Opinion Writing Lesson

1

Name: ________________________

©

INTRODUCE YOUR TOPIC

When writing an opinion piece, always start by introducing your topic, while
grabbing the attention of your readers. Here are a couple ideas…
ASK A QUESTION:

Example…

Opinion: I think we should have pizza for dinner.
Opening Sentence: Are you in the mood for something hot,

cheesy, and mouthwatering?

Your Turn…

Opinion: I think we should have ___________ for dinner.
Opening Sentence:

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

SET THE SCENE:

Example…

Opinion: Summer is my favorite season of the year.
Opening Sentence: Imagine the sun beating down on your face,
as your feet splash in the cool water.

Your Turn…

Opinion: ________________ is my favorite season of the year.
Opening Sentence:

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

2

Name: ________________________

STATING YOUR OPINION

Once you have caught the attention of your readers,
clearly state your opinion. Use the sentence starters

provided to practice writing opinions on the topics below.

Sentence Starters for stating your opinion:

•In my opinion

•I think

•I feel

1.The best breakfast cereal:

_______________________________________________

2. Where you would like to go for summer vacation:

_______________________________________________

3. The best pet:

_______________________________________________

4. Favorite season of the year:

_______________________________________________

• I believe
• I prefer
• In my view

3

Open Ended

State your opinion.

1. The best breakfast cereal:

Type response here

4

Name: ________________________

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providing reasons

Once you have stated your opinion, it is important to have at
least 3 different reasons to support it. Use the transitions

provided, to generate three strong reasons for the opinions below.

Transitions when providing reasons:

•First

•To start

•To begin with

•Second

•Next

•Another reason

•Finally

•Lastly

•Most importantly

•One last reason

In my opinion, _________________ is the best breakfast
cereal because:

1. __________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________

For summer vacation, I think we should go to __________
because:

1. __________________________________________________
2. __________________________________________________
3. __________________________________________________

5

Name: ________________________

©

support your reasons

Use examples, additional details, and facts to
support your reasons. Use the list of transitions

below to support the reasons that follow.

Transitions when providing examples/details:

•For example

•For instance

•In particular

•Specifically

•Additionally

•In other words

•In fact

•An example is

Opinion: Dogs make the best pets.
Reason: They are loyal companions.
Provide Examples: (How do dogs make loyal companions?)

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Opinion: Summer is my favorite season of the year.
Reason: There are so many fun activities to do outdoors.
Provide Examples: (What are some of those activities?)

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

6

Name: ________________________

©

Concluding statement

After you have made a strong argument to support your opinion,

it is important to end your essay with a strong concluding

statement. You should restate your opinion, and in many cases,
make a “call to action”. Use the transitions below to write a

concluding statement for the arguments that follow.

Argument: I think we should go to ____________________
for summer vacation.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Argument: In my opinion, ____________________ is the
best breakfast cereal.

______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________

Transitions when coming to a conclusion:

•In conclusion

•All in all

•As you can see

•To sum it up

•To summarize

•Finally

7

Name: ________________________

©

brainstorming

Reason:

Examples/Details:

Reason:

Examples/Details:

Reason:

Examples/Details:

Reason:

Examples/Details:

Reason:

Examples/Details:

Topic:

My Opinion:

8

©

transitions
opinion

Sentence Starters for stating your opinion:

•In my opinion

•I think

•I feel

•I believe

•I prefer

•In my view

Transitions when providing reasons:

•First

•To start

•To begin with

•Second

•Next

•Another reason

•Finally

•Lastly

•Most importantly

•One last reason

Transitions when providing examples/details:

•For example

•For instance

•In particular

•Specifically

•Additionally

•In other words

•In fact

•An example is

Transitions when coming to a conclusion:

•In conclusion

•All in all

•As you can see

•To sum it up

•To summarize

•Finally

9

Name: ________________________

©

Your family is trying to decide which restaurant

to go to for dinner. What is your opinion?

What’s For dinner?

Start with a sentence to grab your family’s attention:
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

In one sentence, state your opinion with 3 reasons:

_________________(,) we should eat at _________________

because ___________________________________________,

__________________________________________________,

and ______________________________________________.

