1. Writing:
Opinion Essay
O N L I N E C O U R S E – L E V E L 6
L A B O R ATO R I O D E I D I O M A S – FA C U LTA D D E F I LO S O F Í A Y L E T R A S
U B A
2. What is an opinion essay?
We write an opinion essay to say what we think about a
subject. We only give our opinion, not other people’s points
of view.
3. Organization
Introduction (1 paragraph): Introduce the problem and your
opinion.
Main body / Middle paragraphs (a few paragraphs): Give
your reasons, or arguments. (1 paragraph = 1 argument)
4. Organization
Main body / Middle paragraphs
Begin these paragraphs with: Firstly; Secondly / What is more;
Thirdly, and Finally / To sum up.
Conclusion (1 paragraph): A summary of what you write in the
middle paragraphs. No new arguments.
5. Style
Should be formal, neutral and without aggressive tones.
No colloquial language (children can get really naughty…).
No contractions ( haven’t, they’re, etc)
Do not write emotional expressions or exclamation marks.
(stupid commercials, totally magical, supercool toys!!…)
6. Sample Essays
Example of a badly written essay:
“Advertisement aimed at children should be banned”
Kids watch all those stupid commercials on TV, in which trashy pink plastic toys look
supercool and totally magical, and they´re being used by great corporations to make
their parents spend their hard-earned money. What´s more, when children start desiring
the things they see in the ads, they can get really naughty…”
7. Sample Essays
Example of a well written essay:
“There is too much football on TV. Do you agree?”
Introduction
Every time I turn on the television, I am sure to find a football match on one of the
channels. If I change channels, there will probably be football on other channels too,
especially at the weekend. In my opinion there is definitely too much football on TV for
the following reasons.
8. Sample Essays
Main body / Middle paragraphs:
Firstly, if you compare football with other sports, football completely dominates.
The only place where you can watch other sports is on special sports channels,
which you usually have to pay for. This is not fair for people who like other
sports, for example tennis, basketball, or athletics.
Secondly, the football matches on TV are not only the important matches. Every
week they show boring matches from the second or third divisions.
9. Sample Essays
Thirdly, I also believe that, at weekends, most people want to relax in front of
the television. Many people, including me, do not like football and prefer to see
good films or funny series.
Finally, I think that even on news programmes there is too much football. It is
very annoying when they talk about football for hours every day, especially when
there are more important things happening in the world. Instead, I think TV
should show fewer football matches and programmes about football, especially
at the weekend.
10. Sample Essays
Conclusion:
To conclude it should show other sports too, and more films. On news
programmes they should talk about important things that are happening in the
world, not about football.
