- Essay Guides
- Main Academic Essays
Opinion Essay and How to Make It Accurate
- Speech Topics
- Basics of Essay Writing
- Essay Topics
- Other Essays
- Research Paper Topics
- Basics of Research Paper Writing
- Miscellaneous
- Chicago/ Turabian
- Data & Statistics
- Methodology
- Admission Writing Tips
- Admission Advice
- Other Guides
- Student Life
- Studying Tips
- Understanding Plagiarism
- Academic Writing Tips
- Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing
- Research Paper Guides
- Formatting Guides
- Basics of Research Process
- Admission Guides
- Dissertation & Thesis Guides
Table of contents
Use our free Readability checker
An opinion essay is a type of essay that presents the writer's personal viewpoint on a particular issue. It is a form of persuasive writing that aims to convince the reader of the validity of the writer's opinion. Students should clearly state their standpoint and provide supporting evidence to persuade the reader.
An opinion essay as well as a diagnostic essay is something every student will eventually meet. And let’s not question that statement. It is our opinion, and it shall be proved in this guide. But here is where it can get tricky. How can one write such a type of work? You’re always expected to get excellent results, but information about academic writing is rather limited. Or perhaps it’s not limited, but it is written in a highly complicated way. So continue on this journey with our service delivering college essay help , and you will definitely nail the writing of any article, especially the opinion one.
What Is an Opinion Essay?
What does it even mean to write an opinion essay ? Well, it is a very good question, so thank you for asking. This article is a formal piece of writing that presents your point of view on a specific question or subject. More importantly, you have to use the academic devices required for this type of writing. This article usually uses evidence to prove your point or an argument. You can also use examples or any piece of information that would prove that your opinion is actually correct and worthy of remembering. In other words, here you have to prove your point, and that’s all. Before writing this kind of task, browse topics for an opinion essay and choose the best one for yourself.
Opinion Essay Structure
Writing an opinion essay also involves a very specific structure. Although it may not be dramatically different from other articles, we still want to go step-by-step through creating such a piece of writing together. Keep in mind that we need a clear structure to effectively prove our point. That is why you also would require an outline and planning of all of your paragraphs. Trust us; it will help you a lot in the future, save time and deliver better results. Also, don’t forget that we provide stellar writing assistance for students who ask ‘ write my college essay for me .’
Opinion Essay: Introduction
How to start an opinion essay? Well, you should definitely start strong. The first paragraph of any article is usually an introduction. It includes something eye-catching or the so-called hook. There you can also include a thesis statement which is usually your last sentence of this paragraph. For example, you want to prove that Marvel comics are better than DC ones. Many people might not share your opinion. So you have to prove it. Your introduction might start with statistics, for example. So answer the question of how many people actually write comics of these brands. In the middle of the paragraph, you can slowly lead into your thesis. In this case, our thesis will state that marvel comics are usually more beloved for light tones, their cinematic universe, and character development.
Opinion Essay: Argument/Reason
An opinion essay obviously involves an argument you’re trying to prove. But try to come up with not one but two or more likely three different arguments that will defend your initial thesis statement. You should also keep in mind that each argument or reason needs its own evidence. He can use statistics, academic sources, or anything relevant to your subject. For example, we are still researching marvel comics and rivals. Our three main arguments state that their comics are more fun, popular because of the cinematic universe and character development. Therefore, we need to provide evidence for each of our reasons like an argumentative essay writer would do. Here we can definitely use comments from fans, statistics from the cinemas, and several comic book arcs of our favorite characters.
Opinion Essay: Supporting Evidence
Writing an opinion essay requires looking for bulletproof evidence, as we said before. But what do we mean by saying evidence? For example, there are many examples of good evidence that you can use. Usually, researchers try to reach an essay conclusion by quoting an academic paper. Those things are peer-reviewed and contain truthful data. You can also use graphics and statistical data if they fit your research question. Basically, anything that can be trusted will do. However, try not to quote such websites as Wikipedia or non-governmental pages. Your readers will not believe or support your argument if they can tell whether data is trustworthy.
