how to make personal opinion essay

Opinion Writing: a Guide to Writing a Successful Essay Easily

how to make personal opinion essay

An opinion essay requires students to write their thoughts regarding a subject matter. Relevant examples and explanations back their point of view. Before starting an opinion paper, it is important to study the definition, topics, requirements, and structure. Referring to examples is also highly useful. Perhaps you need help with our admission essay writing service ? Take a look at this guide from our dissertation writing service to learn how to write an opinion essay like an expert.

What Is an Opinion Essay

A common question among students is: ‘What is an Opinion Essay?' It is an assignment that contains questions that allow students to share their point-of-view on a subject matter. Students should express their thoughts precisely while providing opinions on the issue related to the field within reasonable logic. Some opinion essays type require references to back the writer's claims.

Opinion writing involves using a student's personal point-of-view, which is segregated into a point. It is backed by examples and explanations. The paper addresses the audience directly by stating ‘Dear Readers' or the equivalent. The introduction involves a reference to a speech, book, or play. This is normally followed by a rhetorical question like ‘is the pope Catholic?' or something along those lines.

What Kind of Student Faces an Opinion Essay

Non-native English-speaking students enrolled in the International English Language Testing System by the British Council & Cambridge Assessment English are tasked with learning how to write the opinion essays. This can be high-school or college students. It is designed to enhance the level of English among students. It enables them to express their thoughts and opinions while writing good opinion essay in English.

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What Are the Requirements of an Opinion Essay?

What Are the Requirements of an Opinion Essay

Avoid Going Off-Topic: Always write an opinion essay within relevance to answer the assigned question. This is also known as ‘beating around the bush' and should not be included in any opinion paragraph as it may lower your grade.

Indent the First Paragraph: With most academic papers, opinion writing is not different. Therefore, it contains the rule of indenting the first line of the introduction.

A Well-Thought Thesis: The full thesis statement is a brief description of the opinion essay. It determines the rest of the paper. Include all the information that you wish to include in the body paragraphs

The Use of Formal Languages: Although it is okay to write informally, keep a wide range of professional and formal words. This includes: ‘Furthermore,' ‘As Stated By,' ‘However', & ‘Thus'.

Avoid Internet Slang: In the opinion paper, avoid writing using slang words. Don'tDon't include words like ‘LOL', ‘OMG', ‘LMAO', etc.

The Use of First Person Language (Optional): For the reason of providing personal thought, it is acceptable to write your personal opinion essay in the first person.

Avoid Informal Punctuation: Although the requirements allow custom essay for the first-person language, they do not permit informal punctuation. This includes dashes, exclamation marks, and emojis.

Avoid Including Contradictions: Always make sure all spelling and grammar is correct.

We also recommend reading about types of sentences with examples .

Opinion Essay Topics

Before learning about the structure, choosing from a wide range of opinion essay topics is important. Picking an essay theme is something that can be done very simply. Choosing an excellent opinion essay topic that you are interested in or have a passion for is advisable. Otherwise, you may find the writing process boring. This also ensures that your paper will be both effective and well-written.

  • Do sports differ from ordinary board games?
  • Is using animals in circus performances immoral?
  • Why should we be honest with our peers?
  • Should all humans be entitled to a 4-day workweek?
  • Should all humans become vegetarians?
  • Does a CEO earn too much?
  • Should teens be barred from having sleepovers?
  • Should everyone vote for their leader?
  • The Pros & Cons of Day-Light Saving Hours.
  • What are the most energy-efficient and safest cars of X year?

Opinion Essay Structure

When it comes to opinion paragraphs, students may struggle with the opinion essay format. The standard five-paragraph-essay structure usually works well for opinion essays. Figuring out what one is supposed to include in each section may be difficult for beginners. This is why following the opinion essay structure is something all beginners should do, for their own revision before writing the entire essay.

You might also be interested in getting more information about: 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY

Opinion Essay Structure

Opinion essay introduction

  • Address the audience directly, and state the subject matter.
  • Reference a speech, poem, book, or play.
  • Include the author's name and date of publication in brackets.
  • 1 or 2 sentences to make up a short description.
  • 1 or 2 summarizing sentences of the entire paper.
  • 1 sentence that links to the first body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 1

  • Supporting arguments
  • Explanation
  • A linking sentence to the second body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 2

  • Supporting argument
  • A linking sentence to the third body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 3

  • A linking sentence to the conclusion.

Conclusion paragraph

  • Summary of the entire paper
  • A conclusive sentence (the bigger picture in conclusion)

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Opinion Essay Examples

Do you need something for reference? Reading opinion essay examples can expand your knowledge of this style of writing, as you get to see exactly how this form of an essay is written. Take a look at our samples to get an insight into this form of academic writing.

Over the past, American popular culture has been strong in creating racial stereotypes. Images displayed through television, music, and the internet have an impact on how individuals behave and what individuals believe. People find their identities and belief systems from popular culture. Evidently, I believe that American pop culture has created racial stereotypes that predominantly affect other ethnic minorities. Analyzing the history of America reveals that African Americans have always had a problem defining themselves as Americans ever since the era of slavery. AfricanAmericans have always had a hard time being integrated into American culture. The result is that African Americans have been subjected to ridicule and shame. American pop culture has compounded the problem by enhancing the negative stereotypes ofAfrican American. In theatre, film, and music, African Americans have been associated with vices such as murder, theft, and violence.
The family systems theory has a significant revelation on family relations. I firmly agree that to understand a particular family or a member, they should be around other family members. The emotional connection among different family members may create functional or dysfunctional coexistence, which is not easy to identify when an individual is further from the other members. Taking an example of the extended family, the relationship between the mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law may be tense, but once they are outside the family, they can pretend to have a good relationship. Therefore, I agree with the theory that the existing emotional attachment and developed culture in the family is distinctively understood when the family is together.

Opinion writing is a form of academic paper that asks students to include their thoughts on a particular topic. This is then backed by a logical explanation and examples. Becoming more knowledgeable is a practical way to successfully learn how to write an opinion paper. Before writing anything, it is essential to refer to important information. That includes the definition, topics, opinion writing examples, and requirements. This is what turns amateur writers into master writers.

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Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Opinion Essay + Examples

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Opinion Essay + Examples

A personal opinion essay is an essential part of an educational process. Wherever you study, you will surely come across this kind of work. And if you’re stuck with finding ideas, you have come to the right place. In this article, you will learn all the intricacies of writing and get some good opinion essay topics.

Let’s start!

🤔 What Is an Opinion Essay?

🖊️ how to write an opinion essay.

  • 🔗 Linkers and Transition Words

💡 Opinion Essay Ideas

👨‍🎓 opinion essay examples.

An opinion essay is a type of work that involves the expression of one’s own opinion, which has become the product of processing facts and arguments. However, this does not mean there should be no argumentation in the essay. It will be a big plus if you have a couple of examples from your own life or the lives of historical figures, illustrating some facts in your stock. Writing an opinion essay requires the author to clearly state his thoughts on any occasion, without excessive water and long reasoning.

Among other things, it should be remembered that, technically, an opinion essay is a formal type of work that many graduates write at the end of their studies. And this means it has its structure and specific writing rules that must be adhered to. To fully understand the meaning of this type of work, try reading a couple of our free essay samples .

🎯 The Purpose of an Opinion Essay

An opinion essay is an excellent tool for teaching students how to express their position correctly. And also to test the depth of their knowledge and thinking. An opinion essay can help you to boost your skills:

  • Ability to convey your thoughts . Regardless of the topic of the essay, the teacher wants to see that his wards, leaving the educational institution, will be independent individuals. Therefore, the student needs to show the ability to convey their thoughts on any occasion.
  • Competent writing skills . Even in the modern world, writing skills do not lose their relevance. This type of work allows you to form it as efficiently as possible. So if you want to impress your boss, remember to pay attention to grammar and punctuation.
  • Topic knowledge . Unfortunately, there is no error-free way to test a student’s ability. However, opinion essays allow the teacher to examine everyone and ensure that the topic has been mastered. This is especially true for subjects such as history and literature.

And, of course, you should understand that the purpose of any text is to be read. So just be creative, and you will have a fantastic essay!

Features of opinion essay.

🗝️ Key Features of an Opinion Essay

Like any other type of writing, an opinion essay has characteristics that make it unique. And, of course, to compose a competent text, you need to know about them.

  • Focus on the author’s clear and well-reasoned subjective opinion . All proofs, as well as the conclusion, are based on it.
  • Logical-based structure . Moreover, it entirely depends on the intentions of the writer.
  • Examples and arguments come primarily from personal experience . However, an author may use history and social life quotes and examples of literary heroes to prove their position.
  • Speech instruments used . As an author, you will benefit significantly from using a variety of speech constructs . They can help you influence other people. Connecting constructs and clear speech will keep the reader interested and get the most out of the reader.

You just need to get used to all the features to get a little practice. You will succeed!

⚖️ Argumentative, Opinion or Persuasive Essay: the Difference

Before proceeding directly to writing the text, it is worth learning one more important thing. Even towards the end of high school, many people confuse opinion and persuasive essays. These papers look similar.

To help you distinguish the argumentative, opinion, and persuasive essays, we prepare a table of comparisons where you can easily indicate the difference between these papers:

Now let’s move on to which sections the essay consists of and how it should be written. You can safely use this information as a synopsis when completing the assignment.

So, the first one!

📃 Opinion Essay Format

As mentioned earlier, a specific opinion essay structure must be followed. Therefore, before you prepare writing, make up a small outline, which will contain all the components of the text and your ideas for their content. So, how to start an opinion essay?

Opinion essay introduction.

Opinion Essay Introduction

Of course, any text starts with a short opening. This section should summarize the essence of the problem you are writing about. The main task of the introduction is to entice the audience and familiarize them with the paper’s main topic. Therefore, by the first paragraph, a person will build an impression of your talents.

Moreover, remember that the introduction should be catchy. How to write a hook for an opinion essay? In simple words, this is a proposal that should interest the reader and draw his attention. It should be subject-related and relatively accurate. All you have to do is show the reader that the topic of the essay will be critical and even touch it.

Let’s take a look at some opinion essay introduction examples from our authors, in which you can see all the listed components:

  • As Ronald Reagan said in one of his speeches, everyone who advocates abortion has been born. The topic of abortion is very controversial, and people still cannot come to a standard solution. That is why, in this abortion opinion essay, I will try to sort out my thoughts and answer whether abortion is a panacea or a hidden evil.
  • Global warming is a global problem. As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez aptly put it, we cannot sit back while our planet is on fire. But can one person influence the fate of all humanity? I think so, and in this essay, I will try to explain my position

Of course, these examples are conditional, and you can change them as you need to achieve a quality result.

Opinion Essay: Thesis Statement

The thesis statement is the final sentence of an introduction . It is an integral part of the entire text. And if your essay will be evaluated, then the absence of the thesis will significantly underestimate the point. So how do you write the last sentence competently so that the reader will like it?

At its core, in the thesis, you should summarize everything that you indicated in the introduction and, in a nutshell, make it clear what will be discussed. You are expected to state your position on the issue clearly. And then, the entire text should be directed precisely to reinforce your words.

For example, take this essay topic: “ Is globalization a positive phenomenon? ” In this case, a good thesis would be “ In my opinion, globalization has many more advantages than disadvantages. ”

See how one small phrase can dramatically improve your overall performance score. Therefore, pay due attention to it!

Opinion essay body paragraphs.

Opinion Essay: Body Paragraphs

Finally, you come to the main body of your essay, namely the argumentation. The body paragraphs of an opinion essay are aimed at correctly explaining the author’s position to the audience. Here you are expected to have good arguments and examples that will become your assistants in proving your case.

Body paragraphs have two parts: an argument and an example supporting what you said. For example, you might say that the lack of responsibility for actions leads to the corruption of the mind and soul. And as an explanation to these words, briefly support your statement with the story of the protagonist of the novel by Jack London, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”

Moreover, no one limits the number of these same arguments, and often it depends on the maximum volume of the text itself. The standard case is two good arguments, supported by examples from life or literature. Then you can be sure that the reader will correctly understand your idea.

Opinion essay conclusion.

🔗 Linkers and Transitional Words for Opinion Essay

Connecting structures are an invisible companion for the reader throughout the entire essay. They are also called linkers or transitional words . At their core, these two concepts mean the exact phrases. Their task is to make the text more readable and smoothly translate the reader from one idea to another. Moreover, all these constructions are divided into subgroups depending on their purpose. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of good transition words for an opinion essay:

  • In my opinion…
  • It is clear that…, etc.
  • It is widely known that…
  • It is a well-known fact that…
  • Research has shown that…
  • There are definitely…
  • It is a fact that…, etc.

There are also brilliant linkers for opinion essays on these themes:

  • In spite of…
  • However, etc.
  • To conclude…
  • In conclusion…, etc.

Using these constructions, you will significantly increase the consistency of your text and help the reader to perceive it better.

How to write an opinion essay.

Now that you have a basic understanding of writing an essay, let’s look at some good opinion essay topics. Feel free to use them for your creative work and get good points.

💡 30 Opinion Essay Prompts

So, our team has selected 30 excellent opinion essay topics for you. Look for what resonates in your soul and get to work!

  • Opinion essay: success in life depends on being successful at school. Many of us were assured that it is impossible to reach heights without a good performance at school. What do you think about it?
  • Mobile phone addiction is the scourge of the 21st century. Give arguments from your life and tell about personal experiences.
  • Opinion essay about GMO : pros and cons. For many, this topic remains a secret. It’s time to dispel all inaccuracies and find out the whole truth.
  • Should university study be free? What is your position?
  • Opinion essay about technologies in our life . What impact do they have?
  • Compulsory vaccination : pros and cons. If you have any personal experience with this topic, feel free to share it.
  • Opinion on abortion essay: do people have the right to choose?
  • US neutrality in World War II : what would have gone differently?
  • Opinion essay about video games . Is it an addiction or just leisure ? What do you think?
  • Does the motivation from famous people have an effect, or is it a dummy? Do you have an opinion on this matter?
  • Essay opinion on junk food : how dangerous it is. Everyone was warned that junk food and junk food kill the body, but maybe it’s all about the quantity?
  • Parenting is the foundation of a child’s success. Do you think that the parents are responsible for the future education and work of their child?
  • Opinion essay: buy nothing day or Black Friday sales. What do you choose and why?
  • The advantages of living in a metropolis and a small town . Which would you choose?
  • Essay: opinion about global warming . Do you think this is a real threat, or is it just a panic among people?
  • Homemade food or dining out in restaurants? What do you and your family prefer?
  • Social media impact opinion essay. Billions of people spend their time on social media . What consequences can this have for humanity?
  • Consequences of increasing the budget for road construction. How will this affect our cities?
  • Opinion essay: television promotes violence through broadcasting abusive behavior. Do you agree with this thesis?
  • Humanity is destroying the ecosystem and making the earth uninhabitable. What arguments can be for and against?
  • Opinion essay about homework : is this system outdated? How do you feel about this from a student’s point of view?
  • Artists and internet bloggers make vast amounts of money. Do you support this?
  • Opinion essay about racism in modern life. What are the dangers of this behavior? Tell us about your personal experience or give an example from the community’s life.
  • Some people dream of changing their place of residence. Do you think that moving to another country will help you in self-realization?
  • The best profession to choose opinion essay. What are your thoughts? Where would you like to be after finishing your studies?
  • People prefer online communication over live communication. How do you feel about this trend?
  • Opinion essay about same-sex marriages. For some people, this is unacceptable. What do you think about it?
  • How can movies and television affect human behavior ? Do you think certain viewing films should be limited for people with a weak mentality?
  • Opinion essay about immigration . Should the state provide maximum assistance to everyone who wants to get into it?
  • Should people be allowed to carry weapons with them? What restrictions can be used, in your opinion?

These themes are ideal for getting good results.

Now let’s look at some small sample essays from our authors. You can see all the listed components and highlight some interesting ideas for yourself!

Climate change opinion essay, truth or fiction? (250 words)

Climate change has been heading the news for decades. Almost everyone is puzzled by this problem in the modern world, but is there any reason to believe that this is just exaggerated media panic? I think not, and in this essay, I will try to explain my position. The first thing worth paying attention to is the changes that we can see every day. But nature is changing, and this is noticeable with the naked eye. For example, you can look at how the temperature regime has changed over the past decades. In my region, real winter began in the last days of November. Then the temperature dropped to zero, and there was already snow outside the window. However, I would be thrilled to see snowfall this year, at least at Christmas. This raises questions about the veracity of statements from the media and various organizations. You should also look at the publicly available facts. International organizations conduct ongoing research, which clearly shows that the climate is changing, and it is difficult to fix it. One of the most respected teams, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), regularly issues climate change reports. And in them, you can see what reasons for this and what it can lead to. This is excellent and detailed work that deserves everyone’s attention. In summary, we can say that climate change can be seen with the naked eye. This problem affects all people on the planet, and to ignore it is to expose yourself to great danger. Humanity is destroying our world, and can we deny it?

Opinion on death penalty essay, is it moral? (300 words)

Many international treaties have long banned the death penalty, but this does not prevent several countries from regularly using it against criminals. I think this is a terrible practice that has no place in our civilized world. The argument for this may be the simple idea that every creature has a right to life. And this right cannot be taken away under any condition because you can take a dangerous path by creating an incident. One Russian scientist Andrei Sakharov spoke very accurately about this: “The existence of the institution of the death penalty dehumanizes society. I spoke out and am opposed to the death penalty also because this punishment provides for the presence of a constantly terrible apparatus of executors, the whole institution of the death penalty ”. I fully support his words because there is no reason not to kill the second after killing once. It should also be understood that people sentenced to death are not always, in fact, guilty. There is a miscarriage of justice, and no one can be insured against it. The most resonant was the story from 1949. Timothy Evans was hanged on charges of murdering his pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter. Four years later, it wasn’t until serial killer John Christie, who had testified in court against Evans, confessed to the murder. He was hanged, and Timothy Evans was posthumously rehabilitated. The Timothy Evans case is one of the most remarkable stories in the death penalty dispute. To summarize, I can say that there are many reasons for the absolute ban on the death penalty in the world. This is not only inhuman but can lead to unnecessary deaths. Fighting crime in this way, the people who defend the law themselves break it.

