GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS
Pay attention:
✎Start with a brainstorming to get your ideas clear and ogranized.
✎You should start each paragraph with a topic sentence, which should state very clearly
what the paragraph’s main idea is;
✎the sentences that follow are called supporting / secondary sentences and they provide
examples, details, reasons, justifications and/or evidence to support the topic sentence.
✎You should always check your piece of writing before handing it in. You should make sure
that:
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you have used topic sentences and supporting sentences;
you have written a conclusion;
you have divided your composition in paragraphs;
you use different vocabulary and structures;
the words are in the correct order;
you have used the correct grammar;
there are no spelling errors;
you have used the correct punctuation;
✎Enrich your writing with:
 Formal linking words or phrases
 Passive Voice
 Idioms
 Impersonal Construction
 Inversion Generally
 Inversion in conditionals
 Subjunctive
 Emphatic Constructions
OPINION ESSAY
Opinion essay is a formal piece of essay writing which presents the author’s point of view
on a particular subject supported by reasons and examples. The opposing viewpoint can also be
presented, with arguments that show that it is wrong. You should convince the reader to support
your opinion.
Decide whether you agree or disagree with the subject of the topic, then make a list of your
viewpoints and reasons.
Write well organised paragraphs, joining the sentences with the properly linkers. Don’t forget to
start each paragraph with a topic sentence which sumarises what the paragraph is about.
A successful Opinion Essay consists of:
Paragraph: Introduction: you introduce the topic, the controversy that exists, and your opinion.
Nowadays more and more students bring their mobile phones to school. While I believe that
students should carry mobile phones in case of an emergency, I am strongly opposed to phones
being used at school, particularly in the classroom. In this essay I am going to give arguments on
why mobiles should not be allowed at school.
1st
2nd Paragraph you present your claims supported by reasons and examples
3rd Paragraph: you present the opposing viewpoint and prove it is unconvincing. Or you present
another argument supporting your opinion.
4th Paragraph: Conclusion: you summarize the main points in the essay and restate your opinion
in a different way.
USEFUL VOCABULARY: LINKING WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
OPINION
ADDING
CONTRAST
- In my opinion
Besides
However
- As I see it
In addition (to)
On the other hand (correlative
- As far as I am concerned
What is more
to “on the one hand”)
- It seems to me that
Another resaon is Despite
- It is clear that
Furthermore
As opposed to the above ideas
- I think/feel that
Moreover
Nonetheless
- I agree/disagree
And
- Personally
Also
- (Un)fortunately
What is more
- Of course
Not to mention
- To my mind
the fact that
- I am inclined to believe that
- I (strongly) believe that
Linking words / phrases can be used to:
◊ show time: when, whenever, before, while, as soon as, etc.
◊ list points or show sequence: first, to start with, next, finally, secondly... etc.
◊◊ show cause or effect: because, since, as a result, etc.
◊ give examples: for instance, for example, such as, especially, etc.
Do’s
Write in a formal style
Introduce the topic clearly
Make a list of viewpoints and reasons supporting
your point of view
Use linking words and phrases
Start each paragraph with a topic sentence
CONCLUSION
In conclusion
To sum up
All in all
In short
In a nutshell
In brief
On the whole
To summarize
Dont’s
Don’t use colloquial expressions
Don’t use short forms
Don’t use over-generalizations
Don’t use statistics without proper referencing
Don’t
give
personal
examples