Opinion ParagraphUnit 5

Your are going to learn:

• 1- Using reasons to support an opinion.• 2- Using there is/there are to introduce facts.• 3- Using because of and because to give

reasons.

Opinion Paragraph

• The writer presents an opinion and ties to persuade readers that the opinion is a good one. The writer tries to make readers agree with him or her.

Opinion Paragraph

• 1- Topic Sentence• 2- Supporting Sentences• 3- Concluding Sentence

Topic S- Your opinion ( agree or disagree)

Point 2Point 1

Concluding S

Support 1 Support 1Support 2 Support 2Support 3 Support 3

1-Topic Sentence

The topic sentence introduces the topic and states the writer’s opinion about the topic.

2- Supporting Sentences

• 1- Give reasons that support the writer/s opinion.

• 2- Writers often use facts, explanations, and personal experiences to support their opinion.

•

Concluding Sentence

• 1- restates the writer’s opinion in different words.

• 2- Comments on the opinion in some way.• 3- Sometimes summarizes the main reasons

for the writer’s opinion.

Using Reasons to Support Opinion

• Writers should give their reasons to convince readers. These supporting reasons are often in the form of facts, explanations, or experiences.

Facts

• A fact is a piece of information that people generally agree is true. In an opinion paragraph, a writer might use scientific, historical, or other types of facts.

Explanations

• An explanation cannot be proven (like a fact can) but it still helps the reader understand why writer hold a certain opinion.

Experiences

• An experience is something that happened to you or someone else. Writers often use experiences to show how they were influenced to think a certain way.

• Opinion: You have to be tough to live in Chicago.

• Fact: Winters in Chicago are very cold.• Explanation: It is not easy with those cold,

windy days.• Experience: My cousin once got frostbite

while waiting at a bus stop.

Using There is/there are

• To introduce facts.• There are harvest festivals every autumn.• There is a picturesque village in the mountains

near Mexico City.• There are no mosquitoes at the altitude.

• In a statement, a noun or a noun phrase follows there is/there are.

• Use there are with plural nouns.• Use there is with all other nouns.• There are tall pine trees lining the streets of Dubai.

(plural noun)• There is a large lake near our village. (singular noun)• There is water beyond the mountains. (noncount

noun)

• Use no after there is/there are to express a negative fact.

• There is no snow.• There are no theaters in my hometown.

Using Because Of and Because

• To give a reason.• Because of is followed by a noun phrase.• People spend a lot of time outdoors because

of mild climate.• Because is followed by a complete sentence

with its own subject and verb.• Tourists are attracted to the coast because the

fishing is fantastic.

• Because of and because can also appear before the statement. When the come before, use a comma.

• Because of mild climate, people spend a lot of time outdoors.

• Because the fishing is fantastic, tourists are attracted to the coast.

Opinion Paragraph Checklist

• 1- Does the topic sentence state your opinion about the topic?• 2- Did you include facts, explanations, and personal experiences to

support your opinion?• 3- Does the paragraph have a concluding sentence that restates your

opinion?• 4- Did you use there is/there are to introduce fact?• 5- Did you use because of and because correctly when giving

reasons?• 6- Did you capitalize the first letter of each sentence and put end

punctuation at the end?