Opinion essay on smoking: should the state intervene? (300 words)

Smoking is a global problem. Experts predict that in the coming decades, the number of smokers will reach one billion people worldwide. In my opinion, governments should take strict measures to limit nicotine use among the population. Firstly, smoking poses enormous hardships for addicts. All this can increase the number of cancer patients and people suffering from heart and lung diseases. At the same time, it can be tough to give up cigarettes on your own. We all understand that nicotine in quantities that a person receives from cigarettes is not characteristic of the body. Therefore, our body can react in an extraordinary way to its appearance. An example may well be my family, suffering from heart problems for several generations. All men, from my great-grandfather to my father, visit doctors all the time. And they all have one reason – excessive smoking. At the same time, they cannot quit smoking on their own due to a banal addiction. Secondly, smokers can damage the health of other people nearby. It is a well-known fact that secondhand smoke is no less harmful than the regular use of nicotine. And unfortunately, non-smokers, in most cases, have no choice. You can see it yourself in everyday life. People who are forced to breathe smoke while sitting at bus stops or in public places simply cannot do anything about it. The only way to help them is to introduce more and more restrictions from the state. So, in conclusion, we can say that smoking is not only a problem for the person addicted to cigarettes. Everyone suffers from this, from his family to strangers around him. Unfortunately, these difficulties cannot be resolved on their own. But is the state and society doing enough to help people with addiction?

❓ What Are the Characteristics of an Opinion?

The opinion is an entirely subjective position formed due to the influence of certain factors on the mind. It can be characterized as a personal judgment, point of view, and not an exact fact. However, an opinion can be valid only if it is supported by actual knowledge. Otherwise, it can be called more of a guess.

❓ How Many Paragraphs is an Opinion Essay?

The standard structure consists of four main parts: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Nevertheless, if it is not specified in the assignment, it can deviate slightly from such a system. It is pretty standard practice to write three or more body paragraphs. Conversely, if one section fully covers the topic, then the need for other explanations may disappear.

❓ What Is the Structure of an Opinion Essay?

An essay structure is a precise sequence of your thoughts, which will help the reader to understand the topic better. The standard system consists of an introduction, two arguments, and a conclusion. In addition, there are less visible components like a hook, thesis statement, and linkers words. You can expand the structure by adding more argument parts. However, the sequence must remain the same.

❓ What Is a Supported Opinion Essay?

An essay based on a person’s personal opinion implies a clear statement of the author’s thoughts on a specific topic. However, to show understanding of the problem, one should rely on facts, research, or examples from life. A supported opinion essay is precisely when the author’s opinion is based on objective factors.

📎 References

  • Basic Essay Structure. Port. Ac
  • An opinion essay. British Council
  • How to Write an Opinion Based Essay. UCT Language Centre
  • Recognizing Transitions. MPC.Edu
  • Writing Your Paper: Transitions. EWU.Edu
  • Transition Sentences. The College of Saint Rose
  • Writing Effective Conclusions. Richmond University
  • Conclusion – How to write an essay. University of Newcastle
  • Writing a thesis statement. IELTS Buddy
  • CCSS Argument versus Opinion Writing
  • Essay Structure. Harvard College Writing Centre
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How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)

Are you struggling with how to write an opinion essay that effectively communicates your viewpoint on a particular topic while providing strong evidence to back it up? Fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of crafting a quality opinion essay, from understanding the purpose and structure to choosing engaging topics and employing effective writing techniques. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

  • Opinion essays are formal pieces of writing that express the author’s viewpoint on a given subject.
  • Crafting an effective thesis statement and outline, choosing engaging topics, using formal language and tone, addressing counterarguments and maintaining logical flow are essential for creating compelling opinion essays.
  • The revision process is key to producing polished opinion essays that effectively convey one’s opinions.

What is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay, also known as an opinion paper, is a formal piece of writing wherein the author expresses their viewpoint on a given subject and provides factual and anecdotal evidence to substantiate their opinion. The purpose of an opinion essay is to articulate a position in a clear and informative manner, following a proper opinion essay structure. Opinion essays are commonly found in newspapers and social media, allowing individuals to articulate their perspectives and opinions on a specific topic, striving to create a perfect opinion essay.

While the focus of an opinion essay should be on the writer’s own opinion concerning the issue, it necessitates more meticulous planning and effort than simply articulating one’s own thoughts on a particular topic. The arguments in an opinion essay should be grounded on well-researched data, making it crucial to consult pertinent information, including the definition, topics, opinion writing examples, and requirements, to write an opinion essay and transform novice writers into proficient writers.

Crafting the Perfect Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is the foundation of a great essay. It clearly expresses the writer’s opinion and sets the stage for the rest of the essay. To craft the perfect thesis statement, start by perusing the essay prompt multiple times to ensure you fully understand the question or topic you are being asked to discuss. Once you have a clear understanding of the topic, construct your opinion and conduct thorough research to locate evidence to corroborate your stance and examine counterarguments or contrasting perspectives.

Remember, your thesis statement should provide a succinct overview of the opinion essay and serve as a guide for the remainder of the paper. By crafting a strong thesis statement, you will be able to capture your reader’s attention and set the tone for a well-structured and persuasive essay.

Building a Solid Opinion Essay Outline

A well-structured opinion essay format is crucial for organizing your thoughts and ensuring that your entire essay flows smoothly from one point to the next. An opinion essay outline typically comprises an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, following the standard five-paragraph essay structure.

Let’s delve deeper into each component of the outline. The introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic and your opinion on it. It should be.

Introduction

The introduction of your opinion essay should hook the reader and provide an overview of the essay’s content. To achieve this, consider addressing the reader directly, introducing a quotation, posing thought-provoking or rhetorical questions, or referring to a remarkable or unconventional fact, concept, or scenario.

It is essential to introduce the topic clearly in the introduction to avoid superfluous phrases and inapplicable facts that are not pertinent to the topic. By crafting an engaging introduction, you will set the stage for a compelling and well-organized opinion essay.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of your good opinion essay should provide arguments and supporting examples to substantiate your opinion. Begin each paragraph with a distinct topic sentence and use credible sources to provide substantiation for your viewpoint with dependable data.

Addressing counterarguments in your body paragraphs can also enhance your essay by illustrating a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and fortifying your stance.

Organize your body paragraphs in a coherent manner, ensuring that each argument and supporting example flows logically from one to the next. This will make it easier for your reader to follow your train of thought and strengthen the overall impact of your essay.

The conclusion of your opinion essay should summarize the main points and restate your opinion in a new manner, providing a sense of closure and completion to your argument. Keep your conclusion concise and avoid introducing new information or arguments at this stage. By effectively summarizing your main points and restating your opinion, you will leave a lasting impression on your reader and demonstrate the strength of your argument.

In addition to summarizing your main ideas, consider providing a final thought or call to action that will leave your reader pondering the implications of your essay. This can further reinforce the impact of your conclusion and leave a lasting impression on your reader.

Choosing Engaging Opinion Essay Topics

Selecting engaging topics for opinion essays is crucial for capturing the reader’s interest and encouraging critical thinking. While there are an abundance of potential questions or topics that could be utilized for an opinion essay, it is important to choose topics that are relevant, interesting, and thought-provoking.

To find inspiration for engaging opinion essay topics, consider browsing the Op-Ed sections of newspapers, exploring social media debates, or even reflecting on your own experiences and interests. Keep in mind that a well-chosen topic not only draws the reader’s attention, but also stimulates critical thinking and fosters insightful discussions.

Opinion Essay Writing Techniques

Effective opinion essay writing techniques include using formal language and tone, addressing counterarguments, and maintaining logical flow.

Let’s explore each of these techniques in more detail.

Formal Language and Tone

Using formal language and tone in your opinion essay is essential for conveying a sense of professionalism and credibility. This can be achieved by avoiding slang, jargon, and colloquial expressions, as well as short forms and over-generalizations. Moreover, expressing your opinion without utilizing the personal pronoun “I” can give your essay a seemingly more objective approach.

Remember that the recommended tense for composing an opinion essay is present tense. By maintaining a formal language and tone throughout your essay, you will demonstrate your expertise on the subject matter and instill confidence in your reader.

Addressing Counterarguments

Addressing counterarguments in your opinion essay is an effective way to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the topic and strengthen your position. To do this, introduce opposing viewpoints in a straightforward manner and provide evidence to counter them. This not only showcases your comprehension of the subject matter, but also bolsters your own argument by refuting potential objections.

By acknowledging and addressing counterarguments, you will create a more balanced and persuasive opinion essay that encourages critical thinking and engages your reader.

Maintaining Logical Flow

Ensuring your opinion essay maintains a logical flow is critical for enabling your reader to follow your arguments and evidence with ease. To achieve this, utilize precise and succinct words, compose legible sentences, and construct well-structured paragraphs. Incorporating transitional words and varied sentence structures can also enhance the flow of your essay.

By maintaining a logical flow throughout your opinion essay, you will create an organized and coherent piece of writing that effectively communicates your viewpoint and supporting arguments to your reader.

Analyzing Opinion Essay Examples

Analyzing opinion essay examples can help improve your understanding of the structure and style required for this type of writing. Numerous examples are available online as a source of reference, providing valuable insights into how other writers have approached similar topics and structured their essays.

By examining opinion essay examples, you will be better equipped to identify the elements of a successful essay and apply them to your own writing. This will not only enhance your understanding of opinion essay writing, but also inspire you to develop your own unique voice and style.

The Revision Process: Polishing Your Opinion Essay

The revision process is essential for polishing your opinion essay, ensuring clarity, logical flow, and proper grammar and punctuation. Start by rereading your first draft, making improvements as you progress and rectifying any grammar errors that may be observed. Having another individual review your writing, such as a family member or friend, can provide candid feedback, allowing you to refine your essay further.

The ultimate step in composing an opinion essay is proofreading. This final review will ensure that your essay is polished and free from errors, resulting in a well-crafted and persuasive piece of writing that effectively communicates your opinion on the topic at hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start an opinion essay.

To start an opinion essay, begin by stating the subject of your essay and expressing your perspective on it. Follow up by using an interesting or provocative statement to capture the reader’s attention.

Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words, making sure to make your opinion clear throughout your essay.

What is the structure of an opinion essay?

An opinion essay is typically structured with an introduction containing a thesis statement, body paragraphs providing arguments or reasons that support your view, and a conclusion.

Each section of the essay should be written in a formal tone to ensure clarity and effectiveness.

What is the format of an opinion paragraph?

An opinion paragraph typically begins with a clear statement of the opinion, followed by body sentences providing evidence and support for the opinion, before finally summarizing or restating the opinion in a concluding sentence.

It should be written in a formal tone.

What not to write in an opinion essay?

When writing an opinion essay, make sure to stay on topic, avoid slang and jargon, introduce the topic clearly and concisely, and do not include unnecessary facts that do not relate directly to the question.

Use a formal tone and keep your conclusion clear in the first sentence.

What is the purpose of an opinion essay?

The purpose of an opinion essay is to articulate a position in a clear and informative manner, providing evidence to support it.

This type of essay requires the writer to research the topic thoroughly and present their opinion in a logical and convincing way. They must also be able to back up their opinion with facts and evidence.

In conclusion, crafting a quality opinion essay requires a clear understanding of the purpose and structure of this type of writing, as well as the ability to choose engaging topics and employ effective writing techniques. By following the guidelines and tips provided in this guide, you will be well on your way to creating a compelling and persuasive opinion essay that effectively articulates your viewpoint and supporting arguments.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you write and revise, the more adept you will become at crafting insightful and impactful opinion essays. So, go forth and share your opinions with the world, backed by strong evidence and persuasive writing!

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How to Write an Opinion Essay

Home / Blog / How To Write An Opinion Essay: Structure And Examples

How to Write an Opinion Essay: Structure and Examples

Introduction

Opinion essays are a type of academic writing that requires a writer to express their personal opinions about a particular topic or issue. Unlike other forms of academic writing, the main focus of an opinion essay is not on presenting facts, but on expressing personal opinions and providing arguments to support them. In this blog post, we will discuss the structure of an opinion essay and provide some examples to help you write a well-structured and convincing opinion essay.

Structure of an Opinion Essay

An opinion essay should have a clear and well-organized structure, which consists of the following components:

1.  Introduction

2.  Body Paragraphs

3.  Conclusion

Let's take a closer look at each of these components.

The introduction is the first part of your essay , and it should grab the reader's attention and provide them with some background information on the topic you are writing about. In an opinion essay, the introduction should also include a clear thesis statement that summarizes your main argument or opinion.

For example, if you were writing an opinion essay on the topic of climate change, your thesis statement might be something like this:

"Climate change is a pressing issue that requires immediate action from individuals, governments, and businesses alike."

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of your opinion essay should provide more detailed information and arguments to support your thesis statement. Typically, an opinion essay will have three to five body paragraphs, each focusing on a different argument or piece of evidence.

In each body paragraph, you should start with a clear topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the paragraph. Then, you should provide evidence, examples, or personal experiences to support your argument.

For example, if you were writing an opinion essay on the topic of climate change, one of your body paragraphs might focus on the impact of carbon emissions on the environment. Your topic sentence might be something like this:

"The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and other environmental problems."

You could then provide evidence to support this argument, such as statistics on carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, or examples of how global warming is affecting ecosystems around the world.

The conclusion of your essay should summarize your main arguments and restate your thesis statement in a new and compelling way. You should also provide some final thoughts or recommendations for the reader to consider.

For example, if you were writing an opinion essay on the topic of climate change, your conclusion might look something like this:

"In conclusion, climate change is a pressing issue that requires immediate action from individuals, governments, and businesses alike. By reducing our carbon footprint and investing in renewable energy sources, we can help mitigate the effects of global warming and protect our planet for future generations."

Examples of Opinion Essays

To help you better understand the structure of an opinion essay, let's take a look at some examples.

Example 1: Should College Athletes Be Paid?

Introduction:

College athletics is a billion-dollar industry, with universities making millions of dollars off the hard work and talent of their student-athletes. In my opinion, college athletes should be paid for their efforts on the field or court.

Body Paragraphs:

College athletes generate millions of dollars for their universities through ticket sales, merchandise, and television deals.

College athletes often do not have the time or resources to hold a part-time job while competing at a high level.

Paying college athletes would help to reduce the financial burden of student-athletes and their families.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, college athletes should be paid for their hard work and talent on the field or court. By compensating these athletes, we can ensure that they are able to pursue their athletic dreams without sacrificing their financial stability or future opportunities.

Example 2: Should Social Media Platforms Be Regulated?

Social media platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives, with billions of people using them to connect with friends, family, and colleagues. However, the increasing use of social media has also led to concerns about their impact on society, including the spread of misinformation and hate speech. In my opinion, social media platforms should be regulated to ensure that they are not used to spread harmful content.

Social media platforms have a responsibility to prevent the spread of harmful content, including hate speech, fake news, and misinformation.

The current self-regulation system has proven to be inadequate, with many social media platforms failing to remove harmful content in a timely manner.

Government regulation could help to ensure that social media platforms are held accountable for the content they host, while also protecting the rights of users.

In conclusion, social media platforms should be regulated to ensure that they are not used to spread harmful content. By holding these platforms accountable for the content they host, we can protect the rights of users while also preventing the spread of hate speech, fake news, and misinformation.

Example 3: Should Recycling Be Mandatory?

The importance of recycling has become increasingly clear in recent years, with growing concerns about the impact of waste on the environment. In my opinion, recycling should be mandatory to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect our planet.

Recycling is essential for reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and pollutes our environment.

Many people do not recycle voluntarily, and mandatory recycling programs have been shown to increase recycling rates.

Recycling can also have economic benefits, such as creating jobs in the recycling industry and reducing the need for raw materials.

In conclusion, recycling should be mandatory to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect our planet. By increasing recycling rates, we can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, protect our environment, and create economic benefits for our communities.

In summary, writing an opinion essay requires a clear and well-organized structure that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should include a clear thesis statement that summarizes your main argument or opinion. The body paragraphs should provide detailed information and arguments to support your thesis statement, while the conclusion should summarize your main arguments and restate your thesis statement in a new and compelling way. By following this structure and using examples to support your arguments, you can write a convincing and well-structured opinion essay on any topic.

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An opinion essay

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

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Information will soon be so easy to find on the internet that people will not need to remember anything. Do you agree?

Nowadays all the information we could ever need is available online and some people say that means the end of having to learn anything.

It is true that these days everything you want to know is a few clicks away as long as you have internet access. However, not everyone has working internet all the time, for example in certain buildings or remote locations, so we do need to be able to remember information. Moreover, it takes time to look up everything you need to know online, whereas remembering something is immediate. The human memory is a much more efficient system.

Another problem is the quality of the information online. How do we know if it is accurate or reliable? We need to think about other facts we know and remember how to compare information from different websites. Knowing (and remembering) how to find certain information will be more important than knowing the information itself.

Finally, the internet is a good tool but it is not a useful replacement for our brains. If we did not remember anything, we would all spend even more time on our phones and computers than we already do, which is not good for society.

In conclusion, the internet offers us many things but it is still important to use our knowledge and memories. We need our memories to function without the internet and we also need to know how to use the internet properly.

  • Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it.
  • Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones.
  • Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words.
  • Show understanding of both sides of the argument.
  • Use linking words to connect your ideas.
  • Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay. Don't introduce new ideas at the end.

What do you think about the question? Would it be better or worse if we never learned anything and just used the internet instead?

Language level

It would be worse. If we only look for information on the internet, for everythingg and every time when we have a question about something we will become ''rusty robots''.

In other words, our minds, without exercising the creativity and memory of our brains, will be almost completly out of purpose. What's more, we will be lazy and with a slow capacity of thinking properly.

  • Log in or register to post comments

It is evidently known that in recent days, the exchange of information is progressive over the network of various channels which we call it as Internet. Experts have made some definite predictions about the availability of data and information on the above mode of communication in near future. This particular development is totally agreeable. With respect to the technological advancements pertaining to the above, the human life shall be prepared to be compatible with the communication platforms on the network of servers. The key strengths will mainly focus on speed of communication, less errors and information accuracy. This aspect of technological development will eventually replace the traditional modes of information storage. This requires no effort in preservation of information on physical devices as all the core information will be stored in virtual servers. On the other hand, the above paradigm shift in terms of data centralization will certainly replace human brains. This attempt will not trigger any living beings to memorize information physically. It is quite obvious that our brains are limited and restricted with space constraints. Hence, this technology of information storage will drastically replace these drawbacks. Overall, this phenomenal trend of networking has provided a seamless mode of gathering, interpreting and storing information. At the same time, the consequences will be tremendous and noticeable as it will lead to an era where in people across the globe can surf and search their expected piece of data with-in no time. Practically, they don’t have to bother about any challenges related to failure of storage elements. Finally, this pattern of information storage is promisingly going to be accepted.

I think the use of the internet is not only in conflict with learning, but It has made the speed of learning faster and more comfortable.