Opinion Essay: Conclusion
How to write a conclusion paragraph for an opinion essay? That was a journey, but it is our last question. Surprisingly enough, this article is not that challenging to understand. Nevertheless, the conclusion is a final opportunity to wrap up all of your points and remind the readers of the main argument of your paper.
For example: as our thesis stated that Marvel comics are the best, we should definitely rewrite this statement for the first sentence of our conclusion. This is the best way to highlight your argument. You can definitely include your own opinion. Also, don’t forget to leave some peace of mind hinting at future research or possible opportunities.
How to Write an Opinion Essay: Tips
We have just covered how to write an opinion essay. But of course, we couldn’t leave you without different tricks and tips for students. So here they are:
- Start with the strongest argument first (it’s like throwing the first punch in the fight. You have to show all of your cards at once).
- Never use a question for an essay title (it is a general rule of writing in public cystic that question and title must be answered with “yes”).
- Try using the active voice (it is simply more convincing this way).
- Don’t overcomplicate things (You’re still writing for readers who must understand you).
- Don’t repeat yourself (with a lot of repetitions, our text might seem slightly dull).
Opinion Essay Examples
We also are here to give you the best possible opinion essay example. We know how hard it is to sometimes understand the theory. So you should definitely use our provided sample to refer to a guide and check what is actually meant. Besides, you can print it out and save it somewhere for inspiration. Go ahead and check the sample down below!
Final Thoughts on Writing Opinion Essay
Congratulations, because now you know everything there is about the opinion essay. We hope that all of the information that we have compiled will help you in your future academic life. Also, don’t hesitate to practice at writing essays . Making mistakes is more than all right, and only by practicing can you succeed.
If you're interested in honing your persuasive writing skills beyond opinion essays, our blog post on how to write an editorial is a must-read.
Our essay writing service is always here. How writers are brilliant in making excellent papers and delivering them in time. Buy a persuasive essay or any other type of writing to get a high grade effortless!
Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.
You may also like
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Write an Opinion Essay + Examples
A personal opinion essay is an essential part of an educational process. Wherever you study, you will surely come across this kind of work. And if you’re stuck with finding ideas, you have come to the right place. In this article, you will learn all the intricacies of writing and get some good opinion essay topics.
Let’s start!
🤔 What Is an Opinion Essay?
🖊️ how to write an opinion essay.
- 🔗 Linkers and Transition Words
💡 Opinion Essay Ideas
👨🎓 opinion essay examples.
An opinion essay is a type of work that involves the expression of one’s own opinion, which has become the product of processing facts and arguments. However, this does not mean there should be no argumentation in the essay. It will be a big plus if you have a couple of examples from your own life or the lives of historical figures, illustrating some facts in your stock. Writing an opinion essay requires the author to clearly state his thoughts on any occasion, without excessive water and long reasoning.
Among other things, it should be remembered that, technically, an opinion essay is a formal type of work that many graduates write at the end of their studies. And this means it has its structure and specific writing rules that must be adhered to. To fully understand the meaning of this type of work, try reading a couple of our free essay samples .
❓ What Are the Characteristics of an Opinion?
The opinion is an entirely subjective position formed due to the influence of certain factors on the mind. It can be characterized as a personal judgment, point of view, and not an exact fact. However, an opinion can be valid only if it is supported by actual knowledge. Otherwise, it can be called more of a guess.
❓ What Is a Supported Opinion Essay?
An essay based on a person’s personal opinion implies a clear statement of the author’s thoughts on a specific topic. However, to show understanding of the problem, one should rely on facts, research, or examples from life. A supported opinion essay is precisely when the author’s opinion is based on objective factors.
🎯 The Purpose of an Opinion Essay
An opinion essay is an excellent tool for teaching students how to express their position correctly. And also to test the depth of their knowledge and thinking. An opinion essay can help you to boost your skills:
- Ability to convey your thoughts . Regardless of the topic of the essay, the teacher wants to see that his wards, leaving the educational institution, will be independent individuals. Therefore, the student needs to show the ability to convey their thoughts on any occasion.
