opinion essay topics for 2nd grade

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2nd Grade Opinion Writing: My Favorite Season

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Teacher friends… the leaves are changing, the weather is getting colder and PSLs are back at Starbucks. My favorite season has joyfully returned (and in 2020, where nothing good seems to be happening, that’s a BIG deal!)! So with seasonal love affairs in mind, let’s talk about a fun and easy 2nd grade opinion writing activity that you can do with your students this week using the season as inspiration!

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When it comes to 2nd-grade opinion writing, one of the most powerful things you can do is make it meaningful for your students. That’s why I love this opinion writing project I’m sharing with you today so much! Not only is this writing activity super simple, but it teaches your writers how to support their opinions and guides them through organizing their opinion writing. I promise your students are going to actually want to write! Oh, and did I mention there’s a craft? (Don’t worry! It’s super simple and adds just enough fun to the project to help balance out all the learning that’s happening.)

My Favorite Season Opinion Writing: Start with a Book

To introduce this lesson, I love using the book, Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn by Kenard Pak.

As you read, point out all the things that are signaling the arrival of a new season! I love all the books from this author. You can check out more from him here on Amazon !

2nd Grade Opinion Writing Class Brainstorm

After reading the story, section a sheet of chart paper or whiteboard into four sections. As a class, discuss how the child in the story noticed all the things that signaled fall was coming. As students share, jot down their thoughts. Label this area “Fall.” From there, you can share that your favorite season is fall and discuss all the things you love about it. If one of the items you love wasn’t mentioned, be sure to add it to the “Fall” area of the class brainstorm. Also, if at some point while reading this you are asking, “What if fall isn’t my favorite season?” … Are you even a teacher?

Do the same for all the other seasons. Discuss what makes each season special. Think of flowers and rain showers in the spring, swimming, and no school in the summer, etc. As students share, be sure to add it to your class brainstorm. This will serve as a reference point, so make sure it is written where students can see it.

Favorite Season Opinion Writing Brainstorm

Once you’ve filled in each season with at least 3-4 details, it’s time to set the purpose for today’s writing lesson. Show your students the brainstorming sheet you’ll use for the favorite season opinion writing activity.

Don’t worry, I’m sharing all the printables from this post at the end for free!

Discuss what an opinion is and how to use details to support it. Show students where to write their favorite season and then three reasons why it’s their favorite.

Now it’s time to transition to working on the brainstorm.

I know what you’re thinking… my students aren’t going to want to do this part. They aren’t going to want to write something down.

But… STOP! 🛑

Stop the negative thinking.

Instead : Acknowledge that writing is hard.

It takes a lot of brainpower to write (sounding out words, creating the letters, making sure what they write makes sense) but that’s why what you just did (that pre-brainstorming stuff) and what you’re about to do is so important!

Ready…

Before sending students to work on their brainstorms, ask students to close their eyes, and think about their favorite time of the year. Which is it? Tell them to imagine themselves at that time of year. What are they doing? What do they see? What makes them happy? Once students have it, have them hold up their thumb to signal to you that they are ready to work on their own brainstorm.

Oh and ready to write they will be…

See… all the back work you just did with the book reading, the discussion of your favorite season (Fall- just in case you forgot, remember you’re a teacher! ), and then writing down the class brainstorm does something powerful for your little writers. It activates their brains and helps them make connections. Connections are powerful things when it comes to learning (I’ll save all the science talk for another day) but know when your students make connections, they will want to do the work!

Dismiss students to begin working on their brainstorms. Remind them to use the list on the whiteboard if they get stuck on reasons that season is their favorite. Though I find when it comes to second graders voicing their opinions, they usually don’t struggle too much- the list just usually helps with spelling/grammar!

Give students about 10-15 minutes to work on their brainstorm. Some may need more time and that’s ok. You can extend it. Use your teacher judgment. Now, you can stop here. This is a perfect place to end the writing for the day and move on to the next thing. If you do, complete the next part the following day during your writing time.

Easy Opinion Writing Paragraph Structure

The next day, remind your students about the seasons and their favorite seasonal writing they started the previous day. Have students review what they have written on their brainstorm. They should make sure they can read what they wrote and that it makes sense. This is also the perfect time to have students who didn’t get a chance to complete their brainstorm actually finish!

From there, model how you’ll use your brainstorm to guide your writing. (So if you haven’t already, be sure to fill one out! Here are some suggestions: Your favorite season is fall. Reason one: PSL. Reason 2: pumpkin-flavored everything. Reason 3: fall leaves. )

Now, pass out the final draft paper for the Favorite Season Writing (Don’t worry- that’s at the end, too! When I said everything, I meant- everything!) Now, yes, normally we’d do a rough draft, but when you’re short on time, sometimes rough drafts get cut, and that’s ok!)

Keep writing very simple at the beginning of the year in second grade (yes- November is still considered beginning). If students have a strong foundation of the simple stuff (structure, conventions), then the other stuff is much easier to layer on.

Here’s a quick peek at the opinion writing paragraph structure we’re using for this opinion writing project:

Opinion Writing Paragraph:

• Opening sentence- tells the reader your opinion
• supporting detail 1
• supporting detail 2
• supporting detail 3
• closing detail- reminds the reader of your opinion

Model how you’ll use the wording from the top line of the brainstorm to write an opening sentence. Remind your writers that an opening sentence tells the reader what the writing is about. We want our reader to know right away that we’re writing about our favorite season.

From there, we work to support our opinion using our reasons from the brainstorm. I show my students how I’m using what I’ve already written to form my sentences.

Over the years, I’ve found that many students who struggle with writing don’t actually struggle with the physical part of writing, but they struggle with the mental load of writing. Reminding them that we’ve already done “all the hard” stuff the previous day helps elevate the mental load block. Now, instead of having to think about all the things they need to think about when writing (letters, sounds, making sense, what they meant). they can just focus on writing what they mean and a few letter formations.

After we’ve worked through the opening and supporting sentences, I always like to model going back and rereading what was written. Have your students get in the habit of doing the same. This way they can catch errors and fix them early before getting too far along into the writing.

Last, we work on a closing sentence. Here, I remind students that a closing sentence reminds readers what they read about, and we work as a class to formulate a sentence.

And look at that, teacher friend! Your students just wrote an opinion paragraph. Simple, yes, but they did it! And they were excited about writing it, too.

Opinion Writing Rubric

Ok… here’s the thing about writing. Good writing (in general) ticks off certain boxes. You know what helps make sure your students tick off all the boxes? A rubric.

Friends, I live by a rubric when it comes to writing, and one of these days, I’ll write a whole blog post on just how you can harness the power of these bad boys, but for today, let’s focus on how you can use a rubric for a quick student spot check.

After students have written their paragraph, pass out the rubric. Discuss the items shown on the rubric and check them against YOUR writing sample. Demonstrate how you are looking for those things. Capital letters…? Watch me skim through my writing.

Details? See how I count?

Words not spelled correctly? Look at me using this amazing resource called a word wall to spot check this tricky sight word I’m not sure is spelled correctly.

Remind students that the rubric will help ensure that their writing includes everything good writing should have. Encourage your students to fix mistakes they find and check it off on the rubric.

There’s so much more I want to say about the importance of using a rubric for writing, but let’s move along.

The Best Season Opinion Writing Craft

Ok, so I promised you an easy craft and here it is. Guys… don’t you even come at me with, Leigh, why does there need to be a craft ?

The truth is… there doesn’t… but then again… there kinda does. Because second graders are seven. Writing is creative. Crafting is creative. Crafts allow our students to express thoughts and feelings and that’s exactly what we want our writers to do. So yes… there kinda needs to be a craft!

For the creative part of this My Favorite Season Opinion Writing, students get a chance to decorate a tree to match their favorite season.

Here is my sample. I decorated my tree using paint dotters in fun fall colors, but you could just have students use crayons and color.

Or, if you’re feeling extra fancy, have your students use tissue paper torn into small pieces and glued them on to represent the leaves on their tree. Just remember to provide lots of color options for the different seasons!

To publish the writing, have students glue their writing on a 12 x 18 sheet of construction paper with the tree craft next to it.