On the one hand, With the advent of the internet and access to data whenever we want, we were able to free our minds from memorizing a lot of unnecessary data. It caused that instead of spending our time to remember the formulas and data, we use our time for a deeper understanding of the concepts. Concentration on understanding was a big step in order to make us more clear about how to apply scientific concepts practically, and It made the evolutionary process of turning scientific concepts into experimental tests go faster. Going through this evolutionary process quickly, in turn, caused, firstly, the faster growth of modern technologies and, secondly, the creation of many new data, concepts, and sciences. And now the data volume is so much that not only you can never remember or learn them, but you have to choose the best one that works for you. Somehow, the internet has changed how to learn. It has focused on analyzing the options and choosing the best one to learn Instead of memorizing a bunch of content.

On the other hand, Theoretically speaking, One of the laws In the world is that everything can be useful or harmful in turn. This law also applies to the internet. In fact, how to use the internet determines whether it is useful or harmful. Like many other tools that have been invented such as smartphones, smartwatches, electric cars, and so on we have spent time learning how to use them. In order to get the best out of the internet and don't waste our time, we must take the time to learn how to search. The searching skill is the most important one that helps us find better results.

In conclusion, Given the two analyzed reasons above, I agree with the idea that easy access to Information makes people get rid of memorizing lots of data. But this has nothing to do with the quality or quantity of learning.

I think it depends on the type of information. Some information are easier to remember, and hence it's more efficient to have them in memory instead of looking for them online. However, some complex information is offered online, and it will be impractical if we tried to remember it. Additionally, I believe that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge. It's about learning how to think with this knowledge available and solve problems efficiently. That's why the internet is considered a valuable tool to promote learning, not to replace it.

Nowadays we are witnesses how far technology has developed in a short time. A huge of information is backing up on internet and if you have access of surfing you can find any information that you are looking for. However, there are some relevant aspects that should be taking into account when we are talking about using always internet instead of learning. In this sense, the purpose of this essay will be to explain why it is not a good idea. Firstly, as you know, most of the information on internet is fake. For that reason, it is impossible the learning process can be replaced by internet use. If you are looking for reliable information you have to learn how it works. In other words you need of learning even if you want to use internet all the time because you have to discern what of all information is useful for you purpose. For example, if you are a student and want to write an essay about a specific topic you likely have to search for the best information if you want to get a job position or scholarship. Secondly, there is a high demand for professionals who have specific skills in the field that they are pretending to be involved. That’s why learning always is a must for satisfying the requirements of companies and institutions. For instance, in the education field, the main aim is the learning and knowledge which are essential on a daily life to be an expert in your field of action and these skills can’t be acquired through internet surfing. To sum up learning and knowledge are fundamentals in a current world that is demanding professionals highly qualified even in our daily live and the internet is far away of satisfying the required skills that you get every day through the practice, research and networking.

I think it become worse and dangerous for our society, we need to control it making rules. Without internet, many skills and knowledge could´nt be used.

I believe that, The internet become even more dangerous for young people who barely discovered the world around them, If they count on it for seeking information without parental supervision, it would be a disaster!

In nowadays,there are many ways to reach information.The Internet is just one of them but maybe most promising one.The Internet helps us to find information easily and efficently.

However there are some negative sides of Internet.For instance realibilty of information.There are no real control on Internet.I reckon there will not be soon.This reduces the trust in internet.This is why People will always need another source to be make sure and need to remember information.

It is also necesseray for objectivity. You can not just have one source and expect true and impartial information. It is against nature of science.This is not how science works.People must have and process the information.In this way we expand our knowledge.When we make brainstorm we always end up with another information. If we don’t have and process the information how Science works?

I suppose in the future People will never trust completely to Internet. They will always need another source and they will need to interrogate source of information.In conclusion Internet is by far most promising invention People have ever invented.However Internet is not beyond our brain and imagination.We will always need to posses and process the information.

It is about my hometown: My hometown is a beautiful, attractive and cool. N'beika is one of the most famous places in Mauritania where attractive views and economic capacities are in. It is located in Tagant which is in middle of the map. Therefore, It is one the biggest cities in the country. As there are interesting geographical features such as: high Mountains, nice valleys, light hills and wonderful pools. Historically, N'beika played an important role in culture, trade exchange and fighting colonialist. Also it has saved historical landmarks, for example: manuscripts, books and cities which the most important is Gasr Albarka. In the north, there have tourist views and in the East big mountains with lovely valleys like Matmata where there are some Alligators in and other attractive animals. As well as from the south and the west there are some fields, forests and farms. Moreover, people are interested in agriculture, trade, development and education. Furthermore, there are many schools and Mahidras and three colleges providing well-deserved education to students. What's more, mall shops is offering demands and created jobs for unemployment. There are different favourite for people , some of them are crazy about football as youth, and some people like doing agriculture and development. Moreover, there are entrepreneurs doing a small business like selling clothes, pitch, barbershop... etc. In conclusion, N'beika is a gift of Allah that has given to people to spend nice moments in order to feel happy and to invest for everything we want due to gain lots of money .

I believe it is amazing updated technology which has helped us a lot in our lives. In todays era everyone has access to internet over the globe. you can easily find all the information on internet that is required to you. Even though learn many new skills which aren't even taught you from the help of internet. it is good help for book writer like us where we can be part of book writing communities or book writing resources to enhance our skills and provides more guidance to others.

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Ultimate guide to writing an opinion essay: 50 inspiring examples and topics, carla johnson.

  • June 14, 2023
  • Essay Topics and Ideas , How to Guides

An opinion essay is often given to students at all levels of schooling. In this type of essay, the writer has to say what they think about a certain topic or issue and back up their point with evidence and examples. Students should learn how to write opinion essays because they teach them how to think critically and how to explain and defend a point of view. Opinion essays are an important part of academic writing, but they are also a great way to learn persuasive communication skills that you can use in your personal and professional life. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to write an opinion essay. It will also give you 50 examples and ideas to help you get started. We will talk about the basic structure of an opinion essay and how to make a strong argument and back it up with facts and examples.

This guide will give you the tools you need to learn how to write a good opinion essay, whether you are a student looking to improve your academic writing or a professional looking to improve your persuasive communication skills .

What You'll Learn

Understanding Opinion Essays

Opinion essays are a type of academic writing in which the writer has to say what they think about a certain topic or issue. In an opinion essay, the writer should back up their point of view with evidence and examples and try to get the reader to agree with them. The point of opinion essays is to teach students how to think critically and talk in a way that makes others want to agree with them. If students want to do well in school, on the job, and in their personal lives, they need to have these skills. Opinion essays are different from descriptive or narrative essays because the writer has to take a clear stance on a certain topic and back up their claim with evidence and examples. It’s also important to have a clear thesis statement that explains the writer’s point of view.

Elements of an Opinion Essay

An opinion essay typically includes the following elements:

1. Introduction paragraph : The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide background information on the topic. It should also include a clear thesis statement that outlines the writer’s position.

2. Body paragraphs: The body of the essay should provide supporting evidence and examples to support the writer’s argument. Each paragraph should focus on a single point and should begin with a topic sentence that relates back to the thesis statement .

3. Supporting evidence and examples: It is important to use evidence and examples to support the writer’s argument. This can include statistics, facts, quotes, and personal experiences.

4. Counter arguments: It’s also important to address counter arguments or opposing viewpoints in an opinion essay. This shows the reader that the writer has considered alternative perspectives and has still arrived at their own position. Addressing counter arguments can also strengthen the writer’s position by showing that they have thought critically about the issue .

5. Conclusion paragraph: The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay and restate the thesis statement . It should also leave the reader with a final thought or call to action.

Opinion essays are an important genre of academic writing that require critical thinking and persuasive communication skills. To write an effective opinion essay, it is important to have a clear thesis statement , use supporting evidence and examples, address counter arguments, and provide a strong conclusion. By mastering the elements of an opinion essay, students can develop their writing skills and become more effective communicators.

Writing Process of an Opinion Essay

Writing an opinion essay requires careful planning and organization. Here are the steps to follow when writing an opinion essay:

1. Pre-writing strategies: Before you start writing, it’s important to brainstorm ideas and gather information on your topic . This can include researching your topic , making a list of arguments and counterarguments, and creating a mind map or outline.

2. Outlining an opinion essay : Once you have gathered your ideas, create an outline to organize your thoughts and develop a clear structure for your essay . Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

3. Writing the introduction: The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide some background information on the topic. It should end with a thesis statement that clearly states your position on the issue.

4. Developing body paragraphs: The body of the essay should provide supporting evidence and examples to support your argument. Each paragraph should focus on a single point and should begin with a topic sentence that relates back to the thesis statement.

5. Using evidence and examples to support your argument: Use evidence and examples to support your argument. This can include statistics, facts, quotes, and personal experiences.

6. Addressing counter arguments: It’s important to address counterarguments or opposing viewpoints in an opinion essay. This shows the reader that you have considered alternative perspectives and have still arrived at your own position. Addressing counter arguments can also strengthen your position by showing that you have thought critically about theissue.

7. Writing the conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement . It should also leave the reader with a final thought or call to action.

Tips and Techniques for Writing a Strong Opinion Essay

To write a strong opinion essay, follow these tips and techniques:

1. Writing with clarity and precision: Use clear and concise language to express your ideas. Avoid using too many complex words or phrases that may confuse the reader.

2. Crafting an effective thesis statement: Your thesis statement should be clear and concise, and it should clearly state your position on the issue.

3. Using transitional words and phrases: Use transitional words and phrases to connect your ideas and make your essay flow smoothly. Examples include “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in addition.”

4. Avoiding logical fallacies: Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that can weaken your argument. Examples include ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false causality.

5. Editing and proofreading: After you have written your essay, take the time to edit and proofread it carefully. Look for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure that your ideas are presented clearly and logically.

Writing an opinion essay requires careful planning, organization, and attention to detail. By following the steps outlined above and using the tips and techniques provided, you can craft a strong and persuasive opinion essay that effectively communicates your position on the issue at hand.

10 Inspiring Opinion Essay Examples

To help you understand what makes a strong opinion essay, here are 10 examples of well-written opinion essays, along with a detailed analysis of what makes each essay effective:

1. “The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet” by Jane Smith

2. The Importance of Early Childhood Education” by John Doe

3. The Negative Effects of Social Media on Teenagers” by Sarah Johnson

4. The Pros and Cons of Online Learning” by Tom Brown

5. “The Need for Stricter Gun Control Laws” by Emily Davis

6. “The Ethics of Animal Testing” by Rachel Lee

7. The Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health” by David Nguyen

8. “The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace” by Maria Hernandez

9. The Harmful Effects of Plastic Pollution on the Environment” by Alex Lee

10. The Need for Universal Healthcare in the United States” by Samantha Jones

Each of these essays effectively communicates the writer’s position on a particular issue and provides strong supporting evidence and examples. By analyzing these essays , you can learn important lessons about how to effectively structure and develop an opinion essay.

50 Opinion Essay Topics That Will Impress Your Professors

To help you choose a topic for your opinion essay, here are 50 unique and engaging opinion essay topics that are relevant and important:

1. The impact of social media on interpersonal communication

2. The benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling

3. The role of technology in modern education

4. The need for stricter penalties for hate crimes

5. The impact of climate change on the global economy

6. The ethics of genetically modified foods

7. The impact of automation on jobs and the workforce

8. The effects of video games on children’s behavior

9. The need for better mental health support in schools

10. The benefits and drawbacks of remote work

11. The impact of social media on mental health

12. The need for stronger anti-bullying policies in schools

13. The effects of the gig economy on workers’ rights

14. The benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence

15. The impact of fast fashion on the environment

16. The ethics of animal agriculture

17. The need for more affordable housing in urban areas

18. The impact of immigration on local communities

19. The effects of screen time on children’s development

20. The need for stronger gun control laws

21. The impact of social media on political discourse

22. The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources

23. The need for stronger anti-discrimination laws

24. The effects of legalization of marijuana on society

25. The impact of automation on the environment

26. The ethics of human cloning

27. The need for more accessible healthcare in rural areas

28. The effects of income inequality on society

29. The benefits and drawbacks of online dating

30. The impact of virtual reality on society

31. The need for stronger data privacy laws

32. The ethics of artificial intelligence in decision-making

33. The effects of social media on democracy

34. The impact of globalization on local economies

35. The benefits and drawbacks of autonomous vehicles

36. The need for stronger measures to combat cyberbullying

37. The effects of air pollution on public health

38. The ethics of euthanasia and assisted suicide

39. The impact of the sharing economy on traditional industries

40. The need for better access to mental health care for veterans

41. The benefits and drawbacks of cryptocurrency

42. The impact of space exploration on society

43. The ethics of gene editing

44. The need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking

45. The effects of social media on body image and self-esteem

46. The impact of automation on the future of work

47. The benefits and drawbacks of a cashless society

48. The need for stronger measures to combat domestic violence

49. The effects of social media on relationships

50. The impact of artificial intelligence on education

Choose a topic for your opinion essay that is important to you and about which you have strong feelings. Use the ideas and tips in this article to come up with a strong argument and back it up with proof and examples . With these tools, you can write a great opinion essay that will impress your professors and get your point across clearly.

1. What is the difference between an opinion essay and a persuasive essay?

An opinion essay and a persuasive essay are similar in that they both require the writer to express their viewpoint on a particular topic or issue. However, a persuasive essay is more focused on convincing the reader to take a particular action or adopt a particular viewpoint, while an opinion essay is more focused on expressing the writer’s personal perspective on the issue.

2. Can I include personal anecdotes in my opinion essay?

Yes, personal anecdotes can be a powerful tool for supporting your argument and making your essay more engaging. However, it’s important to ensure that your anecdotes are relevant to the topic and that they support your overall argument .

3. How do I address counterarguments in my essay?

To address counterarguments in your essay, consider presenting them in a separate paragraph or section of your essay . Then, explain why you disagree with the counterargument and provide evidence and examples to support your position.

4. How do I choose a topic for my opinion essay?

Choose a topic that you are passionate about and that you have a strong opinion on. Consider current events , social issues, or topics related to your field of study.

5. What is the recommended length for an opinion essay?

The length of an opinion essay can vary depending on the assignment requirements. However, a typical opinion essay is usually around 500-800 words.

6. What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing an opinion essay?

When writing an opinion essay, some common mistakes to avoid are not having a clear thesis statement, using weak or irrelevant evidence to back up your argument, not addressing counterarguments, and not proofreading your essay for mistakes. It’s important to take the time to carefully plan and edit your essay to make sure it clearly shows your point of view and gives strong evidence and examples to back up your argument.

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How to Write an Opinion Essay – A Beginner’s Guide

How to Write an Opinion Essay – A Beginner’s Guide

What is an Opinion Essay? An opinion essay is a piece of writing in which the writer personally expresses their viewpoint on a particular subject. Unlike research papers that require objective investigation, opinion essays are based primarily on personal sentiments, values, and beliefs. However, it’s not about blindly stating what you think; it’s crucial to build a strong argument supported by reasons and examples.

Opinion Essay Structure An opinion essay, like most academic essays, follows a clear structure:

  • Introduction : Introduces the topic and clearly states your opinion.
  • Body : Consists of two or three paragraphs, each explaining a reason for your opinion.
  • Conclusion : Summarizes the main points and restates your opinion.

How to Start an Opinion Essay? Captivating your reader from the beginning is essential. Use a striking fact, a provocative question, or a memorable quote to start your essay. Briefly outline the topic and your viewpoint. For instance, if you're writing about climate change, you could start with a recent statistic about melting glaciers or rising sea levels.

How to Write an Opinion Essay?

  • State your opinion in the introduction : Clearly express your stance on the issue.
  • Provide supporting points in the body : For each paragraph, start with a clear topic sentence. Then, back up this statement with evidence, examples, or personal experiences.
  • Address counterarguments : This adds depth to your essay and shows that you've considered various perspectives. However, ensure to refute them effectively.
  • Conclude with conviction : Summarize your main points and reiterate your stance, ending on a strong note.

Opinion Essay Examples Illustrative examples can guide beginners:

Opinion Essay about Fast Food Fast food, while undoubtedly convenient, has numerous health implications, including obesity and heart issues. Personally, frequent indulgence can have long-term repercussions, making it imperative to strike a balance.

Opinion Essay on the Importance of Exercise Regular physical activity goes beyond just physical well-being; it plays a significant role in mental health. From my viewpoint, a daily routine, even if brief, can drastically improve life quality.

Opinion Essay Sample on Social Media Despite the myriad benefits, social media can be overwhelming and, at times, detrimental to mental health. Periodic digital detoxes, in my belief, are vital.

Opinion Essay Example on College Education While higher education opens numerous doors, integrating life skills and emotional intelligence into the curriculum ensures a comprehensive growth path.

Opinion Essay Outline An outline aids in structuring thoughts coherently:

  • Introduction : A brief about the topic and your viewpoint.
  • Reason 1 + Evidence/Example
  • Reason 2 + Evidence/Example
  • Counterargument + Refutation
  • Conclusion : Restate your opinion and summarize your arguments.

Opinion Essay Topics

  • Impact of technology on youth.
  • The significance of arts in education.
  • Global warming effects on marine biodiversity.
  • Media's role in sculpting public opinion.

Further Reading for Beginners Delving into examples, practicing writing, and seeking feedback are invaluable for novices. It’s also beneficial to read other opinion essays to understand various styles and approaches.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is an opinion essay? A piece where the writer expresses their personal views, backed by reasons and examples like: "In my view, preserving the environment is not a choice but an obligation.
  • How do I start my opinion essay? With the rising debates on free speech, I've always held that...
  • Can I use personal experiences? Absolutely. Personal experiences, like "My visit to the recycling plant opened my eyes to...", can strengthen your argument.
  • How do I support my viewpoint? Use evidence, facts, or examples. For instance, "According to a 2020 study by XYZ, 75% of respondents believed...
  • Should I address counterarguments? Yes. For instance, "While many argue that online learning is impersonal, studies show its efficacy in many learning styles.
  • How to conclude? End by summarizing and restating your opinion, like: "Given the evidence, it's clear that renewable energy is our future.
  • What tone should I adopt? Depending on your audience; for example, "In this esteemed journal, I'd like to present the academic case for...
  • Are emotional appeals acceptable? In moderation. "The sight of a parched land is heart-wrenching, highlighting the urgency of water conservation.
  • Is it essential to have a strong opinion? Yes. Your essay should clearly convey your stance, like: "Undoubtedly, community service forms the backbone of a society's progress.
  • How to pick a topic? Select issues you're passionate about. "Having volunteered at shelters, I have firsthand insights on homeless challenges.

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How to Write an Opinion Essay: A Complete Guide

In an opinion-based essay, the author presents a point of view supporting it with important information, existing examples, and arguments. Unlike other sorts of papers, when you are writing an opinion essay you don’t have to rely on facts. It can rely only on the writers’ opinions on a topic, as long as they can back up their thoughts with convincing arguments.

