Opinion Paragraphs Opinion Paragraphs

How well can you organize and express your ideas in written text to convince the reader of your position?

WHAT IS AN OPINION PARAGRAPH?

In an opinion paragraph, the writer expresses and supports an opinion on a particular topic or issue. The writer must give reasons and examples that help persuade the reader to agree with him or her.

In opinion/persuasive writing, a writer takes a position FOR or AGAINST an issue and writes to convince the reader to believe or do something.

FACTS or OPINIONS A FACT is something that is true. It can be proven to be

true. If you can find proof or evidence for something, then it is a FACT. Facts are true statements that no one can disagree with.

1. The earth orbits the sun.

2. Rabbits are mammals.

3. George Washington was the first president of the United States.

4. Women could not vote in the United States until 1920.

5. There are books in the library.

6. Maha said, “I like chocolate cake.”

An OPINION is what someone thinks or believes; it cannot be proven true or false. It is your personal feeling or point of view. People can disagree with opinions.

1. Friends should always be honest.

2. White lies are dangerous.

3. It is better to make your friends angry than to lie to them.

4. It is always safer to lie than to tell the truth.

5. Women should stay at home than work. 6. Using a cell phone while driving is completely fine.

7. We had a great winter this year.

FACTS or OPINIONS

Activity 1: Look at the following and decide if the sentence is Opinion (O) or a Fact (F):

1. Learning English is easier for girls than for boys.

2. Good teachers don’t give too much homework.

3. Our teacher gave us homework last week.

4. English is an easier language to learn than French.

5. Owls are birds that hunt at night

6. I was born in New York City

7. Internet use has increased every year since its beginning.

8. Engineering is the best career choice

9. Many people carry cell phones these days.

10. My favourite clothes are all blue.

11. Winter in Gaza is quite mild.

Activity 2: For each topic below, write one fact and one opinion:

1. Green Tea

2. Violent video games

3. Money

4. Sports

5. University degree

Supporting Sentences with Opinions and Examples:

In your topic sentence and supporting sentences, you can support your opinion by giving examples and details which can be facts or experiences you have had.

Supporting Your Ideas:The major ways to support an opinion

StatisticsFactsEvidencePrediction

ObservationComparisonExperience Analysis

Activity 3: Decide if the following are Opinions (O) or Examples (E):

1. Smoking should be banned in all places.2. Smoking is banned in restaurants in our city.

3. The air is cleaner and healthier in non-smoking restaurants.

4. I believe that customers prefer non-smoking restaurants.

5. My clothes smelled horrible when I had lunch with a friend who was smoking.

6. In my country, smoking is banned in cars, buses and all public buildings.

Organization

Topic Sentence: (You show whether you agree or disagree with something)

Reasons and Supporting Details: (Examples or evidence to show your agreement or disagreement)Explanation: explains how your examples support your point and/or your overall argument

Concluding sentence: (You summarize the main points or state the topic sentence in different words)

Exercise: Complete the following paragraph outline providing reasons and details:

Are cell phones necessary in our lives?First reason: ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Detail: _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Second Reason: _________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Detail: _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Third Reason: __________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Detail: _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Exercise: Complete the following paragraph outline providing reasons and details:

TS: People who practice sports are healthier. First reason: ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Detail: _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Second Reason: _________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Detail: _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Third Reason: __________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Detail: _________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Paragraph Organization: Another way to flow smoothly through your paragraph is to use “connectives”

accordingly again for example although beyond

conversely first as a result secondly finally

simultaneously also for instance hence then

additionally next nevertheless on the contrary

otherwise

consequently thus in addition second at the same time

Use the Following Expressions to Give Your Opinion:

As far as I am concerned, … I am (not) convinced that … In my opinion/view … My opinion is that … I (firmly)believe … I (definitely) feel/think that … I am inclined to believe that …

Opinion Writing Topic

Writing SituationMany public school systems across the country require students to wear uniforms. Some educators believe that wearing uniforms will help students concentrate more on their school work. On the other hand, some students argue that having to wear uniforms prevents them from expressing their individuality or personality. Your principal is considering whether students at your school should wear uniforms.