Then, most importantly, display their writings in the classroom or hallways and give students time to share their work with the class! We just took the time to write about their opinion, let’s make sure to show how important that opinion is by allowing time to share it!

My Favorite Season Opinion Writing Lesson Free Download

Ready to bring this lesson to your 2nd-grade classroom? Then just sign up below and hurry to check your email. There, you’ll find a little message from me 🧡 and everything you need to bring this introduction opinion writing lesson to life!

More Writing Ideas

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• Battle of the Pets: Persuasive Writing Activity
• 5 Super Simple Ways to Improve Your Students’ Writing
• 3 Sure-Fire Ways to Get Your Students Excited About Writing!
• Categories: 2nd Grade , Fall , opinion writing , writing , writing craftivity

Hi, I'm Leigh.

The Applicious Teacher is all about creating hands-on and engaging lessons that align with the standards while still having time for your life. This is your place for ideas, tips, and resources for the REAL teacher!

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Best Opinion Essay Topic Ideas

Opinion Writing Topics 2nd Grade: 77 Cool Ideas

Second grade students are still new to the writing business, so when getting opinion writing topics 2nd grade students should work on, make sure they’re fun.

Opinion Writing Topics Second Grade Students Would Love

Below is a list of 77 cool opinion writing topics that encompasses subjects children love. Out of these opinion essay topics, second grade students will find some they would love to write on.

• Which sport is the best?
• Is it better to be a nice person or a smart person?
• Which animal is the best?
• Should parents always read bedtime stories to their children?
• Is it better to read with a tablet or a printed book?
• What is your favourite drink?
• What is your favourite season?
• Is being kind more important than being famous?
• Are sunny days better than rainy days?
• Are play dates better than sleepovers?
• What kind of food should your school cafeteria add to the menu?
• Do you think animals can talk?
• Why is your favourite song the best song?
• Should children have as much desserts as they want?
• Do you think ice-cream should be free for children?
• Do you think horses are better than donkeys?
• What is your favourite place, to visit?
• Is it better to know how to write or draw?
• Are pets better than stuffed animals?
• Are tablets better than hand phones?
• What is the easiest way to tell the time?
• Should kids tell lies?
• Should grown-ups tell lies?
• Do you think ghosts are real?
• Are crayons better than colour pencils?
• Which is better, markers or watercolour?
• Is it better to use a paintbrush for painting, or your fingers?
• What is your favourite kind of juice?
• What is your favourite TV show, and why should others watch it?
• If you were principal for a day, what school rule would you change?
• If you could choose any pet, what would it be?
• What is your favourite meal, and why?
• Should school buses be painted in your favourite colour?
• Should people take food into libraries?
• Which day of the week is your favourite, and why?
• What is your favourite summer activity, and why?
• Should kids be given more homework or less homework?
• If you were a teacher for a day, what would you do?
• If you were president for a day, what would you do?
• If you could choose a pet for your class, which would it be?
• Should buildings be made taller?
• What is your favourite holiday, and why?
• Do you think being a fish is fun?
• If you could travel to any planet, which would it be?
• Do you think a snowy day is better than a sunny day?
• What is the best colour?
• Which colour of the rainbow is the best?
• Which shape is the best?
• Would you rather have more trousers or shorts?
• Should parents do homework for their children?
• What is the best way to make someone happy?
• What is the best place to spend the holiday?
• What is your favourite candy, and why?
• What wild animal would you choose as a pet?
• Would you rather build a snowman or ride a sled?
• Would you rather be a dog or a cat?
• What is your favourite activity?
• Would you rather be a singer or dancer?
• Do you think magic is real?
• Do you think dragons exist?
• Would you rather know how to fly or to swim fast?
• What weather do you like the most?
• Are books better than movies?
• What is the best ice-cream flavour?
• What is the best type of fruit?
• What is the best type of vegetable?
• Would you rather have coloured hair or coloured teeth?
• Do you prefer sweet or sour foods?
• What is your favourite ice-cream topping?
• Would you rather go to the pool or the beach?
• What is the worst fruit?
• What is the worst vegetable?
• What is your favourite snack?
• Should recess be longer?
• What is the best cereal?
• What is the best thing about summer?
• What is the best thing about fall?

With these opinion writing topics, 2nd grade students should have no problems. They are the exact kind of opinion writing topics that the students can rely on themselves to write.

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100 Fun Writing Prompts for 2nd Grade: Journal Prompts

• Prompts for Writing a Narrative Essay
• Prompts for Writing Informative Essays
• Prompts for Research Writing
• Prompts for 2nd Graders for Humorous Writing
• Prompts for Second Graders for Poetry Writing
• Prompts for 2nd Grade Fiction Writing
• Prompts for Animals for Second Graders
• Prompts for Second Grade for Emotional Writing
• Prompts for Journals for Second Graders
• Prompts for Descriptive Writing for Second Graders

Are your little ones ready to embark on a thrilling writing adventure? We have an exciting opportunity for 2nd graders to showcase their creativity through our 100 creative 2nd Grade Writing Prompts . With these prompts, your child can write about anything their heart desires, from their favorite pet to their dream holiday spot. They can even create their own magical kingdom, travel to space, or invent their own superhero.

“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” – E.L. Doctorow

Incorporating writing prompts into the curriculum has been shown to improve writing fluency, quality, and overall performance, as well as motivation, according to an article published by IJCER . These prompts are a fun and engaging way to help develop their writing skills and spark their imagination. So, let’s encourage our young writers to explore their creative sides and unleash their inner author. Use them for school writing assignments or fun at home. 2nd grade writing prompts offer endless creative possibilities. Let’s look at narrative, informative, research, funny, poetry, fiction, animal, emotion-based, journal, and descriptive writing prompts. So prepare to write your creative ideas.

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More educational resources and worksheets for 2nd graders !

10 Prompts for Writing a Narrative Essay

Here are ten 2nd grade narrative writing prompts that are perfect for 2nd graders:

• Make up a story about a magical adventure you went on with your pet.
• Assume you have a time machine. When and where would you travel? Create a narrative about your experience.
• Write a story about a superhero’s day in life.
• What would your superpower be, and why would you want it? Create a story in which you use your power to save the day.
• Consider yourself a pirate on a treasure hunt. Write a story about your treasure hunt.
• Write a story about a robot’s day in life.
• What animal would you be if you could be any animal, and why? Create a story about your experiences as that animal.
• Write a story about a magical garden you come across.
• Consider the possibility of speaking with anyone in history. Who would you approach, and what would you ask them? Create a story based on your conversation.
• Write a story about an astronaut’s day in life.

10 Prompts for Writing Informative Essays

Opinion writing prompts 2nd grade students to help them express their personal views on various topics. Here are ten Informative essay Writing prompts to try:

• Which animal would you be for a day? Why? Tell your animal adventures.
• Imagine you can fly one morning. Where do you go? See what? Journal about your exciting day.
• What is your favorite summer activity as a kid ? Write a paragraph about your favorite summer activity and why.
• What superpower would you want? Write about rescuing someone with your new power.
• Your favorite educational game . Why is it special? Explain your love in a paragraph.
• Favorite book? Write a book review describing the book and why you liked it.
• Imagine time travel to any historical event. Where do you go? See what? Tell your time-travel story.
• Which celebrity would you like to meet and why? Write to that person about why you admire them and what you would ask if you met them.
• Dream holiday. Where do you go? Do what? Describe your perfect holiday.
• Favorite food? Include ingredients and steps in a recipe.