The opinion essay requires a strong introductory part. The purpose of an introduction paragraph for an opinion essay is to declare and write a thesis statement. You will have to develop your statement with some arguments in the supporting chapters. State your opinion and summarize the above-written thoughts to form an excellent opinion essay conclusion. In this article, we will tell a reader in detail how to write an opinion essay so that your result exceeds all expectations.

Structure And Format Of An Opinion Essay

Let’s start our opinion essay outline with explanations of the opinion essay format and structure. It is not the only opinion essay structure available, but it is the one we recommend. It is simple to understand and will allow you to outline and compose a high-level essay rapidly.

If you want to write a good opinion essay, it is critical that you thoroughly plan the layout. An  introduction, main body, and conclusion will be the main parts of the opinion paper. The classic structure consists of 5 passages. That is, three will be in the main part and two more for the opinion essay introduction and final part.

You may include some supporting grounds for your opinion on a topic in the introductory part. Prove your thought with facts, evidence, and examples in the central passages. In contrast to standard texts, an essay author might utilize terms such as “I believe” and “I assume”. Unlike a persuasive essay, here, you don’t need to convince the audience in your outline. Conclude with a clear statement that not only expresses the same narrative but also summarizes the key idea, opinion, and findings.

Don’t forget to cite your sources if you use them. Citations are useful for those who wish to learn more about concepts or where they originated. You can discover more about citation in essay from our expert website. These formatting rules are very important because if you do not issue a quote correctly, you risk subjecting your work to plagiarism.

How To Start An Opinion Essay?

The initial body paragraph of an opinion essay serves as the opening and should have a hook or writing that catches the reader’s attention. This technique may contain some statistical data. It would help if you expressed yourself throughout. You can agree, partially agree , or disagree with the topic sentence while explaining and defending your position in this paragraph.

The thesis statement is also included in the first body paragraph. It is the principal focus, assertion, or viewpoint of your opinion paper. After you’ve piqued your reader’s interest, present the issue and briefly list the statement points to be expanded on in the next passages. You may provide one or two argumentative sentences. This should be enough before moving on to the next parts.

The beginning paragraph serves as a road map for your essay’s direction. Its major objective is to get your readers ready to dive into the material. The key is to attract their focus and make the following text captivating. If you need some other opinion writing prompts to get started, visit our custom essay writing service website online. This is a reliable service where the authors completely adhere to the requirements and demands. Our platform will assist you in obtaining a properly prepared essay by a skilled team of professionals.

Tips For Writing Main Body Paragraphs Of An Opinion Essay

The central part of the essay is built to inform the readers of your opinion. For this, the essay’s author must use some reasons and explanations. Each new passage must involve a new idea or an argument. Large texts are better divided into parts with subheadings; sometimes, they can be directly highlighted in bold. The layout of the central part resembles a chain of rings. First, put forward an argument, then supplement it with several opinion illustrations. You may move on to the next one if the thesis is proven.

The author independently decides how to write opinion essays. Still, the number of mentioned theses should not be less than three pieces. A large quantity overwhelms the research, and a smaller amount seems insufficient for academic writing. Experts on our research paper writing service take into account such subtleties to ensure the high quality of the essay. If you order such support from professional authors, you will get an excellent essay and more free time for other vital duties.

The possible essay central opinion piece may look like this:

  • Introduce discussion
  • Explanation of the concept
  • Examples for illustration
  • Link to the subsequent passage
  • A link that will lead you to write a conclusion for an opinion essay

Each opinion writing must first address the questions and then be constructed so that the thoughts move naturally from one sentence to another. This will bring you top grades for task achievement. Essays are more than just short stories that describe an activity or process. If you take different types of academic essays and essay topics, you can see that the students write them to evaluate, discuss issues, convince readers, or declare reasons. Our service offers distinctive, one-of-a-kind essay examples based on the relevant objective.

How To End An Opinion Essay?

The next point in our writing guide is how to write the final opinion concluding passage. This part of your text should summarise the subject and ideas expressed throughout the text. The topic is frequently paraphrased in the writer’s terms to emphasize the relation to the subject. A summary must be powerful enough to finish a topic and make the readers feel satisfied after the reading.

A concluding part is your final opportunity to create an impact on your readers. Unlike the previous passages, where you can elaborate on your views, the summary allows recapping your most powerful ideas. If you experience some difficulties, you may consult our specialists, that will prompt you on how to  write a conclusion for an essay and assist you in clear wording. Their goal will be to hold your readers’ interest while retaining a feeling of creativity and high writing standards.

Opinion Essay Topics

Choosing an essay topic might be difficult if the students do not explore appropriate opinion essay themes. How to write an effective text to obtain an A grade? The answer is as simple as it gets. You have to choose a powerful subject. An excellent opinion essay topic should be related to personal abilities, experience, reputable sources, analysis, and thorough investigation that shows grounds for a certain viewpoint.

An elaborated topic is especially crucial for admissions. It is also a text submitted by prospective students applying to a college or university. The specialists from our admission essay writing service will promptly support you in this issue. You will get a unique text with a great layout that includes vivid images or an engaging “hook”. Alternatively, the members may prompt you on how to write with their expert ideas and pieces of advice.

Great opinion subjects are related to the student’s primary discipline and greatest talents. These are 15 ideas that you can use to write an opinion essay.

  • Ancient Egyptian Symbolism
  • The History of Propaganda in the American Media
  • Should there be access to World War II archives?
  • Gun control is a tool for political control
  • Methods for reducing corruption
  • Climate change is a fake
  • Electric vehicles have advantages
  • Is animal chipping ethical?
  • Are herbalists on par with traditional doctors?
  • Should children have the right to make decisions in life-or-death situations?
  • Physical bullying versus cyberbullying
  • Is technological progress dangerous?
  • The impact of smartphones on youth
  • Video games are linked to campus violence
  • What are the primary indicators of a generation gap?

Most Common Mistakes In Writing an Opinion Essay

You’ve undoubtedly read a lot of essay instructions. They encourage you to adhere to the assignment and incorporate a powerful framework. That’s a suitable place to begin, but you must also understand which faults to avoid. Here are the most common of them to consider before you begin to write an opinion.

  • Copied content
  • There are too many opinions stated
  • Unclear introductory part
  • A summary that simply rephrases the previous opinion
  • False formatting or neglecting writing requirements
  • Skipping the steps of post-essay writing
  • Overuse of emotional language (e.g., too many exclamation marks, hate speech, slang, etc.)
  • Too formal style with complicated words that are hard to percept
  • Redundant phrases that don’t have any meaningful sense
  • Wrong tense choice, use of past rather than present

Opinion Essay FAQ

How many parts of an opinion essay should i include.

Try to make a clear layout that consists of 5 parts. Start your writing with an introductory part stating the given topic, reveal a minimum of three theses with personal illustrations and conclude with a relevant summary of your opinion.

What Makes A Fine Opinion Essay?

You do not need to compare and contrast the pros and cons of this type of essay. Instead, concentrate solely on your viewpoint about the topic. Write new and innovative theses that can impress the readers. Check your spelling and grammar. Follow the instructions, use the transition words, and adhere to the classical layout scheme.

Can You Use First Person In An Opinion Essay?

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how to make personal opinion essay

Writing an Opinion Essay

  • M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
  • B.A., History, Armstrong State University

At any point, you may find yourself having to  write an essay  that is based on your personal opinion about a  controversial topic . Depending on your objective, your composition could be any length—a short  letter to the editor , a medium-sized  speech , or even a long  research paper . But every piece should contain some basic steps and elements. This is how to write an opinion essay.

Research Your Topic

To write an effective opinion essay, you have to understand your topic inside and out. Your personal opinion should be informed and fully developed, but it doesn't stop there. Research popular counterclaims as well—in order to truly understand what you are arguing for or against, it is imperative that you understand the opposing side.

Acknowledge Popular Arguments

It is likely that you will be writing about a controversial topic that has been debated before. Look ​at the arguments made in the past and see how they fit in with your own opinion. How is your point of view similar to or different from those articulated by previous debaters? Has something changed between now and the time others were writing about it? If not, what does the lack of change mean?

Consider an opinion essay on the topic of school uniforms:

Against Uniforms: “A common complaint among students is that uniforms restrict their rights to freedom of expression."

For Uniforms: “While some students feel that uniforms hinder self-expression, others believe that they ease the pressure to uphold certain standards of appearance by their peers.”

Use a Transition Statement

In an opinion paper, transition statements show how your individual opinion adds to the already-made arguments; they can also suggest that those previous statements are incomplete or faulty. Follow up with a statement that expresses your opinion:

Against Uniforms: "While I agree that the regulations do hamper my ability to express my individualism, I think the economic burden that uniforms bring about is a bigger concern."

For Uniforms: “There's concern about the financial pressure that requiring uniforms could bring about, but the administration has developed a program for students needing assistance.”

Watch Your Tone

"Many students come from low-income families, and they simply don't have the resources to buy new clothing to suit the headmaster's fashion whims."

This statement contains a sour note. You may be passionate about your opinion, but sarcastic, derisive language only weakens your argument by making you sound unprofessional. This says enough:

"Many students come from low-income families, and they simply don't have the resources to buy so much new clothing."

Use Supporting Evidence to Validate Your Position

Although the essay is about your opinion, you have to back up your claims—factual statements will always be more impactful than pure opinion or vague comments. As you research your topic, look for information that will act as sound evidence for why your position is "right." Then, sprinkle factoids throughout your opinion paper to reinforce your point of view.

Your supporting statements should match the type of composition you're writing, e.g. general observations for a letter to the editor and  credible statistics for a research paper . Anecdotes from individuals involved in the issue can also provide a human aspect to your argument.

Against Uniforms: "The recent increase in fees has already led to a decrease in enrollment."

For Uniforms: "Some of my friends are excited by the prospect of uniforms because they won't have to worry about choosing an outfit every morning."

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  • 6 Steps to Writing the Perfect Personal Essay
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  • Tips for Writing an Art History Paper

How to Write an Opinion Essay: Examples, Structure, & Tips

An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing which presents the author’s point of view on a particular subject supported by reasoning and examples . The opposing viewpoint is also suggested, but it is followed by arguments that show its inconsistency. Take a look at the guide prepared by Custom-writing experts to learn how to write a perfect opinion essay!

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

  • 🔤 Opinion Essay Basics
  • 📑 Essay Structure

🖊️ Opinion Essay Format

  • 💬 How to Start an Opinion Essay
  • ✅ Dos and Don’ts

👌 Opinion Essay Examples

  • 💡 Essay Tips

🏁 Concluding Remarks

🔗 references, 🔤 writing an opinion essay: basics.

You may be wondering: How do I write an opinion essay? How is it different from a persuasive, an argumentative, or a pros and cons essay ?

It’s simple: When you write an argumentative or persuasive essay , you should provide counterpoints and describe the essay topic from different perspectives. In an opinion paper, you don’t have to focus on the advantages and disadvantages in comparison. Instead, focus only on your opinion about the issue .

An opinion essay presents the author's point of view & suggests that the opposing point is inconsistent.

What Is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay, sometimes called “argumentative” or “persuasive,” presents the author’s perception of a subject and supporting arguments. It is written in a standard essay format. In such essays, authors usually try to persuade readers that their opinion is correct.

You may say: “I’m afraid to take a stand,” or “I don’t know what to say.” Relax. There’s nothing to worry about if your arguments are based on well-researched data. Speaking about opinion essay topics, some students find it difficult enough to choose the perfect one. But it’s not so hard: Think about something that engages you and that you feel strongly about.

Do you still have no clues about what to write? Check our 100 free ideas for an argumentative or persuasive essay and choose the topic that you have a strong opinion on. Then pick up a few reasons supporting your point of view and gather the facts that you’ll use as evidence.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

📑 Opinion Essay Structure

The next step is to write an opinion essay outline . First of all, it will help you to overcome the fear of the blank page. Second, you’ll have a broken-down list of ideas and an organized place for your random thoughts. This will help you write an assignment faster.

Here’s an example of an opinion paper outline:

  • An introduction . Write a thesis statement and the reasons that support your opinion. Give your readers a hook to engage them with the topic
  • The main body . Break it into several paragraphs where you provide arguments and supporting examples, statements, and facts.
  • A conclusion . When ending a paper, restate the main thesis and summarize the central points of the essay.

Develop an outline while you’re researching the topic and place the pieces of evidence where they make the most sense. You don’t have to write the whole assignment at a time. Just put stand-alone examples and facts in the places where they should go.

A well-prepared outline for an opinion essay is almost 70 percent of the work. All you’ll need to do is simply join your arguments by bridging the language.

Now that you’re familiar with the basic opinion essay structure, let’s see how exactly you should format each part of your paper.

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Opinion Essay Introduction

Start your writing with a hook sentence that grabs the reader’s interest. You can use a surprising fact, a provocative question, or a relevant quote as a hook.

Have you ever stopped to consider the impact that social media has on our lives and society as a whole?

Then, provide background information and a thesis statement. It should present your opinion on the topic and the main arguments that support your point of view.

The rise of social media platforms has had detrimental effects on teenagers’ mental health due to increased feelings of loneliness, heightened levels of anxiety, and the negative impact on self-esteem.

Opinion Essay Body

In the body paragraphs, you need to explain your arguments and provide evidence to support them. Each paragraph should start with a topic sentence that introduces the point you are discussing.

The constant exposure to idealized and unrealistic images on social media platforms can contribute to insecurities and anxiety among teenagers, affecting their mental well-being.

Then, provide specific examples, facts, or statistics to support your reason. You may also include personal experiences or anecdotes to make your points more convincing.

According to The Mental Health Foundation’s survey in 2019, four in ten teenagers (40%) admitted that posts on social media had caused them to worry about body image. This statistic highlights the concerning impact of social media on teenagers’ mental well-being.

Opinion Essay Conclusion

The last paragraph of your opinion essay is the conclusion. Here, you restate your thesis and summarize the main points from the body paragraphs.

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

Social media platforms have negatively impacted teenagers’ mental well-being through the feelings of isolation, increased depression levels, and detrimental effects on the body image.

  • Finally, you should end with a strong and memorable closing statement or a call to action. This will help you leave a lasting impression on the reader.

If all people work together raising awareness and advocating for change, we will eventually build a healthier online environment.

Opinion Essay Format

Correct formattion is another essential aspect of essay writing. Here are helpful guidelines you can use:

  • Stick to a readable 12-point font, such as Times New Roman or Arial.
  • Set 1-inch margins on all sides of the document.
  • Double-space the entire essay, including the title and headings.
  • Properly cite any sources used in your essay according to your required citation style (APA, MLA, Harvard, etc.)

If you are unsure about any specific formatting requirements for your opinion essay, we recommend consulting your school’s writing guidelines or asking your professor for clarification.

💬 How to Start an Opinion Essay – 30 Ideas

When it comes to opinion writing, a lot of students can’t explain their point of view. This shows a lack of critical thinking skills and leads to low grades. Even the perfect opinion essay format won’t save the situation in this case.

If you need a quick fix for your assignment, check our list of transition words and phrases to help you start putting your opinions:

  • As far as I am concerned, …
  • I am (not) convinced that …
  • In my opinion/view …
  • My opinion is that …
  • I (firmly)believe that …
  • I (definitely) feel/think that …
  • I am inclined to believe that …
  • Personally, I believe that…
  • It is clear that…
  • It seems to me that…
  • In my mind…
  • As I see it…
  • My principal reason is…
  • Another reason is…
  • It is widely known that…
  • It could be argued that…
  • The well-known fact is…
  • Research has shown that…
  • For instance/for example…
  • This suggests that…
  • It would seem that…
  • This proves that…
  • This supports the …
  • Even though / Although…
  • In contrast…
  • Despite the fact that…
  • In spite of…
  • In order to…
  • In conclusion…

And don’t forget to use nouns, adjectives, and adverbs, or make your own phrases.

✅ Opinion Essay Rules

Writing an opinion essay may seem challenging, but if you keep the following dos and don’ts in mind, you will easily craft a compelling and well-structured essay. Check out the opinion essay rules we’ve collected for you below.

This image shows opinion essay rules.

Opinion Essay Dos

  • Use formal style. When writing an opinion essay, you should use a formal style, avoiding slang and colloquial language. It means using proper grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary suitable for an academic setting.
  • Choose a side on the issue. You should take a clear stance on a particular topic in your essay. For instance, if the prompt is “Should school uniforms be mandatory?” you would need to choose whether you are for or against the idea and prove your position.
  • Arrange your supporting points in emphatic order. Start with the weakest argument and end with the strongest. It will help to persuade the reader and leave a lasting impression.
  • Begin each body paragraph with a topic sentence . This way, your readers will understand the point you are trying to make from the very beginning.
  • Provide support for your arguments. It is essential to back up your opinions with evidence, examples, and reasoning. You can include statistics, research findings, or expert opinions.
  • Stay on topic. It is crucial to remain focused on the main issue or question throughout your paper. Be careful not to go off on a tangent or discuss irrelevant topics that do not directly support your argument.
  • Use a diplomatic and professional tone. It means avoiding personal attacks, derogatory language, or overly emotional statements. Instead, present your ideas and respond to opposing viewpoints calmly and respectfully.

Opinion Essay Don’ts

  • Don’t use informal language. Avoid using colloquial expressions, slang, jargon, or contractions. Instead, use formal language and non-abbreviated word forms.
  • Don’t use emotive vocabulary. Emotive vocabulary includes words that provoke strong emotions or bias, such as “amazing,” “horrible,” or “disgusting.” In an opinion essay, it’s essential to use neutral language.
  • Don’t overgeneralize. Avoid making broad statements that assume something is true for everyone or everything. Instead, be specific.
  • Don’t use sources without proper referencing. When including information from other sources in your opinion essay, it’s crucial to provide appropriate citations and references. This way, you’ll show that you have done a thorough research and give credit to the original author.
  • Don’t rely on personal examples. While personal anecdotes can sometimes strengthen an argument, it’s important not to rely solely on them. Instead, try to use different types of evidence, including statistics, expert opinions, and studies.
  • Don’t address your readers. Directly addressing the reader by using “you” is considered informal and should be avoided in an opinion essay. Instead, it’s better to present the arguments and evidence without involving the reader directly.

Do you want to better understand what an opinion essay is? You are welcome to use our opinion essay examples! Reading them will help you gain an insight into this form of academic writing.

