themselves.

Providing ESL students with writing topics and writing prompts can help students to focus and start writing. As a teacher, it can be quite challenging to come up with many ESL writing topics, so we have put together this list of ESL writing topics and writing prompts to help you out.

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List Of ESL Writing Topics

Here is a list of ESL writing topics and writing prompts your students can write about.

• Describe your dream house. Where is it? And What’s inside?
• Talk about the best vacation you ever took.
• What do you like to do in your spare time?
• Write about three things you want to achieve this year.
• What’s your earliest memory as a child?
• What would you do if you had a million dollars?
• What are you good at? What would you like to be good at in the future?
• Write about the members of your family. What are they like? What do they do?
• Write about how to cook your favorite food, step by step.
• If you could meet anyone from history, who would you want to meet, and why?
• Describe everything you did last weekend in as much detail as possible.
• Write about something funny that happened to you this week.
• What were the last three things you bought? Where did you buy them from?
• Describe how you get ready for school every day.
• Describe a famous person in as much detail as possible.
• What is your favorite movie, and why?
• What three things would you take to a desert island, and why?
• Write about your happiest memory.
• What makes a good friend?
• If you could change anything about the world, what would it be?
• If you could travel back in time, when and where would you go?
• What’s your favorite game to play?
• What is something you have done that you regret?
• Describe what the world will be like in1000 years.
• Write an essay about what you did this week.
• Write about one of your memorable birthday celebrations.
• Write about your exercise routine.
• If you had three wishes, what would you wish for?
• Describe a person you look up to.
• What’s your opinion about social media?

Tips For Teaching ESL Writing

Error correction.

Writing in a foreign language is hard, especially for beginner ESL students. Students will likely make many mistakes in the beginning.

Although it is necessary to highlight and correct students’ errors, it can be quite demotivating for a student to only hear all the things they got wrong.

To ensure students stay motivated, be sure to praise them and tell them all the things they did well, as well as point out any grammatical mistakes.

After correcting errors, give students an opportunity to re-write their essays and correct their mistakes. Once students have completed their final draft, be sure to let them know what you liked about their essay, and you can even share this praise with other students, teachers, and even the student’s parents.

To master writing in English, students will need to write a lot of essays over time, and if students stay motivated, they are much more likely to succeed.

Ask About Students’ Interests

Another great way to keep students motivated while writing ESL essays is to encourage them to write about things that interest them.

A great way to encourage this is to ask about things students are interested in and then tailor the writing topic to them.

Students are much more likely to actively engage in a writing assignment if it is something they are interested in and passionate about.

Provide Enough Writing Prompts

ESL students often find it difficult to write long answers to essay questions. Ask an ESL student to write about their favorite restaurant, and they’ll likely give you a one-sentence answer.

To help students write longer essays, be sure to give them enough writing prompts to cover the different aspects they should cover in their writing.

For example, if students are to write about their favorite restaurant then you could give them several writing prompts such as ‘where is the restaurant’, ‘what kind of food do they serve’, ‘how much is a typical meal’, ‘what do you usually order’, etc.

Giving beginner ESL students plenty of writing prompts will help them to flesh out their essays and write longer answers.

Structure The Essay

To help ESL students become better at writing in English, teach them a particular structure you would like them to follow when writing their essays.

A typical writing structure with beginner ESL students would include an introduction, the main body of the text, and then a conclusion.

Providing students with an easy-to-follow structure will help them to plan out their essays and develop their writing skills over time.

Thanks for reading. I hope you found some useful ESL writing topics and writing prompts you can use in your next writing class. 

Before you go, don’t forget to check out our FREE resources for teaching English, including  Activity Videos ,  Board Games ,  Flashcards ,  PowerPoint Games , and  Lesson Plans .

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50+ Stellar ESL Writing Prompts to Inspire Your Students (Plus Resources to Find More Prompts)

Ever find yourself staring at a blank page with no good ideas of how to fill it?

We all do, even the most experienced writers.

But for many ESL students, the dreaded blank page isn’t just intimidating—it’s immobilizing.

After all, they’re working in a second language that might not even share the same writing system as their own.

Today, we’re going to look at more than 50 different writing prompts and how you can use them to give students a boost in the right direction.

Then we’ll cover the web’s top resources to find more great writing prompts.

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Process Writing

Process writing is a good place to start with your beginner students.

Simple process writing can be nothing more than a numbered list of steps written in the simple present with imperative grammar.

You can also use these prompts for intermediate and advanced students by asking them to write full paragraphs using smooth transitions.

Process Writing Prompts

• What’s your favorite food from your home country? How do you make it?
• How did you travel from your home country to the U.S.?
• What’s the best way to study for an exam?
• How does a person learn to read? What are the necessary steps?
• What’s something you’re good at? How did you learn to do it?
• How do you get ready every morning? Discuss each step of your morning routine.
• How does a person get a job? What steps must they take?
• How do you get a driver’s license? What steps must you follow?
• How does an acorn grow into a tree? What are the stages of its life?
• What are the stages of the water cycle?

How to set your students up for success

When brainstorming ideas, ask your students to list the steps of how they came up with the content to write about. If you want to challenge intermediate and advanced students, have them write paragraphs describing the brainstorming process rather than writing a numbered list.

For certain topics, students may need time for additional research, like when writing about science.

Also, be aware of any vocabulary that may be specific to the process students are describing. For example, if they’re describing a food from their home country, students may need to define a particular ingredient (e.g. kimchi, herbs de provence ) that may not have a good English equivalent.

Opinion Writing

Opinions are everywhere. From social media posts to commentary on news programs, we’re constantly exposed to other opinions and ideas. For this reason, it’s important for students to be able to both express their own opinions and evaluate the opinions of others.

And what better way to express one’s opinions than with a written argument? Here are some prompts to help your students vocalize their opinions.

Opinion Writing Prompts

• Should people under the age of 21 be allowed to drink alcohol? Please explain.
• Should college students be allowed to choose their own courses or study from a set list of required courses? Please explain.
• Is it better for young adults to live at home with their parents or to live on their own? Please explain.
• Should your country require young adults to serve in the military? Why or why not?
• Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics? Why or why not?
• Should people be allowed to smoke in restaurants? Please explain your opinion.
• Should parents be allowed to arrange marriages for their children? Why or why not?
• Should students be required to take physical education? Why or why not?
• Should teenagers be allowed to make decisions about their sexual health without the consent of their parents? Please explain your opinion.
• Should students be required to clean their schools? Please explain.

Before starting the assignment, review modal verbs with your class . Explain to your students that the verb, “should,” is a signal word for opinion writing and is commonly used when expressing one’s thoughts, opinions and ideas.

Graphic organizers are a great way to help students think through what they believe about a given topic and get those thoughts in the right order for writing. Curriculum developer, Scholastic, has some great organizers you can print and give to your students to help them gather their thoughts before they write.

Good opinion writing takes both sides of an argument into consideration. While students should devote the majority of their essay to supporting the facts they agree with, they also need to dedicate a section to addressing the opposition’s argument and explaining why it’s wrong. This is called the rebuttal and should come just before the conclusion in an opinion piece.

Narrative Writing

Narrative writing tells a story.

It has a beginning, a middle and an end, and aims to engross the reader and make them feel as if they’re experiencing the story firsthand. Moreover, narrative writing covers a sequence of events, telling the reader how these events relate to one another.

Narrative Writing Prompts

• Think about a time in your life when you were disappointed. What caused this, and how did you get over it?
• Did you have a pet as a child? If so, tell the story of how you got it.
• Who’s your hero? What did they do to gain your respect and admiration?
• What was an important event in your childhood? Write about what happened and how it has affected you.
• Tell about a time you were embarrassed.
• How did you meet your significant other? Tell the story of that first meeting. (For younger students, you can ask the question, “How did your parents meet each other?”)
• When did you first think about traveling overseas to study English?
• What would the perfect day look like? Discuss how you would spend it from when you woke until you went to sleep. (Note: Your students need to use the conditional form for this narrative. Take time to review it with them before assigning this prompt.)
• Describe the life of a dollar bill, from when it comes off the printing press until it retires.
• Describe the life of someone famous in your culture. Where did they come from? How did they become famous?

Absolutely essential for narrative writing, transitions ensure the sequence of events flows smoothly. Before beginning the writing exercise, take a few minutes to review transition words and phrases with your students. You can even  give them a copy of this list  to help them get started.

Another important part of narrative writing is action words. Great for boosting the imagination, action words help the reader visualize the story while reading. Encourage your students to add extra color to their stories by having them brainstorm a list of action words at the beginning of the lesson.

Lastly, make sure that your students use proper verb tenses throughout their writing. Regardless of whether the story is being told in past or present tense, students must learn to keep the verb tense is consistent throughout the story without switching from past to present, or vice versa, unless talking about two different points in time.

Descriptive Writing

Descriptive writing is all about writing the details, and mixing them in with sensory words and literary devices . While there’s definitely a stylistic component to descriptive writing, anyone with a good-sized vocabulary and a little bit of practice can write a vivid story.

Descriptive Writing Prompts

• Go to a coffee shop or restaurant and watch the people. Describe what you see.
• Write a travel brochure for your favorite vacation spot. Describe in detail why others should visit this location.
• Describe a classroom in your home country. How’s it different from our classroom?
• Think about a time you were scared. Describe where you were and what frightened you.
• Think of a scene in your favorite movie. Describe what happened without referencing characters in the movie.
• What’s something that is very valuable to you? Describe that object.
• Close your eyes. Tune in to what you can hear, smell and feel. Now open your eyes and write about what you observed.
• (First, have your students close their eyes, then play them a clip from a movie scene)  What did you picture as you listened to the scene?
• Describe your favorite Halloween candy, making note of how it tastes and smells.
• Describe your dream car.

The best way to help your students master descriptive writing is to get them accustomed to using sensory words —the words that describe how something looks, sounds, smells, feels and tastes.

If your students are describing a person, have them start at their head and move down to their feet, or vice versa. If they’re describing a room, have them start at the door and work their way around the room clockwise. That way, their descriptions are organized and structured, making it easier for the reader to form a clear picture of the imagery in their mind as they read.

Creative Writing

Everyone loves a good story, but not all people feel confident writing one of their own.

With a solid setting, character and conflict, anyone can come up with a gripping and exciting story—even your students.

Here are some writing prompts to get your students expressing themselves with stories.

Creative Writing Prompts

• A young boy sees what appears to be a UFO land outside his home late one Tuesday night. What happens next?
• Use the following scene for inspiration: The boat rocks as each towering wave tosses it into the air and then lets it plunge. You hang over the edge of the boat waiting for the current wave of nausea to pass. Suddenly you hear at least a dozen sets of boots running along the deck…
• The year is 1880, and a young girl whose bonnet hangs down her back from its strings sighs in relief. She’s in a ghost town. How did she get there? Tell the story of her past.
• This morning is just like any other school morning, except one thing: No one else is at school. The doors are opened and unlocked, but you’re completely alone. Write the story of what happened.
• Start a story with the following phrase: It was the worst mistake he’d ever made.
• Use the following scene for inspiration: She’d never seen an animal like this before, but it seems to be friendly. Just then a news alert comes over the radio…
• Start a story with the following phrase: He could see eyes in the shadows.
• Use the following scene as inspiration: They said I was free to leave, but sitting in a helicopter with the city beneath me, where could I really go?
• Choose a favorite character from a book or movie. Then put this character in a setting from a different movie or book—for example, Harry Potter finds himself on the Millennium Falcon with Chewbacca. Then, tell the story of what happens next.
• Have each person in class write down a setting, one character and one object on three separate slips of paper. Collect each category separately, shuffle them and redistribute the papers to your students. Each person must write a story incorporating the setting, character and object they received.

For a story to be successful, it needs three important elements: setting, character and conflict .

Take a few moments to talk about each of these elements with your students before they begin the activity. Have them think about these elements and how they’ll be presented in their own stories by asking the following questions:

• Where will the story take place?
• Who’s the main character of the story?
• What conflict will that person face?
• How will they overcome what is stopping them?

Once they can answer these essential questions, they’re ready to begin writing.

If you’re teaching beginner or intermediate students, separate the language from the story elements by having them write a story they already know. They can write a story of their favorite movie, rather than come up with a plot of their own.

Also, if your students are struggling to come up with their own stories, use comic books for inspiration . Writing comics is also a great way to give students writing practice without requiring imagination to go along with it.

Resources for Finding More Inspiring ESL Writing Prompts

Writer’s Digest

The  Writer’s Digest  website and magazine is full of tips and tricks for writing, interviews with authors, and insight into what it’s like to be in the writing business. The prompts section contains mostly fiction and creative writing prompts, and is updated every week with a new prompt.