- Competent writing skills . Even in the modern world, writing skills do not lose their relevance. This type of work allows you to form it as efficiently as possible. So if you want to impress your boss, remember to pay attention to grammar and punctuation.
- Topic knowledge . Unfortunately, there is no error-free way to test a student’s ability. However, opinion essays allow the teacher to examine everyone and ensure that the topic has been mastered. This is especially true for subjects such as history and literature.
And, of course, you should understand that the purpose of any text is to be read. So just be creative, and you will have a fantastic essay!
🗝️ Key Features of an Opinion Essay
Like any other type of writing, an opinion essay has characteristics that make it unique. And, of course, to compose a competent text, you need to know about them.
- Focus on the author’s clear and well-reasoned subjective opinion . All proofs, as well as the conclusion, are based on it.
- Logical-based structure . Moreover, it entirely depends on the intentions of the writer.
- Examples and arguments come primarily from personal experience . However, an author may use history and social life quotes and examples of literary heroes to prove their position.
- Speech instruments used . As an author, you will benefit significantly from using a variety of speech constructs . They can help you influence other people. Connecting constructs and clear speech will keep the reader interested and get the most out of the reader.
You just need to get used to all the features to get a little practice. You will succeed!
⚖️ Argumentative, Opinion or Persuasive Essay: the Difference
Before proceeding directly to writing the text, it is worth learning one more important thing. Even towards the end of high school, many people confuse opinion and persuasive essays. These papers look similar.
To help you distinguish the argumentative, opinion, and persuasive essays, we prepare a table of comparisons where you can easily indicate the difference between these papers:
Now let’s move on to which sections the essay consists of and how it should be written. You can safely use this information as a synopsis when completing the assignment.
So, the first one!
📃 Opinion Essay Format
As mentioned earlier, a specific opinion essay structure must be followed. Therefore, before you prepare writing, make up a small outline, which will contain all the components of the text and your ideas for their content. So, how to start an opinion essay?
How Many Paragraphs is an Opinion Essay?
The standard structure consists of four main parts: an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Nevertheless, if it is not specified in the assignment, it can deviate slightly from such a system. It is pretty standard practice to write three or more body paragraphs. Conversely, if one section fully covers the topic, then the need for other explanations may disappear.
Opinion Essay Introduction
Of course, any text starts with a short opening. This section should summarize the essence of the problem you are writing about. The main task of the introduction is to entice the audience and familiarize them with the paper’s main topic. Therefore, by the first paragraph, a person will build an impression of your talents.
Moreover, remember that the introduction should be catchy. How to write a hook for an opinion essay? In simple words, this is a proposal that should interest the reader and draw his attention. It should be subject-related and relatively accurate. All you have to do is show the reader that the topic of the essay will be critical and even touch it.
Let’s take a look at some opinion essay introduction examples from our authors, in which you can see all the listed components:
- As Ronald Reagan said in one of his speeches, everyone who advocates abortion has been born. The topic of abortion is very controversial, and people still cannot come to a standard solution. That is why, in this abortion opinion essay, I will try to sort out my thoughts and answer whether abortion is a panacea or a hidden evil.
- Global warming is a global problem. As Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez aptly put it, we cannot sit back while our planet is on fire. But can one person influence the fate of all humanity? I think so, and in this essay, I will try to explain my position
Of course, these examples are conditional, and you can change them as you need to achieve a quality result.
Opinion Essay: Thesis Statement
The thesis statement is the final sentence of an introduction . It is an integral part of the entire text. And if your essay will be evaluated, then the absence of the thesis will significantly underestimate the point. So how do you write the last sentence competently so that the reader will like it?
At its core, in the thesis, you should summarize everything that you indicated in the introduction and, in a nutshell, make it clear what will be discussed. You are expected to state your position on the issue clearly. And then, the entire text should be directed precisely to reinforce your words.