INTRODUCTION:

REASON ONE:

What is your first reason for choosing this restaurant?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Reason 1↓

Reason 2↓

Reason 3↓

Sentence Starter↓

Transition↓

10

©

REASON two:

What is your second reason for choosing this restaurant?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

REASON three:

What is your third reason for choosing this restaurant?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

conclusion:

Restate your opinion and end with a “call to action”:

_____________________(,)
___________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

11

Name: ________________________

©

Your friend just finished a book and is trying to decide
what to read next. Which book would you recommend?
what should I read next?

Start with a sentence to grab your friend’s attention:
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

In one sentence, state your opinion with 3 reasons:

_________________(,) you should read __________________

because ___________________________________________,

__________________________________________________,

and ______________________________________________.

INTRODUCTION:

REASON ONE:

What is your first reason for recommending this book?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Reason 1↓

Reason 2↓

Reason 3↓

Sentence Starter↓

Transition↓

12

©

REASON two:

What is your second reason for recommending this book?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

REASON three:

What is your third reason for recommending this book?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

conclusion:

Restate your opinion and end with a “call to action”:

_____________________(,)
___________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

13

Name: ________________________

©

Your principal is trying to decide whether students should be
allowed to bring cell phones to school. What is your opinion?
do smart phones belong in school?

Start with a sentence to grab your principal’s attention:
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

In one sentence, state your opinion with 3 reasons:

_________________(,) smart phones should (be/not be) allowed

at school because ____________________________________,

__________________________________________________,

and ______________________________________________.

INTRODUCTION:

REASON ONE:

What is your first reason to support your opinion?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Reason 1↓

Reason 2↓

Reason 3↓

Sentence Starter↓

Transition↓

14

©

REASON two:

What is your second reason to support your opinion?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

REASON three:

What is your third reason to support your opinion?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

conclusion:

Restate your opinion and end with a “call to action”:

_____________________(,)
___________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

15

Name: ________________________

©

VIP stands for “Very Important Person”. Think of all of the

historical figures you have learned about this year. Which

historical figure do you think is most deserving of a VIP title?
VIP: Historical Figure

Start with a sentence to grab your reader’s attention:
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

In one sentence, state your opinion with 3 reasons:

_________________(,) _________________ deserves VIP

status because ______________________________________,

__________________________________________________,

and ______________________________________________.

INTRODUCTION:

REASON ONE:

What is your first reason why your historical figure is a VIP?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Reason 1↓

Reason 2↓

Reason 3↓

Sentence Starter↓

Transition↓

16

©

REASON two:
What is your second reason why your historical figure is a VIP?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

REASON three:

What is your third reason why your historical figure is a VIP?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

conclusion:

Provide a concluding statement that supports your opinion:

_____________________(,)
___________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

17

©

Name: ____________________ Topic: _____________________________

Start with a sentence to grab your reader’s attention:
___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

State your opinion with 3 reasons:

_________________(,) ________________________________

because ____________________________________________,

___________________________________________________,

and _______________________________________________.

INTRODUCTION:

Reason 1↓

Reason 2↓

Reason 3↓

Sentence Starter↓

REASON ONE:

What is your first reason?

_____________________(,) ____________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

18

©

REASON two:
What is your second reason?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

REASON three:

What is your third?

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Provide an example or more details:

_____________________(,)
____________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

conclusion:

Provide a concluding statement that supports your opinion:

_____________________(,)
___________________________

___________________________________________________

___________________________________________________.

Transition↓

19

©

Name: ____________________ Topic: _____________________________

Grab your reader’s attention and state your opinion:

___________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

Provide a first reason and include examples or details:
reason one

___________________________________________________

20

©

Provide a second reason and include examples or details:

___________________________________________________

reason two

Provide a third reason and include examples or details:

___________________________________________________

reason three

Provide a concluding statement that supports your opinion:

___________________________________________________

conclusion

21

Introduction

Reason 1

Reason 2

Reason 3

Conclusion

©

Name: ____________________ Topic: _____________________________

22

_______________________________________________

Written by: ___________________________

____________________________________________________________

©

23

©

____________________________________________________________

24

_______________________________________________

Written by: ___________________________

____________________________________________________________

©

25

©

____________________________________________________________

26

Name: ________________________

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revise & edit

Revision Checklist:

q Will my opening sentence grab the attention of my readers?
q Is my opinion stated clearly?
q Do I have 3 different and well-defined reasons to support my

opinion?