Opinion Essay Example #1

The USA is a multinational and multicultural country that is advanced in many areas, including healthcare, medicine, and science in general. However, some of the experiments, such as the syphilis studies discussed in this paper, show that the country is still in the process of overcoming intolerance, racial segregation, and social inequality. Talking about these studies aloud brings the question of research ethics to the forefront. In particular, people who participated in those scientific experiments were misled and misinformed about their health. The research group observed how the participants suffered from the disease’s symptoms until death (Brandt, 24). There are a number of diseases and conditions that have not been researched enough. The experience gained during the studies in Tuskegee and Guatemala should be used to eliminate the possibility of unethical conduct and ensure transparency in all the activities.

Opinion Essay Example #2

To confront cyberbullying effectively, it is vital to know how to identify what it is and spread this awareness among the children who may unwarily become participants. The tendency to raise this issue in the scientific and public spheres has positive dynamics. As there is legal protection for cyberbullying victims in the USA, it is vital to detect harassment cases. For this purpose, parents and teachers should cooperate to create trustworthy relationships so the child can ask for help from adults. That is why a high level of emotional support from parents and peers is necessary to combat bullying before it has occurred.

Opinion Essay Topics

  • Your personal view on money and expenditures.
  • Analyze your attitude towards obesity as a public health problem.
  • Give your opinion on the importance of container deposit legislation.
  • What do you think of different belief systems?
  • Discuss your point of view on The Scream by Edvard Munch.
  • Describe your opinion on the climate change issue.
  • What do you think of the media’s influence on people’s views ?
  • Your opinion on the film Argo directed by Affleck .
  • Express your opinion on diets and weight loss programs.
  • Analyze the impact of war on society and present your opinion.
  • Present your opinion on the question of gay marriage .
  • Describe your attitude towards gender stereotypes .
  • Do you support the Biblical point of view on divorce ?
  • Explain what you think about racism in employment .
  • Discuss your attitude to photography.
  • Describe what love is , in your opinion.
  • Give your opinion on genetic engineering .
  • Analyze the necessity of vaccination for public school students and present your opinion.
  • Express your views on the death penalty .
  • Discuss your views on aging changes .
  • Do you like the music of a Classical Era?
  • Is it ethical to use animals in research , in your opinion?
  • Do you think the government should increase the minimum wage ?
  • Explain whether you agree that soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world.
  • Do you think the Internet plays an important role in your life?
  • Describe your point of view on the controversial topic of human cloning .
  • Present your opinion on tattoo s as a form of art.
  • What does the ideal social meeting place look like?
  • How do you think bullies should be punished?
  • Do you support the opinion that celebrities should be positive role models ?
  • Is remote work more convenient than working in an office?
  • Describe your attitude towards social networks .
  • What is justice , in your opinion?
  • Give your opinion on American football .
  • What do you think about classical music?
  • Is the government monitoring its citizens justified by safety concerns?
  • Explain what you think about steroid use in competitive sports.
  • Discuss the necessity to ban violent computer games .
  • Your personal opinion on using cell phones while driving .
  • Do you think the government should interfere with the contents of TV shows ?
  • Express your opinion on net neutrality .
  • Describe your views on online dating .
  • Is protectionism necessary for saving a country’s economy?
  • What do you think of a vegan lifestyle ?
  • Present your attitude towards physician-assisted suicide .
  • Do you support the opinion that college athletes should be paid ?
  • Your point of view on cigarette smoking and suggestion to ban it.
  • Explain whether you think that public colleges and universities should be tuition-free .
  • How do you understand responsibility?
  • Express your opinion on canceling grades at schools .

💡 Opinion Essay Tips for an A+ Paper

Want to make your essay truly outstanding? Follow the pro tips below:

  • Read the question carefully. Take time to fully understand what you are asked to write about. It will help you stay on topic and ensure your essay addresses it effectively.
  • Plan your ideas before you start writing. Before beginning the writing process, take time to brainstorm and outline your ideas. Then, evaluate and select the strongest arguments or points to include in your essay.
  • Show an understanding of both sides of the argument. Acknowledging different perspectives demonstrates a well-rounded view and can strengthen your position by addressing counterarguments.
  • Make use of linking words and phrases. Transitions such as “however,” “in addition,” and “on the other hand” help create a smooth flow between paragraphs and make your essay easier to read. Our transition words generator can assist you with it.
  • Don’t introduce any new ideas in the conclusion. In the last paragraph, summarize your main points and restate your thesis without bringing up new information that wasn’t discussed in the body of your essay.

Thank you for reading! Our free tips will help you get through any kind of essay. Still, if you’re stuck with your essay, you can always count on professional writers’ tips and recommendations!

With the help of the tips above, you’ll be able to create the most unbelievable papers in a blink of an eye. Now that you know the secrets of professional writers, try writing your opinion essay!

The final piece of advice : Don’t forget to proofread your paper. Revise your content, grammar, vocabulary, spelling, etc. Make sure that your essay answers the main question. Check if the evidence you provided is accurate and up-to-date.

  • Essay Structure | – Harvard College Writing Center
  • An opinion essay | Writing – Advanced C1 | British Council
  • 5 Tips for Writing an Opinion Essay – ThoughtCo
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The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Opinion Essay

04 November, 2020

14 minutes read

Author:  Elizabeth Brown

Picture this. You're walking on a tightrope that's about 70ft in the air, with no protective gear and no expert to guide you. While this may seem like an extremely dramatic scenario that you'd never find yourself in, this is exactly what opinion essays seem like to many people. For a lot of people, especially students, writing an opinion essay can be very tricky. How do you strike a balance between stating your opinions and dishing out pure facts? How do you structure an opinion essay?

Opinion Essay

This guide will provide an answer to all the questions racing through your mind. Let’s get down to brass tacks, shall we?

What Is an Opinion Essay? 

Just like the name implies, an opinion essay is a type of essay that outlines and reflects the writer’s point of view. However, it is important to point out that in writing an opinion essay, it isn’t enough to just present your opinions or point of view. You will also need to support them with sufficient logical reasoning and examples. 

In most cases, you may outline or suggest an opposing viewpoint and then back it up with arguments that point out its flaws. 

At this point, you’re probably asking one question that every essay writer has asked at some point in their lives: ‘isn’t an opinion essay the same as an argumentative essay? Absolutely not. In argumentative or persuasive essays, you have to explore the topic from different viewpoints while providing counterpoints at the same time. 

On the other hand, opinion essays only require you to focus on your opinion about the topic. 

Opinion Essay Outline 

Looking to write an opinion essay? Relax and take a deep breath. Just before you get down to the main task of writing the essay, it’s important to draft an outline first. 

opinion essay outline

With the right outline, writing an opinion essay would be as easy as passing a knife through butter. 

The typical opinion essay format looks like this:

  • The introduction
  • The main body
  • The conclusion or concluding statement

The Introduction 

Not sure how to start an opinion essay? Well, start with the introduction. The introduction clearly presents the topic or issue and states your opinion as well. Here, you need to include a thesis statement which basically summarises the main point of your essay. 

Writing an introduction seems pretty straightforward. However, there’s a slight catch to it. How do you keep your audience from rolling their eyes or giving your paper to their dogs before they’ve even read it? 

It’s simple. Include a hook to get them engaged as soon as they start reading. This way, your audience will get interested and stay engaged throughout the reading process.

Your hook could be a rhetorical question. It could even be a quotation or a sentence from a popular book or play. All that matters is keeping your audience engaged. 

The Main Body 

The main body usually contains points that support your thesis statement. Here, you would need to write different paragraphs that address separate aspects of the topic. You would also need to support each paragraph with logical reasoning and facts. 

Each paragraph in the main body of the essay should begin with a topic sentence. Subsequent sentences in the paragraph will then contain arguments or evidence that back up the topic sentence. 

When it comes to writing the main body of an opinion essay or any essay at all, it is important to address one main idea in one paragraph. Do not begin a new paragraph only to continue talking about the previous idea. 

Each new paragraph should introduce a new idea. 

The Conclusion 

The conclusion or concluding statement basically restates your opinion in different words. An important point to note is that the conclusion isn’t an avenue for you to state new ideas that you forgot to address in the body. 

You can only say: “Oh! And one more thing!” in real life conversations. It has no place in the concluding statement of an opinion statement. 

Instead, try ending your essay with a provocative question, recommendation or warning. 

Basic Expressions to Use

When it comes to writing an opinion essay, it is important to use the right phrases and expressions. This way, you can convey your thoughts and viewpoints succinctly. Here are some basic expressions you could use:

  • I strongly believe that… 
  • As far as I am concerned… 
  • In my own opinion… 
  • It seems to me that… 
  • I think that… 
  • It is popular knowledge that… 
  • This proves that… 
  • Despite the fact that…
  • Studies have shown that… 
  • This supports the… 

These expressions are quite basic and would help you link thoughts, facts and information perfectly. You could also create your own expressions. Just make sure you use the right nouns, adjectives, tenses and linking words. 

Opinion Essay Examples 

If you’re new to the world of opinion essays, you may still be unsure about how to write a perfect essay. In this case, it’s always best to draw inspiration from well-written opinion essay examples. 

Here are some excellent examples that could guide you:

https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/intermediate-b1-writing/opinion-essay

http://ielts-academic.com/2012/06/24/ielts-writing-task-2-opinion-essay-with-sample-answer/

30 Opinion Essay Topics

Looking for the perfect topic for your opinion essay? Whether you’re sourcing for an assignment topic or you just need to keep your fingers busy by practicing, there are tons of opinion essay topics out there. 

In some cases, you may be required to come up with your own topic. If this is the case, there’s no need to panic or try guessing new topics with the “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe” method. That almost never works – unless you’re a toddler, of course. 

Instead of panicking, here are some excellent topics you could either use or draw inspiration from:

  • Do students in the 21st century rely too much on technology? 
  • Should the Internet and social media platforms be censored? 
  • Social media limits the depth of human relationships. Do you agree? 
  • Is cyberbullying as bad as physical bullying? Which should parents be more concerned about? 
  • Is it right for parents to go through their kids’ phones to protect them from cyberbullies?
  • Global warming doesn’t exist. Support your response with reasons and examples. 
  • Is there sufficient ecology education in high schools? 
  • Medical marijuana should be illegal. 
  • Should children be able to decide in critical medical situations? 
  • Homeschooling has immense psychological benefits for children. 
  • Can reading help PTSD students heal? 
  • Paper books have no place in today’s technological world. 
  • Can science fiction help to advance technology? 
  • Do games have cognitive effects on adults like they do on children? 
  • People believe that face-to-face interaction is superior to other indirect forms of communication. Do you agree? 
  • Salary teachers should be paid depending on how much their students and pupils learn.
  • Is personal experience the optimal way to learn or gain knowledge about life? 
  • Change in one’s clothing or mode of dressing can alter the person’s behaviour. Do you agree? Support your position with factual statements. 
  • Reading novels and other forms of literature has a larger cognitive effect on children than watching movies. 
  • Should uniforms be mandatory in schools or should students be able to wear what they want?
  • Companies should screen potential employees for mental and psychological issues. 
  • In some cases, when students move to new schools, they encounter problems like bullying. How can schools help to solve these problems? 
  • Borrowing money from friends can put a long-term strain on the friendship. Do you agree? 
  • Has social media changed the way we view people and the world at large? 
  • The Internet has a role to play in the rising rate of eating disorders. 
  • Small town life helps to foster long-lasting human relationships. 
  • Are e-books damaging the reading culture among students and teenagers? 
  • Parental communication is vital in building trust within families. 
  • Social media has spiralled intentional plagiarism out of control. 
  • Why war crimes should be punished. 

Writing Tips for an Opinion Essay 

At some point in your life, you’d most likely be required to write an opinion essay on a specific topic. Whether you’re a  college or  a high school student, there are several things to keep in mind when embarking on this journey. 

opinion essay

Fortunately, we have outlined a few tips that would help you write the perfect essay. 

Here are some of them:

Carry out Research on Your Topic 

Before you start writing an extensive opinion essay, it is important to research the topic first. Here’s why: it’s almost impossible to have a solid opinion about a topic you know nothing about. Carrying out research on a particular topic would help you understand all aspects and nooks of the topic.

For instance, if you had to write an opinion essay on “The importance of reading games in learning exercises”, you would need to find out what reading games are. You would also need to research previous studies on the psychological and cognitive effects of reading games on children. 

 This way, you will be able to form your own opinion about the topic. 

Cite and Acknowledge Popular Arguments Related to the Topic

In most cases, you would be writing on a topic that has been debated or argued about in the past. As such, it is important to explore popular arguments that have been made before. See how they fit into your own point of view or opinion. 

If there are any similarities or differences, explore them in your writing. 

Let’s consider our previous sample topic which addresses the importance of reading games. When writing an opinion essay on this topic, you could acknowledge popular arguments this way:

“ Although many parents believe that reading games are a distraction, others believe that it makes the learning process easier and more fun. “

Watch Your Tone

 Let’s admit it: it’s easy to get carried away when you’re writing an opinion essay. However, even though you’re really passionate about airing your opinions, you also need to be mindful of your tone. 

Avoid using derisive language to convey your thoughts. 

For instance, do not say:

“ Reading games are not teaching-focused and as such, are an excuse for lazy teachers who don’t want to do their jobs “. 

Instead, you could say:

 “ Reading games are not teaching-focused. Instead, they could create an avenue where children get distracted and play without actually learning anything “. 

This way, you can communicate your opinions and thoughts without sounding unprofessional. Remember that your audience is made up of people that come from different backgrounds and walks of life. You definitely don’t want to offend them in the process of airing your opinion. 

Use Evidence and Facts to Back up Your Claims 

Even though you’re writing all about your opinion, it is important to back up your claims with evidence and facts.

While researching your topic, search for evidence and factual statements to reinforce your position. Typically, factual statements have more impact than emotional or subjective statements. As such, it is advisable to fill your supporting sentences with facts and evidence. 

For instance, you could say something like: 

“ Studies have shown that children are 60% more likely to learn faster when a game is introduced into the learning process “. 

With a statement like this, you would have successfully given more credibility to your point of view. 

Make Use of Transition Statements 

When writing an opinion essay, transition statements help to link your personal opinions to already existing arguments. They could also portray the flaws in those arguments. 

For a clearer picture, take a look at this statement:

“ Although there are concerns that reading games may distract children, I think it is particularly useful in making the learning process more enjoyable, especially for children who struggle with reading “. 

Use Formal Language 

When writing an opinion essay, it is important to use formal language throughout. Even though you can decide to use informal language, keep various professional and formal words such as: “furthermore”, “thus”, “moreover” and so on. 

In the same vein, avoid the use of Internet slang words like “OMG”, “LMAO,” etc. 

Write an Opinion Essay with HandmadeWriting

Not sure how to write an opinion essay? We’re here to help! At HandmadeWriting , we create perfectly written essays to suit your needs. Our team of seasoned essay writers can imitate your desired writing style and churn out an excellent paper even before the deadline. 

Ready? Contact us today! 

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Academic Writing: How to Express Your Personal Opinion

von Öykü Coskun | Donnerstag, November 22, 2018 | Learn , Writing effectively | 2 Kommentare

An icon of a group of people, a speech bubble is near one of them

In certain writing tasks that you are required to do for university, for example essays, you will be asked to give your opinion on the topic at hand. There are several different ways to do this: A distinction is made between expressions and phrases that emphasize your views explicitly and those that reflect your opinion implicitly. In this article, you can find out which expressions are best in which context and how to create variety.

While it is possible to say that, as a general rule, implicit expressions that reflect your opinion in a more subtle way are mostly preferred in academic writing, there are also cases in which it might be useful to overtly state your view by using phrases that contain the personal pronouns “I” and “my” to make clear that it is your point of view that you are focusing on right now. Thus, there is no such rule as “Never include “I” in essays.” The key is to use these kinds of expressions when they suit your purpose, so for instance when you clearly want to distance yourself from a certain view. Moreover, avoiding “I” can lead to awkwardness and vagueness, so  it can sometimes be more effective to use the first person. Personal pronouns unmistakably show when and where exactly you are building on or departing from your sources of information. Thus, they underline the originality of your ideas and views, which, in turn, improves your writing style.

While this only applies to some academic fields and text types, as far as the Humanities and essays or term papers are concerned, it is generally considered appropriate to use the first person, as your instructor will be interested in reading your original analyses and interpretations. But beware: Don’t confuse giving your personal opinion with writing about your personal experience! Your experiences and anecdotes do not have any place in academic term papers whatsoever, whereas they might be included in some contexts for example when you are asked to write a more personal and less academic text in your language classes. To make sure, always ask your instructor.

how to make personal opinion essay

Moreover, you should be aware of the fact that some expressions more convincingly underline your assertions than others and that your arguments will always need sufficient explanations and defense. Hence, expressions such as “I think that…” or “I believe that…” , which we often find in speech but less in academic writing, are weaker and less convincing than “I assert that…”, “I am convinced that…”, “I have no doubt that…” or “I hold the impression/ view that…”.

Furthermore, we often find the phrases “In my opinion, …” and “In my view, …” in academic writing and professional reports. To a lesser extent, we have expressions such as “To my mind,…” , From my point of view” and “As far as I am concerned” ; These three phrases are also rather used in speech than in writing.

Another useful way of explicitly stating your opinion is to employ structures that contain adjectives, such as “I consider it important/ crucial/ essential/ useful/ likely/ … to …” or “I deem it necessary/ proper/ appropriate/ … to …” . If you are not quite so adamant about your opinion yourself, you can also utilize weaker expressions such as “I am under the impression that …” , “I suppose that …” , “I assume that …” , “I presume that …” or “I conjecture that …” .

Impersonal expressions, on the other hand, reflect your opinion implicitly. Again, there is the possibility to use structures that contain evaluative adjectives, as is the case with phrases like “It is convenient/ difficult/ hard/ impossible/ reasonable/ easy/ … to …” or “It is apparent/ arguable/ doubtful/ obvious/ remarkable/ desirable/ noteworthy/ conceivable/ … that …” .

In your academic texts, you can furthermore employ structures that consist of “It is worth + present participle of a verb + that”, frequently used collocations being “It is worth examining/ investigating/ remembering/ recalling/ noting/ stressing/ pointing out/ emphasizing/ … that …”. There are moreover evaluative adverbs that stress your opinion, examples for this being “Interestingly, …” , “Arguably, …” , “Obviously, …” , “Evidently, …” , and “Surprisingly, …” .

As you can see, there are plenty of possibilities to express your personal opinion in your academic writing tasks and to create variety in doing so. Including different types of phrases and varying expressions while sticking to the requirements of the writing task at hand will improve your overall writing style.

  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Writing Center: „Should I Use ‚I‘?“
  • Macmillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners (2007): „E. Expressing Personal Opinions.“ London: Macmillan, IW 15-16.

how to make personal opinion essay

2 Kommentare

Your approach and research is significant and appreciative.Applause for you..