For example, take this essay topic: “ Is globalization a positive phenomenon? ” In this case, a good thesis would be “ In my opinion, globalization has many more advantages than disadvantages. ”
See how one small phrase can dramatically improve your overall performance score. Therefore, pay due attention to it!
Opinion Essay: Body Paragraphs
Finally, you come to the main body of your essay, namely the argumentation. The body paragraphs of an opinion essay are aimed at correctly explaining the author’s position to the audience. Here you are expected to have good arguments and examples that will become your assistants in proving your case.
Body paragraphs have two parts: an argument and an example supporting what you said. For example, you might say that the lack of responsibility for actions leads to the corruption of the mind and soul. And as an explanation to these words, briefly support your statement with the story of the protagonist of the novel by Jack London, “The Picture of Dorian Gray.”
Moreover, no one limits the number of these same arguments, and often it depends on the maximum volume of the text itself. The standard case is two good arguments, supported by examples from life or literature. Then you can be sure that the reader will correctly understand your idea.
🔗 Linkers and Transitional Words for Opinion Essay
Connecting structures are an invisible companion for the reader throughout the entire essay. They are also called linkers or transitional words . At their core, these two concepts mean the exact phrases. Their task is to make the text more readable and smoothly translate the reader from one idea to another. Moreover, all these constructions are divided into subgroups depending on their purpose. Let’s take a look at a couple of examples of good transition words for an opinion essay:
- In my opinion…
- It is clear that…, etc.
- It is widely known that…
- It is a well-known fact that…
- Research has shown that…
- There are definitely…
- It is a fact that…, etc.
There are also brilliant linkers for opinion essays on these themes:
- In spite of…
- However, etc.
- To conclude…
- In conclusion…, etc.
Using these constructions, you will significantly increase the consistency of your text and help the reader to perceive it better.
Now that you have a basic understanding of writing an essay, let’s look at some good opinion essay topics. Feel free to use them for your creative work and get good points.
💡 30 Opinion Essay Prompts
So, our team has selected 30 excellent opinion essay topics for you. Look for what resonates in your soul and get to work!
- Opinion essay: success in life depends on being successful at school. Many of us were assured that it is impossible to reach heights without a good performance at school. What do you think about it?
- Mobile phone addiction is the scourge of the 21st century. Give arguments from your life and tell about personal experiences.
- Opinion essay about GMO : pros and cons. For many, this topic remains a secret. It’s time to dispel all inaccuracies and find out the whole truth.
- Should university study be free? What is your position?
- Opinion essay about technologies in our life . What impact do they have?
- Compulsory vaccination : pros and cons. If you have any personal experience with this topic, feel free to share it.
- Opinion on abortion essay: do people have the right to choose?
- US neutrality in World War II : what would have gone differently?
- Opinion essay about video games. Is it an addiction or just leisure ? What do you think?
- Does the motivation from famous people have an effect, or is it a dummy? Do you have an opinion on this matter?
- Essay opinion on junk food : how dangerous it is. Everyone was warned that junk food and junk food kill the body, but maybe it’s all about the quantity?
- Parenting is the foundation of a child’s success. Do you think that the parents are responsible for the future education and work of their child?
- Opinion essay: buy nothing day or Black Friday sales. What do you choose and why?
- The advantages of living in a metropolis and a small town . Which would you choose?
- Essay: opinion about global warming . Do you think this is a real threat, or is it just a panic among people?
- Homemade food or dining out in restaurants? What do you and your family prefer?
- Social media impact opinion essay. Billions of people spend their time on social media. What consequences can this have for humanity?
- Consequences of increasing the budget for road construction. How will this affect our cities?
- Opinion essay: television promotes violence through broadcasting abusive behavior. Do you agree with this thesis?
- Humanity is destroying the ecosystem and making the earth uninhabitable. What arguments can be for and against?
- Opinion essay about homework : is this system outdated? How do you feel about this from a student’s point of view?
