Making a Stand and Sharing Opinion

A ________________ is a person’s attitude towards a particular issue or opinion.

• A. Informed opinion

• B. Stand

• C. Fact

• D. Opinion

Should children be given an allowance? What is the best point of view below?

• A. An allowance may open the door to kids making poor financial decisions when spending their money.

• B. Kids may not be motivated to do their chores when they do not need the money or they have saved up enough.

• C. An allowance can teach children about finances, responsibility, and the consequences of poor financial decisions.

• D. It gives kids spending money for non-essential items such as toys and video games. This way, they do not always have to ask you for money when they want something.

Owning a pet can help reduce stress you are feeling amid the health crisis. According to studies, spending time with your pet can trigger an increased level of oxytocin, also known as the "love hormone." This part of the text is a _____________.

• informed opinion

• stand

• fact

• opinion

How do you provide evidence on your stand on a topic?

• Support your stand without gathering evidence.

• Disregard important facts and proofs since your stand is your own viewpoint.

• Present facts, proofs, and bases to show that you are certain about the side that you have taken.

• D, None of the above.

Leyla is writing an opinion essay for her principal about organized recess. She wants to revise the draft to create a stronger conclusion. Read the draft paragraph of Leyla’s essay, and complete the task that follows. When we were in earlier grade levels here at Grover Elementary School, we were given free time to play on the playground each day. We enjoyed chatting with our friends, playing on the equipment, and even participating in games of basketball and dodgeball every once in awhile. But, when we got to fifth grade, our playground freedom was taken away. Instead of free time, we are now forced to play organized games and sports. Every fifth-grader must play whichever sport or game the teachers choose. This ruins the whole point of recess. We are supposed to have time to relax and recharge. We need time to just enjoy the outdoors with our friends. Now that we no longer have free playground time, more students are getting into trouble for talking during class. That is leading to failing grades. Choose the sentence that is the BEST conclusion to Leyla’s opinion essay.

• It would be easier for teachers to give us free time than to organize and help us play games.

• The positive side of having organized games and sports is that students do get more exercise.

• Until teachers give back our playground freedom, they will continue to see poor student behavior and bad grades.

• There have been a couple of students who have fallen asleep in class following organized games and sports.

A statement that conveys your opinion on a topic:

• Reasons

• Rebuttal

• Counterclaim

• Claim

When writing an opinion essay, a writer should...

• only use text evidence in the body paragraphs

• use linking words to connect the opinion, reasons, and evidence

• Make sure the writing piece is long.

When writing an opinion piece a writer should...

• download an opinion he or she liked. 

• look for evidence to support your opinion.

• Make sure the writing piece is long.

You can show that there are two sides to an issue by using a question such as:

"Is this acceptable?"

• True

• False

How do you feel about opinion writing?