Generating Ideas for Opinion Writing: Choosing Strong Topics

This lesson focuses on brainstorming opinion topics by considering issues you care about. It reviews the writing process, emphasizing the importance of generating ideas. Techniques for brainstorming are discussed, including using personal experiences to select topics. The lesson guides students in evaluating the strength of their topics and making a final decision on which topic to write about.

What is an opinion according to the lesson?

• A scientific theory

• A historical event

• A fact that everyone agrees on

• A personal belief or feeling

Which stage of the writing process involves organizing material?

• Generating ideas

• Publishing

• Drafting

• Revising

What is the first step in brainstorming topics?

• Choose a topic randomly

• Write a draft

• Ask yourself about issues you think about a lot

• Edit your ideas

Which of the following is NOT part of the checklist for evaluating topics?

• Do I feel strongly about this topic?

• Do I have a personal story to share?

• Can I support the opinion with three reasons?

• Can I explain what I would change?

Why might 'public transportation' not be a strong topic for the narrator?

• It is too easy to write about

• It is not an important issue

• Everyone already agrees on it

• The narrator has no personal experience with it

What is a reason the narrator feels confident about writing on recycling?

• It requires no research

• The narrator has personal experience with it

• It is a popular topic

• It is a new issue

What should you do if you're unsure about your chosen topic?

• Ask someone else to choose for you

• Go back to the checklist

• Choose a different topic

• Ignore the checklist