I found this article extremely helpful. I found myself struggling writing essays when it came to professionally asserting my opinion or thought. This really outlined some great practices!! Thank you.

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10 English Phrases to Express Your Opinion in an Essay

This is a guest post by  Sam Pealing.  Make sure to visit his website EnglishForStudy.com for more academic English help!

I admire international students. Seriously.  If you’re a non-native English speaker doing a degree or doctorate in English, then I take my hat off to you.

I get a lot of questions about writing essays, and I’ve taught hundreds of students how to write effective essays (which get good grades).  One of the most common mistakes that I see is a lack of opinion.

Most of the time, students describe a situation, but they don’t give their opinion or stance. This can really damage your grade because lecturers are always looking for ‘critical thinking’. If you don’t give your opinion in your essays, your lecturers can’t see your critical thinking.

To put it simply: If you don’t put your opinion or stance in an essay, then you’ll probably lose marks.

In this article, you’ll learn 10 effective phrases that you can use to give your opinion in your essay.  I’ve also created a free lesson pack which will help you to practice the phrases in this article. CLICK HERE to download it.

Introducing the Phrases

If you’re looking for a quick fix for your essay, these phrases should help you to start putting your own opinions in your essays.

But, before you rush over to your essays to start putting these phrases in, there’s something you need to know.

If you’re writing an academic essay, you will need to support your opinions with strong evidence . This is especially true if you are using some of the stronger phrases.

This evidence can be a journal article, a lecture, a textbook, or something else which is a trustworthy source of information.

In a more informal essay, like one in an IELTS or TOEFL language test, you don’t need to support your answers with strong evidence. Your experiences or opinions will be enough.

Quick note : I know! You’re ready to see the phrases.

This won’t take long and it’s really important.

1. For these phrases to be really effective, you’ll need to review your grammar. Shayna has some great videos on her Espresso English Youtube channel .

I recommend these:

  • Subject/Verb agreement
  • Formal and Informal English
  • Correcting Grammar Mistakes

2. If you want to know the structure of a good essay paragraph, check my post here .

10 English Phrases to Express Your Opinion in an Essay Espresso English

Informal English Phrases

These phrases are suitable for language tests such as TOEFL or IELTS. In an academic essay, these phrases will probably be too informal because they are too personal.

“In my opinion, + [your sentence]”

  • In my opinion , a good education is more important than a good car.

“I believe that + [your sentence]”

  • I believe that schools should encourage students to walk or cycle to school rather than drive.

“In my mind, + [your sentence]”

  • “ In my mind , no-one should have to pay for medical care.”

More Formal Academic Phrases With ‘That’

These phrases are more suitable for academic essays. If you are unsure whether you should use an informal phrase or an academic phrase, use an academic one. If you think your writing might be informal, read this post to learn more.

The patterns here are quite straightforward. Just add your sentence after ‘that’.

“It would seem that + [your sentence]”

Use this when you support your opinion with evidence.

  • “ It would seem that children learn best when they are feeling comfortable.”

“It could be argued that + [your sentence]”

Use this when you want to challenge an existing opinion.

  • “ It could be argued that the benefits outweigh the drawbacks in this situation.”

“This suggests that + [your sentence]”

Use this when you don’t want to fully commit to an opinion. You’re giving yourself some distance.

  • “ The evidence suggests that people who speak more than one language have more job opportunities.”

“This proves that + [your sentence]”

Use this when you are confident with your opinion. This phrase is quite strong*

  • “ This proves that the best way to lose weight is through a controlled diet and a good exercise program.”

“This supports the idea that + [your sentence]”

Use this one when you are supporting an opinion that you have already made.

  • “ This new research supports the idea that successful English learners look for opportunities to use English.”

Other Ways to Express Opinion

“although [idea you disagree with], [idea you agree with]”.

Use this when you want make your opinion seem balanced.

  • “ Although reports suggest that cigarettes could help people to lose weight, there are too many serious health problems associated with smoking.”

Note: The ‘ although’ pattern is very effective because it shows two sides of the argument. In the example, I support the idea that smoking is bad for your health –BUT- I recognise that it could have some benefits.

Structure your ‘ although’ sentence like this: Although, [weaker argument you disagree with], [stronger argument you agree with].

Using Adverbs, Adjectives and Nouns

You can use adjectives to show your opinion.

  • “This research was poorly conducted with a lack of control .”

The adjective and nouns in the example are negative . You can get some good ideas from this video on Extreme Adjectives . Note: try not to use any emotional adjectives .

Make Your Own Phrases!

Of course, these phrases aren’t the only ones that you can use! You can find more – or – you can create your own by combining different patterns.

Here’s an example of #7, #9 and #10 used together.

“Although it is difficult for older adults to learn a second language, an important study by Smith (2014) proved that the elderly can successfully learn new languages.”

What Should You Do Now?

So now you should have a better idea of how to include more opinions in your essays. But that’s not all; there are probably some new words here that you don’t know.

So here’s what you should do:

  • Choose three of the opinion expressions and phrases that you want to try.
  • Practice writing sentences using them (if you don’t have a topic, try this: should students do homework? You can see examples of this in the lesson pack )
  • Get the Lesson Pack for this lesson (which contains the vocabulary and the phrases from this lesson) CLICK HERE to download it .

Learn more:

  • Basic English phrases
  • Intermediate English phrases
  • Advanced English phrases

About Sam Pealing

Sam Pealing is an English language coach who specialises in two important areas: 1. helping you to get great grades at university, and 2. helping you to become an effective and confident English user. If you’re feeling frustrated or confused with English, Sam has created the perfect email course for you! You can join his course here –or- you can read more by him on English For Study .

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How to Write an Opinion Essay? 100+ Topics and Ideas

How to Write an Opinion Essay

Writing an Opinion Essay With Topic Ideas 

Students might see their ideal school as a place where there are no exams or much responsibilities. But, in reality, elementary school, middle school, and college education go hand in hand with writing various assignments, including Common App opinion essays. Since this kind of task is inevitable in most schools, students should educate themselves and become ready in advance.

Indeed, you can always hire an essay writers service and spare yourself the additional writing effort. However, we are here to help those who want to compose opinion essays themselves. So, what is an opinion essay? Read further, and learn what the proper format is and which examples of opinion essay topics are worth trying!

What Is an Opinion Essay: Definition

For every person, the ability to express their opinions is an essential part of personal growth. But is public speaking the only way? No, opinion essay writing offers students a chance to voice their thoughts and get feedback from teachers, mentors, or the Common App admissions committee. 

You may ask, "What is an opinion essay, then?" In short, opinion essays are academic works in which students simply write their points of view on something. Here are some characteristics of opinion essay writing:

Require Evidence

In other words, be ready to have enough background info examples to support your opinions. Otherwise, the fairness of points is under question.

Take Only One Side When Responding to Essay Prompt

Another unique feature of opinion essays is that you express only one take on a problem. Contrarily, argumentative papers examples require discussing something from different angles. 

Often Appear as Common App Essay Prompts

If you are applying to educational institutions through Common App, know that opinion essay prompts are a usual way of assessing students. Hence, practice writing to be able to compete with other applicants!

Learn what is a reflective essay at EssayHub blog.

All students know that school or college essays must fit a list of rules. These specific requirements are called a format that greatly affects the test scores. Interestingly, aligning with the format becomes the most significant challenge for many. For instance, if a student wrote excellent points without proper formatting, it would give the wrong impression about their writing abilities. 

You can either use a writing service to structure your paper or memorize the opinion essay format to solve the problem. But what is opinion essay format? Let's briefly discuss it to ensure your later success with homework or Common App!

opinion essay format

Introduction

If you wonder how to start an opinion essay, the writing principle here is the same as in the other essay kinds. Always start writing with the introduction, which prepares the readers for whatever is coming next. By the same rule, an opinion essay introduction contains the writer's summarized thoughts about the subject. So, try to fit them all into the introductory paragraph to stay within the word limit.

Whether you start writing a Common App essay or a regular college essay, vivid imagery is crucial for drawing attention. A surprising way to captivate the readers is by writing your favorite quote that fits the theme. Remember, students have to feel these words on a personal level before including them.

As usual, any intro ends with a thesis statement, which is a sentence that comprises an author's viewpoint. Make sure this part is clear and concise, especially when writing a Common App essay. Moreover, students can spice things up with a rhetorical question that finishes the intro. Address it in the body part which goes next!

The second part of every opinion essay outline is the main body which has the biggest word count. Generally, the main body exists to give a vivid picture of your opinion on the issue. 

What else should you know? You often use writing to speak directly to the audience, whether they are other students, Common App admissions officers, or others. Your main goal is to prove the validity of your thought processes.

Furthermore, use the division into paragraphs wisely. Because logic helps to earn the highest test scores, place the thoughts in order. In other words, every new section should give a new understanding of the problem and fresh examples. Besides, if you choose interesting examples of topics to write an opinion essay on, you always have enough points to discuss.

Lastly, before you start writing your Common App, school, or college essay body, collect enough factual evidence like statistics, examples from daily life, your past experiences, etc. This part demonstrates your dedication and professionalism!

As a rule, all student essays have a concluding part after the main body. An opinion essay is no exception. Regardless of the presented essay prompt, writing a polished ending is a sign of quality opinion essay writing, so here is how you do it.

Are you doing homework or answering Common App essay prompts? In any case, use the conclusion to summarize the main points of your opinion paper. This move helps admissions officers or other readers remember your facts better. In the conclusion, you should restate something you have already mentioned. 

Additionally, you can drop a paraphrased version of the original thesis statement, which answers the essay prompt that a teacher or an admissions officer gave you. Also, mention how the issue affected you to demonstrate a personal connection to the theme. Such a trick gains the trust of your readers! Finally, show your positive attitude through a writing tone that leaves a pleasant aftertaste and convincing examples.

how to make personal opinion essay

How to Write an Opinion Essay? 

Sometimes, you read an excellent college essay and wonder how people can be this talented. After this, you start questioning your writing skills and even dread any essay prompts, including Common App. As a result, you either decides to get help from write me an essay service or looks for credible advice from experts. 

If you choose the second option, we can tell you how to write an opinion essay! The instructions below work for everybody, from regular students to those in the Common App admission process. Luckily, even the seemingly complicated Common App essay prompts crack like a wishbone thanks to several professional secrets. So, the only thing left is picking appealing examples of topics for an opinion essay!

How to Write an Opinion Essay? 

First, Form a Position on the Issue 

The first tip is to present strong points in your opinion essay. Good opinion essay topics allow you to make a personal statement carved into people's memories for a long time. Still, unfortunately, many make the common mistake of choosing a boring subject or borrowing other people’s opinions that do not relate to them. 

Remember that picking and answering an essay prompt requires preparation. Because every prompt asks your viewpoint, take time to form a personal attitude in your essay. Sometimes, a controversial take on a problem draws even more attention. Then, a Common App admissions officer can appreciate your courage and attempt to favor your unpopular point of view.

Conduct In-depth Research 

Generally, student essays demand thorough research to gain the highest scores. For instance, a Common App essay with a list of credible sources can make the application process easier. Working on tasks like a Common App prompt during a school year trains your ability to look for relevant data and correct sources. This way, even rare and unexpected statements have proof from various sources in the best opinion essay examples.

What’s more, often the scientists’ opinions can be so impressive that you might feel like your views are not worth comparing. So, rummaging through literature can become a fun extracurricular activity to add to your research and give you more confidence.

Recognize Common Arguments

When you choose popular topics to write an opinion essay, you have plenty of materials from other people who discuss the same issue. Such essay prompts make it simultaneously easier and harder to write. On the one hand, you quickly find the references. On the other hand, the opinions may be contradictory.

Your task is to analyze as many statements as possible to mold a personal view, especially for a Common App essay prompt. Then, with time, you slowly understand which side you want to take. Eventually, even students with unique opinions feel supported if they find examples of works by like-minded scientists.

Don't Reserve Your Views Until the Conclusion 

Another essential rule of opinion essay writing is getting straight to the point with your opinion. A thesis statement is perfect for doing so. In addition, it is of great help when you try to navigate the audience through a lengthy paper and avoid confusion in a Common App essay. 

Contrarily, revealing your perspective, in the end, is not effective in a personal essay or a different prompt. This strategy puts the reader into a waiting mode, which not many enjoy. Would you like to leave them guessing your opinions? No, because the audience may misinterpret your hints leaving the reader confused.  

Begin With Your Most Compelling Argument 

Many students learned how to influence readers' perspectives through their experience in writing opinion essays. Using the strategy of starting with your strongest assertion is one of the greatest examples. Accordingly, in a hierarchical arrangement, the weaker points come next. So, why does this trick succeed in a college essay?

Since your strongest argument is also the most persuasive, it has the power to change readers' perspectives. But after the strong initial impression, the weaker points start to have significant weight too. Remember this for your Common App essay that defines your success since proving your point to the committee is crucial.

Feel Free to Show Some Emotion 

How to write an opinion essay for Common Application or a regular school class and succeed? First, express emotions, especially in a personal essay ! Students often hear that they should base their written works on strong facts, but where is room for a personal story? Surprisingly, an opinion paper is a perfect blend of both facts and feelings.

In everyday life, the ability to open up about deep emotions comes with personal growth. Therefore, emotional Common App essays signal the maturity of their authors and deserve appreciation. Furthermore, honest statements appeal to people more than strong facts, so use this to your advantage.

Don't Forget to Proofread 

When dealing with an exam or Common Application, you often do everything in a hurry. As a result, unexpected mistakes appear here and there in your opinion essay writing. As much as they are a natural occurrence, they still drop your score, which is especially bad for Common App essays. Hence, proofreading is a way to go!

This term means many things, including checking grammar, spelling, punctuation, coherency, and other examples. You likely know your weak sides from the previous prompts and feedback. If so, analyze your papers accordingly to seek your usual errors. Moreover, asking a mentor or a friend to proofread your Common App work is an awesome idea!

Opinion Topics 

Deciding on the topics to write an opinion essay on is a task that many find quite challenging. If somebody suffers from lack of creativity, it also affects the ability to create a unique title. So, unless it's a ready Common App prompt, students should use their imagination.

What are good opinion essay topics? There is no universal answer because people think differently about the same title. Indeed, someone can even criticize a Common App prompt. But everybody can agree that a relevant topic should appeal to the writer in the first place. 

The author's passion is visible and highly appreciated in regular and Common App essays. Therefore, the best thing you can do is pick a title for which you feel a personal connection. The admissions process becomes even more pleasant by presenting lists of catchy topics!

Personal Opinion Essay Topics 

Throughout the years of studies, people need to open up via writing multiple times. An opportunity like this happens when you write Common App essays, semester papers, or regular homework. Some great examples of personal opinion essay topics look like this:

  • Which family member, in your opinion, can be a good role model and why?
  • Would you want to become a transfer student, and why?
  • How has the process of practicing gratitude affected you?
  • Would you participate in a community service project?
  • How have extracurricular activities changed your life?
  • Was moving to a foreign country beneficial for you?
  • Are you a good family member, in your opinion?
  • What do you think you should change about yourself?
  • Who are you in your friend group, and why?
  • Would you be a good parent, and why?
  • Which country would fit you the best?
  • Which of your talents can make you rich?
  • Do you feel comfortable in your close circle, and why?
  • Who will you be ten years from now?
  • What do you think about your former self?

Opinion Argumentative Essay Topics

Do you enjoy proving your point of view to others? Then, you may need opinion argumentative essay topics! We prepared several good opinion essay topics which stimulate creativity:

  • Should community service be obligatory for children in school?
  • Do you think cosplaying equals the appropriation of other cultures?
  • In your opinion, do modern kids spend enough time with their parents?
  • Can you protect your own design from AI art generators?
  • Do you believe it's possible to ban smoking for future generations?
  • Should bright-colored toys be banned for babies?
  • Do you think graffiti should be legal? Why?
  • Should people sue if someone films them without consent? 
  • Should the law forbid blasting music in the daytime?
  • How did movies change people's perception of theater?
  • Do you think free will exists, or is it an illusion?
  • Do people today have more rest than their ancestors? Why?
  • Which climate ensures the highest life quality?
  • Will people consider coffee an illegal substance in the future?
  • Can quarrels be good for a romantic relationship? Why?

Opinion Essay Topics High School

When teachers create opinion essay topics for kids, they aim to make them better thinkers and writers. Some good opinion essay topics high school are:

  • Is the debate team the best possible school club? Why?
  • At which age should children be able to hang out without parents?
  • Do you think it's normal for firstborns to babysit younger siblings?
  • Should there be an upper age limit for drivers?
  • Why is it dangerous to glamorize the model industry?
  • Would cars be legal if people invented them today?
  • Will online studies completely replace offline classes in the future?
  • What do you think we should change about schools?
  • What problems can phone addiction cause for generation Alpha?
  • How to compensate for the lack of outdoor activities?
  • Do girls experience more academic pressure than boys?
  • Should there be grades in art or music class?
  • What are the best ways of bonding with peers?
  • Is heavy makeup appropriate for school? Why or why not?
  • Should educational institutions allow students to bring their pets to class?

Opinion Essay Topics College 

People who attend higher educational institutions do various tasks, including opinion essays. Look at some opinion essay topics college in case you need inspiration:

  • Do you think it is always good to be optimistic and why?
  • Should people explore space when there are many problems on Earth?
  • Where do you think is the fine line between dark humor and rudeness?
  • What are the possible undersides of so-called gentle parenting?
  • Which kinds of sports will rule fifty years from now and why?
  • Is it worth perfecting art skills if artificial intelligence does it better anyway?
  • Do you think it's ethical for celebrities to boast about their riches online?
  • Why is the notion of finding a life-long love harmful?
  • How do you think relationship standards will change in the future?
  • How does the lack of plants in cities affect mental health?
  • How to keep friendships from falling apart in adulthood?
  • Can the government fully solve the problem of homelessness?
  • Why do many consider Christmas the saddest holiday of all?
  • Do you think cartoons cause more harm or good?
  • Is it possible to gain an adult mindset in a short time?

Need Writing Help? 

Have you studied all the info about opinion essays but still don't know where to start? Then, our professional team can help with your " do my essay for me " request. Check Essay Hub review and try our college essay service , it can become your go-to solution for all assignments. Give it a chance and see for yourself!

how to make personal opinion essay

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How To Start A College Essay About Yourself

How To Start A College Essay About Yourself

The Silicon Review 17 April, 2024

Writing a college essay about yourself can be an intimidating task. It's your one chance to make an impression on the admissions officers and convince them that you're the right fit for their school. But where do you even begin? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Beginning a college essay about yourself involves capturing your unique voice and experiences in a compelling introduction that hooks the reader's attention, and having someone at Academized to write my essay ensures expert guidance and support to kickstart your narrative with confidence and clarity. In this post, we'll guide you through the process of starting a college essay about yourself, from brainstorming ideas to creating an introduction.