- Artists and internet bloggers make vast amounts of money. Do you support this?
- Opinion essay about racism in modern life. What are the dangers of this behavior? Tell us about your personal experience or give an example from the community’s life.
- Some people dream of changing their place of residence. Do you think that moving to another country will help you in self-realization?
- The best profession to choose opinion essay. What are your thoughts? Where would you like to be after finishing your studies?
- People prefer online communication over live communication. How do you feel about this trend?
- Opinion essay about same-sex marriages. For some people, this is unacceptable. What do you think about it?
- How can movies and television affect human behavior ? Do you think certain viewing films should be limited for people with a weak mentality?
- Opinion essay about immigration . Should the state provide maximum assistance to everyone who wants to get into it?
- Should people be allowed to carry weapons with them? What restrictions can be used, in your opinion?
These themes are ideal for getting good results.
Now let’s look at some small sample essays from our authors. You can see all the listed components and highlight some interesting ideas for yourself!
Climate change opinion essay, truth or fiction? (250 words)
Climate change has been heading the news for decades. Almost everyone is puzzled by this problem in the modern world, but is there any reason to believe that this is just exaggerated media panic? I think not, and in this essay, I will try to explain my position. The first thing worth paying attention to is the changes that we can see every day. But nature is changing, and this is noticeable with the naked eye. For example, you can look at how the temperature regime has changed over the past decades. In my region, real winter began in the last days of November. Then the temperature dropped to zero, and there was already snow outside the window. However, I would be thrilled to see snowfall this year, at least at Christmas. This raises questions about the veracity of statements from the media and various organizations. You should also look at the publicly available facts. International organizations conduct ongoing research, which clearly shows that the climate is changing, and it is difficult to fix it. One of the most respected teams, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), regularly issues climate change reports. And in them, you can see what reasons for this and what it can lead to. This is excellent and detailed work that deserves everyone’s attention. In summary, we can say that climate change can be seen with the naked eye. This problem affects all people on the planet, and to ignore it is to expose yourself to great danger. Humanity is destroying our world, and can we deny it?
Opinion on death penalty essay, is it moral? (300 words)
Many international treaties have long banned the death penalty, but this does not prevent several countries from regularly using it against criminals. I think this is a terrible practice that has no place in our civilized world. The argument for this may be the simple idea that every creature has a right to life. And this right cannot be taken away under any condition because you can take a dangerous path by creating an incident. One Russian scientist Andrei Sakharov spoke very accurately about this: “The existence of the institution of the death penalty dehumanizes society. I spoke out and am opposed to the death penalty also because this punishment provides for the presence of a constantly terrible apparatus of executors, the whole institution of the death penalty ”. I fully support his words because there is no reason not to kill the second after killing once. It should also be understood that people sentenced to death are not always, in fact, guilty. There is a miscarriage of justice, and no one can be insured against it. The most resonant was the story from 1949. Timothy Evans was hanged on charges of murdering his pregnant wife and two-year-old daughter. Four years later, it wasn’t until serial killer John Christie, who had testified in court against Evans, confessed to the murder. He was hanged, and Timothy Evans was posthumously rehabilitated. The Timothy Evans case is one of the most remarkable stories in the death penalty dispute. To summarize, I can say that there are many reasons for the absolute ban on the death penalty in the world. This is not only inhuman but can lead to unnecessary deaths. Fighting crime in this way, the people who defend the law themselves break it.