Reddit is a huge community of people who love to share things they find around the Internet, and have conversations. The Writing Prompts section has some really creative ideas, and you can even see what other people have written in the comments.

Tumblr is a great place to find ideas. It’s a place where people can blog about whatever they want, but it’s more visual than most other blogs. (That means it focuses more on pictures.) The “Writing Prompts” Tumblr uses pictures to share prompts, both creative and nonfiction. There’s even one prompt for a song!

Lindsay Ann Learning

The prompts on this website are meant for school children, but they are excellent writing starters for any age. The page focuses on journal writing, so these prompts are mostly for nonfiction writing.

Language Is a Virus

The Writing Prompts Generator on this site has a huge number of ideas for fiction and nonfiction writing, which you can see one at a time. This website also has some fun  word games  to get you thinking and being creative.

This website has over 300 prompts for you to try. Just reading through the prompts will give you some new words to learn! Most of these prompts are for creative writing, but there are a small number of nonfiction thoughts in there too.

Writing Forward

This list of creative writing prompts has 25 story starters. Just pick a first sentence and see where the story takes you! There are also some questions and ideas to explore. When you’re done here, head over to the  Grammar section  for some tips from the pros.

Writing Prompts by 21×20 Media

Want to get your prompts in a phone-friendly format? Try the Writing Prompts app from 21×20 Media. It’s not free, but at just $1.99 you get hundreds of prompts organized by type. Look through pictures, place and character ideas, and much, much more.

Wrighting Words

You’ll find almost 500 creative writing prompts on Wrighting Words. The long list has everything from interesting story starters to fun with vocabulary words. There are even some titles and dialogue ideas. You’re sure to find something to inspire you here.

Pinterest has many great collections of writing ideas and exercises. You can really browse the entire website for ideas and inspiration. For some more focused writing, check out the Writing Picture Prompts board linked to above, which has nearly 400 picture prompts meant to inspire you.

Think Written

How about a prompt for each day of the year? Think Written has that. The list here focuses on words and themes, so you can write fiction or nonfiction—it’s up to you. For a real challenge, try following the list, doing one prompt every day. How far down the list can you make it?

Visual Prompts

If you prefer to see your prompts and not just read them, you will love the Visual Prompts website. Each prompt is written over a picture that can help you imagine what you’re writing about. There’s also a nice mix of creative and nonfiction prompts here.

The Write Prompts

The Write Prompts has almost 2,000 prompts, but you might find the word prompts the most useful. Each prompt comes with a list of vocabulary words that you have to use in your story. Can you string the words along and make an interesting story or essay?

Seventh Sanctum

The Seventh Sanctum is a collection of writing generators—websites that create prompts for you. There is a nearly  infinite  (never-ending) number of possible prompts! You can also try any of the other generators, like the  setting  (place) one , or the one that asks creative  “What if…?” questions . There is so much to play with here!

Buzzfeed is mostly known for its funny picture articles , but this article has an excellent list of prompts for all kinds of writing. These prompts can be used in a school, but they can also be used by adults. Some of these will get you feeling creative, and some will make you think. Have fun with both!

The Journal

The Journal is another website for nonfiction and blog writing ideas. There is even more here too—get ideas for writing your opinions about topics, your memoirs (writings about yourself), and free-writing, which is when you don’t stop writing for 10 or 15 minutes.

Education World

Education World is a website for teachers, so these prompts are meant for the classroom. This means that they will make you think, and each prompt has a helpful tip box with some ideas for what you can write on the topic.

These are just some of the ways to get your students thinking about how to fill the page with their thoughts and ideas. A list of writing prompts and a helpful teacher can go a long way in preventing writers’ block and helping students look at every empty page as an opportunity to express themselves.

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• For Teachers

40 ESL Essay Writing Topics + Prompts

By VIPKid  |  April 20, 2018

Ready to start teaching English online?

Writing ESL essay writing is hard for most students and many will struggle at first before learning to write well.

However, writing skills are a crucial part of learning a new language . 

In this piece, we’ll share some ESL writing prompts and ESL essay topics for five different kinds of essays. They should help your students develop their grammar and vocabulary skills  while teaching them how to write coherently.

(While they work for all kinds of students, we’ve found these topics are especially handy for  teaching English to kids .) 

Writing practice should never be boring! When you’re done this article, check out the 10 most engaging writing activities here .

Descriptive ESL Writing Topics

• Describe your favorite place in as much detail as possible.
• Describe your favorite fictional character in as much detail as possible.
• Describe a famous person – e.g. a singer or athlete – that you admire. Focus on both their appearance and personality traits.
• Describe a family member or your best friend  as detailed as possible. Discuss how they look and their personality.  
• Choose a  hobby or favorite activity  and describe why and how you do it. 
• Describe your most memorable holiday or vacation spot in as much detail as possible.
• Describe a photo or work of art in as much detail as possible.
• Pick your favorite food . Describe what you taste, smell, and sense while eating or drinking it. 

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Explanatory ESL Essay Topics

• Give directions for getting from one point to another . For example, how to get from your home to your school. Describe the landmarks someone might see along the way.
• Explain how to cook your favorite meal . Provide a recipe and the step-by-step instructions.
• Explain your favorite computer game . What should a player do to win? What are some playing tips?
• Explain what you would do if your friends show up at your house unexpectedly . Say how you would entertain them. 
• Explain how to make a bed . This task is seemingly simple but allows you to write about everyday habits you might never think through in detail. 
• Explain how to make a paper airplane . Again, this task has many precise, technical details that that should be included in the essay. 
• Explain how to brush your teeth . Try to make your essay about a seemingly mundane task more interesting. 
• Explain how to pack a suitcase when going on a holiday. List out all the objects and pieces of clothing you would bring. 

ESL Essays Topics to Practice Verb Tenses

• Talk about a time in the past when you had to make a difficult decision . Explain what you did and why.
• Describe your dream place to live . Why would you want to live there? What would you do?
• Write about three specific goals  you want to achieve this year. Explain how you are going to achieve them.
• Write about something you regret having done . Point out what could have happened if you had not made that decision.
• Describe the world 100 years from now . Describe how people live, and new inventions and also the things that will not change.
• Talk about your earliest memory . What happened? How well do you remember the events?
• Write a short essay about how you prepared for class . Now “translate” that essay into future tense. In other words, the essay should say how you plan to prepare for class.  

Argumentative ESL Essay Topics

• Are smartphones good or bad? Give some arguments to support your position.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of public schools and private schools ?
• What is your favorite book or movie ? Convince others, through your essay, to read or watch it. 
• Is it the case that the more people that have cars, the better? What are some advantages and disadvantages of public transit ? 
• Should money be spent on space exploration ? Give arguments to support your opinion.
• You’re the mayor of your town or city. Explain in an essay your recent decision to ban smoking . Then, from another person’s perspective, write a letter to the mayor protesting this new law. 
• Reading books vs. watching movies . Which do you prefer and why?
• What are the pros and cons of e-readers compared to paper books?

Hypothetical ESL Essay Topics

• What would you do if you were late for an important class?
• What would you do if your car got a flat tire on the highway?
• If you had the power to change one thing about your past, what would it be?
• If you had the power to alter  one major historical event , what would it be?
• If you could take any superhero’s powers , who would be your choice?
• How would you feel if, one day, you woke up 300 years in the past ?
• What would you do if you won the lottery ? Would your life change day-to-day?

Some General ESL Essay Tips

When checking ESL essays, pay attention to the following key points:

• Grammar. The ESL essay should be grammatically correct.
• Vocabulary. The more new vocabulary the essay contains, the more points it will get.
• Text flow. The text of the essay should flow logically and naturally. Pay attention to the use of connecting words and phrases. These include first of all , secondly , moreover , in addition , besides , finally , on the one hand, on the other hand , and as a result .
• Sticking to the topic. Some essay writers tend to deviate from ESL essay topics. However, a perfect ESL essay should stay as close to the point as possible.

A good essay typically has the following parts:

• An introduction . Here, the author gives some general information about the topic or lays out their argument. An effective intro entices readers to read further. 
• The body . In an argumentative essay, the body could be 2 to 3 paragraphs. Each should introduce their arguments and support them with examples. In other types of essays, the content may vary. For example, the body may include descriptions, explanations, or personal stories.
• Conclusion . The author should logically conclude or summarize their thoughts and arguments.

How Do You Teach Writing?

It doesn’t matter if you teach English online or if you’re a classroom teacher, we want to know about your  teaching styles.  Do you use writing prompts,  games and activities, or something else entirely?

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49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

• Lesson Plans
• Grading Students for Assessment
• Becoming A Teacher
• Assessments & Tests
• Elementary Education
• Special Education
• Homeschooling

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?
• Writing Prompts for 5th Grade
• Engaging Writing Prompts for 3rd Graders
• 4th Grade Writing Prompts
• Writing Prompts for 7th Grade
• Writing Prompts for Elementary School Students
• First Grade Writing Prompts
• Second Grade Writing Prompts
• January Writing Prompts
• Writing Prompt (Composition)
• How to Write a Persuasive Essay
• Fun March Writing Prompts for Journaling
• 24 Journal Prompts for Creative Writing in the Elementary Classroom
• 100 Persuasive Essay Topics
• October Writing Prompts
• May Writing Prompts
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student opinion

130 New Prompts for Argumentative Writing

Questions on everything from mental health and sports to video games and dating. Which ones inspire you to take a stand?

By The Learning Network

Note: We have an updated version of this list, with 300 new argumentative writing prompts .

What issues do you care most about? What topics do you find yourself discussing passionately, whether online, at the dinner table, in the classroom or with your friends?

In Unit 5 of our free yearlong writing curriculum and related Student Editorial Contest , we invite students to research and write about the issues that matter to them, whether that’s Shakespeare , health care , standardized testing or being messy .

But with so many possibilities, where does one even begin? Try our student writing prompts.

In 2017, we compiled a list of 401 argumentative writing prompts , all drawn from our daily Student Opinion column . Now, we’re rounding up 130 more we’ve published since then ( available here as a PDF ). Each prompt links to a free Times article as well as additional subquestions that can help you think more deeply about it.

You might use this list to inspire your own writing and to find links to reliable resources about the issues that intrigue you. But even if you’re not participating in our contest, you can use these prompts to practice the kind of low-stakes writing that can help you hone your argumentation skills.

So scroll through the list below with questions on everything from sports and mental health to dating and video games and see which ones inspire you to take a stand.

Please note: Many of these prompts are still open to comment by students 13 and up.

Technology & Social Media

1. Do Memes Make the Internet a Better Place? 2. Does Online Public Shaming Prevent Us From Being Able to Grow and Change? 3. How Young Is Too Young to Use Social Media? 4. Should the Adults in Your Life Be Worried by How Much You Use Your Phone? 5. Is Your Phone Love Hurting Your Relationships? 6. Should Kids Be Social Media Influencers? 7. Does Grammar Still Matter in the Age of Twitter? 8. Should Texting While Driving Be Treated Like Drunken Driving? 9. How Do You Think Technology Affects Dating?

10. Are Straight A’s Always a Good Thing? 11. Should Schools Teach You How to Be Happy? 12. How Do You Think American Education Could Be Improved? 13. Should Schools Test Their Students for Nicotine and Drug Use? 14. Can Social Media Be a Tool for Learning and Growth in Schools? 15. Should Facial Recognition Technology Be Used in Schools? 16. Should Your School Day Start Later? 17. How Should Senior Year in High School Be Spent? 18. Should Teachers Be Armed With Guns? 19. Is School a Place for Self-Expression? 20. Should Students Be Punished for Not Having Lunch Money? 21. Is Live-Streaming Classrooms a Good Idea? 22. Should Gifted and Talented Education Be Eliminated? 23. What Are the Most Important Things Students Should Learn in School? 24. Should Schools Be Allowed to Censor Student Newspapers? 25. Do You Feel Your School and Teachers Welcome Both Conservative and Liberal Points of View? 26. Should Teachers and Professors Ban Student Use of Laptops in Class? 27. Should Schools Teach About Climate Change? 28. Should All Schools Offer Music Programs? 29. Does Your School Need More Money? 30. Should All Schools Teach Cursive? 31. What Role Should Textbooks Play in Education? 32. Do Kids Need Recess?

College & Career

33. What Is Your Reaction to the College Admissions Cheating Scandal? 34. Is the College Admissions Process Fair? 35. Should Everyone Go to College? 36. Should College Be Free? 37. Are Lavish Amenities on College Campuses Useful or Frivolous? 38. Should ‘Despised Dissenters’ Be Allowed to Speak on College Campuses? 39. How Should the Problem of Sexual Assault on Campuses Be Addressed? 40. Should Fraternities Be Abolished? 41. Is Student Debt Worth It?