10 Prompts for Research Writing

Writing topics for 2nd graders can cover a broad range of subjects, from animals and nature to personal learning experiences and cultural traditions. Here are ten research writing prompts that are perfect for 2nd graders:

• Choose an animal you’re interested in and research some facts about it. What does it eat? Where does it live? What are some interesting things about this animal?
• Pick your favorite season and learn about it. What kind of weather happens during this season? What activities can you do during this season?
• Choose a country you’re curious about and discover some facts. What language do they speak? What kind of food do they eat? What are some famous landmarks in that country?
• Learn about different types of plants. What are some common plants in your area? What do plants need to grow?
• Research different types of insects. What do they eat? Where do they live? What is their life cycle like?
• Study the planets in our solar system. What are their names? Which planet is closest to the sun? Which world is the largest?
• Investigate different modes of transportation. What types of vehicles can you think of? How do they move? What is your favorite mode of transportation?
• Learn about a joke that you enjoy. What are the rules? How is the game played? Who are some famous athletes in this sport?
• Choose a historical figure or someone you admire. What did they do that was important? What were their accomplishments?
• Research different types of food. What are some of your favorite foods? Where do they come from? How are they made?

10 Prompts for 2nd Graders for Humorous Writing

Here are ten fun writing prompts for 2nd grade that will get your imagination going!

• Imagine waking up with animal-talking abilities. Write about your new pets’ adventures.
• Write about a silly superhero who turns everything they touch into pizza.
• What pet would you choose and why? Describe life with your new pet.
• If you could have any animal as a pet, What pet would you choose and why? Describe life with your new pet.
• Imagine you woke up in a world made entirely of candy. Write about the adventures you have and the creatures you meet in this sweet new world.
• Write a story about a robot who is terrible at its job but saves the day.
• What would you use it for if you could have any superpower?
• Imagine you were a pirate sailing the seven seas. What adventures would you have, and what treasure would you be searching for?
• Write a story about a talking tree that is always getting into trouble.
• If you could be any character from your favorite book, who would it be and why?

10 Prompts for Second Graders for Poetry Writing

Here are some poetry writing prompts for 2nd grade that will help spark their imagination and creativity:

• Write a haiku about your favorite part of nature. Remember, haikus have three lines with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second, and five in the third.
• Pick your favorite color and write a poem about it. Use descriptive words to explain how the color makes you feel.
• Choose an animal and write an acrostic poem using the letters of the animal’s name. Each line should start with a letter from the title.
• Write a cinquain poem about someone in your family. A cinquain has five lines with a specific number of syllables in each line (2, 4, 6, 8, and 2).
• Write a limerick about your favorite food. A limerick has five lines with a specific rhyming pattern (AABBA).
• Write a free verse poem about a friend. A free verse poem doesn’t have to rhyme, but it should have a clear message or feeling.
• Write a diamante poem about your school. A diamante poem has seven lines that create a diamond shape with specific numbers of syllables in each line.
• Write a poem about the weather. Use descriptive words to compare the temperature to something else.
• Write a quatrain poem about your favorite holiday. A quatrain has four lines with a specific rhyming pattern (ABAB).
• Write a narrative poem about a dream you had. A narrative poem for kids tells a story and has a clear beginning, middle, and end.

10 Prompts for 2nd Grade Fiction Writing

Creative writing prompts 2nd grade students to encourage imaginative storytelling and self-expression. Here are 10 prompts to get their imaginations flowing:

• Your pet dog/cat/rabbit suddenly starts talking! What do they say, and how do you react?
• You discover a magical backyard door leading to a secret world. Describe what you see and do in this new world.
• You wake up one day with 1 Core money. Where do you go, and what do you do?
• Write a story about a lost toy that comes to life and goes on an adventure to find its way back home.
• You find a genie lamp on the beach. What do you wish for, and what happens next?
• Imagine you are a superhero with a special power. Describe your superhero name, costume, and the villain you are fighting against.
• You are the Pirate ship captain. Describe your crew, your treasure, and a daring adventure you go on.
• Write a story about a group of animals that work together to solve a problem.
• Imagine you are the main character in your favorite fairy tale. Rewrite the story with a different ending.
• One day, you can speak to plants. Talk to your favorite plant.

10 Prompts for Animals for Second Graders

Here are some creative animal writing prompts for 2nd grade that they will enjoy:

• Which animal would you be for a day? Why?
• Write about a lost puppy returning home.
• Imagine you are a squirrel gathering food for the winter. Write a diary entry about your day.
• Which wild animal would you pet and why?
• Write a story about a group of animals who work together to build a treehouse.
• Imagine being a bird flying high. Write to your best friend about what you saw.
• If you could talk to any bird, Which bird would you converse with, and what would you say?
• Write a story about a cat who has magical powers.
• Imagine being a dolphin in the ocean. Poemize your life.
• Which zoo animal would you be and why? Write an essay persuading the zookeeper to let you be that animal for a day.

10 Prompts for Second Grade for Emotional Writing

Here are 10 creative 2nd grade writing prompts about emotions for 2nd graders:

• Describe a happy moment. Your activity? With whom? Has it affected you?
• Write a letter to someone you love expressing your love.
• Write about an angry character. What happened? Their anger management?- 
• Imagine going back to a happy memory. Explain why you like that memory.
• Write a poem about peace. It could be a place, person, or activity.
• Recall a scary moment. Describe what happened and how you overcome your fear.
• Write about a sad character. Why? How do they handle emotions?
• Imagine having any emotion for a day. Which feeling and why? Write about it.
• Write about an excited character. What’s exciting? How do they show excitement?
• Think of a time you were proud. Explain how you felt and why?

10 Prompts for Journals for Second Graders

2nd grade journal prompts can encourage students to express their thoughts and emotions through writing.

“Writing prompts are the highway to the creative subconscious.” – Karen Salmansohn

Here are ten 2nd grade journal prompts to inspire your creative Writing:

• Imagine a magic pencil that brings your drawings to life. Why?
• Favorite outdoor activity for kids ? Discuss your favorite exercise and why?
• If you could have any pet worldwide, what would it be and why?
• Write about a proud moment. What made you proud?
• Imagine you are a superhero. How would you help others with your superpower?
• Describe your favorite holiday and why. Family and friend traditions?
• If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
• Recall a problem-solving experience. Describe the issue and your solution.
• Write a story about a talking fish. What kind of fish is it, and what adventures does it go on?
• Imagine you are a chef. Write about your favorite recipe and how you make it.

Second grade journal prompts can inspire young writers to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. By providing a variety of 2nd grade journal topics, parents and teachers can encourage their students to explore different writing styles and develop their own unique voices.

10 Prompts for Descriptive Writing for Second Graders

Writing ideas for 2nd grade can range from descriptive writing to narrative writing, providing opportunities for skill-building and growth. Here are 10 descriptive writing prompts for second graders to inspire their creativity and imagination:

• Describe your favorite toy in detail. What color is it? What does it feel like? What sounds does it make?
• Imagine you are on a trip to the beach. Describe the sand, the waves, and the sun. How do they make you feel?
• Describe your favorite animal. What does it look like? What does it eat? Where does it live?
• Write a description of your bedroom. What color are the walls? What kind of furniture do you have? What’s on your bed?
• Envision a magical forest. Describe your surroundings. Animals? Any special plants or trees?
• Describe your favorite food. What does it smell like? What does it taste like? What ingredients are in it?
• Imagine you are in a haunted house. Describe the creaky floors, the cobwebs, and the spooky sounds. What do you see?
• Describe your best friend. What do they look like? What do they like to do? What’s their favorite thing to eat?
• Imagine you are in outer space. Describe the planets, stars, and galaxies. What do they look like? What colors do you see?
• Describe your dream vacation. Where would you go? What would you do? What would you see?

How to Assist Second-Grade Students in Developing Writing Skills?

The research paper “The Effect of Creative Writing Prompts on Students’ Written Expression in a Second Grade Classroom” suggests that incorporating writing prompts in the classroom and at home can be an effective strategy to help second-grade students develop their writing skills and foster a love for writing. It is an opportunity to encourage them to express their thoughts and ideas creatively and build their confidence as writers. As parents and teachers, we can utilize this to help our second-graders develop their writing skills and build a passion for writing. 

“Writing is an act of faith, not a trick of grammar.” – E.B. White

Here are a few actionable tips to help your child become an excellent writer using 2nd grade writing prompts.

• Start by teaching the basics of sentence structure, grammar, and punctuation.
• Set realistic goals and gradually increase the difficulty of writing prompts or journal entries to challenge your child’s writing skills.
• Provide constructive feedback to help your child improve their writing skills and boost their confidence.
• Incorporate 2nd grade journal prompts regularly in classroom activities and at home to improve your child’s writing fluency and confidence.

