1) Answer the following questions.
a) What is an opinion paragraph? Explain.
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic.
b) Why is it necessary to include reasons when you write a paragraph?
Including reasons when you write an opinion paragraph helps you being
more convincing when a person reads your thoughts.
c) What is punctuation?
Punctuation is a set of symbols used in writing to help indicate something about
the structure of sentences, or to assist readers in knowing when to change the
rhythm or the stress of their speaking.
d) Give an example of comma rules. Explain.
A) Use a comma to separate the elements in a series (three or more things),
including the last two. "He hit the ball, dropped the bat, and ran to first
base." You may have learned that the comma before the "and" is
unnecessary, which is fine if you're in control of things. However, there are
situations in which, if you don't use this comma (especially when the list is
complex or lengthy), these last two items in the list will try to glom together
(like macaroni and cheese). Using a comma between all the items in a
series, including the last two, avoids this problem. This last comma—the
one between the word "and" and the preceding word—is often called
the serial comma or the Oxford comma. In newspaper writing, incidentally,
you will seldom find a serial comma, but that is not necessarily a sign that it
should be omitted in academic prose.
B) Use a comma + a little conjunction (and, but, for, nor, yet, or, so) to
connect two independent clauses, as in "He hit the ball well, but he ran
toward third base."
Contending that the coordinating conjunction is adequate separation, some writers will
leave out the comma in a sentence with short, balanced independent clauses (such as
we see in the example just given). If there is ever any doubt, however, use the comma,
as it is always correct in this situation.
One of the most frequent errors in comma usage is the placement of a comma after a
coordinating conjunction. We cannot say that the comma will always come before the
conjunction and never after, but it would be a rare event, indeed, that we need to follow
a coordinating conjunction with a comma. When speaking, we do sometimes pause
after the little conjunction, but there is seldom a good reason to put a comma there.
C)
Use a comma to set off parenthetical
elements, as in "The Founders Bridge, which
spans the Connecticut River, is falling down." By "parenthetical element,"
we mean a part of a sentence that can be removed without changing the
essential meaning of that sentence. The parenthetical element is sometimes
called "added information." This is the most difficult rule in punctuation
because it is sometimes unclear what is "added" or "parenthetical" and what
is essential to the meaning of a sentence.
D) Indicate 2 examples of each of the following terms.
Transition signals with examples
Conclusion signals
Transition signals with reasons
E) Tips to write an opinion paragraph:
Writing An Opinion Paragraph - Presentation Transcript
1.
Writing an Opinion Paragraph Experiential English I
2.
Expressing Opinions
An opinion – a thought or belief about something or someone
(Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary)
o
3.
Writing an Opinion Paragraph
o
Take a stand on the give topic.
o
Have an opinion
o
Choose either agree or disagree
4.
Organization
o
A topic sentence (showing whether y ou agree or disagree with a
topic)
o
Reasons and supporting details (examples or evidence to show your
agreement or disagreement)
o
A concluding sentence (summarizing the main reasons or restating
the topic sentence in different words)
5.
Sentence structures and transition signals
o
For the introduction / a topic sentence

I agree/disagree that …S+V…

I agree/disagree with…for…reasons

I am for/against the idea that …S+V…
There are…reasons why…S+V…

6.
Sentence structures and transition signals
o
For the reasons (Transition signals, Sequence markers, Sentence
connectors)

The first (second, third) reason is…

Another reason is…

First (Firstly), / Second (Secondly), / Third (Thirdly), …

Moreover, / Furthermore, / In addition, / Also, …

Finally, / Lastly, …

The final / last reason is…
7.
Sentence structures and transition signals
o
For the conclusion

In conclusion, …

In Summary, …

To sum up, …

To conclude, …

In short, …

In brief, …
8.
Sentence structures and transition signals
o
Optional useful expressions for giving opinions

I believe/feel/think that …

I strongly/firmly believe that …

I am convinced/certain that …

It seems to me that …

My opinion is that …

In my opinion,/In my point of view,/In my view, …

The way I see it, …

As far as I am concerned, …
9.
Sample Paragraph
o
The topic

10.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
I agree that …S+V…
o
I completely agree that …S+V…
o
I completely agree that lotteries should be banned.
11.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
12.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
Firstly, …S+V…
o
In addition, …S+V…
o
Finally, …S+V…
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
13.
o
Firstly, in my opinion , …S+V…
o
In addition, I think …S+V…
o
Finally, in my point of view , …S+V…
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
14.
o
15.
REASONS
Waste of money Lottery addiction Not really a good chance to make money
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
REASONS
o
Lotteries are a waste of money.
o
Playing the lottery is very addictive.
o
Lotteries are not really a good chance to make money.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
16.
o
REASONS
o
Lotteries are a waste of money.
17.
Waste of money Less money to buy things
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
REASONS + SUPPORTING DETAILS
o
Lotteries are a waste of money.