q Did I provide strong examples and details to further support

each of my reasons?

q Did I provide a concluding statement, restating my opinion, and

making a “call to action” when necessary?

q Did I use a variety of transitions?
q Did I use descriptive adjectives and strong verbs?
q Does my essay make sense and flow nicely when I read it?

editing Checklist:

q Did I use a capital at the beginning of each sentence and for all

proper nouns?

q Is there an appropriate end-mark at the end of each sentence?
q Did I use commas after transitions, when necessary?
q Did I spell all words correctly, using a dictionary for difficult

words?

q Are there any words that need to be added or left out?

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Points
Earned

Points
Possible

Strong introduction, with opinion clearly stated. (w.3.1a)

5

Three well-defined reasons are provided. (w.3.1b)

10

Includes strong details and examples. (w.3.1b)

10

Transitions are used to connect opinions, reasons, examples. (w.3.1c)

5

Provides a concluding statement related to opinion. (w.3.1d)

5

Effective use of writing conventions. (l.3.1, l.3.2, l.3.3)

5

TOTAL SCORE:

40

3rd Grade Opinion Writing Scoring Guide

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

Points
Earned

Points
Possible

Strong introduction, with opinion clearly stated. (w.3.1a)

5

Three well-defined reasons are provided. (w.3.1b)

10

Includes strong details and examples. (w.3.1b)

10

Transitions are used to connect opinions, reasons, examples. (w.3.1c)

5

Provides a concluding statement related to opinion. (w.3.1d)

5

Effective use of writing conventions. (l.3.1, l.3.2, l.3.3)

5

TOTAL SCORE:

40

3rd Grade Opinion Writing Scoring Guide

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

28

Points
Earned

Points
Possible

Strong introduction, with opinion clearly stated. (w.4.1a)

5

Three well-defined reasons are provided. (w.4.1b)

10

Includes strong details and examples. (w.4.1b)

10

Transitions are used to connect opinions, reasons, examples. (w.4.1c)

5

Provides a concluding statement related to opinion. (w.4.1d)

5

Effective use of writing conventions. (l.4.1, l.4.2, l.4.3)

5

TOTAL SCORE:

40

4th Grade Opinion Writing Scoring Guide

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

Points
Earned

Points
Possible

Strong introduction, with opinion clearly stated. (w.4.1a)

5

Three well-defined reasons are provided. (w.4.1b)

10

Includes strong details and examples. (w.4.1b)

10

Transitions are used to connect opinions, reasons, examples. (w.4.1c)

5

Provides a concluding statement related to opinion. (w.4.1d)

5

Effective use of writing conventions. (l.4.1, l.4.2, l.4.3)

5

TOTAL SCORE:

40

4th Grade Opinion Writing Scoring Guide

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

29

Points
Earned

Points
Possible

Strong introduction, with opinion clearly stated. (w.5.1a)

5

Three logically ordered reasons are provided. (w.5.1b)

10

Includes strong details and examples. (w.5.1b)

10

Transitions are used to connect opinions, reasons, examples. (w.5.1c)

5

Provides a concluding statement related to opinion. (w.5.1d)

5

Effective use of writing conventions. (l.5.1, l.5.2, l.5.3)

5

TOTAL SCORE:

40

5th Grade Opinion Writing Scoring Guide

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

Points
Earned

Points
Possible

Strong introduction, with opinion clearly stated. (w.5.1a)

5

Three logically ordered reasons are provided. (w.5.1b)

10

Includes strong details and examples. (w.5.1b)

10

Transitions are used to connect opinions, reasons, examples. (w.5.1c)

5

Provides a concluding statement related to opinion. (w.5.1d)

5

Effective use of writing conventions. (l.5.1, l.5.2, l.5.3)

5

TOTAL SCORE:

40

5th Grade Opinion Writing Scoring Guide

Name: ______________________

Date: ____________

Opinion Writing

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