Using these tips and incorporating writing prompts into your child’s learning journey can have a significant impact on their writing performance and motivation. 

Celebrating the Journey of 100 Fun Writing Prompts for 2nd-Grade

As parents and teachers, we can play an essential role in nurturing the writing skills of our 2nd graders. By using 2nd grade writing prompts we can encourage our young writers to express themselves in a creative and thoughtful manner. It’s important to note that writing prompts are not just limited to creative writing, they can also be used to explore various topics and encourage critical thinking. In a recent article published by The New York Times , the benefits of using writing prompts have been highlighted as a tool to motivate and engage students. By incorporating prompts into classroom activities such as a mock debate assignment, teachers can help students develop their writing skills, critical thinking abilities, and overall academic performance. 

“Writing prompts are a great way to stimulate your mind and push your writing to new heights.” – Steve Alcorn

So let’s make writing fun and exciting for our 2nd graders by providing them with a variety of writing prompts, and let’s encourage them to write with passion, curiosity, and creativity. Together, we can help our young writers unlock their full potential and become confident and effective communicators.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How can these prompts help 2nd grade students.

These 2nd grade writing prompts can help students in several ways. They can help students develop their writing skills by giving them a specific topic to write about and encouraging them to use their imagination. They can also help students learn about different topics and express their thoughts and feelings.

How can teachers or parents use these prompts with their students/children?

Teachers or parents can use these prompts as writing assignments for their students/children. They can give the students/children a prompt and ask them to write a story or a paragraph about it. Teachers or parents can also use the prompts as conversation starters to encourage students/children to talk about different topics and practice their speaking skills.

Are there any resources available to accompany these prompts?

Yes, there are many resources available online that can accompany these prompts. For example, teachers or parents can find graphic organizers, writing templates, and other resources that can help students organize their thoughts and ideas.

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Opinion Writing for 2nd Graders

May 6, 2015

If your second grade students are working on opinion writing or persuasive writing, you may be looking for a few tools to get started. Here are some resources to help.

Opinion Writing Resources

Back when the Common Core was first being implemented in our state, I was diving into opinion writing without a road map telling me where to go. I turned to Pinterest and found this anchor chart. The original source was Live, Love, Laugh, Learn First Grade, which no longer seems to be an active blog:

My next stop was Teachers Pay Teachers to see what was out there.

Most of these were created for first grade, but I needed to start somewhere.

Opinion Writing Books

Like all of my other writing units, I begin with picture books that model the text features I want my students to include in their own writing. Here are a few choices to get started:

• Facts vs. Opinions vs. Robots
• I Want a Dog: An Opinion Essay
• I Wanna Iguana
• Hey, Little Ant
• Can I Be Your Dog?
• Stella Writes an Opinion
• A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea
• One Word From Sophia
• Don’t Feed the Bear
• The Big Bed
• Duck! Rabbit!
• The Perfect Pet
• Dog vs. Cat

You can find even more book options for opinion writing by clicking the image below:

we are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Opinion writing anchor charts.

After reading some books, I talk about what second graders are expected to do according to Common Core. This is when I introduce our anchor chart. When first introduced, all that is showing is the title and the CCSS, not the example paragraph.

I like _ because _ .

I prefer _ to because ___ .

I believe _ because .

In case you’re wondering, they are not allowed to say “because it’s cool”, “because it’s the best”, “because they’re great” or anything along those lines. It must be a specific reason! To really drive this point home, we use thumbs up or thumbs down in the whole group. A student will state an opinion using a sentence frame. Students will give a thumbs up or thumbs down letting their peers know if the reasons are specific or not.

Once my students have the frames down, it’s time to start building on it. At this point of the year, my students already know and understand topic and conclusion sentences. This is when I go back and write a sample paragraph (the bottom half of the standards poster). Since they are used to 5 sentence paragraphs, this doesn’t really shock them.

Opinion Writing Graphic Organizer

Then I introduce a prewrite. I’m sure many of you have seen the OREO idea. It really is catchy! The plan you see on the right is what we use when first starting out (once my kids catch on, they don’t need a formal plan sheet, but can create their own in their writing notebooks). The topic goes on the top line. The first rectangle is for the topic sentence. The three rectangles with cloud bubbles are for the reasons/examples. The bubbles are there to remind students to choose sentence starters. The bottom rectangle is for the conclusion sentence.

When we start writing, I choose the topics and prompts for my students. However, later on they can choose their own topics. Here is what my anchor chart tends to look like. FYI – I tend to stick more to the top two tiers, but the real-world category motivates many second graders!

Opinion Writing Examples

Since we tend to do this unit in the spring, you can incorporate your writing into Mother’s Day and Father’s Day gifts!

Thanks for sticking with me.  Here are your freebies:

I hope this has given you a new idea or two for opinion writing! You might also enjoy:

• How-To Writing
• Friendly Letter Writing
• Daily 5 Writing
• Picture Books about Writing
• Ways to Increase Writing Engagement

Happy Teaching!

Related posts:

May 6, 2015 at 7:59 pm

We use the oreo model, too. Found with this year's group I needed to make our graphic organizer very explicit or I would get only a reason or only an example. Thanks for some additional ideas!!

May 8, 2015 at 12:11 am

Thank you so much for sharing this easy to understand and follow ideas. I teach 3rd grade and need to teach this writing skill, too, and you've given me the incentive to try.

November 19, 2017 at 4:12 pm

Thank you for the wonderful resources! 🙂

April 6, 2020 at 5:11 pm

This is a very helpful page. Thank you!

March 18, 2023 at 11:19 pm

Thank you for the awesome resource! It will be just right for my students.

March 19, 2023 at 9:15 am

Of course! I hope your students enjoy the activities. Storie

January 21, 2024 at 3:34 pm

Thank you so much for this resource. It’s making it much easier for the students to grasp the structure of an opinion essay.

January 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm

I’m so glad you’re able to use the resources! Storie

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2nd Grade Opinion Writing Unit

Have you been wondering how to teach opinion writing to 2nd graders? It’s frustrating when your school doesn’t provide a writing curriculum (or worse, it’s an awful one). Have you found yourself googling ‘how do you teach second graders opinion writing?!’ If so, don’t worry! I’m here to help! I’m going to share all about my 2nd grade opinion writing unit .

What’s included in this 2nd grade personal narratives writing unit?

First up, you’re provided with everything you need to organize your lesson planning. There’s a list of common core standards that align with the unit, suggestions for differentiation, and suggested lesson times. Also, there’s a unit scope, at-a-glance calendar, list of materials, and a video overview to help you implement the unit!

Opinion writing 2nd grade Lesson plans

Next, there are 25 step-by-step lesson plans. These one page scripted plans are easy to grab and teach! The lessons in this unit follow a simple format of mini lesson, think and share, and independent writing time. There’s a short script and differentiation is included for the writing tasks.

This is NOT one of those big box curriculums where you have to sift through 10 pages of background teacher information for each lesson or read from the most BORING script. I hear so many teachers say that those curriculums are “Not teacher friendly, wordy and annoying to follow. SO many pages to read for just one lesson! “

Opinion writing posters

Next up, this unit includes 20 posters. Posters are a great way to share definitions, give examples, and explain concepts. They are used during the mini lesson but can also be displayed while students are writing (as reminders). Whether you’re teaching opinion writing introductions or conclusions, there’s a poster to cover it!

The posters also help with brainstorming. For example, the posters will give opinion writing topic ideas.

There are so many topics covered. For example, you’ll find a sentence starters poster and editing checklist.

When teaching any writing genre, I highly recommend using posters!

Mentor texts

This 2nd grade opinion writing unit includes six original mentor texts because why should you have to spend time sourcing your own?

Every mentor text has examples of the concepts and features of opinion writing that are taught in this unit (for example, all the mentor texts have reasons and examples).

Fun fact – this unit is ALL about making your life easier. That means that you’ve always got options. The mentor texts come in color and black and white PDF, as well as PowerPoints. You can print or display digitally, it’s up to you!