Mental & Physical Health

42. Should Students Get Mental Health Days Off From School? 43. Is Struggle Essential to Happiness? 44. Does Every Country Need a ‘Loneliness Minister’? 45. Should Schools Teach Mindfulness? 46. Should All Children Be Vaccinated? 47. What Do You Think About Vegetarianism? 48. Do We Worry Too Much About Germs? 49. What Advice Should Parents and Counselors Give Teenagers About Sexting? 50. Do You Think Porn Influences the Way Teenagers Think About Sex?

Race & Gender

51. How Should Parents Teach Their Children About Race and Racism? 52. Is America ‘Backsliding’ on Race? 53. Should All Americans Receive Anti-Bias Education? 54. Should All Companies Require Anti-Bias Training for Employees? 55. Should Columbus Day Be Replaced With Indigenous Peoples Day? 56. Is Fear of ‘The Other’ Poisoning Public Life? 57. Should the Boy Scouts Be Coed? 58. What Is Hard About Being a Boy?

59. Can You Separate Art From the Artist? 60. Are There Subjects That Should Be Off-Limits to Artists, or to Certain Artists in Particular? 61. Should Art Come With Trigger Warnings? 62. Should Graffiti Be Protected? 63. Is the Digital Era Improving or Ruining the Experience of Art? 64. Are Museums Still Important in the Digital Age? 65. In the Age of Digital Streaming, Are Movie Theaters Still Relevant? 66. Is Hollywood Becoming More Diverse? 67. What Stereotypical Characters Make You Cringe? 68. Do We Need More Female Superheroes? 69. Do Video Games Deserve the Bad Rap They Often Get? 70. Should Musicians Be Allowed to Copy or Borrow From Other Artists? 71. Is Listening to a Book Just as Good as Reading It? 72. Is There Any Benefit to Reading Books You Hate?

73. Should Girls and Boys Sports Teams Compete in the Same League? 74. Should College Athletes Be Paid? 75. Are Youth Sports Too Competitive? 76. Is It Selfish to Pursue Risky Sports Like Extreme Mountain Climbing? 77. How Should We Punish Sports Cheaters? 78. Should Technology in Sports Be Limited? 79. Should Blowouts Be Allowed in Youth Sports? 80. Is It Offensive for Sports Teams and Their Fans to Use Native American Names, Imagery and Gestures?

81. Is It Wrong to Focus on Animal Welfare When Humans Are Suffering? 82. Should Extinct Animals Be Resurrected? If So, Which Ones? 83. Are Emotional-Support Animals a Scam? 84. Is Animal Testing Ever Justified? 85. Should We Be Concerned With Where We Get Our Pets? 86. Is This Exhibit Animal Cruelty or Art?

Parenting & Childhood

87. Who Should Decide Whether a Teenager Can Get a Tattoo or Piercing? 88. Is It Harder to Grow Up in the 21st Century Than It Was in the Past? 89. Should Parents Track Their Teenager’s Location? 90. Is Childhood Today Over-Supervised? 91. How Should Parents Talk to Their Children About Drugs? 92. What Should We Call Your Generation? 93. Do Other People Care Too Much About Your Post-High School Plans? 94. Do Parents Ever Cross a Line by Helping Too Much With Schoolwork? 95. What’s the Best Way to Discipline Children? 96. What Are Your Thoughts on ‘Snowplow Parents’? 97. Should Stay-at-Home Parents Be Paid? 98. When Do You Become an Adult?

Ethics & Morality

99. Why Do Bystanders Sometimes Fail to Help When They See Someone in Danger? 100. Is It Ethical to Create Genetically Edited Humans? 101. Should Reporters Ever Help the People They Are Covering? 102. Is It O.K. to Use Family Connections to Get a Job? 103. Is $1 Billion Too Much Money for Any One Person to Have? 104. Are We Being Bad Citizens If We Don’t Keep Up With the News? 105. Should Prisons Offer Incarcerated People Education Opportunities? 106. Should Law Enforcement Be Able to Use DNA Data From Genealogy Websites for Criminal Investigations? 107. Should We Treat Robots Like People?

Government & Politics

108. Does the United States Owe Reparations to the Descendants of Enslaved People? 109. Do You Think It Is Important for Teenagers to Participate in Political Activism? 110. Should the Voting Age Be Lowered to 16? 111. What Should Lawmakers Do About Guns and Gun Violence? 112. Should Confederate Statues Be Removed or Remain in Place? 113. Does the U.S. Constitution Need an Equal Rights Amendment? 114. Should National Monuments Be Protected by the Government? 115. Should Free Speech Protections Include Self Expression That Discriminates? 116. How Important Is Freedom of the Press? 117. Should Ex-Felons Have the Right to Vote? 118. Should Marijuana Be Legal? 119. Should the United States Abolish Daylight Saving Time? 120. Should We Abolish the Death Penalty? 121. Should the U.S. Ban Military-Style Semiautomatic Weapons? 122. Should the U.S. Get Rid of the Electoral College? 123. What Do You Think of President Trump’s Use of Twitter? 124. Should Celebrities Weigh In on Politics? 125. Why Is It Important for People With Different Political Beliefs to Talk to Each Other?

Other Questions

126. Should the Week Be Four Days Instead of Five? 127. Should Public Transit Be Free? 128. How Important Is Knowing a Foreign Language? 129. Is There a ‘Right Way’ to Be a Tourist? 130. Should Your Significant Other Be Your Best Friend?

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22 Engaging ESL Essay Topics You Can Use to Improve Your Writing Skills

Text Version:

The only way to get better at anything is to do it—over and over again. In addition to practicing your English conversational skills, you should also practice your writing skills on a regular basis.

Here are twenty-two potential essay topics to get you started, but don’t be afraid to branch out and come up with your own topics, as well.

Descriptive topics

• Describe your favorite place in as much detail as possible.
• What do you do outside of school and work? Describe any hobbies you have, sports you participate in, or other activities you regularly enjoy.
• If you could invite five people to a dinner party, who would they be? What is each guest like?
• Describe your favorite fictional character in as much detail as possible.
• If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be? Describe it and explain why you’d choose it.

Instructions

• Give directions for getting from one point to another. Explain what landmarks someone might see along the way.
• Explain how to entertain guests who unexpectedly arrive at your home.

Verb tense practice

• What’s one thing you could never live without and why?
• Describe your ideal town or city, why you would want to live there, and what you would do there.
• Write about a time in the past when you had to make a difficult decision, and explain what you did.
• Talk about five specific goals you want to accomplish this year, and explain how you are going to accomplish them.
• Imagine you’re babysitting a child who breaks the kitchen table. Explain to the child how they could have avoided doing this if they had behaved differently.

Practical vocabulary practice

• Write a review of a new restaurant (either fictional or real) in your area.
• Describe the best party or large-scale event you’ve ever attended.
• If you could get one gift for everyone in your family, regardless of the cost, what would you get them and why?
• Choose a form of transportation (such as cars, trains, boats, planes, or subways) and explain how it has changed people’s lives.
• Write a pitch for a new blockbuster movie. Explain what will happen in the movie and why it will draw crowds to the theater.

Persuasive writing practice

• Do you think our society is too dependent on technology like smartphones? Why or why not?
• Imagine that a big new department store is being built in your hometown. Do you support this development or not?
• Do you think it’s better for students to have a long summer break or be in a year-round school system with more breaks throughout the year? Explain your position.
• Should employers set aside time during the day for their employees to exercise? What might be some of the advantages or disadvantages of this?
• What is your favorite book or movie, and why should people read or watch it?

What are some great ESL essay topics you've encountered? Let us know in the comments.

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Comments on this post (6 comments)

Eliakim balle says....

Here’s a topic:

write about what your ideal weekend would look like if you could do anything you want.

On April 01, 2019

Ndate Thabo says...

¨Write about when u took the risk to do the right thing.¨ Good prompt . . and something to live by.

El sari says...

Interesting question Jessica …according to me to find someone to teach you and guide you better than trying thanks by your own ..

On March 11, 2016

Jessica Bordelon says...

What is the best way to learn: by experiencing something on your own, or from someone explaining it to you? What brings the most happiness: buying things or having experiences?

On March 03, 2016

Bindi kanyal says...

Niceee…..

On December 08, 2015

dayo says...

Write about when u took the risk to do the right thing

On December 05, 2014

Leave a comment

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An opinion essay

Learn how to write an opinion essay.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

Matching_MjMxMDM=

Some people think that some types of criminals should not go to prison. Instead they should do unpaid work in the community. To what extent do you agree?

Owing to the great variety of crimes that can be punishable by prison, some people argue that not all criminals are the same and it would therefore be more appropriate to give certain criminals community service instead. I agree that in some cases, prison may not be the best solution and community service would probably have more benefits.

One justification given for prisons is to keep society safe by removing criminals from the outside world. So the first thing to consider is if someone who has broken the law is a danger to other people. In the case of violent crime, there is an argument to keep the perpetrator away from society. However, burglary or possession of drugs, for example, does not involve violence against other people so the criminal does not present a direct danger to anyone in the community. Keeping these types of criminals in prison is expensive for the taxpayer and does not appear to be an effective punishment as they often commit the same crime again when they come out of prison.

Personally, I also believe punishments should reform people so they do not reoffend. A further reason not to put these people in prison is that they may mix with more dangerous and violent criminals, potentially committing a worse crime when they are released. By keeping them in the community, helping others, they not only learn new skills, but they could also develop more empathy and care towards others. If this occurs, society can only benefit.

Critics of this more rehabilitative approach to crime believe that justice should be harsh in order to deter people from committing similar crimes and that community service could be less likely to have that effect. However, there is very little evidence to suggest that long prison sentences deter criminals.

In conclusion, putting criminals who are not a danger to society in prison is expensive and, in my opinion, ineffective, both as a deterrent and as a form of rehabilitation. Community service for non-violent crimes benefits both society and the offender. That said, it would be useful to have more data to work out whether community service or prison is more likely to stop someone reoffending. I strongly believe that decisions on how best to deal with criminals should be based on evidence of what actually works.

• Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words.
• If the essay asks you to what extent do you agree?,  make your opinion clear throughout. You can either agree, partially agree or disagree with the statement, explaining and justifying your opinion.
• Introduction
• The first reason why you agree/disagree
• The second reason why you agree/disagree
• The third reason why you agree/disagree (if you have one)
• Use phrases to organise and link your ideas, e.g. Owing to … , One justification for … , The first thing to consider is … , A further reason … , In conclusion ... .
• If you do not have solid evidence for your ideas, use modal verbs such as might , may or could  (e.g. they could  develop more empathy and care ) or other tentative phrases (e.g. it does not appear to be an effective punishment ).
• Conclude by restating your opinion and summarising your two or three main arguments.

Do you agree that community service is better than prison for some crimes?

Language level

Good day Sir/Madam,

I would like to ask about the expression ‘So the first thing is to…’. In academic and formal writing, should I avoid using ‘thing’ or ‘so’ or is it still fine? Thanks a lot for taking your time to read this. Hope to hear from you.

Your sincerely, Kimmie

• Log in or register to post comments

Hi kimmie,

Thanks for your question. In academic and formal writing, there is a general preference for precision over vagueness, so generally speaking it's better to avoid this usage of  so  and  thing  and use more precise and academic terms when they are available (e.g. Therefore, the first factor/issue to consider is ... ).

However, if you search academic writing, you will find writers do use  thing  sometimes, especially in fixed phrases (e.g.  the first thing /   the same thing ) or technical terms ( e.g. the Internet of Things ). Some writers might also use more general terms first before moving onto more precise terms.

(Note: The essay on the page above is in a somewhat formal style but not very formal.)

I hope that helps.

LearnEnglish team

Hi Jonathan

This is immensely valuable for me. Thank you so much for your swift response. Hope you have a nice day.

In my country it is often debated whether community services are better than prison for certain crimes. I think it's pretty obvious that it should be an option for less important faults. However, sometimes it happens that a judge decides to grant this benefit to some type of powerful criminals who cause more significant damage to society than others who do not have the same possibility, such as financial criminals or corrupt government agents. In my opinion, these types of sentences can have a bad impact on people, since they see that these behaviors are not severely punished and are somehow protected by the law. In conclusion, I agree that certain types of crimes should avoid prison, but I believe that before implementing it, the society must agree on which crimes will be able to enjoy this possibility to ensure that justice is fair for all.

please approve for testing

Hello aaron,

We check all comments before publishing them, which is why it's taken some time for your comment to be published.

Normally we delete a comment like this -- and we deleted the other one you made -- but have let this one through so you can see that it works. 

We are a small team, so it can sometimes be several hours before comments are published -- just wanted to tell you for the future.

We look forward to hearing more from you!