18.
Every time we buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to
buy things we need such as food or medicine.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
REASONS
o
Playing the lottery is very addictive.
Lottery addiction Not win?? Need more tickets
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
19.
o
REASONS + SUPPORTING DETAILS
o
Playing the lottery is very addictive.

When we buy a lottery ticket, but do not win, we may want
to buy more and more tickets.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
20.
o
REASONS
o
Lotteries are not really a good chance to make money.
21.
Not really a good chance to make money Depend on luck only
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
REASONS + SUPPORTING DETAILS
o
Lotteries are not really a good chance to make money.

22.
We cannot use our skills or abilities to win the lottery. The
only thing we can depend on is luck.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
Firstly , in my opinion, lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we
buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to buy things we need such as food or
medicine.
o
In addition , I think playing the lottery is very addictive. When we buy
a lottery ticket, but do not win, we may want to buy more and more tickets.
o
Finally , in my point of view, lotteries are not really a good chance to
make money. We cannot use our skills or abilities to win the lottery. The only thing
we can depend on is luck.
23.
Transition signals, Sequence markers, Sentence connectors
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
Firstly, in my opinion , lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we
buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to buy things we need such as food or
medicine.
o
In addition, I think playing the lottery is very addictive. When we buy a
lottery ticket, but do not win, we may want to buy more and more tickets.
o
Finally, in my point of view , lotteries are not really a good chance to
make money. We cannot use our skills or abilities to win the lottery. The only thing
we can depend on is luck.
Useful expressions for giving opinions
24.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
Firstly, in my opinion, lotteries are a waste of money . Every time we
buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to buy things we need such as food or
medicine.
o
In addition, I think playing the lottery is very addictive . When we buy
a lottery ticket, but do not win, we may want to buy more and more tickets.
o
Finally, in my point of view, lotteries are not really a good chance to
make money . We cannot use our skills or abilities to win the lottery. The only
thing we can depend on is luck.
25.
Reasons
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
Firstly, in my opinion, lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we
buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to buy things we need such as food or
medicine.
o
In addition, I think playing the lottery is very addictive. When we buy a
lottery ticket, but do not win, we may want to buy more and more tickets.
o
Finally, in my point of view, lotteries are not really a good chance to
make money. We cannot use our skills or abilities to win the lottery. The only thing
we can depend on is luck.
Supporting details
26.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
Firstly, in my opinion, lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we
buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to buy things we need such as food or
medicine.
o
In addition, I think playing the lottery is very addictive. When we buy a
lottery ticket, but do not win, we may want to buy more and more tickets.
o
Finally, in my point of view, lotteries are not really a good chance to
make money. We cannot use our skills or abilities to win the lottery. The only thing
we can depend on is luck.
I completely agree that lotteries should be banned. Topic sentence
27.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
28.
o
29.
o
To sum up, for these reasons, …
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
To sum up, for these reasons, I believe that , …
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
I completely agree that lotteries should be banned.
o
Firstly, in my opinion, lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we
buy a lottery ticket, we have less money to buy things we need such as food or
medicine.
o
In addition, I think playing the lottery is very addictive. When we buy a
lottery ticket, but do not win, we may want to buy more and more tickets.
o
Finally, in my point of view, lotteries are not really a good chance to
make money. We cannot use our skills or abilities to win the lottery. The only thing
we can depend on is luck.
To sum up, for these reasons, I believe that banning lotteries is a good idea.
Concluding sentence
Example of an Opinion Paragraph:
30.
“ Lotteries should be banned.”
o
I completely agree that lotteries should be banned. Firstly, in my
opinion, lotteries are a waste of money. Every time we buy a lottery ticket, we
have less money to buy things we need such as food or medicine. In addition, I
think playing the lottery is very addictive. When we buy a lottery ticket, but do not
win, we may want to buy more and more tickets. Finally, in my point of view,
lotteries are not really a good chance to make money. We cannot use our skills or
abilities to win the lottery. The only thing we can depend on is luck. To sum up, for
these reasons, I believe that banning lotteries is good idea.