Opinion essay on smoking: should the state intervene? (300 words)
Smoking is a global problem. Experts predict that in the coming decades, the number of smokers will reach one billion people worldwide. In my opinion, governments should take strict measures to limit nicotine use among the population. Firstly, smoking poses enormous hardships for addicts. All this can increase the number of cancer patients and people suffering from heart and lung diseases. At the same time, it can be tough to give up cigarettes on your own. We all understand that nicotine in quantities that a person receives from cigarettes is not characteristic of the body. Therefore, our body can react in an extraordinary way to its appearance. An example may well be my family, suffering from heart problems for several generations. All men, from my great-grandfather to my father, visit doctors all the time. And they all have one reason – excessive smoking. At the same time, they cannot quit smoking on their own due to a banal addiction. Secondly, smokers can damage the health of other people nearby. It is a well-known fact that secondhand smoke is no less harmful than the regular use of nicotine. And unfortunately, non-smokers, in most cases, have no choice. You can see it yourself in everyday life. People who are forced to breathe smoke while sitting at bus stops or in public places simply cannot do anything about it. The only way to help them is to introduce more and more restrictions from the state. So, in conclusion, we can say that smoking is not only a problem for the person addicted to cigarettes. Everyone suffers from this, from his family to strangers around him. Unfortunately, these difficulties cannot be resolved on their own. But is the state and society doing enough to help people with addiction?
📎 References
- Basic Essay Structure. Port. Ac
- An opinion essay. British Council
- How to Write an Opinion Based Essay. UCT Language Centre
- Recognizing Transitions. MPC.Edu
- Writing Your Paper: Transitions. EWU.Edu
- Conclusion – How to write an essay. University of Newcastle
- Writing a thesis statement. IELTS Buddy
- CCSS Argument versus Opinion Writing
- Essay Structure. Harvard College Writing Centre
How to write an opinion essay
Published September 27, 2020. Updated May 17, 2022.
Opinion Essay Definition
An opinion essay is a piece of writing that reflects the author’s point of view on a particular topic.
Overview of an Opinion Essay
Learning how to express your opinion and back it up in a constructive argument is an important life skill. Whether in a casual conversation or a more serious situation, being able to express yourself and your opinions will help you in the long run. There are a few steps to be followed to create a successful opinion essay: prewriting (finding the best topic), developing a strong thesis, writing an enticing introduction paragraph, writing three clear body paragraphs, writing a gripping conclusion, revising, and editing, polishing, and consulting an expert.
Worried about your writing? Submit your paper for a Chegg Writing essay check , or for an Expert Check proofreading . Both can help you find and fix potential writing issues.
Prewriting: Finding the Best Topic
Your essay will only be as good as your opinion, so spending some time prewriting will work in your favor. Prewriting literally means “writing before” and refers to preparation you do before you start writing. It is an important step of the process to organize your thoughts.
Brainstorming all possible opinion ideas is a great way to start. This is a good time to go over the professor’s instructions and review the parameters.
- Are there any overarching topics that you need to focus on?
- Are there any topics that must be avoided because they are trite, controversial, or don’t fit the motif of the class?
- Finally, consider what YOU feel strongly about. If you choose an opinion that you already have some passion about, the whole process will be easier.
The final step in prewriting is to do some research if needed. You might hold an opinion but not know everything about it. This is a great time to get your facts straight and to find out what you need to know. By organizing your thoughts first, you will know what holes you need to fill in your knowledge, and you will have a better understanding of what needs to be researched.
Develop a Strong Thesis
A thesis sentence is like the road map for the paper. If you write a strong thesis, your paper will be easier to write AND to read. The thesis statement is (typically) one sentence that expresses your opinion and shows what the paper is about. Make sure that your thesis statement includes all of the following:
- An explicit opinion that you will be able to elaborate on. Choose something unique so that it stands out from the crowd, and make sure you already have some knowledge about it to get you started.
- Clear, specific vocabulary that makes your opinion sound strong. Since this thesis sentence is so important to the scope of the paper, take great care in choosing each word.
- Use the third-person point of view . This means using pronouns like he, she , and they (avoiding pronouns like I, me , we , and you ). Using the third-person perspective strengthens your argument right from the thesis sentence.
- Write a complete sentence with a strong action verb. Along with the specific vocabulary mentioned above, make sure to use a strong action verb that will add energy and specificity to your writing.