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

The subject of how criminals should be punished is complicated, there are a lot of different opinions defending their points of view. There are two main ideas the first is arresting all the offenders, and the second idea is separating those not dangerous to society, and sending them to work in the community. In my opinion, I agree with the second idea, because there are many expenses with the prisons and the prisoners, so if lessen the population in this environment the conditions and the quality could be better than if there were overpopulation, avoiding justice being done right. Furthermore, these people aren't violent and dangerous to others, so with bad company in the prison, they might become bad people too. In this case, it's an awful idea to mix a different kind of person. Therefore, it's an excellent suggestion to oblige these people to do work in society, but with supervision in the right way and strictly.

On account of the differences between several types of crimes, not all criminals should be sent to prison. It is suggested that giving certain offenders community service would be more appropriate than just jailing them.

Honestly, I completely agree that the right way to protect people from harm is to imprison criminals who conduct violent crimes that endanger human physical health. Nevertheless, this penalty may be ineffective with offenders who have administrative guilts or non-violent offenses. Since they often commit the same crime after getting out of prison, this is just a temporary punishment to ensure the security of citizens for a certain period. The nature of the problem is these crimes originate from greed and bad habits which lead to their deviant behaviors but have not yet resulted in such severe consequences that affect human life.

From my perspective, the government would rather reform these types of offenders than deter them as a kind of punishment. It is better to have an alternative that perceptively impacts these people’s awareness which is to make them do community service. Jailing these criminals just increases their hatred and develops antisocial personality. By keeping and controlling them in a community, besides learning new skills, they amend their bad manner as well as develop more empathy and care towards others.

Given these points, the application of punishment should be based on the nature of each specific crime. Prisons should only be used for perpetrators committing directly dangerous crimes to people's lives. Making non-violent criminals do community service is more of a practical way to optimize tax wasted for prisons as well as give them a chance to fix their wrong behaviors.

There are several types of crimes and for each of them, a different sentence is dictated. A paramount question to be considered is whether community servers are more accurate than prisons for some crimes.

To begin with, community servers would help and support criminals through specialized psychologists. Not only would community servers help and support them, but also it would give them jobs to help them give the society back a contribution in return.

In addition, prisons only contribute to worsening the situation owing to the fact that criminals will commit crimes again. The key to excellent behavior is learning. If they learn suitable habits, they will adapt to society and help it.

Furthermore, it is necessary to have empathy with criminals and not judge them because their hate increases when they are condemned in prison. A further reason for this is that hate feeds hate. Nevertheless, some criminals must be in jail due to their danger on the streets. It is difficult to know that a person who kills someone else, is going to change even if he/she receives help from psychologists.

In contrast, most of society believes that all criminals should be in prison. However, prisons must be all comfortable like a hotel in order to bring for the prisoners a place to recover themselves. The reason why they must live in appropriate conditions is due to his mental health. For instance, in Norway, prisons are like hotels because the government considers that criminals need a second chance to live in a community

To conclude, it would be suitable for all criminals to live in accurate prisons in order to recover themselves. Despite the cost that kind of prisons are supposed to take, they are worth paying for them. In my opinion, safety is priceless and is more important than the cost.

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Essay Examples & Writing Tips for ESL/EFL Students (updated 2024)

In this lesson you will find simple essay examples for ESL, EFL and university students. Additional writing tips also show how to write a proper essay with minimal mistakes.

Writing essays is a powerful way to improve your language skills and express your thoughts. In our article, “Essay Examples for ESL/EFL Students,” we embark on a journey through the world of essays, offering you valuable examples and insights to help you gain confidence in your English writing abilities.

Essay Examples and Tips For ESL Students

Sample essay 1. my hobby.

My favorite hobby is playing drums. I spend a lot of my free time playing drums. I started learning to play drums when I was 9 years old. I played in my school’s band. When I was 12, I got a private drum teacher and started to really enjoy playing.

My parents bought me a drum set and I started practicing every day after school. It was very loud, but my mother never complained. I improved a lot, and playing drums has been my favorite hobby ever since.

Now, I play drums in a band with my friend Dan, who plays guitar. We write songs, perform, and practice twice a week. It’s still as fun as it was when I first started playing!

Answer these questions in your essay:

What is your hobby? When did you start doing this hobby? Why do you like doing this hobby? How did you learn this hobby? When do you usually do this hobby? How often do you do this hobby?(every day, one a week, twice a month, on weekends, etc.)

Use this sentence pattern in your essay: start/stop verb+ing I started playing basketball when I was 5 years old. I started reading novels when I was very young

Sentence pattern: verb+ing

When you put a verb after start , begin , stop , finish , or quit , you must add “ ‐ing ”

Examples: I started studying English in 3rd grade. I finished writing my homework at 11:00 last night. My father quit smoking because it is unhealthy. We began dating when we met last year.

Check Also: Essay Writing Tips & How to Avoid Typical Mistakes  Short Essay Examples for ESL Students 20 Useful Vocabulary & Phrases to Start Your Essay  Argumentative Essay Topics With Points for Students

SAMPLE ESSAY 2. My Favorite Place

Usually when you ask people what their favorite place is, they will talk about a distant place – maybe a beach or a beautiful mountain. But my favorite place is not far away at all. My favorite place is the forest behind my house.

Although the forest behind my house is not very big, when I was little I thought it was huge! There are so many interesting places to play and hide. I can sit on the big rocks and have a picnic, I can climb the tall trees, or I can look for lizards and other little animals.

Even though I have played there many times, I can still spend all afternoon running, playing, and hiking in the forest behind my house.

The forest behind my house is a magical place. If I am in a bad mood, I will go there to be alone and think. When I was little, I liked to imagine that there were magical people who lived in the forest. When I grow up and have children, I hope that they can live near such a special place, too.

Sentence pattern: (not) …at all “at all” means “not even a little”, and you usually put it at the end of a negative sentence (a sentence with “not”).

Example: Brian: Are you hungry: Dave: I just ate dinner. I’m not hungry at all.

Check Also: Essay Writing Tips & How to Avoid Typical Mistakes ✅ Useful Academic Expressions & Phrases For Essay Writing

SAMPLE ESSAY 3. My Best Friend

A best friend is a person you can count on, someone who will always be there to put a smile on your face when you need it. This is why I call Nathan my best friend.

I first met Nathan in second grade. His family just moved here from another town and he didn’t have any friends. We started talking, and one day I went to his house to play video games. Soon, we were hanging out every day, and we stayed at each other’s houses on the weekends.

Nathan and I have a lot in common. We both like jokes, and we both love to play soccer. In summer, we go to the swimming pool and eat ice cream cones. Next year, we are going to learn to play tennis together.

Best of all, I can tell Nathan my secrets, and I know he won’t tell anyone. I call him my best friend because I trust him, because he is a lot of fun, and because we like the same things. I hope our friendship lasts forever!

Sentence pattern: [Subject] lasts [amount of time]

Use this to describe how long something is (how long it “lasts”)

Examples: That is a long movie. It lasts almost 3 hours . Summer vacation lasts about 2 months . The cell phone battery lasts about 1 year . After 1 year, you will need to buy a new one. When my girlfriend broke up with me, she said, “ Nothing lasts forever .”

SAMPLE ESSAY 4. Trip to the Zoo

Going to the zoo is a fun and interesting way to spend a day. The last time I went to the zoo was two months ago, during summer vacation. I went with my mother, father, and sister, and it was a trip that I will never forget.

We saw all kinds of animals at the zoo. We saw monkeys, snakes, and even a lion! In addition, there were birds, lizards, and several different kinds of fish. We got to see an eel, and octopus, and a small shark. My favorite animal was the elephant. It was so huge! We fed the elephants peanuts, and it sprayed us with water!

Although the zoo is very exciting, sometimes it makes me sad to see all the animals in cages. They cannot walk, run, or fly freely. However, it is good that people can go to the zoo and learn about these animals. Therefore, I’m glad we have such a nice zoo in my city

Essay Writing Tips For ESL students:

Writing essays might seem tricky, but with a few simple tips, you can make it easier and better. Especially if English is not your first language, here are some straightforward suggestions:

• Start with a Plan: Before you begin writing, take a moment to think about your main ideas. Make a simple outline with your introduction, main points, and conclusion. It’s like making a roadmap for your essay.
• Use Simple Words: Don’t try to impress with big words. It’s better to use words you know well. Simple words can be just as effective and make your writing clearer.
• One Idea per Paragraph: Each paragraph should talk about one main idea. This makes your essay organized and easy to follow. Start a new paragraph when you move to a new topic.
• Check for Mistakes: After you finish writing, go back and check for mistakes. Look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. It’s a small step, but it makes a big difference.
• Connect Your Ideas: Use words like “but,” “and,” and “so” to connect your ideas. This helps your writing flow smoothly. Remember to put a comma after these words at the beginning of a sentence.
• Read Out Loud: After you’ve written your essay, read it out loud. This helps you catch mistakes and see if your sentences sound right.
• Keep It Simple: Stick to the point. Don’t make your sentences too long or complicated. It’s better to have short, clear sentences.

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Thanks for the essay examples

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250+ Opinion Essay Topics to Write About

Table of contents

• 1 How to Select the Best Opinion Essay Topic?
• 2 Opinion Essay Topics for High School
• 3 Opinion Essay Topics for College Students
• 4 Personal Opinion Essay Topics
• 5 Public Opinion Essay Topics
• 6 Nursing Opinion Essay Topics
• 7 Opinion Essay Topics on Culture
• 8 Social Media Opinion Essay Topics
• 9 Sports Opinion Essay Topics
• 10 Psychology Opinion Essay Topics
• 11 Political Science Opinion Essay Topics
• 12 Thought-Provoking Opinion Writing Topics
• 13 History Opinion Essay Topics
• 14 Environment Opinion Essay Topics
• 15 Education Opinion Essay Topics
• 16 Literature Opinion Essay Topics

Opinion essay topics and ideas can be a great way to express your thoughts and opinions on a variety of topics. Opinion essays allow you to explore a variety of topics and express your own opinion on them. You can choose to write about current events, social issues, political issues, or any other topic that you feel strongly about. When writing an essay , it is important to be clear and concise in your writing and to provide evidence to support your opinion. Additionally, it is important to consider the opinions of others and to be respectful of their views. By doing so, you can create a well-rounded and thoughtful opinion essay.

How to Select the Best Opinion Essay Topic?

When selecting an opinion essay topic, it is important to consider the purpose and audience of the essay. It is also important to choose a topic that is interesting and engaging to the reader. Consider the topics that you are passionate about and that you have a strong opinion on. It is also important to consider the amount of research that is required for the topic. Once you have narrowed down your list of topics, it is important to research the topic to ensure that you have a thorough understanding of it. Additionally, it is important to consider the opposing viewpoint and be prepared to address it in your essay. Finally, it is important to select a topic that is relevant and timely. By following these steps, you can be sure to select the best opinion essay topics.

• Consider the purpose of your essay. Are you writing to inform, persuade, or entertain? Knowing the purpose of your essay will help you narrow down your topic choices.
• Think about the audience you are writing for. Are you writing for a general audience or a specific group? Knowing your audience will help you choose a topic that is interesting and relevant.
• Consider the scope of your essay. Is your essay going to be short or long? Is it going to focus on a single issue or a range of topics? Knowing the scope of your essay will help you determine which topics are appropriate.
• Research the topics you are considering. Look for sources that provide reliable information, and explore different perspectives on the issue. This will help you make an informed decision about which topic is best for your essay.
• Choose a topic that you are passionate about. Writing about something you are passionate about will make the process of writing your essay much easier and more enjoyable. With these tips, you can select the best opinion essay topic for your assignment.

Opinion Essay Topics for High School

There is a variety of opinion writing ideas that high school students can choose from. Some popular opinion topics, for example, include the significance of staying physically fit, the importance of eating habits, the implications of eating disorders, how government controls religious practices, etc. The important point to note while selecting an opinion essay topic is to consider your personal beliefs and interests.

• The benefits of a college education
• Impact of social media on adolescent growth
• The pros and cons of standardized testing
• The importance of physical education
• The benefits of extracurricular activities
• The effects of bullying on teen development
• Why are family bonds important?
• An opinion essay on the benefits of positive self-esteem
• The effects of teenage pregnancy on teen development
• The pros and cons of co-ed schooling
• The importance of volunteer work
• The benefits of a healthy diet
• The effects of teenage drinking and drug use
• Is time management suitable for students?
• The importance of a good education
• Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school?
• Should students have to wear uniforms?
• Should students be required to take physical education classes?
• Should students be allowed to grade their teachers?
• Should students be required to do community service?
• Should students be allowed to pray in school?
• Should students be allowed to eat during class?
• Should students be allowed to listen to music during class?
• Should students be allowed to use social media in school?
• Should students be allowed to have part-time jobs?