Mentor texts are so important when teaching writing. You need to provide 2nd grade opinion writing examples and mentor texts are the way to do this!

Click here to grab the unit from this website you’re on right now. Use the code TERRIFIC10 at checkout to save 10%!

Opinion writing prompts, graphic organizers, and worksheets

How do you engage students in opinion writing? I hear many teachers say that the big box curriculum that they are provided with is so boring for students. That’s why I made sure that this unit has ENGAGING student activities!

In this unit, students are NOT told to just ‘go off and write’ as if that will magically make them good writers! In this unit, each concept is explicitly taught and students learn all about the structure and features of opinion writing. They use the printables to work on what they have learned.

The unit slowly increases in difficulty. At the beginning, students are coloring in, sharing one word answers, tracing, and writing a single sentence or sharing one reason. By the end of the unit, they are sharing three reasons, using linking words, and writing paragraphs!

What is a fun opinion writing prompt for 2nd grade? This unit has lots of fun opinion writing prompts, such as ‘my favorite food’ and ‘my favorite animal’.

What kid doesn’t love OREOs? This OREO opinion writing graphic organizer is sure to be a hit with your kiddos! Pro tip – your lesson will be a massive success if you bring in a pack of OREO cookies!

How do you write an opinion piece in 2nd grade? It can feel a bit overwhelming! That’s why this unit will be a life saver. Things like introductions and conclusions are covered.

Cut and paste activities

Writing lessons don’t always have to be just pen and paper. This unit incorporates cut and paste activities to keep students engaged! The hands-on element allows students to really grasp the concepts.

It doesn’t matter what writing genre you’re teaching, I think that cut and paste activities are a great way to engage students!

Ever wondered how to teach paragraphs to second graders? In this unit, students are given a jumbled piece of opinion writing and are asked to put the sentence strips into order and sort them into paragraphs.

How do you teach fact vs opinion in second grade? In this unit, there’s a lesson where students sort sentences into fact and opinion columns.

Interactive notebooks

How do you make opinion writing fun? Writing lessons should be enjoyable for your students, so that’s why I recommend interactive notebooks.

Students love hands-on activities and this unit includes two opinion writing interactive notebooks!

EDITING CHECKLISTS

How do you teach students to edit and revise their writing? At the end of this unit, students use opinion writing editing checklists to proofread their work for things like spelling and punctuation, but also opinion writing features (reasons, examples, conclusion etc).

Writing folder

This unit comes with a workbook cover (in boy and girl versions)! You can choose between the wording ‘folder, journal, or notebook’.

Interested in the unit? Click here to grab it from TPT!

Opinion writing craft

One of the reasons that students often find writing lessons boring is that they are just told to write on a lined piece of paper and that’s the task. I think that adding a crafty element can really get students excited about writing!

In this opinion writing unit, students create heart pockets to store their writing. You can print on white paper (students can then color and draw) or on colored paper.

• Publishing party

It’s so important for students to celebrate their work. That’s why this unit ends with a publishing party! Certificates and compliment notes are handed out as students share their final writing piece.

early finishers

Ever wondered what to do with early finishers in writing? If you’re tired of hearing, “I’m done, now what?” or worried that your high flyers aren’t being challenged, don’t worry! This unit features 24 task cards (in color and black and white) where students can write in response to an opinion writing prompt.

Writing assessment rubric

How do you assess opinion writing? It’s important to assess your students’ writing and that’s why an opinion writing assessment rubric is included in this unit.

But there’s nothing worse than grading on a rubric that you can’t make sense of. So, I made sure to include examples and elaborations to help you understand the rubric. There’s even a video!

What lessons are taught in the unit?

• What is opinion writing?
• Facts vs. opinions
• Sharing opinions
• Answering opinion questions
• Writing an opinion sentence
• Opinions vs. reasons
• Sharing one reason
• A detailed reason
• My favorite animal
• Reasons need examples
• Sharing two reasons
• Linking words
• When I grow up
• Introduce the topic
• Share three reasons
• Lesson 17 – The conclusion
• My dream vacation
• The brainstorm
• Creating a plan
• The first draft
• Time to revise
• Time to edit
• The final draft

Are you short on time?

This  5 week  unit has EVERYTHING you need, because let’s be honest, teachers are time poor.

Let’s get your evenings and weekends back, my friend! Take a break from lesson planning and searching for engaging materials. It’s all right here.

This unit comes from Terrific Writing . It’s a curriculum that is standards based (to the common core) and genre based.

Are you struggling to teach writing? Do your students hate writing lessons?

Does your school not provide you with a writing curriculum? Or worse, is it awful? 

What if there was a way for your writing lessons to be  engaging  for students and  enjoyable  for you to teach?

Check out unit 2 of Terrific Writing today! Click here to grab it on Teachers Pay Teachers.

Wanna save 10%?

Click here to grab the unit from this website you’re on right now. Use the code TERRIFIC10 at checkout!

P.S. – Interested in free crafts and worksheets? Access my free resource library  here!

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49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

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

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

Prompts About School and Sports

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

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

Prompts About Relationships

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

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

Prompts About Family, Pets, and Leisure Time

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

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

Prompts About Society and Technology

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

• Reverse technology. Pick one technological advancement that you think the world would be better off without. Explain your reasoning and persuade the reader.
• Out of this world . Do aliens exist? Why or why not?
• Social media. Is social media good or bad for society? Why?
• Emoji. Has the use of emoji stunted our ability to express ourselves in writing, or does it help us identify our emotions more precisely?
• Auto safety. Have advancements like self-driving cars, blind spot indicators, and lane departure warning systems made driving safer, or have they just made drivers less attentive?
• Exploration Mars. Write a letter to Elon Musk convincing him that you should be part of a colony to Mars.
• Fundraisers. Is it okay for kids to stand outside stores and ask shoppers for money for their sports teams, clubs, or band? Why or why not?
• Inventions. What is the greatest invention ever made? Why is it the best?
• Important cause. In your opinion, what global problem or issue deserves more attention than it currently receives? Why should more time and money be invested in this cause?
• Minimalism. Does living a minimalist lifestyle make for a happier life? Why or why not?
• Gaming gains. Are video games generally a positive or a negative influence? Why?
• Rose-colored glasses. Is the current decade the best era in history? Why or why not?
• Paper or plastic. Should plastic bags be outlawed?
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How to Teach Opinion Writing in 2nd Grade with Spectacular Results

Looking for an alternative to OREO when teaching opinion writing in 2nd grade? Something more natural, more engaging, and cross-curricular that could be applied to various contents? Read on for my favorite tips and tricks to teach your second graders all about writing their opinion in a persuasive manner.

Important Concepts:

Students will need to know how to craft an argument or persuasive piece. This means teaching students what a REASON is and how to support those reasons with details. I like to start out the unit by teaching students to write persuasive pieces that are personal to them, then we move to more abstract concepts such as defending why a book is great or why a cat is better than a dog.

By second grade, students should be able to write a topic sentence, 3-4 reason sentences WITH details, and a closing sentence. This means student writing should be anywhere from 5-10 sentences at least.

Challenges:

Students might struggle to write reasons rather than facts about their writing. Students will need help convincing their readers that their opinions are correct rather than stating facts about the topic. This can be done by teaching students to use persuasive language and pointing this type of language out in authentic texts and actual conversations.

The Writing Process:

I cannot stress enough the importance of taking your students through the writing process every single week, for every single genre. This involves brainstorming/planning, drafting, revising, editing, publishing, grading and sharing.

Hook/Brainstorm:

Getting students EXCITED can be half the battle during writing. I love to tie all of my writing projects to an engaging read aloud. You can find my favorite opinion writing companions here.

Typically, I will read aloud a book for the hook. Then, we will brainstorm our opinion either about the text or using a topic from the text. If the topic has two sides (squish the ant or save the ant), we will talk as a class about BOTH sides of the argument.

Then, it is time for students to make a plan. Be sure not to skip this phase, it is NOT writing a full draft, but rather jotting down their ideas they are going to write about. They can use bullet points or pictures to gather their ideas, but this should NOT be done in full sentences and should not take longer than 5-10 minutes.