Brainstorming Topics

The first step in starting a college essay about yourself is to brainstorm potential topics. This is where you'll want to think about what makes you unique and what experiences have shaped who you are today. Here are some prompts to get you started:

  • A significant challenge you've faced and how you overcame it
  • A personal accomplishment you're proud of
  • A life-changing event or experience
  • Your cultural background and how it has influenced you
  • A person who has had a significant impact on your life
  • A passion or interest that drives you

As you brainstorm, think about the stories and experiences that best showcase your personality, values, and goals. Remember, the essay is an opportunity to give the admissions officers a glimpse into who you are beyond just your grades and test scores.

Choosing a Compelling Topic

Once you've brainstormed a list of potential topics, it's time to narrow it down to the one that you think will make for the most compelling essay. Here are some things to consider when choosing your topic:

  • Significance: Choose a topic that has had a significant impact on your life or has helped shape who you are today.
  • Uniqueness: While it's okay to write about a common experience, try to find a unique angle or perspective that sets your essay apart.
  • Personal growth: Look for a topic that showcases how you've grown or learned from the experience.
  • Passion: Choose a topic that you're passionate about, as this will make your essay more engaging and authentic.

Writing a Strong Introduction

Writing a college essay about yourself requires an engaging opening that showcases your personality and sets the tone for your narrative, and referencing insightful resources like https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/best-essay-writing-services-top-5-paper-websites-mary-walton can provide valuable inspiration and guidance to help you create a memorable introduction with confidence.

With your topic selected, it's time to start writing your essay. The introduction is arguably the most important part, as it sets the tone for the rest of the piece and hooks the reader's attention. Here are some tips for writing a strong introduction:

The Personal Anecdote

One effective way to start your essay is with a personal anecdote or story that relates to your chosen topic. This can be a powerful way to draw the reader in and set the scene for the rest of your essay. For example, if you're writing about a significant challenge you've faced, you could start with a vivid description of the moment when you first realized the challenge ahead of you.

The Thought-provoking Question

Another option is to start with a thought-provoking question that relates to your topic. This can pique the reader's curiosity and get them thinking about the issue or experience you'll be exploring in your essay. For example, if you're writing about a passion or interest that drives you, you could start with a question like, "What is it that makes us passionate about certain things in life?"

The Surprising Statement

You could also grab the reader's attention with a surprising statement or statistic that relates to your topic. This can be a great way to challenge the reader's assumptions and set up the rest of your essay as an exploration of that surprising idea. For example, if you're writing about your cultural background, you could start with a statement like, "While many people assume that culture is something that's passed down from generation to generation, my experience has shown me that it's something that's constantly evolving."

Finding Your Voice

No matter which approach you choose for your introduction, it's important to find your voice and write in a way that feels authentic and true to who you are. Don't try to sound like someone you're not, or use language that feels unnatural or forced. The admissions officers want to get to know the real you, so let your personality shine through in your writing.

Developing the Body

With a strong introduction in place, it's time to move on to the body of your essay. This is where you'll expand on the topic you've chosen and provide the details and examples that support your main idea or argument. Here are some tips for developing a strong body:

Use Vivid Details

To make your essay more engaging and memorable, be sure to use vivid details and descriptions. This could include sensory details (sights, sounds, smells, etc.), dialogue, or specific examples that help illustrate your points.

Show, Don't Tell

Rather than simply telling the reader what happened or what you learned, show them through your writing. Use concrete examples and anecdotes to bring your experiences to life and demonstrate the lessons or insights you've gained.

Structure and Flow

Pay attention to the structure and flow of your essay. Use transitions to smoothly move from one idea to the next, and consider using subheadings or other organizational techniques to help guide the reader through your essay.

Personal Growth and Reflection

Throughout the body of your essay, be sure to emphasize how the experience or topic you're writing about has impacted you personally. Share your thoughts, feelings, and insights, and reflect on how the experience has shaped who you are today or influenced your goals and aspirations for the future.

As you wrap up your essay, it's important to bring your ideas together in a strong conclusion. This is your chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader and reinforce the main themes or lessons you've explored throughout your essay.

Summarize Key Points

In your conclusion, you'll want to briefly summarize the key points or experiences you've discussed in the body of your essay. This helps to reinforce the main ideas and ensures that the reader walks away with a clear understanding of your central message or argument.

Final Thoughts and Insights

Use the conclusion as an opportunity to share any final thoughts or insights you've gained from the experience or topic you've written about. This could include lessons learned, personal growth, or how the experience has influenced your goals or perspectives.

Call to Action

Finally, consider including a call to action or a statement that encourages the reader to think more deeply about the topic or theme you've explored. This could be a question for them to ponder or a challenge to approach a similar situation or experience with a new perspective.

Revising and Editing

Once you've drafted your college essay, it's important to take the time to revise and edit your work. This will help ensure that your essay is polished, well-organized, and free of errors.

Read it Out Loud

One helpful technique is to read your essay out loud. This can help you catch awkward phrasing, run-on sentences, or other issues that you might have missed when reading silently.

Get Feedback

It can also be valuable to have someone else read your essay and provide feedback. This could be a friend, family member, teacher, or even a writing tutor. They may be able to offer fresh perspective and insights that can help you improve your essay.

Check for Clarity and Focus

As you revise, make sure that your essay has a clear focus and that each paragraph and idea contributes to your overall message or argument. Remove any unnecessary or tangential information that doesn't directly support your main point.

Polish Your Writing

Finally, take the time to polish your writing and ensure that your essay is free of grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. These small details can make a big difference in how your essay is perceived by the admissions officers.

Writing a college essay about yourself can be a challenging but rewarding experience. By following the tips and strategies outlined in this post, you'll be well on your way to creating a compelling and authentic essay that showcases who you are and what you have to offer. Remember to take your time, focus on finding your unique voice, and don't be afraid to share your personal experiences and insights. With dedication and effort, you can create an essay that will make a lasting impression on the admissions officers and help you stand out in the competitive college application process.

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NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust

David Folkenflik 2018 square

David Folkenflik

how to make personal opinion essay

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the public's trust.

NPR's top news executive defended its journalism and its commitment to reflecting a diverse array of views on Tuesday after a senior NPR editor wrote a broad critique of how the network has covered some of the most important stories of the age.

"An open-minded spirit no longer exists within NPR, and now, predictably, we don't have an audience that reflects America," writes Uri Berliner.

A strategic emphasis on diversity and inclusion on the basis of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation, promoted by NPR's former CEO, John Lansing, has fed "the absence of viewpoint diversity," Berliner writes.

NPR's chief news executive, Edith Chapin, wrote in a memo to staff Tuesday afternoon that she and the news leadership team strongly reject Berliner's assessment.

"We're proud to stand behind the exceptional work that our desks and shows do to cover a wide range of challenging stories," she wrote. "We believe that inclusion — among our staff, with our sourcing, and in our overall coverage — is critical to telling the nuanced stories of this country and our world."

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

NPR names tech executive Katherine Maher to lead in turbulent era

She added, "None of our work is above scrutiny or critique. We must have vigorous discussions in the newsroom about how we serve the public as a whole."

A spokesperson for NPR said Chapin, who also serves as the network's chief content officer, would have no further comment.

Praised by NPR's critics

Berliner is a senior editor on NPR's Business Desk. (Disclosure: I, too, am part of the Business Desk, and Berliner has edited many of my past stories. He did not see any version of this article or participate in its preparation before it was posted publicly.)

Berliner's essay , titled "I've Been at NPR for 25 years. Here's How We Lost America's Trust," was published by The Free Press, a website that has welcomed journalists who have concluded that mainstream news outlets have become reflexively liberal.

Berliner writes that as a Subaru-driving, Sarah Lawrence College graduate who "was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother ," he fits the mold of a loyal NPR fan.

Yet Berliner says NPR's news coverage has fallen short on some of the most controversial stories of recent years, from the question of whether former President Donald Trump colluded with Russia in the 2016 election, to the origins of the virus that causes COVID-19, to the significance and provenance of emails leaked from a laptop owned by Hunter Biden weeks before the 2020 election. In addition, he blasted NPR's coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

On each of these stories, Berliner asserts, NPR has suffered from groupthink due to too little diversity of viewpoints in the newsroom.

The essay ricocheted Tuesday around conservative media , with some labeling Berliner a whistleblower . Others picked it up on social media, including Elon Musk, who has lambasted NPR for leaving his social media site, X. (Musk emailed another NPR reporter a link to Berliner's article with a gibe that the reporter was a "quisling" — a World War II reference to someone who collaborates with the enemy.)

When asked for further comment late Tuesday, Berliner declined, saying the essay spoke for itself.

The arguments he raises — and counters — have percolated across U.S. newsrooms in recent years. The #MeToo sexual harassment scandals of 2016 and 2017 forced newsrooms to listen to and heed more junior colleagues. The social justice movement prompted by the killing of George Floyd in 2020 inspired a reckoning in many places. Newsroom leaders often appeared to stand on shaky ground.

Leaders at many newsrooms, including top editors at The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times , lost their jobs. Legendary Washington Post Executive Editor Martin Baron wrote in his memoir that he feared his bonds with the staff were "frayed beyond repair," especially over the degree of self-expression his journalists expected to exert on social media, before he decided to step down in early 2021.

Since then, Baron and others — including leaders of some of these newsrooms — have suggested that the pendulum has swung too far.

Legendary editor Marty Baron describes his 'Collision of Power' with Trump and Bezos

Author Interviews

Legendary editor marty baron describes his 'collision of power' with trump and bezos.

New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger warned last year against journalists embracing a stance of what he calls "one-side-ism": "where journalists are demonstrating that they're on the side of the righteous."

"I really think that that can create blind spots and echo chambers," he said.

Internal arguments at The Times over the strength of its reporting on accusations that Hamas engaged in sexual assaults as part of a strategy for its Oct. 7 attack on Israel erupted publicly . The paper conducted an investigation to determine the source of a leak over a planned episode of the paper's podcast The Daily on the subject, which months later has not been released. The newsroom guild accused the paper of "targeted interrogation" of journalists of Middle Eastern descent.

Heated pushback in NPR's newsroom

Given Berliner's account of private conversations, several NPR journalists question whether they can now trust him with unguarded assessments about stories in real time. Others express frustration that he had not sought out comment in advance of publication. Berliner acknowledged to me that for this story, he did not seek NPR's approval to publish the piece, nor did he give the network advance notice.

Some of Berliner's NPR colleagues are responding heatedly. Fernando Alfonso, a senior supervising editor for digital news, wrote that he wholeheartedly rejected Berliner's critique of the coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict, for which NPR's journalists, like their peers, periodically put themselves at risk.

Alfonso also took issue with Berliner's concern over the focus on diversity at NPR.

"As a person of color who has often worked in newsrooms with little to no people who look like me, the efforts NPR has made to diversify its workforce and its sources are unique and appropriate given the news industry's long-standing lack of diversity," Alfonso says. "These efforts should be celebrated and not denigrated as Uri has done."

After this story was first published, Berliner contested Alfonso's characterization, saying his criticism of NPR is about the lack of diversity of viewpoints, not its diversity itself.

"I never criticized NPR's priority of achieving a more diverse workforce in terms of race, ethnicity and sexual orientation. I have not 'denigrated' NPR's newsroom diversity goals," Berliner said. "That's wrong."

Questions of diversity

Under former CEO John Lansing, NPR made increasing diversity, both of its staff and its audience, its "North Star" mission. Berliner says in the essay that NPR failed to consider broader diversity of viewpoint, noting, "In D.C., where NPR is headquartered and many of us live, I found 87 registered Democrats working in editorial positions and zero Republicans."

Berliner cited audience estimates that suggested a concurrent falloff in listening by Republicans. (The number of people listening to NPR broadcasts and terrestrial radio broadly has declined since the start of the pandemic.)

Former NPR vice president for news and ombudsman Jeffrey Dvorkin tweeted , "I know Uri. He's not wrong."

Others questioned Berliner's logic. "This probably gets causality somewhat backward," tweeted Semafor Washington editor Jordan Weissmann . "I'd guess that a lot of NPR listeners who voted for [Mitt] Romney have changed how they identify politically."

Similarly, Nieman Lab founder Joshua Benton suggested the rise of Trump alienated many NPR-appreciating Republicans from the GOP.

In recent years, NPR has greatly enhanced the percentage of people of color in its workforce and its executive ranks. Four out of 10 staffers are people of color; nearly half of NPR's leadership team identifies as Black, Asian or Latino.

"The philosophy is: Do you want to serve all of America and make sure it sounds like all of America, or not?" Lansing, who stepped down last month, says in response to Berliner's piece. "I'd welcome the argument against that."

"On radio, we were really lagging in our representation of an audience that makes us look like what America looks like today," Lansing says. The U.S. looks and sounds a lot different than it did in 1971, when NPR's first show was broadcast, Lansing says.

A network spokesperson says new NPR CEO Katherine Maher supports Chapin and her response to Berliner's critique.

The spokesperson says that Maher "believes that it's a healthy thing for a public service newsroom to engage in rigorous consideration of the needs of our audiences, including where we serve our mission well and where we can serve it better."

Disclosure: This story was reported and written by NPR Media Correspondent David Folkenflik and edited by Deputy Business Editor Emily Kopp and Managing Editor Gerry Holmes. Under NPR's protocol for reporting on itself, no NPR corporate official or news executive reviewed this story before it was posted publicly.

As Columbus pushes massive zoning overhaul, city hires PR firm to bolster public support

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther announces money for a housing program for Columbus State in July. The city has enlisted a PR firm to help generate support for its housing strategy, which includes a massive zoning overhaul.

For more than two years Mayor Andrew J. Ginther's administration has been paying a private public relations firm more than $260,000 to help gain public support for his housing strategy, which includes expanding tax abatements citywide and a massive zoning overhaul unveiled in the past two weeks.

The firm's objectives include to "rally the community to this common vision" and to "create a strategic communications plan."

A Dispatch review of public records reveals a behind-the-scenes effort that included the firm writing an emotional draft letter to the editor on behalf of a supposed member of the public, creating and/or revising "quotes" supposedly said by the mayor and a citizen supporter of the rezoning effort, and a team of writers drafting a public essay on the initiative signed by the mayor, but for which it is unclear if Ginther ever saw.

In essence, documents suggest that Paul Werth Associates worked in concert with the city's Department of Development to create a top-down public relations campaign funded by city taxpayers, but also produced work product that sometimes gave the impression of a bottom-up grassroots movement. The city called the work "standard industry practice."

Key messages developed by the firm included that central Ohio residents "must embrace greater density in their neighborhoods if we are to remain economically competitive and create prosperity for everyone," or face a "housing crisis that could displace working families and force our most vulnerable residents into homelessness."

They also developed a marketing framework: Build, Preserve, Invest, Include. The region must build more units, preserve existing affordability, invest public dollars in housing the market won't provide, and include everyone by getting the public to embrace new-housing density "in their own neighborhoods."

The goal was to "sustain a drumbeat of communication on the Columbus Housing Strategy," according to a July 2022 email by Jennifer Fening, deputy director in the city Development Department, to Paul Werth officials. "...What other narratives should we put forth, to demonstrate action (for) the Build, Preserve, Invest, Include framework? What channels/tactics should we use?"

Much of what the firm did on behalf of the city remains unclear. The Development Department and the firm declined to answer a list of questions from The Dispatch, including what the firm provided under the section of its contract dealing with "social media." Its contract calls for it to develop and schedule social media content, including "monitoring channels, and engaging with followers."

But it was clear that the firm created other content under the contract designed to look like an everyday citizen had said it, and was not a product of a taxpayer-financed marketing effort.

Deliverables under the contract with Paul Werth include workshop agendas, discussion guides, fact sheets, policy briefs and "messaging documents to educate audiences." The city contract also requires Paul Werth to electronically submit "strategic communications plans" in a "final document." It is unclear whether the city provided those strategy plans in response to a public records request, as it repeatedly declined to discuss the matter.

Paul Werth firm writes emotional letter

In early December, upset over a Dispatch story on Ginther's efforts to expand property tax abatements from older neighborhoods into thriving sections of Columbus, Michael Stevens, director of the Development Department, informed The Dispatch by email that "one of the experts who spoke at (city) hearings will be submitting a letter to the editor on this coverage."

That same day, Dec. 8, 2023, Dan Williamson, once a senior adviser to former Mayor Michael B. Coleman — who was now heading the Paul Werth team assigned to the city PR project — emailed Fening and two other Development officials: "Here's a first draft."

Attached was a document that embedded metadata shows was created by Williamson earlier that day, which read:

"To the Editor:

"It saddened me to read Friday’s Dispatch story about the proposed Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) expansion in the City of Columbus. The Central Ohio community has come together to recognize the threat posed by our housing shortage and the consequences of inaction. Other media outlets have given balanced, thoughtful coverage to this important issue.

"I joined other community members (name them) to voice our support for the CRA proposal before City Council. But the Dispatch story didn’t mention any of us, quoting instead the mayor’s political opponent, who lost the November election. Those of us who work every day to provide housing to Columbus residents deserve better. So do your readers."

The "political opponent" referenced was Joe Motil, who unsuccessfully ran against Ginther in November.

Stevens declined to respond to questions, including whether this was the letter he referred to in his email to The Dispatch dated the same day, whether he asked Paul Werth to create it, and whether the city had asked anyone to lend their name to it.

The letter was never submitted to The Dispatch.

"Our engagement with Paul Werth reflects standard industry practice," Sheldon Goodrum, the Development Department spokesman who worked closely with Paul Werth on the project, said in an April 1 email in which he declined to answer questions about a series of incidents revealed in emails, including "media training" the firm gave to Department of Development employees in 2023.

"Today is my last day with the City of Columbus," Goodrum added in the email, referring questions to a new spokesman, Cameron Keir, the spokesperson for Ginther's mayoral campaign last year.

Firm crafts Affordable Housing Trust quote

In November 2022 Goodrum emailed Lark Mallory, president and CEO of the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus and Franklin County, which has received millions of dollars from the city for affordable housing initiatives and which Stevens is a member of the 11-person board, five of whom are appointed by Ginther and Franklin County.

Goodrum asked Mallory to "share a quote with me" for an in-house city housing strategy publication. She responded that Williamson had already "offered to draft something I could tweak."

Williamson responded to the group email: "Thank you Lark. How's this? 'If we can speed up our review and permitting processes, it will be great news for affordable housing development and for our emerging developers.'"

Mallory responded that the suggested quote neither named her organization nor any projects it had partnered on. "I'd like the quote to include our name. Let me know if that's possible?" She gave them some projects to craft a different quote around.