Opinion Essay Topics for College Students

A college student usually navigates through a plethora of different controversial issues and dilemmas during his/her education. Students who want to express their thoughts and ideas while also engaging in meaningful debate can use opinion essay writing as an opportunity. From campus violence related issues to gun laws, students get the chance to express their views and beliefs. Some good opinion essay topics that are relevant to the experiences are as follows:

• The impact of social media on the development of teenage social skills
• The benefits of studying abroad for college students
• The effects of a college education on future income potential
• The importance of internships for college students
• The value of a liberal arts education
• How to choose the right college for you
• How to pay for college
• The role of college athletics in the educational experience
• How to balance work and school
• The challenges of returning to school as an adult
• The impact of technology on the college experience
• The changing role of the professor in the classroom
• The benefits of study groups
• How to stay motivated in college
• The importance of college graduation

Personal Opinion Essay Topics

Topics for personal opinion essays can encompass everything from current events to personal experiences. When selecting a topic for an opinion essay, it’s crucial to ensure that you have a strong stance and can back it up with solid evidence. Opinion topics provide an opportunity to persuade others and introduce them to a diverse range of perspectives.

• The impact of social media on personal relationships
• The dangers of smoking
• The importance of regular exercise
• The effects of stress on the body
• The benefits of getting a good night’s sleep
• The dangers of drinking alcohol
• The importance of staying safe online
• The effects of technology on the brain
• The benefits of meditation
• The dangers of using too much screen time
• The benefits of a positive outlook on life
• The effects of gratitude on happiness
• The importance of spending time with loved ones
• The importance of taking time for oneself
• Should parents be allowed to choose their children’s education?
• Should the government impose stricter gun control laws?
• Should the death penalty be abolished?
• Should the voting age be lowered?
• Should the legal drinking age be lowered?
• Should marijuana be legalized?
• Should the government provide free healthcare?
• Should the government provide free college tuition?
• Should the government increase taxes on the wealthy?
• Should the government invest more in renewable energy sources?

Public Opinion Essay Topics

Public opinion refers to the attitudes and views held by a substantial segment of society regarding a specific issue. These opinions are typically impacted by a range of factors, such as government policies, personal experiences, and cultural values. Here are some ideas for public opinion essay topics to consider:

• How does the media shape public opinion?
• Are there any benefits to having a public opinion?
• How much impact do social networking platforms have on us?
• Does the public have a right to know everything?
• How can we ensure that the public’s opinion is heard?
• How does angry parenting affect children?
• The pros and cons of health insurance
• Modern pop stars and their influence on the youth
• Does the government have a responsibility to act on the opinion of the public?
• Is it possible to have a collective opinion?
• How can we ensure that public opinion is not impacted by fake news?
• Who should be responsible for shaping the opinion of the common man?
• Analysing the impact of media coverage on public
• The effectiveness of military training programs
• The pros and cons of using medical marijuana

Nursing Opinion Essay Topics

• What are the benefits of a career in nursing?
• What challenges do nurses face in the healthcare system?
• How can nurses best advocate for their patients?
• What role does technology play in modern nursing?
• How can nurses help to reduce medical errors?
• How can nurses help to improve patient satisfaction?
• What is the impact of nurse-patient ratios on patient care?
• How can nurses help to reduce healthcare costs?
• What ethical considerations are important for nurses to consider?
• How can nurses help to reduce health disparities?

Opinion Essay Topics on Culture

• The Impact of Social Media on Culture
• The Role of Religion in Society
• The Impact of Technology on Culture
• The Influence of Music on Culture
• The Impact of Immigration on Culture
• The Role of Education in Shaping Culture
• The Impact of Media on Culture
• The Influence of Art on Culture
• The Impact of Language on Culture
• The Role of Family in Shaping Culture
• The Impact of Social Class on Culture
• The Role of Gender in Society
• The Impact of Globalization on Culture
• The Influence of Pop Culture on Society
• The Role of Tradition in Culture

Social Media Opinion Essay Topics

Online social platforms have become a significant part of our daily existence. They affect various aspects of our lives in various ways. Hence, there are a multitude of potential essay topics to consider.

• How have online social platforms changed the way we communicate?
• Online social platforms shaping the way we think
• Influence of social media on human behaviour
• How can we use online social platforms for our benefit?
• Drawbacks of using digital social platforms
• Ways how online social platforms impact mental health
• Is your physical health impacted by the excessive use of online social apps?
• Influence of social media platforms on relationships.
• How does excessive use of social media affect our productivity?
• Is it ethical for parents to have access to social media control tools?
• How are political leaders using online social apps for their own benefit?
• How is social media shaping our societal norms?
• Unleashing the power of social media platforms and online communication
• Do online social platforms affect our control over privacy?
• Navigating the dark side of online social platforms and their threat to our society

Sports Opinion Essay Topics

If you’re a sports fan, there are many aspects of sports that make for great opinion essay topics. Whether you choose to write about the impact of sports on youth growth or the evolving nature of the sports world, make sure to present a clear, well-supported opinion backed by relevant research and data.

• The impact of sports on society
• An opinion essay on the business of sports
• Sports and its contribution to national identity
• The impact of sports on individual development
• The positive and negative effects of sports on mental health
• Sports and the media
• Sports and gender
• Sports and disability
• Elite sports and the exploitation of athletes
• Amateur sports and the benefits for participants
• Sports and obesity
• Sports and violence
• Sports and gambling today and in the past decades
• The impact of sports on international relations
• Envisioning the future of sports, trends and predictions

Psychology Opinion Essay Topics

Psychology is a captivating field of study that has sparked numerous opinions and debates for years. If you’re seeking thought-provoking topics for your opinion essay within psychology, there are many fascinating options to choose from:

• How does the human brain process information?
• How do different cultures perceive mental illness?
• How does the media affect the way people view mental illness?
• What are the benefits of therapy?
• What are the different types of therapy?
• Assessing the Efficiency of Various Therapeutic Approaches
• How do family dynamics affect mental health?
• An opinion essay on stress and its effect on mental health?
• How does trauma affect mental health?
• How does poverty affect mental health?
• How does immigration affect mental health?
• How does discrimination affect mental health?
• How does social media affect mental health?
• Do Internal online platforms affect mental health?
• Technological advancement in the field of psychology
• The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health
• The Role of Genetics in Personality Development
• The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adult Mental Health
• The Impact of Technology on Human Behavior
• The Relationship Between Stress and Mental Health
• The Impact of Substance Abuse on Mental Health
• The Role of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Mental Health
• The Impact of Sleep Deprivation on Mental Health
• The Role of Attachment Theory in Mental Health
• The Impact of Culture on Mental Health
• The Role of Exercise in Mental Health
• The Impact of Parenting Styles on Mental Health
• The Role of Nature vs. Nurture in Mental Health
• The Impact of Social Support on Mental Health
• The Role of Gender in Mental Health
• The Impact of Religion on Mental Health
• The Role of Self-Esteem in Mental Health
• The Impact of Media on Mental Health
• The Role of Nutrition in Mental Health
• The Impact of Trauma on Mental Health

Political Science Opinion Essay Topics

The study of politics provides numerous opportunities for crafting thought-provoking opinion essays. There is a range of topics to choose from, covering everything from local politics to international governance and political control instruments.

• The impact of social media on political participation
• The impact of campaign finance on the political process
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion
• How does the voting system impact the political outcomes
• The impact of political polarisation on legislative productivity
• The impact of gerrymandering on electoral outcomes
• The impact of term limits on the quality of representation
• The impact of redistricting on political representation
• Campaign advertising and its effect on voter behaviour
• Political dynasties and how they shape political competition
• The role and effect of youth engagement in the political process
• The impact of women’s participation in politics
• Does ethnic diversity contribute to political outcomes?
• Religious diversity and how it shapes political outcomes
• The influence of social media on political division

Thought-Provoking Opinion Writing Topics

A powerful way to communicate and engage your perspective with society is by opinion writing For instance, you can write about artificial intelligence, the slavery controversy, global warming, any philosophy essay topics , or modern society. In all cases, a successful opinion essay resonates with you on a personal level.

• What is the key to academic success?
• Does Asian culture dominate the business world?
• Eating disorders—is the media to blame?
• Vulgar power display and its impact on society – is this a good thing?
• Is the current drinking age too high?
• Are angry parents to blame for behavioral problems in children?
• What are your personal views on domestic violence?
• Is modern culture based on the ideology of feminism?
• Do we need to rethink the way we approach education?
• Is the internet a positive or negative force in our lives?
• Should we be worried about the rise of artificial intelligence?
• How do we deal with the challenges of globalization and economic inequality?
• What is the future of the human race?
• Should we be more environmentally conscious and take steps to help with global warming?
• How can we create a better world?

History Opinion Essay Topics

History is a realm that lets you get a glimpse of the past and understand how events of the past shaped the world of today. There are many opinion essay topics that you can choose from, including the events leading up to World War, civil wars, and colonialism.

• How has the role of women changed in society over the past few decades?
• How has modern culture affected the way we view traditional values?
• How do different cultures view slavery and the slave trade?
• How does the rest of the world view our country and its politics?
• How did World War II affect the entire world?
• How has the internet changed the way we research and learn about history?
• How do different cultures celebrate holidays and traditions?
• What are some lesser-known historical facts about your own country?
• What are some controversial topics in history that are still debated today?
• How do we remember and commemorate historical events?
• How do we balance historical accuracy with artistic license when telling historical stories?
• What is the future of historical research and scholarship?
• How do we ensure that the lessons of history are not forgotten?
• What is the impact of historical revisionism on our understanding of the past?
• How does history shape our understanding of the present and future?
• The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society
• The Legacy of the American Revolution
• The Role of Women in Ancient Civilizations
• The Influence of Religion on Politics
• The Causes of the French Revolution
• The Impact of Imperialism on Colonialism
• The Significance of the Cold War
• The Legacies of the Civil Rights Movement
• The Impact of the Scientific Revolution
• The Role of Technology in Modern Society
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Environment Opinion Essay Topics

We cannot deny the fact that the environment is an important part of our planet, and it has a paramount impact on all of us. If you are an environment enthusiast, then you must be searching for an opinion essay topic that translates your beliefs.

• What are the most effective ways to reduce air pollution?
• Should governments impose stricter regulations on companies to reduce their environmental impact?
• Should the use of plastic be banned?
• Is nuclear energy a viable alternative to fossil fuels?
• What are the most effective ways to reduce water pollution?
• Should governments invest more in renewable energy sources?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of using genetically modified crops?
• Should the use of pesticides be banned?
• How can we reduce our reliance on fossil fuels?
• What are the most effective ways to reduce deforestation?

Education Opinion Essay Topics

There are several opinion essay topics that can be explored in the field of education. This can include the role of technology in the education system, gender bias faced by students, and unequal access to quality education.

• How can academic writing help students achieve academic success?
• What are the benefits of distance learning for high school students?
• Personal skills that students develop in single-gender schools.
• Is sex education necessary in the school curriculum?
• How effective is home-schooling as an educational option?
• Is it a challenging task to educate modern children?
• What are the flaws in the current educational system?
• How can the school curriculum be improved?
• What is the impact of age differences on the educational process?
• How do modern children spend their free time?
• What are the benefits of challenging tasks for students?
• How can students balance their academic and personal lives?
• Is there a way to reduce stress in the educational process?
• What are the benefits of a healthy lifestyle for students?
• Should standardized tests be abolished?
• Should college tuition be free?
• What is the best way to teach a foreign language?
• Should the education system be more flexible?
• Should online education be more widely available?
• Should schools prioritize STEM education?
• Should schools provide more vocational training?
• Should schools have uniforms? Should schools have a longer school day?
• Should schools have a longer school year?
• Should schools have more extracurricular activities?
• Should schools provide more mental health services?
• Should schools provide more career guidance?
• Should schools be more culturally inclusive?
• Should schools provide more financial literacy education?
• Should schools provide more technology education?
• Should schools have more parental involvement?
• Should schools have more community involvement?
• Should schools have more global awareness education?
• Should schools have more environmental education?

Literature Opinion Essay Topics

Literature is a landscape that is rich and offers the opportunity to explore the intangible, such as human experience and emotions.

• Is there a universal classic book that everyone should read?
• Is there a difference between classic literature and modern literature?
• How has literature changed over the years?
• What is the most important element of a successful novel?
• What is the most important thing a reader should look for in a book?
• Is there a difference between reading a book and watching a movie based on the book?
• What is the most important lesson that literature can teach us?
• What is the most important thing that literature can teach us about life?
• How has literature influenced society?
• What is the most important thing that literature can teach us about ourselves?
• How has literature changed over time?
• What is the most important thing that literature can teach us about the world?
• How has literature shaped our culture?
• What is the most important thing that literature can teach us about justice?
• How has literature impacted our understanding of history?
• How has literature shaped our understanding of morality?
• What is the most important thing that literature can teach us about love?
• How has literature helped to shape our understanding of gender roles?
• What is the most important thing that literature can teach us about democracy?
• How has literature helped to shape our understanding of race and ethnicity?