I like to give students two full days to draft for opinion writing. Each week, we focus on a different important skill that needs to be taught during opinion writing. Some skills we focus on are:

• Transition Words • Topic Sentences • Closing Sentences • Using Persuasive Language • Adding Details • Using NON Reasons to Persuade a Reader (for example: You might think ants are disgusting, but actually, ants are very clean insects.)

Typically, students write their topic sentence, and first two reasons and details one day. Then, I have them write their second two reasons and details, along with the closing on the second day. We focus on the skill of the week, while also reinforcing the other skills that were previously taught.

Revising/Editing:

I spend a lot of time at the beginning of the year setting up a peer editing time that is productive for students. We spend an entire day revising and editing, and I also roam the room and select certain students each week to conference with during this time.

Depending on the length of your writing block, you can either meet with all of your students or rotate through small groups of them each week.

Publish, Grade, Share:

I always have students publish a piece of writing every single week. We add it to our writing portfolios that we take home at the end of the year. When students finish publishing, I have them grade themselves on the rubric. Self-assessment is such a powerful tool for students.

After they self grade, we find time to share each week. This can be partner sharing, author’s chair, sharing with buddies, recording themselves reading or more.

What is your favorite tip for teaching opinion writing in 2nd grade?

Emily - The Mountain Teacher

One comment.

I would like to get the samples and blanks from this page of 2nd grade opinion writing but I do not see it specifically on you TPT page. Can you help me find it please?

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20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids

When using prompts for opinion writing, students can express themselves and share their beliefs.  This automatically makes them more invested in their writing.  Read on to learn more about opinion writing including mentor texts, ideas, and assessments.  Plus you will find 20 prompts that will be sure to motivate and engage kids!

What is an Opinion Writing?

Opinion writing is used to convince or persuade the reader. The writer states their opinion and gives reasons to support it.  Facts or statistics can be used to provide supporting evidence. 

Examples for Opinion Writing

There are lots of helpful examples for opinion writing.  Below you will find a list of mentor texts for kids.  It’s beneficial to immerse students in the genre before and during a writing unit.  These books model effective writing strategies that can be incorporated into lessons.

Opinion Writing Mentor Text:

• I Love Insects by Lizzy Rockwell
• The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini 
• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt 
• Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
• Red is Best by Kathy Stinson
• I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff 
• Earrings by Judith Viorst
• The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

How to Teach Opinion Writing

It’s important for students to form their own opinions and understand their feelings.  So often kids just follow the opinion of someone else whether it be a parent, sibling, or friend.  Now is the time for kids to firmly state their opinion and not waver from it.  

Writers will need to give reasons for their opinion and provide supporting examples.  The number of reasons will depend on the grade level and the student’s abilities.  For first graders, you might require only one reason while third graders may need three reasons.  Decide what works best for your learners and create modifications as needed. 

Opinion Writing Outline

Below you will find an acronym to help students plan their opinion writing. They just need to remember the word OREO. It stands for opinion, reasons, examples, and opinion (restated again). For each reason given, a sentence follows with evidence or an example. This is a more detailed approach to writing a response. It works well for the upper grades or advanced students. Depending on the level, some writers may just be working on providing reasons and will later develop the skill of using supporting examples.

The example below uses one reason with supporting evidence. For each reason, the student should write an example. The acronym might look like OREREO for two reasons or OREREREO for three reasons. A little confusing, but you get the idea.

Example: Do you think teachers should give students homework?

O – In my opinion, students should not have homework.

R – They work so hard all day at school and need a break. 

E – Instead of focusing on more work kids should be able to go outside and play, do a sport, or do other fun activities.  

O – In conclusion, students work all day at school and should not have to do homework.

Sentence Starters

As students write, it may also be helpful to use sentence starters. Teachers can project these on the board, put them on an anchor chart, or print a version for writing notebooks. I also like to do a mini-lesson where I ask the kids what types of sentence starters work well for opinion writing and we create the list together. This process helps them retain the information better and they are more likely to apply it to their own writing.

Ideas for Opinion Writing

There are so many fun and creative ideas for opinion writing.  Kids really get into this writing unit because they feel that their opinion is valued and they are eager to share their knowledge.  It’s really empowering for them!

As an activity, the teacher can present a topic to the class and have students choose a side.  Then kids can debate and state their opinion with reasons.  This is always an exciting way to get the creative juices flowing and it will translate into their writing when they have to support their opinion.

Another idea is to use prompts for opinion writing. This engages the students and helps them get started. Prompts can be assigned by the teacher or students can choose from a list or choice board. Feel free to use the sentence starters below to generate ideas for writing prompts.

• Would you rather . . . 
• Which is more important . .  
• Do you prefer . . . 
• What is the best . . .
• What is your favorite . . . 
• Should . . .
• Imagine if . . . 

Prompts for Opinion Writing

Opinion writing prompts can be created by the teacher or the students. Sometimes students come up with better prompts than I ever could. Plus kids love knowing that a peer created the prompt they are going to write about. If you’re looking for some ideas, the list below has 20 motivating and engaging prompts for kids! Also, check out this blog post to learn more about narrative writing prompts: 20 Prompts for Narrative Writing That Spark Creativity

20 Motivating and Engaging Prompts:

• If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Give 3 or more reasons why.
• Should students be able to pick their own seats in class?
• Think of a present you really want.  Now convince someone to buy it for you.
• What is the best pet someone can get?
• Would you rather live somewhere that’s extremely hot or cold?
• Which sport is the best?  Give reasons to support your opinion.
• If you could visit any place, what would it be and why?
• Would you rather live on a rural farm or in a busy city?
• Imagine you could be the President for a day.  What would be the most important thing to do first?
• Which is more important?  Being a good speaker or a good listener?
• If the weather is nice, should kids be able to have their classes outside?
• Do you think kids should have more technology time or less?
• If you could see the world through colored glasses, which color would you choose and why?
• Should kids get money for doing chores or should they just do it to help out at home?
• Convince your teacher to get a class pet.  Tell which animal would be the best choice and why.
• Would you rather visit the moon or a planet?  Explain why.
• If there could only be one season, which would you choose?
• Should kids get to choose their own bedtime?
• Would you rather give a present or receive it?
• Imagine you could create the best dessert ever!  What would it be and why?

Opinion Writing Rubrics

After students have completed their writing, teachers are left with the difficult task of assessing it.  Assessments should be accurate and aligned with the Common Core Standards.  They also need to be helpful for the teacher and the students.  

This is when writing rubrics become extremely helpful as formal assessments. They can be used for benchmarks, progress reports, report cards, and conferences. Rubrics may also be shown to students in advance so they know what the expectations are and how they will be assessed.  

Below you will find three types of opinion writing rubrics.  Check out this blog post to learn more about student-friendly, teacher-friendly, and time-saving rubrics: 3 Types of Writing Rubrics for Effective Assessments

Opinion writing has the ability to engage and empower kids.  Students will be able to explain their thinking by giving reasons and examples.  Mentor texts, sentence starters, writing prompts, and rubrics are all helpful to use in the classroom. I know your kids will love writing and sharing their opinion pieces.

Did you grab your Free Writing Prompt Guide yet?  Writing prompts are perfect for morning work, writing time, centers, or as a homework assignment.  It will save you tons of time and energy. So click the link and grab the guide to get started!

Genre Based Prompts

Related Articles:

• 20 Prompts for Narrative Writing That Spark Creativity
• 7 Ways to Introduce Opinion Writing
• Opinion Writing Ideas and Resources
• 3 Easy to Implement Tips to Teach Opinion Writing

Angela Sutton

Related posts.

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20 Prompts for Information Writing That Empower Students

Thanks for sharing. These are my favorite type of writing prompts to give to my students to see how creative they can get.

Yes! These kinds of prompts definitely get the creative juices flowing. The students always love to share their opinions with the class. Happy writing!