Goodrum responded: "We'd like the quote to be a little broader, addressing the need for more housing in the region, why it's so important, what you and your partners are doing, etc. Thanks!"

The final quote that appeared under Mallory's name was similar to a draft that included mention of two housing projects, but added to it was that they were "the type of creative, transformational solutions we need to address our housing needs."

Mallory didn't return a call left with her office.

Emails show Williamson crafting and refining a quote for Ginther that appeared in the same report. The Dispatch asked the firm and the department when the mayor made that statement that was quoted, but received no response.

PR team writes Ginther op-ed

City records show a team of PR people from the firm and the city labored over the creation of a piece submitted under Ginther's name to The Dispatch in December.

"Our current zoning code was created to serve the Columbus of the 1950s," the piece said. "...We've engaged residents from all corners of the city to join us in visualizing and evaluating a modernized zoning code."

"Most of our changes are outlined with comments, but I also punched up the opening paragraph a bit," emailed Kevin Kilbane, city director of communications, to seven other people, including Williamson, showing numerous edits.

"Attached for your review is the mayor's contributed column to The Dispatch," Fening emailed to Robin Davis, Ginther's former chief of staff, who also recently left her city job.

No one at the firm or city responded when asked if Ginther ever saw this essay before it was published , which appeared under the byline: Andrew J. Ginther, guest columnist.

[email protected]

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How Mike Johnson Got to ‘Yes’ on Aid to Ukraine

Intelligence, politics and personal considerations converted the Republican speaker, who had largely opposed aid to Ukraine as a rank-and-file member, into the key figure pushing it through Congress.

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‘History Will Judge It Well,’ Speaker Johnson Says of Aid to Ukraine

Speaker mike johnson successfully defied the anti-interventionalist wing of the republican party and got the house to approve a $95 billion foreign aid package for ukraine, israel and taiwan..

“I know there are critics of the legislation. I understand that. It is not a perfect piece of legislation. We’re not ensured that in a time of divided government and in a time where there are lots of different opinions. But there is no question whatsoever that the House has made many strong improvements to the Senate bill and the product that we’ve sent over there is much better. This is an important matter. I think it’s timely. I think you’ve heard from leaders around the world, including in Ukraine, that this is being done on a timely basis, and the House had to have the time to deliberate and do this in the right manner. I think we did our work here, and I think history will judge it well.” Reporters: [unintelligible] “Mr. Speaker, you’re being asked to resign. Will you?” “Have you spoken to Mr. Jeffries about that? And do you plan to if it’s brought?” “No, listen, I — as I’ve said many times, I don’t walk around this building being worried about a motion to vacate. I have to do my job. We did. I’ve done here what I believe to be the right thing, and that is to allow the House to work its will. And as I’ve said, you do the right thing, and you let the chips fall where they may.”

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By Catie Edmondson

Reporting from the Capitol

For weeks after the Senate passed a sprawling aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, Speaker Mike Johnson agonized over whether and how the House would take up funding legislation that would almost certainly infuriate the right wing of his party and could cost him his job.

He huddled with top national security officials, including William J. Burns, the C.I.A. director, in the Oval Office to discuss classified intelligence. He met repeatedly with broad factions of Republicans in both swing and deep red districts, and considered their voters’ attitudes toward funding Ukraine. He thought about his son, who is set to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in the fall.

And finally, when his plan to work with Democrats to clear the way for aiding Ukraine met with an outpouring of venom from ultraconservatives already threatening to depose him, Mr. Johnson, an evangelical Christian, knelt and prayed for guidance.

“I want to be on the right side of history,” Representative Michael McCaul of Texas, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, recalled the speaker telling him.

Mr. Johnson’s decision to risk his speakership to push the $95 billion foreign aid bill through the House on Saturday was the culmination of a remarkable personal and political arc for the Louisiana Republican. It was also an improbable outcome for a man plucked from relative obscurity last fall by the hard right — which had just deposed a speaker they deemed a traitor to their agenda — to be the speaker of a deeply dysfunctional House.

As a rank-and-file hard-liner, Mr. Johnson had largely opposed efforts to fund Kyiv’s war effort. And early in his speakership, he declared he would never allow the matter to come to a vote until his party’s border demands were met.

But by the time he made clear he planned to band together with Democrats to muscle through the aid package over the objections of many in his party, Mr. Johnson was speaking a starkly different language.

“History judges us for what we do,” he told reporters at the Capitol last week. “This is a critical time right now. I could make a selfish decision and do something that’s different. But I’m doing here what I believe to be the right thing. I think providing lethal aid to Ukraine right now is critically important.”

Mr. Johnson attributed his turnabout in part to the intelligence briefings he received, a striking assertion from a leader of a party that has embraced former President Donald J. Trump’s deep mistrust of the intelligence community.

“I really do believe the intel,” Mr. Johnson said. “I think that Vladimir Putin would continue to march through Europe if he were allowed. I think he might go to the Baltics next. I think he might have a showdown with Poland or one of our NATO allies.”

Mr. McCaul, who repeatedly huddled with Mr. Johnson and the chairmen of the other congressional national security committees in a secure room of the Capitol where lawmakers can review classified material, described Mr. Johnson’s journey as “transformational.”

“All of a sudden, he’s realizing that the world depends on this,” Mr. McCaul said. “This is not some little political game on the floor.”

One of the most impactful briefings, according to people familiar with the discussions, came in February in the Oval Office , when congressional leaders met with Mr. Biden to discuss government funding and aid for Ukraine. At that meeting, Mr. Burns and other top national security officials sought to impress upon Mr. Johnson how rapidly Ukraine was running out of ammunition, and how dire the consequences would be if their air defenses were no longer reinforced by American weaponry.

Convinced that they would come around to his way of thinking, Mr. Johnson repeatedly urged Republicans who opposed the funding measure to go to the secure space at the Capitol and receive the same intelligence briefings, according to people he spoke to.

Mr. Johnson was also struck by the stories he heard in meetings with President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and others about the magnitude of the misery Russian forces have unleashed across the embattled nation. All of it tugged at Mr. Johnson’s sense of Christian faith.

The speaker also faced mounting political pressure to act. Senate Democrats had struck a deal with Republicans to pair the aid to Ukraine with strict border measures, as the G.O.P. had demanded, but after Mr. Trump denounced it, Republicans rejected it out of hand. Then the Senate passed its own $95 billion emergency aid legislation for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan without any immigration measures, and the onus was on the House to do the same.

Adding to Mr. Johnson’s predicament, he found himself badly out of step with the three other congressional leaders, most notably Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, who vocally supported bolstering Kyiv and saw it as a critical part of his legacy.

That was evident at the White House meeting in February, which Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, described as an “intense” pile-on.

“Everyone in that room was telling Speaker Johnson how vital” sending aid was, he said then .

Privately, Mr. Johnson was huddling with his allies and puzzling over what measures they could include in a national security package to make it more palatable to Republicans. At retreats in Florida in February and West Virginia in March, he was already in discussions with Representative French Hill, Republican of Arkansas, about the REPO Act, which would pay for some of the aid by selling off Russian sovereign assets that had been frozen.

That provision, which he described as “pure poetry,” later became a key part of Mr. Johnson’s effort to sell his conference on the aid bill.

Around the same time, Mr. Johnson began — first privately, then loudly — telling allies that he would ensure the U.S. would send funding to Kyiv.

“I think he always understood the importance of this and believes in the importance of this,” Representative Mike Lawler, Republican of New York, said. “The function of being speaker is to try to build consensus, and I think he wanted to find consensus among the conference. Unfortunately, there are some folks that are just unwilling to compromise.”

In a small meeting with lawmakers, Mr. Johnson “made it pretty clear that if we didn’t get this done in April, that it could be too late for Ukraine,” Representative Don Bacon, Republican of Nebraska, said.

Patience among politically vulnerable Republicans who wanted to cast a vote in support of Ukraine also was running out. Mr. Johnson told reporters on Thursday that he believed that if he did not act soon, G.O.P. lawmakers would try to circumvent him by using a procedure called a discharge petition to force a vote on the Senate bill.

“If the House did not do this better policy and process — allowing for amendments on the floor in the process tomorrow — we would have had to eat the Senate supplemental bill,” he said.

By the time he agreed to advance an aid package, he had to contend with a wave of anger from his political home — the right wing of the Republican conference — whose members accused Mr. Johnson of betraying them, and repeatedly urged him to change course.

In a heated scene in the back row of the House chamber last week, a group of hard-liners surrounded the speaker and urged him to tie the foreign aid package to stringent anti-immigration measures.

Mr. Johnson pushed back, replying that he would not have enough Republican support to advance such a measure. He told them he was not worried about his own speakership, but was seriously worried about Ukraine’s ability to hold off Russia without U.S. aid, according to a lawmaker on the floor for the discussion.

“My message to the speaker has been: ‘Stay true to the mission,’” Mr. Hill said. “You know what has to be done. And you know that you have to do the best you can, with the circumstances that we found ourselves in.”

The passage of the aid package unleashed a fresh wave of fury among hard-liners. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who is leading the charge to oust Mr. Johnson, promised that more Republicans would rally to her side.

“This is the third betrayal by Mike Johnson,” she fumed on the House steps minutes after the vote on Saturday, citing the government funding bills and legislation he advanced to renew an expiring warrantless surveillance law as his first two transgressions.

“A foreign war package that does nothing for America?” she continued. “It’s unbelievable. I’m thankful that America gets to see who this man is.”

For his part, Mr. Johnson skipped a victory lap on Saturday, never taking to the House floor to make the case for any of the aid bills — as speakers almost always do when matters of major import come before the chamber — and staying away as lawmakers cast their votes. After the legislation’s passage, he offered clipped remarks about the importance of the aid and chastised Democrats who had waved Ukrainian flags on the floor, noting that the only flags that should be displayed in the chamber were American ones.

But earlier in the week, Mr. Johnson had been more reflective, telling reporters that during tough times, he took comfort in an adage about former President John Quincy Adams’s time in Congress.

Another lawmaker asked Mr. Adams why he continued bringing up the same resolution to end slavery, only to see it fail each time. In Mr. Johnson’s telling, Mr. Adams replied: “Duty is ours. Results are God’s.”

“To me, that’s a very liberating thought,” Mr. Johnson said. “I’m going to do my duty, and the results are not ultimately up to me. I’m comfortable with that. We’ll see what happens, and we’ll lay the chips down on the table.”

Catie Edmondson covers Congress for The Times. More about Catie Edmondson

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  2. 🎉 Opinion essay examples. Example of opinion essay Free Essays. 2022-10-14

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  6. 009 Writing An Opinion Essay Creative Tasks How To Write ~ Thatsnotus

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  1. Discussion opinion essay analysis 2

  2. Opinion essay analysis

  3. Essay Nasıl Yazılır? (Opinion Essay)

  4. Opinion Essay/IELTS Writing Task 2/ IELTS Academic/ Essay Structure/ Essay Templates

  5. HOW TO WRITE BOTH VIEWS AND OPINION ESSAY (IELTS WRITING MODULE)

  6. Write body paragraphs for an opinion essay

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  1. How to Write an Opinion Essay: Structure, Examples

    Body Paragraph 3. Supporting argument. Example. Explanation. A linking sentence to the conclusion. Conclusion paragraph. Summary of the entire paper. A conclusive sentence (the bigger picture in conclusion) If you need some help, leave us a message ' write my essay cheap ' and we'll help.

  2. An opinion essay

    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. The structure should be: Introduction.

  3. How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)

    Conclude your essay with a sense of closure, ensuring your final words leave a lasting impression. 6. Evidence and Examples: Support your opinion with credible evidence, such as research findings, assignment expert opinions, or real-life examples. This lends credibility to your argument and makes it more persuasive.

  4. Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Opinion Essay + Examples

    An essay based on a person's personal opinion implies a clear statement of the author's thoughts on a specific topic. However, to show understanding of the problem, one should rely on facts, research, or examples from life. A supported opinion essay is precisely when the author's opinion is based on objective factors. 📎 References

  5. How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)

    Body Paragraphs. The body paragraphs of your good opinion essay should provide arguments and supporting examples to substantiate your opinion. Begin each paragraph with a distinct topic sentence and use credible sources to provide substantiation for your viewpoint with dependable data. Addressing counterarguments in your body paragraphs can ...

  6. How to Write an Opinion Essay: Structure and Examples

    In this blog post, we will discuss the structure of an opinion essay and provide some examples to help you write a well-structured and convincing opinion essay. Structure of an Opinion Essay. An opinion essay should have a clear and well-organized structure, which consists of the following components: 1. Introduction. 2. Body Paragraphs. 3 ...

  7. How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)

    4. Include your thesis statement. As you're writing an opinion essay, it's essential to use the researched information to create your thesis and support your argument, rather than simply quoting information from other sources. Your thesis comprises your position or claim on the selected topic and indicates to the reader what your essay is about.

  8. An opinion essay

    Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it. Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones. Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words. Show understanding of both sides of the argument. Use linking words to connect your ideas. Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay.

  9. Ultimate Guide To Writing An Opinion Essay: 50 ...

    3. Supporting evidence and examples: It is important to use evidence and examples to support the writer's argument. This can include statistics, facts, quotes, and personal experiences. 4. Counter arguments: It's also important to address counter arguments or opposing viewpoints in an opinion essay.

  10. How to Write an Opinion Essay in 5 Steps

    3. Provide Strong Supporting Evidence. While an opinion essay is inherently subjective, it is essential to bolster your arguments with relevant evidence. This may include real-life examples, statistics, expert opinions, or historical references. The more compelling your evidence, the more persuasive your essay becomes. 4. Address Counterarguments.

  11. Beginner's Guide: How to Write a Compelling Opinion Essay

    How to Write an Opinion Essay? State your opinion in the introduction: Clearly express your stance on the issue. Provide supporting points in the body: For each paragraph, start with a clear topic sentence. Then, back up this statement with evidence, examples, or personal experiences.

  12. How to Write an Opinion Essay

    Use vocabulary correctly. Use the right word for the job and write as an educated person. For example, you wouldn't include a sentence like, "OMG, that experiment totally rocked" in a formal essay. Writing with an educated voice adds to your credibility, which strengthens your opinion.

  13. How to Write an Opinion Essay: A Complete Guide

    An introduction, main body, and conclusion will be the main parts of the opinion paper. The classic structure consists of 5 passages. That is, three will be in the main part and two more for the opinion essay introduction and final part. You may include some supporting grounds for your opinion on a topic in the introductory part.

  14. 5 Tips for Writing an Opinion Essay

    Research Your Topic. To write an effective opinion essay, you have to understand your topic inside and out. Your personal opinion should be informed and fully developed, but it doesn't stop there. Research popular counterclaims as well—in order to truly understand what you are arguing for or against, it is imperative that you understand the ...

  15. How to Write an Opinion Essay: Examples, Structure, & Tips

    Example: An introduction. Write a thesis statement and the reasons that support your opinion. Give your readers a hook to engage them with the topic. The main body. Break it into several paragraphs where you provide arguments and supporting examples, statements, and facts. A conclusion.

  16. PDF Strategies for Essay Writing

    When you write an essay for a course you are taking, you are being asked not only to create a product (the essay) but, more importantly, to go through a process of thinking more deeply about a question or problem related to the course. By writing about a source or collection of sources, you will have the chance to wrestle with some of the

  17. Tips on Generating a Strong Opinion Essay

    Write an effective opinion essay in several easy steps! Follow this step-by-step guide and writing tips, and choose your best essay topic. US. 19292010148 . support@handmadewriting.сom. ... When writing an opinion essay, transition statements help to link your personal opinions to already existing arguments. They could also portray the flaws ...

  18. How to Write a Personal Essay: 6 Tips for Writing Personal Essays

    Include your hook, state your thesis, and form an emotional connection with the reader. Set your audience up for what your piece will be about and give them something to look forward to. 3. Fill your body paragraphs. Use sensory details about the sequence of events surrounding your thesis to guide the reader through your personal essay. Build ...

  19. Academic Writing: How to Express Your Personal Opinion

    To a lesser extent, we have expressions such as "To my mind,…", From my point of view" and "As far as I am concerned"; These three phrases are also rather used in speech than in writing. Another useful way of explicitly stating your opinion is to employ structures that contain adjectives, such as "I consider it important/ crucial ...

  20. How to Write an Argumentative Essay

    Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.

  21. 10 English Phrases to Express Your Opinion in an Essay

    This won't take long and it's really important. 1. For these phrases to be really effective, you'll need to review your grammar. Shayna has some great videos on her Espresso English Youtube channel. I recommend these: Subject/Verb agreement. Formal and Informal English.

  22. How to Write an Opinion Essay 2023? 100+ Topics and Ideas

    Introduction. If you wonder how to start an opinion essay, the writing principle here is the same as in the other essay kinds. Always start writing with the introduction, which prepares the readers for whatever is coming next. By the same rule, an opinion essay introduction contains the writer's summarized thoughts about the subject.

  23. How To Start A College Essay About Yourself

    The first step in starting a college essay about yourself is to brainstorm potential topics. This is where you'll want to think about what makes you unique and what experiences have shaped who you are today. Here are some prompts to get you started: A significant challenge you've faced and how you overcame it.

  24. Opinion

    Many Patients Don't Survive End-Stage Poverty. Dr. Ryan is an associate physician at the University of California, San Francisco, department of medicine. He has an easy smile, blue eyes and a ...

  25. Opinion

    What we should fear most is Mr. Trump transforming our government into a modern-day Tammany Hall, installing a kleptocratic leadership that will be difficult if not impossible to dislodge. I do ...

  26. Opinion

    But homelessness arises from policy decisions, not from a ruling by an appellate court. The Supreme Court should uphold the Ninth Circuit's ruling. Otherwise it will open the door for ...

  27. NPR responds after editor says it has 'lost America's trust' : NPR

    NPR defends its journalism after senior editor says it has lost the public's trust. NPR is defending its journalism and integrity after a senior editor wrote an essay accusing it of losing the ...

  28. Columbus, Paul Werth PR firm work in tandem to boost zoning overhaul

    A Dispatch review of public records reveals a behind-the-scenes effort that included the firm writing an emotional draft letter to the editor on behalf of a supposed member of the public, creating ...

  29. Opinion

    All of these qualities make Mr. Trump what the complexity scientist Peter Turchin refers to as an "elite aspirant." It may seem absurd to refer to a rich guy who went to an Ivy League school ...

  30. How Mike Johnson Got to 'Yes' on Aid to Ukraine

    April 21, 2024, 5:01 a.m. ET. For weeks after the Senate passed a sprawling aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, Speaker Mike Johnson agonized over whether and how the House would take up ...