Opinion topics are not easy to decide on. But if you want to write a winning essay, you need to pick a topic that you have a good understanding of. No matter if you’re writing about education, politics, or sports, it’s important to have solid evidence and examples to back up your opinion. This way, you can write an interesting and convincing essay that will have a lasting impact on your reader.

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An opinion essay.

Look at the essay and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then do the other exercises.

Preparation

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Are video games really a good way to keep fit? What do you think?

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Discussion Topics for Agreeing & Disagreeing (ESL)

These are conversation topics I have used to create discussion in my ESL class. They could also be used as speaking topics for speeches . These speaking topics go well with activities to practice giving opinions (agreeing, disagreeing, interrupting, and changing the topic). For a few activities for agreeing and disagreeing, visit here .

If you are looking for discussion questions, I have created a   longer list   (containing similar ideas) on the conversation questions page .

General Topics for Discussion or Speeches

• English is easy to learn.
• Money is more important than love.
• Students should be required to study English in elementary school.
• Violence is sometimes necessary.
• Personality is more important than beauty.
• People who live in apartments shouldn't own pets.
• No job is perfect.
• Everyone is good at something.
• We are not alone in the universe.
• Life was better 20 years ago.
• The most important thing about a job is the salary.
• You can know a lot about a person from the clothes he or she wears.
• Teachers should be able to use physical punishment.
• Global warming isn't real.
• There are actions we can take to stop global warming.
• There are no such things as ghosts.
• Everyone has the right to have an opinion even if the opinion is false according to well-known facts.
• People get offended too easily nowadays.
• What goes around comes around. (If you do good, good will come to you / If you do bad, bad things will happen to you.)
• Parents should never hit their children.
• Table manners and etiquette have become less important in the 21st century.

Crime Discussion/Speech Topics

• Smoking marijuana should be legal.
• Police officers should not carry guns.
• Criminals who take a life (kill someone) should spend their entire life behind bars.
• Graffiti is art, not crime.
• Prisoners are sent to jail to be reeducated.

Gender Issues Discussion/Speech Topics

• Men should open doors for women.
• Men and women can never really be equal.
• Women are better at teaching children than men are.
• Men are smarter than women.
• Companies should have quotas on their executive boards to make them 50% female.
• At a bar, men should initiate conversation with women (and not the other way around).

Health Discussion/Speech Topics

• People who get plastic surgery usually look worse later in life.
• Nowadays, people are too dependent on medicine.
• This country's healthcare system needs a lot of improvement.
• If you feel unwell, you should go to the doctor.
• Western medicine is more effective than Eastern medicine.
• People who use acupuncture are crazy.
• People should be more concerned about their health.
• Beauty products, vitamins, and mineral supplements generally provide the benefits they promise.
• Home remedies can be just as useful as medicine from a pharmacy.
• Obesity is a disease.
• Humans shouldn't drink the milk of other animals such as cows.
• There should be an extra tax on unhealthy food.
• Worrying about cancer can give you cancer.

Politics Discussion/Speech Topics

• Life would be better without government or rules.
• People should be able to criticize the government.
• The government has the right to monitor phone calls and e-mails.
• The government should increase environmental regulations on businesses.
• Women should be allowed to wear a niqab (or face veil) to civic ceremonies.
• We should tax the rich to help the poor.
• New Canadians who become terrorists should lose their citizenship and be sent back to where they came from.
• The government should be stricter on immigration.
• Canada should not participate in the war against ISIS.
• Voting for a political party that is unlikely to win the election is wasting your vote.

Enjoy your discussion.

- Conversation topics created by Matthew Barton of Englishcurrent.com (Copyright)

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12 comments on “ Discussion Topics for Agreeing & Disagreeing (ESL) ”

Little water was left in the pot,….?(question tag)

…, wasn’t it? (but it seems very strange to use a question tag here)

You’re missing “there”; (there was) little water left in the pot, wasn’t there?

This sentence has a negative meaning so it should be:

(There was) Little (not much) water was left in the pot, was there?

As the word”Home” has to function as “Adverb of place and Noun”, and you explained that when it works as adverb of place, the preposition ” To” is not used and when it is used as “noun” , preposition is possible,so school is also adverb of place now if we say that school has only form “Noun” and it does not have adverb form, Is it correct

Hello. ‘school’ does not have an adverb form. It is only a noun. Therefore, verbs that require a preposition use a preposition when school is the object (“I went to school / I arrived at school.”). You cannot omit the prepositions. If that’s what you meant, then you are correct.

Unless you are using the word school for the services it offers. Then you say I go to school. No prep

And what is “to”?

Put thing abt covid

Actually, there is an adverb form of school, “schoolishly.” It is, however, quite rare and pretty nearly archaic. It seems mainly to have been used to characterize the manners and thoughts of the so-called “schoolmen” (a.k.a., scholastic philosophers.) Wordhippo features the term as do older dictionaries.

The English subject is a bit complicated since it requires time and a lot of practice. Money is more important than health but it is necessary for life since many people depend on it. For teachers to teach English in elementary school, this great help for students is necessary to continue learning. Violence is not good but many times anger takes advantage of ourselves by taking revenge for which the act turns into violence. Personality is important Since we must have values ​​in our life And try to be a better person, beauty is natural. Not every job can be perfect as it can also be dangerous and very expensive. We are not alone in the world because there are many people around us but our personality is unique. We can all be good at something, it’s just that for some things we won’t have the ability to do everything perfectly. Money is one of the most necessary elements since if we work it is because we need the salary and trying to do things with love and commitment is the best. The happiness of another person does not have to offend me since we can all be happy as we want. Regarding the phrase that says what you sow, what you reap is very true, the world is turning around and what we do today, right or wrong, will have our reward sooner or later.

English is easy to learn: The english subject its such a beautifu world, you can learn a lot of things about it and you learn to aprecciate it with the pass of the day, It is easy at the way you want to learn it and study. No job is perfect: Because sometimes your body get tired of to many things and at this point you just want to through away those works issues, but also we have other days when we realize that we are blessing of have this job, its a constant feelings of high and lows. Women are better at teaching childrens than men are: No, because God gave to each one of us, the intelligence and the habbility for do all the things and ideal that we have in life, we just need the strengh and good vibes to do it. What goes around comes around: I have always used to think that those things that you sow, you harvest too, thats why we always have to do the good things to our behaviors.

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Opinion essay , like other academic papers, requires writers to express their take on a given subject. Many may confuse this essay type with a persuasive paper, which is wrong. As a writer, you are required to take a side and provide an argument that will support your point of view. Since opinion essays are commonly written across different educational levels, it is important to learn about potential research topics. Students often struggle to identify and work on good opinion essay topics. Are you looking for excellent opinion subjects or means to develop one? Continue reading this blog from our professional writing service to learn the definition of an opinion paper and explore different opinion writing topics that you can use in essays.

What Are Opinion Essay Topics?

Opinion papers rank among the commonly issued assignments in learning institutions. So, what is an opinion essay topic? It is a subject that attracts divergent outlooks and ideas from readers and thus enables writers to develop arguments that support a certain take. It is even much easier to write about an opinion topic if it has many differing sentiments. If the title is controversial, a writer can select and build on broad scopes of argumentation available. Unlike when writing a persuasive essay, students do not need to convince readers about a given stand. Although one can draw discussions from different fields – education, healthcare, social media, technology, government, and music, among others – opinion topics share some common characteristics.

Characteristics of Good Opinion Topics

Although people pick subject matters from a wide array of disciplines, good opinion essay topics share some traits. Some of these attributes are discussed below:

• A writer can find supportive evidence from reliable research and sources. A quality opinion topic should have examples, facts, and clear evidence that can be used to support a given standpoint.
• It should have opposite viewpoints. A topic that has different angles is preferred when developing an opinion paper.
• The topic should accommodate development of a strong thesis statement.

How to Choose an Opinion Topic Idea?

There are many subject areas to pick issues from. To select an exceptional opinion essay topic, you need to follow these steps:

• Determine a field that you are passionate about. Your topic should be related to your individual experience, personal skills, or a subject you have researched exhaustively.
• Conduct a brainstorming session to help select and adjust opinions to write about within your preferred discipline.
• Once you create your potential opinion ideas list, conduct research to ascertain viability of all options. A good topic should have evidence, facts, and examples from reliable sources.
• You should have a strong opinion on topics you wish to discuss.

If you follow these steps, you will choose a topic that appeals to your personal interests and can be developed comprehensively with good evidence. Feel free to contact StudyCrumb for expert advice and college essay writing help .

List of the Best Opinion Writing Topics

A student should be able to select good topics for opinion writing. Today, you can find numerous opinion subjects online. You just need a smartphone with access to the internet! Although you can find various opinion essay topics online, you should strive to choose the best titles. Below are sample best opinion topics:

• Is gun control used as a political control tool among Americans?
• Is global warming a true phenomenon?
• Does access to social media content and video negatively affect children’s behaviors?
• Should smartphone usage be accepted in colleges and other higher education institutions?
• Does watching action films promote violence among children?
• Role of music in different age groups.
• Role of government in promoting freedom of speech.
• Should parents learn to use the internet and communicate online?
• Are human beings putting adequate effort toward environmental management?
• What is your take on right to privacy?

Interesting Opinion Essay Topics

You should consider opinion essay topics that would easily capture your target audience’s attention. Lucky for you, there are many different opinion editorials topics to choose from. Examples of such captivating issues include:

• Is an electric car better than a petrol vehicle?
• Impact of World War II on the issue of racism in America.
• Is religion important in school curricula?
• Gender roles in modern society.
• Should the COVID-19 jab be mandatory for all?
• Disparities in services and racial bias in USA's healthcare industry.
• Impact of gender neutrality and fluidity on modern language.
• Are virtual classes better than physical sessions?
• Pop stars influence fashion and present-day societal norms.
• Role of physical exercise in alleviating the obesity pandemic in the United States.
• Impact of vegetarianism on human health.
• Is medical research on human subjects ethical?
• Impact of World War II on gender roles in Europe and America.
• Police brutality and its impact on the fight against racism.
• Ownership of firearms by people improves safety and security of private citizens.

Easy Opinion Paper Topics

Unlike other complex subjects, easy opinion essay topics take writers a shorter period to develop. You also do not need to put too much effort into writing such a paper. Teachers in lower education levels rely on these types of opinion papers topics to train better writing skills. Below is a list of simplest opinion topics that you can use:

• Effect of the Cold War on the relationship between Russia and the USA.
• Role of Presidents from your own perspective.
• Social media platforms do more harm than good.
• The USA is the best country in the world.
• Are men and women treated equally in the USA?
• Are print books better than e-books in this modern era?
• What is your ethical opinion on caged wild animals?
• Impact of exercise and physical education on stress.
• Should children have full access to the internet?
• Virtual learning and its benefits.
• Are social media platforms making people less social?
• Reason why politicians should rely on technology.
• How can you stay healthy during a lockdown?
• Can solar power alleviate climate change?
• Impact of the cancellation culture on public discussions.

Good Topics for Opinion Essays

If people select good opinion writing topics, they can express their point of view on such subjects in a better way. One can find deep and extensive topical knowledge on the issue online. A writer can comfortably defend their belief and inclinations with solid, reliable evidence. Common good op ed ideas include:

• Should parents take part in their children’s educational journey?
• What is the overall impact of making marijuana legal?
• How can gender-based violence issues be resolved in America?
• Weaknesses of current US immigration policies.
• Is depression a public health issue in the United States?
• Gender equity policies and affirmative action in US military departments.
• Does social media promote depression among teenagers and young adults?
• Role of government social welfare programs in promoting poverty.
• Anger management and its relationship with gender-based violence.
• Office versus virtual working environment.
• Is there a connection between drug abuse and gender-based violence?
• Will the world ever attain total peace?
• Can genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be a solution to world hunger?
• Are people doing enough to negate climate change effects?
• Is euthanasia ethical and justified?

Opinion Editorial Topics

Senior authors and editors usually have a section in newspapers, magazines, or any other publication, where they express their viewpoints on a given matter. Good op ed topics attract wide audiences and thus can be used to influence readers. Examples of topics for opinion articles are outlined below:

• Is the existing gun control legislation adequate in addressing increased mass shootings in America?
• The future of GMOs and food security.
• Are we winning the war against global warming?
• In your opinion, what should be the minimum marrying age in America?
• Impact of oil spillage on the marine ecosystem.
• Benefits of physical exercise on physiological and mental health.
• Can the human race inhabit Mars successfully?
• Is it viable to replace fossil fuels with alternative clean energy sources in the aviation industry?
• Should doping be accepted in sports?
• Sex education should be taught to children by their parents.