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A List Of The Most Impressive Opinion Essay Topics For 2nd Grade Students

In 2nd grade, your child is improving their writing skills. They're learning to write essays. Essays are something that will be consistent throughout their years of schooling. It's important to teach them to be independent, to think for themselves and do things on their own. But sometimes they need a little help, and that's okay!

If you or your child are unsure of what should go into their assignment, just find a topic that your child wants to write about and make sure they state their opinion. They can use reasons to support that opinion, and then use words that connect their opinion to their reasons.

Three reasons or examples should be enough. This makes their argument more persuasive. The conclusion can be short; one sentence that states or confirms their opinion.

This kind of project is just the way they sound. They are based on the child's opinion. Essays in the 2nd grade are pretty simple, but you might need a little help when finding a subject. If your child gets distracted easily or just can't think of a topic on their own, here are some topics that can help you.

If your child doesn't like any of these then maybe they will be enough to spark an idea that your child does like!

• What is the best pet in the world?
• What is the best school subject?
• What is the best season of the year?
• What is the best job in the world?
• What is your favorite holiday?
• What is your favorite book?
• What is the best dessert?
• What is your favorite movie?
• What is your favorite color?
• What is your favorite cake?
• What is your favorite song?
• What is your favorite TV show?
• What is the best kind of cookie?
• Why is getting a pet a good idea?
• What is your favorite ice cream?
• What is your favorite part about school?
• Are bugs good or bad?
• Do you like the rain? Why or why not?
• What is your favorite hobby?
• What is the best zoo animal?
• Do you like to go grocery shopping? Why or why not?
• Do you like potato chips?
• Do you like fish? Why or why not?
• What is the best candy in the world?
• Do snakes make good pets?
• Are anchovies good on pizza?
• What is your favorite sandwich?

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How to Teach Opinion Writing

In this post, I share 5 tips for How to Teach Opinion Writing and provide details about the Opinion Writing Units resources I have created for Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade students.   Be sure to download 3 FREE opinion writing graphic organizers !

The Common Core writing domain focuses on three big types of writing: informative, narrative, and opinion writing.  Each genre serves a unique purpose and follows a specific structure in which we must explicitly teach our students.   In my last post I shared tips and resources for teaching Informative Writing and today I’m excited to move on to Opinion Writing. 

Opinion Writing is one of my favorite genres to teach.  Young students have opinions on just about EVERYTHING and they usually aren’t afraid to share them!!  For this reason, they find the genre highly engaging! 

Today I’m sharing 5 tips for teaching opinion writing, as well as a valuable resource that has everything you need to bring opinion writing into your kindergarten , first grade, or second grade literacy centers! 

Tips for Teaching Opinion Writing

1.  read opinion writing mentor texts .

Before you can ask your students to write in a genre that is new to them, you must first immerse them in it.  So to begin your unit, you’ll want to share examples of opinion writing with your students.  These mentor texts provide students with excellent examples of opinion writing. 

As you read them aloud, highlight the way the author structures their writing.  Identify the author’s topic or opinion and point out the reasons he or she gives to support their opinion.  All of these things will help students better understand what type of writing we are asking them to do.    

When you’re picking opinion mentor texts to share with your students there are a few things to consider .  First, do you (the educator) think it is excellent?  Second, is it easy for your students to understand?  And finally, is it relevant to the type of writing you are teaching?  If you answer “Yes!” to all three, then you’re good to go!

To help you out I’ve created a list of excellent mentor texts you can use when teaching opinion writing to kindergarten, first, or second grade students.  

A List of Opinion Writing Mentor Texts:

• Duck Rabbit by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufmann Orloff
• Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
• Red is Best by Kathy Stinson
• Can I Be Your Dog? by Troy Cummings
• The Big Bed by Bunmi Laditan

I’ve saved all these titles on one board so you can easily take a closer look at these mentor texts.  Click here to see this list on Amazon.

2.  Model Your Own Opinion Writing

I know I say this a lot, but it’s worth repeating…. MODEL, MODEL, and then once again MODEL what you expect your students to do!  It is a tremendously powerful instructional tool! 

When teaching opinion writing you’ll first model how to choose a topic.  When you generate ideas you can ask yourself, “What do I know all about?” “What do I care about?” “What do I wish other people believed?”.

If these questions feel too broad for your students you can use simple “would you rather” questions to get your ideas for an opinion piece.  For example, “Would you rather have a dog or a cat?”  This could lead to the topic, “Dogs are the best pet.” Keep it simple and choose a topic that is relatable to your students.    

Next, model how you plan your writing using a graphic organizer.  Show them how you open with a topic sentence that states your opinion. Next, come up with your supporting reasons. End with a closing sentence that restates your opinion.  

Model how you use the graphic organizer to guide you as you write out your full piece. 

Finally, reread your work aloud and show students how you catch silly mistakes such as spelling, capitalization or punctuation errors.  You can also show how you add additional supporting reasons to make your writing more persuasive to the reader.  

3. Use Anchor Charts

You want your students to know that when they write an opinion piece they are sharing their own opinion. They are not sharing true facts. Take time to review the difference between facts and opinions. Create an anchor chart that defines fact vs. opinion.

You’ll also want to review language that is specific to the genre. Remind students of the linking or transitional words that connect their opinion to their reasons.

Finally, you’ll want to create an anchor chart using the writing you model. This will serve as another example of excellent opinion writing.  As a class, add labels to identify the topic sentence, supporting reasons and the closing sentence in your shared writing.  

All of these anchor charts can be posted in your writing center. Encourage your students to refer back to them and use them as support as they write their own pieces.

4. Allow students to edit and share their writing

Provide a good writers checklist at your writing center.  For opinion writing you’ll want the checklist to include items such,  “Do I have a topic sentence that clearly states my opinion?”  “Do I have supporting reasons ?” and “Do I have a closing sentence?”, as well as reminders to check for spelling, capitalization, and punctuation errors.  

You can also create a rubric specific to the genre. Model how you use it to assess your own work and how it can be used to provide feedback to others.   

Give students the opportunity to share their writing with others!  Pair students with partners and let them read their pieces to each other.  Encourage them to provide feedback using the editing checklist and the rubric as a guide.  

5. Provide Daily Opportunities for Students to Write

As with all things, writing takes PRACTICE!  Students need dedicated instructional time to learn the skills and strategies necessary to become effective writers, as well as time to practice what they learn.   When you think about your daily instructional schedule, make sure you are giving your students ample opportunities to practice their opinion writing through whole-group instruction, small groups and/or independent practice in writing centers. 

Opinion Writing Unit For Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade Students

Today I’m excited to share with you the details about my Kindergarten Opinion , 1st Grade Opinion , and my 2nd grade Opinion Writing units!  I love them because they have ALL the resources you need to give your students the practice they need to master opinion writing.  

These units were developed with standards-based research specific to each grade. You can use them within whole class or small group instruction, or as a literacy center activity where students can practice opinion writing independently!  

What’s Included in these Opinion Writing Resources?

The kindergarten , first grade , and the second grade opinion writing resources each include information to help you unpack the unit and a mini-lesson you’ll teach to give your students a review of opinion writing.  You’ll get a list of suggested mentor texts and online resources, printable anchor charts, graphic organizers, seasonal writing prompts, and conversational task cards to help get kids to share their opinion on different topics.  

Kindergarten Opinion Writing Unit

Kindergarteners will probably need a review of fact vs. opinion so the kindergarten resource includes a printable fact vs. opinion anchor chart . You’ll also get charts with opinion writing sentence starters to help them organize their reasons and thoughts.  

The kindergarten seasonal writing prompts come with traceable sentence stems and picture supported vocabulary word bank to assist young writers in brainstorming ideas and spelling words while writing.

Finally, you’ll get an editing checklist that is specific to opinion writing but also appropriate for the kindergarten level. 

First Grade and Second Grade Opinion Writing Units

The first and second-grade resources include fact vs. opinion and linking words anchor charts that provide review and help them organize their ideas.  

To help first and second-graders practice writing you’ll get 28 “Would You Rather” seasonal conversational opinion centers and 24 writing prompts. That’s more than enough to keep kids engaged in sharing their opinions all throughout the year!  

