Topic & Opinion.
Your topic is what you are going to write about. Your opinion is your belief or judgement
about that topic. Your overall aim is to persuade your audience of the merits or force of
your opinion about the topic.
List 2 topics that you have a strong
I believe
opinion about. State what the
teachers
topic is and what your opinion is.
should get a
Topic 1: _______________________
higher salary!
Opinion: _______________________
Remember, opinions are different from facts.
Facts are true statements that can be verified
with evidence. Opinions are subjective
judgments, the truth of which is uncertain or
inconclusive.
_______________________________
Topic 2: _______________________
Opinion: _______________________
_______________________________
Ask your partner for their opinion on the following:
Yes
The school day should start later and end later in the day
Reason: ______________________________________
There should be a three-day weekend
Reason: ______________________________________
Country life is better than city life
Reason: ______________________________________
Mobile phones should be allowed in classrooms
Reason: ______________________________________
Students should be allowed to choose their teacher
Reason: ______________________________________
Dogs are better than cats
Reason: ______________________________________
No
Maybe
Audience & Purpose.
Your audience and purpose will determine how you style your essay. A piece of writing
directed at peers to persuade them to start watching baseball will be styled very
differently to an essay written to a senator asking him or her to support your campaign
to end nuclear weapons or protect endangered species. So, you need to be clear about
who your audience is and what you are trying to achieve.
From 1 – 7 grade how important you think the points in the left column are for the
different people listed across the top of the table. 1 = “Most important”, 7 = “Least
important”. The topic is: “school uniform should be mandatory”.
Topic: School uniform should be mandatory
Point
May reduce cost of
buying clothes
Can increase
student focus in
class
Helps to promote
school identity /
loyalty & community
Reduces student
choice
Discourages
individual
expression
Reduces bullying if
family can’t afford
latest fashions
Can help promote
more discipline in
classroom
Teacher
Parent
Student
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