Topics and Ideas for Opinion Writing by Subject

People can choose essay topics from various disciplines. With adequate research, you can list and develop arguments on numerous issues within every subject. There is a wide variety of options, which can ensure that you always discuss issues that interest you. As a writer, you can select a topic from various subjects, including political science, history, public opinion, environmental issues, technology, parenting, education, social media, and psychology, among others. Irrespective of the discipline, opinion writing ideas must be written in a specific format and structure. This section discusses common topics for opinion essays from different disciplines.

Opinion Topics in Political Science

Politics ranks among the most discussed subjects worldwide. Besides, people have diverging and contradicting takes on topics related to political science. Furthermore, since these decisions affect almost everyone, Political Science opinion essay topics attract great interest from the public. Below is a list of opinion topics in this discipline:

• Rule of law and its unbiased application to everyone.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the US electoral system.
• Terrorism as a political tool.
• Immigration policy and its effect on minority families.
• US foreign policies in the Middle Eastern countries.
• Relationship between politics and climate change initiatives.
• How politics affect mainstream media.
• Political conflicts between Israel and Palestine.
• The collision between federal and state legislation.
• Should governments regulate religious practices?
• Should the minimum age for voting be reduced?
• How can governments address corruption problems?
• Capitalism is superior to socialism.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the American system of governance.

>> View more: Topics of Political Science

History Opinion Essay Ideas

Historical events influence our current decisions. It is, therefore, no surprise that many people take a keen interest in History opinion essay topics. Issues related to past wars, civil riots, and political decisions have drawn great debates over the years. Check a list of top 15 essay topics on the subject below:

• Thanksgiving from Native Americans’ historical view.
• United States’ role in World War I.
• Industrial Revolution and its effect on population distribution.
• Contribution of Slavery to current economic and social inequalities in USA.
• The Holocaust and its role in shaping current world politics.
• Abolition of slavery in the United States.
• Did the Election of President Barack Obama influence the issue of racism in America?
• Impact of the 9/11 tragedy on United States foreign policy.
• Importance of the American Civil Rights movement in promoting gender and racism equity in America.
• Was the Vietnam war justified from the American point of view?
• Martin Luther King’s contribution to the fight against racial discrimination.
• How did the 19th Amendment empower women in the 1920s?
• Are history lessons important in present-day school curricula?
• What was the role of the trade union movement in promoting workers’ rights?
• Impact of colonialism on current economic inequalities between countries worldwide.

Public Opinion Essay Topics

Public opinion, as a discipline, encompasses common beliefs, ideas, perspectives, and attitudes shared among many members of the community. Information on public opinion essay topics is often collected through polls. In many cases, the public is concerned with topic opinion related to politics. Take a look at examples outlined below:

• Public transportation systems should be free.
• The public transportation system in New York is inconvenient.
• Should abortion be fully legal?
• The Obamacare program was a disaster.
• Mainstream media is nowadays a tool for propagating political agendas and narratives.
• Should COVID-19 vaccine injection be compulsory?
• Medical and recreational use of marijuana should be legal.
• Should teachers carry firearms in classrooms?
• Social media has increased cyberbullying among youths.
• The US healthcare system is incompetent in dealing with increased mental health and suicide cases.
• Should military qualification test standards be lowered to accommodate women?
• Police departments in America have failed in their community outreach programs.
• Police racism has negatively affected the relationship between law enforcement departments and the public.
• How can the government deal with the increased homelessness problem in American cities?
• The COVID-19 vaccine should be offered free of charge.

Environmental Topics for Opinion Essays

With the fight against climate change growing in momentum, people are increasingly reading op-ed topics related to environmental change and management. This subject attracts controversial viewpoints, which makes it very interesting. You can find an issue that resonates with you from the environmental opinion essay topics below:

• Dangers of large-scale commercial farming to the environment.
• Overfishing should be regulated globally.
• Is global warming a real phenomenon?
• Effect of human activity on flora and fauna.
• Can solar power alleviate the problem of air pollution?
• Effect of mass concrete construction on environment.
• Does excessive consumption of beef have a negative effect on the environment?
• Alternative clean energy solutions can slow down climate change.
• Electric cars are better for the environment compared to petrol engine vehicles.
• Impact of oil spillage on marine and dry-land ecosystems.
• Tree planting is a viable solution for rapid climate change.
• Effect of farm inputs on the environment.
• How can wildfires be prevented?
• Effect of global warming on human health.
• The government should introduce legislation to regulate emissions.

Education Opinion Topics to Write About

The existence and continuous growth of the human race rely on education hugely. It is, therefore, only fair for people to express their opinions on topics on the subject. Some of the common education opinion essay topics are outlined in this section:

• Is distance learning a viable replacement for face-to-face learning in classrooms?
• How does the expensive cost of education affect learners in the United States?
• Student loans in tertiary education negatively affect the economic well-being of students after school.
• How can the government address the issue of mass shootings in schools?
• How soon should sex education be taught in school?
• What is the effect of social media on student learning?
• How can technology improve learning outcomes in schools?
• Should instructors punish learners in schools?
• Educational institutions should introduce healthier meals in their cafeteria.
• Gender equality in education has positively affected economic development.
• Should religious education be incorporated into school curricula?
• What are the effects of social and economic classes on student performance?
• Impact of career choice decisions in school on pay gap between men and women.
• Are private schools better than public schools?
• Disparities in the quality of educational facilities across various ethnic communities in the US.

You can browse special education research topics  and get some new ideas for your opinion essay.

Psychology Opinion Based Questions

The increased cases of mental health issues and suicide have made Psychology opinion essay topics very popular. Today, these opinion essay questions are raised among medical professionals, legislators, and even the general public. Below are the top 15 talking points on this subject:

• What is the impact of physical exercise on mental health?
• Psychological effects of yoga and meditation.
• What are the effects of social media on an individual’s mental health?
• How does an unhealthy work/life balance affect the psychological health of people?
• Effects of violent films on the mental development of children.
• How can the healthcare sector better address increased cases of depression?
• Role of pop stars in shaping the psychological growth and well-being of children.
• How emotional support pets help in improving mental health.
• Should parents regulate children’s access to the internet?
• How can schools better utilize guidance and counseling departments to prevent mass shootings by students?
• How does bullying affect mental health of students?
• How does negative stigma toward autistic students affect their performance in school?
• What teaching methods can be used for students who are mentally disabled?
• Effect of childhood experience on adults.
• Effect of divorce and domestic violence on children’s mental development.

Philosophy Opinion Essay Topics

Human beings have, for the longest time, expressed their opinion on different philosophies. Since society and laws are built on various schools of thought, opinion piece topics on this subject are very common. Below are some of the Philosophy opinion paper ideas:

• Strengths of the utilitarian school of thought.
• Should capital punishment be abolished?
• What are the ethical issues linked to abortion?
• What are the effects of environment and nurture on child development?
• The difference between determinism and freedom.
• Benefits of democracy over absolutism.
• The spread of Confucianism around the world.
• How does a personal fable lead people to commit life-changing mistakes?
• What is the true meaning of happiness?
• Critical evaluation of Puritan culture and beliefs.
• Effect of the “world revolves around me” fallacy on quality of life.
• The theory of deontology and consequentialism in America’s correction system.
• Impact of Confucianism on western culture.
• Does God Exist?
• The discordance between free will and determinism.

Social Media Opinion Article Ideas

In the current age of smartphones and the internet, social media is huge. Almost every person has some level of presence on social media platforms. The effect of social media on people’s daily lives has caused a significant interest in op ed topics on the subject. Some of the common opinion article topics on Social Media are listed below:

• Effect of social media on students’ performance in school.
• How does social media impact the psychological and behavioral growth of children?
• Should parents limit children’s access to social media content?
• How should children be protected from cyberbullying on social media?
• Evolving roles of social media in online marketing.
• Social media is a source of depression among some young adults.
• Has social media normalized hate speech and behaviors?
• How can social media be used in the current education system?
• The role of social media in promoting a sedentary lifestyle.
• How can social media be used to promote environmental management and climate change awareness?
• Effect of social media on face-to-face relationships.
• Impact of social media on group mind and social pressure.
• How can online messaging platforms be used to promote activism and revolution globally?
• Role of social media on cultural exchange across communities.
• Effect of social media on individuals’ self-esteem and confidence.

Culture Opinion Essay Topics

This discipline focuses on language, religion, art, and mentality. Since these aspects vary from one community to another, many opinion essays topics attract a great deal of debate. Common opinion piece ideas include:

• Is present-day culture based on recent decades?
• The internet has revolutionized the music industry and destroyed record companies.
• Changes in cultural stereotypes and social prejudice across various age groups.
• Effect of internet and globalization on traditional fashion styles.
• The replacement of traditional acoustic instruments by computer programs has changed the music culture globally.
• The widespread access to the internet has resulted in the rise of social media stars.
• Stars and popular figures have the potential to influence public opinion.
• Are high divorce rates an indicator of the changing marriage culture in the US?
• Is recreational use of drugs part of modern US culture?
• Will classical music ever grow out of fashion?
• Development of hybrid culture due to intercultural exchange.
• Effect of religion and culture on legislation.
• Should culture be taught in a school setup?
• Role of movies in propagating cultural information.
• Effect of diversity on America’s food culture.

Literature Opinion Essay Topics

People have enjoyed literature throughout human history. It is common to find persons discussing and exploring different interpretations of a given literature opinion paragraph topic. Below are some of the good topics for opinion writing in Literature:

• Do you prefer reading an entire classic book in an e-books format and in hardcopy?
• Why has the reading culture been reduced recently?
• Gender bigotry and prejudice in 17th-century English literature.
• Are books on the verge of elimination due to technological advancement?
• Themes of love and death in Shakespearean literature .
• Does reading result in better spelling skills?
• Difference between Western and Eastern literature.
• Can reading a book help relieve stress?
• What can be done to reclaim the lost Native American literature?
• Challenges of teaching foreign literature.
• Is there a need to limit English literature in institutions of higher education?
• Importance of the internet in facilitating the sharing of literature around the world.
• Classic literature should be made available at no cost.
• How can English language grammar be preserved?

Sports Opinion Paper Topics

Whether you are an athlete or a sports fan, you must have had a heated sports debate at least once. The emotional aspect of sports makes opinionated essay topics on Sports very common. Examples of opinion topic ideas are presented here:

• Nutrition is necessary for athletic success.
• Is bodybuilding a sport?
• Are professional athletes over or underpaid?
• Should psychological and mental health be considered in sports training programs?
• Is doping ethical?
• Should controlled doping be allowed in some sports?
• Is animal sport ethical?
• How vital are sports in school curricula?
• Why do some athletes struggle after retirement?
• Importance of statistics in sports analysis and match preparation.
• How can the gap between male and female sports be reduced?
• Are injuries indicators of an athlete’s level of physical fitness?
• How can you reduce the dangers associated with extreme sports and motorsport?
• Can supplements improve the performance of an athlete?
• How can you incorporate the LGBTQ+ community into sports?

Ideas for Opinion Essay for Students

Teachers often require students to compose opinion essays. These articles train learners to better express their opinion and build their argument skills. Opinion essay topic ideas vary depending on the student’s education level. Since each education level has different learning objectives and outcomes, the complexity and the research levels required to complete such assignments differ. The format for this academic paper does not, however, vary, irrespective of the level. This section explores op-ed ideas for different education levels, particularly high school and college levels. You may also browse our persuasive essay topics  and find some interesting ideas for your writing.

Opinion Essay Topics for High School

Even high school students have personal views! They are perfectly able to prepare essays on opinionated topics. Opinion essay topics for high school can be derived from a variety of disciplines. Below are titles that learners can discuss:

• Is social media negatively affecting social interaction?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of homework?
• Should parents limit social media usage among high school students?
• Does cheating count as academic misconduct?
• Should gym classes be made mandatory in high school?
• Should students wear uniform attire to school?
• Should the use of mobile phones be allowed in classrooms?
• What are the advantages of group tasks?
• How can bullying be prevented in school?
• Do reading novels and fictional literature improve academic performance?

Opinion Essay Topics for College

The opinion paragraph topics for college students are a little bit more complex compared to articles written by high schoolers. Other than that, opinion essay topics for college level, just like high school, can be drawn from any subject. Below are some examples:

• Are traditional family values under threat in the United States?
• Should the death penalty be considered in capital crime cases?
• How can the government address the existing economic inequality in the United States?
• Should unintentional plagiarism be penalized?
• How can schools reduce depression among college students?
• How does the virtual education model compare with physical classrooms?
• How does social media promote cultural bias?
• Application of technology in college education.
• Is it ethical for students to develop intimate relationships with students?
• The weaknesses of the United States immigration policy.