The prompts are both PRINTABLE & DIGITAL. The digital version has been PRELOADED for you, with 1 click add them to your Google Drive or upload them to SeeSaw.

Each seasonal prompt printable paper includes a story-specific vocabulary bank to provide spelling assistance and help students get ideas for reasons to support their opinion. 

Finally, you’ll also get a self-editing checklist and rubric that have both been made specifically for opinion writing.  This rubric can be used as a self-assessment tool or as a guide for peer feedback.     

I love these writing units because they can be used in so many different ways.  They offer opportunities for students to practice opinion writing as a whole class, in small groups, as a literacy center activity, for homework, or as a meaningful activity for when they have a substitute teacher!  

FREE Opinion Writing Graphic Organizers

Are you ready to begin Opinion Writing in your classroom? To help get you started, I am happy to offer you 3 FREE Opinion Writing Graphic Organizers! You can download them here .

The ability to state one’s opinion and support it with persuasive reasons is a valuable academic and LIFE skill!  I hope the information and resources I’ve shared today will help to bring stronger opinion writing instruction and more meaningful practice to your kindergarten, first and second-grade classrooms!

Be on the lookout for my next post that will focus on the final genre… Narrative Writing! I’ll share information and tips for teaching narrative writing, as well as give you details about my Narrative Writing Units for kindergarten , first and second-grade students!

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Not So Wimpy Teacher

The Not So WImpy Teacher creates resources for busy teachers in grades 2-5 who are looking to deliver engaging and meaningful lessons without overwhelm and chaos.

Writing Bundle: Personal Narrative, Informational, Opinion & Fiction 2ND GRADE

Grade Level: 2nd Grade

This HUGE BUNDLE includes everything you need to teach, practice, and assess writing for the entire year! Students will complete four major units of study: personal narrative, informational reports, opinion essays, and fiction narratives .

More about this resource

My second grade writing bundle includes 4 ready-to-use writing units to help you teach personal narrative, informational reports, opinion essays, and fiction narrative with ease. Each done-for-you unit contains detailed lesson plans, mentor texts, anchor charts, student writing tasks, and rubrics –everything you need to be a capable, confident writing teacher with students who love to write. As an added bonus, this bundle also includes my poetry writing mini unit ! 

If your students dread writing time more than meatloaf in the school cafeteria…I made this resource for them, too.

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

• too complicated

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

But my second grade writing bundle makes teaching writing easy . This HUGE bundle takes all the guesswork out of teaching writing and gives you the tools you need to teach engaging and effective writing lessons without breaking a sweat.

  This HUGE MONEY-SAVING bundle has EVERYTHING you need to effectively teach a full year of writing to students in second grade , including 4 major units of study:

• Personal Narrative: Students learn h ow to write a small moment story with dialogue, a strong lead, interesting word choice, and paragraphs.
• Informational Reports: Students learn h ow to craft a strong lead, choose interesting details, write topic and concluding sentences, and structure paragraphs. 
• Opinion Essays: Students learn h ow to use supporting facts and reasons, write topic and concluding sentences, and structure paragraphs.
• Fiction Narratives: Students learn h ow to write dialogue, paragraphs, and transitions, and how to create strong characters, a problem, and a solution!

That’s 32 weeks of done-for-you writing lessons and activities ! And all you have to do is print and teach . The lesson plans are that simple. Seriously.

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

And best of all, my writing bundle makes writing fun for your students. Short, focused lessons keep students engaged. Simple, direct writing tasks help kids develop confidence.

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

My writing bundles for grades 2-5 have received over 5000 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reviews! So, if the thought of teaching writing leaves you more frazzled than a day with no wifi, this resource was made for YOU!! 

How Our Writing Bundles are Aligned with the Science of Reading :

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

What’s Included:

• Detailed teacher directions and suggestions for simple implementation
• Unit-at-a-glance calendar for each unit
• 7 exclusive videos walking you through how to get the most out of these writing units
• 160 days of lesson plans that include guiding questions, materials, mini lessons, student work tasks, student share tasks, intervention, and several extension activities
• 55 original mentor text passages
• 9 sets of task cards
• 50 teacher anchor charts (blank and filled in versions)
• 57 student anchor charts and printables for writing notebooks
• Conference and goal-tracking forms
• Writing grades tracking forms
• Rubrics for all four genres
• List of 40 additional mentor text books (optional)
• Variety of writing publishing papers
• Student writing notebook covers and dividers
• Teacher notebook covers and binder spines
• Multiple ideas for author share celebrations
• DIGITAL writing notebooks on Google Slides

Personal Narratives

Students learn h ow to write a small moment story with dialogue, a strong lead, interesting word choice, and paragraphs. Lessons include:

• Setting goals
• What is a personal narrative?
• Generating story ideas
• Narrowing your story idea to a small moment
• Rehearsing and drafting
• Writing a lead
• Adding and punctuating dialogue
• Adding details
• Word choice
• Show, don’t tell
• Breaking writing into paragraphs
• Transition words
• Writing an ending

Informational Reports

Students learn h ow to craft a strong lead, choose interesting details, write topic and concluding sentences, and structure paragraphs. Lessons include:

• What is an informational report?
• Generating report ideas
• Narrowing your report idea to a seed
• Research and note taking
• Paraphrasing
• Table of contents
• Topic and concluding sentences
• Word choice- adding vocabulary and definitions
• Transitions
• Writing a conclusion
• Text features

Opinion (Persuasive) Writing

Students learn h ow to use supporting facts and reasons, write topic and concluding sentences, and structure paragraphs. Lessons Include:

• What is an opinion essay?
• Generating essay ideas
• Writing strong opinion statements
• Supporting your opinion with reasons
• Considering your audience
• Consider opposing opinions
• Supporting your opinion with examples
• Generating deeper topics (research-based)

Fiction Narratives

Students learn h ow to write dialogue, paragraphs, and transitions, and how to create strong characters, a problem, and a solution! Lessons include:

• What is a fiction narrative?
• Developing characters
• Developing setting (show-don’t-tell)
• Problem & solution
• Author point of view
• Creating suspense
• Word choice (strong verbs)

How To Use the Writing Bundles in the Classroom

A typical day of writing:.

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

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

Organization made easy:

• The Writing Bundles are divided into 4 units of study: personal narrative, informational report, opinion essay, and fiction narrative which each comes in its own unit folder.
• Each unit folder is further organized into multiple folders and files so it’s easy for you to find what you need.
• Each unit comes with a daily schedule so you know exactly what to teach each day.
• Detailed daily lesson plans make teaching writing easy.

Differentiation:

There are many ways to differentiate writing assignments:

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

Why You’ll Love These Writing Bundles:

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

“BEST RESOURCE I’VE EVER BOUGHT!!!!!!!!! PERFECTION!!!!!!!!!  You get it. You get what I need! You get what writing workshop is REALLY like!  You get that the mini-lessons need to be MINI! You get what a 3rd grader can handle in one lesson.  You get that a teacher doesn’t have time to read a 6-page lesson plan in a teacher’s edition. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!!!!” – Kristen K.

This bundle includes the following units:

Personal Narrative

Informational Report

Opinion Writing Unit

Fiction Narrative

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

Writing Units for Other Grade Levels:

Third Grade Writing Bundle

Fourth Grade Writing Bundle

Fifth Grade Writing Bundle

More Mini Writing Units:

Compare and Contrast Nonfiction

Compare and Contrast Fiction

Text Dependent Opinion

Reading Response

After much experimenting, I found the following order worked with my class: 

Personal narrative - It's a great way to get to know your class Informational - Learning how to write this way helps in science and social studies through the year Opinion - This goes well after informational because some opinions need research Narrative -  It's a fun way to end the year.  But the units do not build off of one another. They can be taught in any order that works for you and your students. 

Yes. These writing bundles include personal narrative, informational report, opinion essay and fiction writing units.

I have separate writing bundles for grades two, three, four, and five. When you purchase a bundle you will get four writing genres for one grade level. Each grade level is a separate resource.

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

Yes. These writing lessons are based on common core standards. 

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

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

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

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

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

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