Directions for WritingWrite a paragraph expressing your view on school uniforms. Provide convincing reasons and specific examples to support your position.

Model Paragraph

Wearing uniforms to school is a necessary part of a good school environment. First, the uniform helps build a sense of community and school spirit among students. It allows students to experience appropriate dress in a professional environment. Second, a school is a place for learning, not a fashion show. Many students seem to feel it is more important to look good, when the real purpose of going to school is to focus on their studies. The third reason for wearing the uniform is that it sets an equal standard for everybody. If it were not for the uniform, school would be more competitive, divisive and biased against those with less money. To conclude, school uniforms are very beneficial for students and create a healthy learning environment.

Revise and EditLook for obvious errors in grammar:

1. Sentence fragments2. Run-on sentences/ comma splices3. Spelling4. Punctuation5. Capitalization6. Transitions7. Sentence variety8. Organization

Adjective Clause

1. The adjective clause is used to modify a noun or a pronoun. They do what regular adjectives do – they describe nouns.

2. An adjective clause is a dependent clause that modifies or describes a noun.

3. It will begin with a relative pronoun (who, whose, whom, which, and that) or a subordinate conjunction (when, where, and since).

4. Those are the only words that can be used to introduce an adjective clause.

Examples:

1. The book which I like is on the table.

2. The man who wants the book is here.

3. The student whose hand was up gave the wrong answer.

4. The car that Ahmed is driving is not here.

Find the adjective clause in the following sentences and tell which word it modifies.

1. I play a kind of music that nobody likes.

2. The man whom you saw was not the famous actor.

3. I remember the day when I took my first airplane trip.

4. I have a neighbor whose parents live in Australia.

5. The book which I like is on the table.

6. The man whom you saw on stage is my friend.

7. The teacher who gives the English classes lives next door.

8. The man whose leg was broken was taken to the hospital.

9. This is the place where the accident happened.

Who and Whom are used only for people. Who is the subject of the clause. After Who

you should see a verb. Whom is the object of the clause. After

Whom you should see a subject noun or pronoun.

Which is used for things. That is used for things (and people in

informal English). That can be both subject and object of the clause.

Use an adjective clause to combine the following sentences using who, whose, whom, which, that.

1. They followed the strange man. He had just come from the dark alley.

2. I bought Jim a book. The book is about magic.

3. The doctor examined the patient. The patient had fallen from a cliff.

4. The mechanic repaired my sister's car. The car had a broken window.

5. The restaurant had closed permanently. The customers were shot there.

6. The parents had great respect for the teacher. The teacher had taught their children.

Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

Adjective Clauses come in two types: restrictive and nonrestrictive

1. Restrictive adjective clauses: They identify the noun or pronoun modified. They give necessary information needed in order to know who or what the pronoun refers to.

The doctor who lives in California is my sister.

The car that has broken headlights belongs to my brother.

Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

2. Nonrestrictive adjective clauses give extra information about the noun or the pronoun but is not needed to identify it. Always put commas around a

nonrestrictive clause.

The key, which was lost, belongs to my father. All individuals, , who bought tickets, , will be

admitted.The Eiffel Tower has an elevator, which I rode

to the top.

Fragments 1 Fragments look like sentences but are missing a

subject or a verb, or don’t express a complete thought.

Fragment Error

1. told everyone to get out of the way.

No subject

2. However, they in the apartment.

No verb

3. Before he answered the phone A dependent clause by itself

4. John working extra hard on his project lately.

No subject-verb relationship

Fragments 2 There is another kind of fragments when there is only a

noun and an adjective clause.

1. The children who had been lost

2. The place which was covered with grass.

3. The minute when Ahmed announced his travel plans.

4. The artist who was going to paint the portrait.

5. the photos which we showed to our friends

Correct the fragments in the adjective clauses:

1. The ride which I took at the amusement park

2. The place where the plane wrecked

3. The student who answered the question

4. The dress that the Queen is wearing

5. Our pizza that is in the freezer

6. The person who owns the car

7. The time when I broke my leg

8. the man whom you admire greatly

9. The man on your left who will be the next speaker