Bottom Line on Opinion Essay Topics

In sum, you can choose opinion story ideas from various disciplines depending on your interest. With adequate research, anybody can write a good opinion article. This type of essay should follow a specific format. Irrespective of the issue, your paper should have a strong thesis statement. The quality of your essay will also depend on the amount of clear supporting evidence you’ve provided. Also, always remember to mention and talk about opposing points of view.

Our academic writing service is just what you need. Order an essay from experts and forget about stress. Backed by solid experience, our writers compose great essays on any topic.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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FAQ About Opinion Essay Topics

1. what are some opinion topics.

Depending on your passion, you can choose opinion topics from your preferred subject. Below are some of the opinion topics:

• Impact of divorce on child development.
• What are the potential solutions for human trafficking?
• How does poor education in low-income communities promote crime?
• Why has the United States not had a female president so far?

3. How to come up with topics for an opinion essay?

To select good topics for opinion essays, you need to know your passion. You are more likely to write a better paper if you have a great interest in topics. Once you have identified your preferred discipline, select a topic you can develop with adequate evidence. You can also have a brainstorming session to come up with topics.

2. What are intriguing opinion essay topics?

You might find opinion essay topics listed below to be interesting:

• What measures can be taken to reverse the climate change process?
• New roles of social media in business operations.
• The role of technology in improving learning outcomes.
• Taming wild animals within a restricted zoo area is unethical.

4. What are some examples of opinion writing topics?

Below are some examples of topics for opinion writing:

• Learning institutions should help parents and guardians in controlling children’s screen time.
• Does racial profiling negatively affect the relationship between police departments and the American public?
• Is America’s middle class getting overwhelmed by the high class?
• Are physical and cyberbullying indications that perpetrators are insecure?

ESL Activities

ESL Games, Activities, Lesson Plans, Jobs & More

in Icebreakers + Warm-Ups · Speaking

Opinion Games and Activities for ESL

Do you want to help your students out with expressing an opinion in English? Then you’ll definitely want to check out these top opinion games and activities, along with worksheets, lesson plans and more.

Expressing Opinions ESL

ESL Opinion Games and Activities

Are you ready to get into the ESL expressing opinions activities? Then keep on reading for our top picks right here.

#1: ESL Surveys and Giving Opinions

I love to use surveys in my English classes. Just ask my students and they’ll tell you that I use them at least once a month! They’re ideal for the unit on expression opinions and can be used for just about any topic: clothes, food, travel, etc.

Do you want to try ESL surveys out with your students? Then you’ll certainly want to check out the following resource:

Surveys for ESL .

#2: Problem/Advice Board Game

Along with surveys, I’m ALL about board games. They’re a fun, challenging way for students to practice their English skills. In this case, they also lend themselves extremely well to giving opinions if you fill up your board with lots of common problems that people might have.

Do you want to know more? Find out everything you need to know right here: Problem and Advice ESL Board Game .

#3: Odd One Out

This is a kind of opinion activity that’s ideal for a quick warm-up or time-filler. The way it works is that you come up with 4 words, 1 of which doesn’t fit. For example:

• Apple, orange, carrot, watermelon.

Students have to choose the one that doesn’t fit and tell you why (carrot—vegetable, not a fruit). Where the opinion comes in is that there are actually lots of other answers possible. I will accept anything as long as students are able to justify it.

Do you want to try out this quick warmer with your students? Check out all the details here: ESL Odd One Out .

#4: Have a Classroom Debate and Express Some Opinions!

If you teach more advanced-level students, then consider running a formal debate. If you’ve never done something like this, not to worry. There are a ton of great videos on YouTube that can teach the students about how debates work and you can also make it as simple as you want it to be.

#5: WH Question Games and Activities

When you’re asking someone to give their opinion, it usually starts with a W or H question. Some common forms are:

• What do you think about _____?
• What’s your opinion about _____?

For some help coming up with activities for these kinds of questions, you’ll want to check out the following:

ESL WH Question Activities .

#6: Would you Rather Opinion Game

Would you rather is a fun, quick warm-up activity that’s ideal for getting students talking about giving an opinion about something serious, or silly. Come up with some would you rather questions, or get students to think of some. For example: Would you rather…

• eat something healthy or unhealthy?
• be Superman or Spiderman?
• die by fire or drowning?

What do you think about one of the best opinion games?

• Amazon Kindle Edition
• Bolen, Jackie (Author)
• English (Publication Language)
• 85 Pages - 02/02/2020 (Publication Date)

#7: Giving Opinions about Food

Isn’t food purely a matter of opinion? What one person likes can vary widely from what another person is into. And with the rise of cooking competitions on TV, even judges can have vastly different opinions about who the winner should be. That’s what makes food and opinions a natural fit.

Check out some of our top recommendations right here:

ESL Food Games and Activities .

#8: Typhoon

A nice way to review just about anything, including giving opinions is with this fun game. Have a look to find out more:

#9: Expressing Opinion Videos

Do you ever get the feeling that your students get tired of hearing you talk? I feel like that a lot! One way to mix things up for the students is to show them some videos related to whatever grammar or vocabulary point that you’re teaching.

In this case, there are a ton of excellent videos on YouTube that talk about how to express an opinion in English.

#10: Task-Based Teaching and Learning

I like to use some task-based learning projects at least once or twice a semester in my classes for the following reasons.

• They’re student-centred
• Students can have some freedom to choose what they want to learn
• Group work is essential
• It’s a change of pace from the usual classroom activities

In the case of stating an opinion, one thing that you might want to consider is having students choose a current event or something in the news. Then, they can prepare a 1-2 slide PPT presentation or poster. After that, they can make a short presentation about what the story is and then give their personal opinion on it.

If you want to know more about this kind of teaching and get some more practical ideas, you’ll want to check out the following:

ESL Task-Based Learning .

• 148 Pages - 03/09/2016 (Publication Date)

#11: Making Predictions about the Future

A topic that lends itself very well to stating an opinion is predicting things about the future . For example, what will the world look like in 50 years from now in terms of politics, transportation ESL /travel, food, etc?

To do this, students need to use a variety of future forms. Here are some of the top activities for this:

ESL Future Form Activities .

#12: Just a Minute Speaking Activity for Expressing Opinions ESL

If you teach high intermediate or advanced level students, then you might want to consider trying out Just a Minute. It’s a speaking activity that can be turned into a listening and conversation one as well if you require each group to ask follow-up questions.

The way it works is that students have to talk about a certain topic for an entire minute without stopping. In this case, you’ll want to choose controversial topics that lend themselves well to students giving an opinion. For example global warming, higher taxes on cigarettes, investing more money in renewable energy, etc.

Check out this video for all the details you need to know about Just a Minute:

#13: ESL Shopping Activities and Giving an Opinion

When you’re shopping for just about anything, chances are that you’ll be giving your opinion all the time. For example:

• That shirt is nicer than this one.
• I like the blue car.
• That TV is too expensive for my budget and it’s also too big.

That’s why I often like to use shopping as my topic when I’m teaching about giving or expressing opinions. This is what ESL textbooks often do as well.

Check out some of my top recommendations here:

ESL Shopping Activities and Games .

For the other side, a nice lesson plan idea is for Buy Nothing Day .

#14: Just One Question for Giving an Opinion

Just One Question is a 4-skills ESL activity that’s perfect as a round-up on the unit you’re teaching about giving opinions. It’s engaging, challenging and students seem to really enjoy it.

Do you want to know more? Then check this out: Just One Question 4-Skills ESL Activity .

#15: Fun Games for the TEFL Classroom

#16: English Conversation Activities and Expressing Opinions

Almost all English conversation lesson plans consist, at least partly of giving an opinion about a certain topic. It’s a nice way for students to personalize what they’re learning and bring some real life into the classroom.

Here are some of our top picks for conversation activities for adults:

Top 20 ESL Conversation Activity Ideas

#17: Travel and Holiday Activities for ESL

Along with shopping, travel is another one of those topics that are often combined with asking for an opinion or expressing an opinion. For example:

• Do you think we should go to this restaurant or that one?
• Would you rather take a beach vacation or a mountain one?

For some of the best ideas for this unit, you’ll want to check out the following:

ESL Travel Activities .

#18: Speaking Fluency Activity

To use this activity for a unit on expressing opinions, give students some controversial topics. Then, they have to choose one side of the issue, give their opinion and then support it with some facts or examples.

#19: Me Too!

This is a simple speaking and listening activity. Students have to give their opinion about something. For example:

• Golf is boring.
• I think that summer is too hot.
• We shouldn’t eat meat.

If other students in the class agree, they can stand up and say, “Me too!”

#20: Opinion Circle

Have students sit in a circle. Provide a topic or a question and ask each student to share their opinion about it. Encourage them to explain their reasoning and engage in respectful discussions. This activity promotes active listening and speaking skills while allowing students to express their opinions.

#21: Picture Prompt

Display a series of pictures representing different scenarios, objects, or situations. Students take turns selecting a picture and giving their opinion about it. They can describe their likes, dislikes, or preferences related to the picture. This activity encourages students to think critically and express their opinions based on visual cues.

#22: Opinion Cards

Create a set of opinion cards with statements written on them. Each statement should invite students to share their opinions. For example, “Chocolate is the best flavor,” or “Homework should be banned.” Distribute the cards to students and ask them to express their opinions on the statement provided. They can also justify their opinions with supporting reasons.

#23: Opinion Interviews

Pair up students and have them conduct opinion interviews. Each student takes turns asking their partner a series of questions about their preferences, opinions, or experiences. They can ask questions like, “What is your favorite movie?” or “Do you prefer summer or winter?” After the interview, students can present their partner’s opinions to the class.

#24: Opinion Gallery Walk

Display a set of statements or topics around the classroom. Give each student a sticky note or a small card. Instruct students to move around the classroom, read the statements or topics, and write their opinions or comments on the sticky notes. They can stick their notes next to the corresponding statement. Afterward, have students discuss the different opinions and reasons behind them.

Did you Like these Expressing Opinions ESL Activities?

• 138 Pages - 05/30/2015 (Publication Date)

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Plus, the best part is that all the games and activities are no-prep or very low-prep. This means that you won’t have to waste a ton of time lesson planning but can instead have more time for the things you really like to do.

Does it sound like exactly what you need to take your ESL teaching to the next level? Check out the book for yourself over on Amazon, but only if you want a serious dose of ESL teaching awesome in your life:

Opinion ESL Lesson Plans

If you’re a busy teacher, it’s ideal to just print off a lesson plan and go. In this case, there are a ton of great resources out there for teaching opinions. Here are some of our top picks:

Lingua House

ESL Library

It’s also possible to plan your own lesson pretty easily:

Expressing Opinion Worksheets for ESL

There are plenty of great giving an opinion worksheets out there so that you don’t have to make your own. This can save a ton of time. Here are some of the best resources:

ISL Collective

ESL Printables

Giving an Opinion in English Activities

There are a number of common questions that people have about teaching English learners how to give their opinion about something. Here are the answers to the most popular ones.

What is an opinion?

An opinion is a personal view or belief about something.

How can you introduce the concept of giving opinions to English learners?

You can start by explaining that giving opinions means expressing what they think or feel about a particular topic or situation.

What are some common phrases to express opinions?

Some common phrases to express opinions are: “I think,” “In my opinion,” “I believe,” “I feel that,” “From my perspective,” and “It seems to me.”

Why is it important for English learners to learn how to give opinions?

Learning how to give opinions helps English learners express their thoughts and ideas, engage in discussions, and develop critical thinking skills.

How can you encourage English learners to share their opinions?

You can create a supportive and inclusive classroom environment, provide opportunities for discussion, and show interest and respect for their ideas and viewpoints.

How can you help English learners improve their language while expressing opinions?

Encourage them to use a variety of vocabulary, sentence structures, and language functions related to expressing opinions. Provide feedback and language models to enhance their expression.

Have your say about these ESL Opinion Activities and Games

What are your thoughts about these ESL giving opinion activities? Have you tried one of the options from this list or do you have another ESL activity that you’d like to recommend? Leave a comment below and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you.

Also be sure to give this article a share on Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter. It’ll help other busy English teachers, like yourself, find this useful teaching resource.

Last update on 2022-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About Jackie

Jackie Bolen has been teaching English for more than 15 years to students in South Korea and Canada. She's taught all ages, levels and kinds of TEFL classes. She holds an MA degree, along with the Celta and Delta English teaching certifications.

Jackie is the author of more than 60 books for English teachers and English learners, including Business English Vocabulary Builder and 39 No-Prep/Low-Prep ESL Speaking Activities for Teenagers and Adults . She loves to share her ESL games, activities, teaching tips, and more with other teachers throughout the world.

You can find her on social media at: YouTube Facebook Pinterest TikTok LinkedIn Instagram

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