Write an Enticing Introduction Paragraph
A solid introduction paragraph needs to ease the reader into the paper and help them make connections to their own lives. A good introduction will also make your opinion clear, so the reader knows just what to expect throughout the rest of the paper. Take special care to entice your reader into reading. If the first few lines of the paper don’t grab the reader’s attention, they will not want to continue reading. Taking a few moments to set up the paper in an interesting way will pay dividends as you complete the project and gain the reader’s interest.
An introduction has three basic sections. Including these three sections and using transitions between them will ensure a great introduction paragraph.
- Begin the introduction paragraph with a startling fact, quote, or statistic . This strategy helps to get your audience’s attention and will lure them into the rest of the paper.
- The second section is a connection section . This section sets up the entire essay and clarifies what it will be about. The connector section links the anecdote or fact to the thesis, and shows the reader what they can look forward to in the paper.
- The third part of the introduction paragraph is the strong thesis statement. Use the sentence you already created in the section above.
Write Clear Body Paragraphs
Now you come to the meat of your essay and the section where you will try to persuade the reader why your opinion is justified or matters. Here are some general tips to help you write a clearly articulated and organized paper.
Have at least three main points
In order to organize your writing, it is important to have at least three body paragraphs, each focusing on a different point. Before you begin writing these, ask yourself which three main points you would like to make to back up your opinion. These become your body paragraphs.
Put the ideas in the best order for maximum benefit
Organization is key to a strong opinion essay. Many opinion writers like to put the strongest idea at the end of the essay to pack the most punch.
Use transitional words to link your ideas
Transitions are words that show a relationship. If you are stuck, a quick search for transitional words and phrases will give you many more to choose from. Here are a few example words:
- Ordinal words : first, second, last
- Proving words : definitely, evidently
- Words introducing exceptions: yet, but, however
Use strong language
When writing an opinion essay, it is important to use strong and descriptive language. You can’t sit on the fence for this one, so you need to use vivid language to show your side of the opinion. For example:
Weak: He went to school.
Strong : He ran hurriedly to school.
Weak: Without water , the plants would die.
Strong: Without life-saving water , the plants would shrivel up and die.
Think of it as painting a picture with your words. You want the reader to be able to picture what you are talking about and understand why you feel so strongly about the topic.
Be specific
When possible, it’s better to be specific than general. For example, if you are writing about how it is important to get involved in extra-curricular activities , be very specific. Saying “Join a club” is generic, but if you say “Join the Chess Club” or “Join the Fishing Club,” your reader will be able to picture what you are talking about.
Use vocabulary correctly
Use the right word for the job and write as an educated person. For example, you wouldn’t include a sentence like, “OMG, that experiment totally rocked” in a formal essay. Writing with an educated voice adds to your credibility, which strengthens your opinion.
Also, avoid the thesaurus trap, where you just plug in words and choose any random synonym. Use vocabulary you already know, especially since this is your opinion, but make it as clear and specific as possible.
Write a gripping conclusion
Keeping the reader focused on your topic until the very end of the paper is important. Writing a focused conclusion paragraph will do just that. Just like in a strong introduction paragraph, there are three major parts, only this time they are reversed.
- Rewrite the thesis statement in different words, but keep the original meaning intact. This will help remind your audience what your opinion was and why it is important.
- Clarify the three main points of your paper as evidenced by the three body paragraphs you used. Just remember not to be too repetitive.
- Dive a little deeper as you conclude, in order to answer the question, “So what?” Why is this topic important? Why is your opinion valuable? This is also a good time to link back to your introduction paragraph. This is called framework and is a great organizational technique.
When revising your opinion essay, you need to focus on the big picture. Analyze the thesis and the paragraphs to do this.
- Look at your thesis in both the introduction and conclusion paragraphs to make sure they show what the paper is proving.
- Consider the order of the body paragraphs. Does the order make sense or could the paragraphs be rearranged to build importance?
- Are there any points or information that are missing but could be added to strengthen your argument?
- Are there any points or information included that weaken your argument and should be revised or edited?
The choice is yours, but double checking the scope of the paragraphs will make sure your writing is holistically organized and makes sense to the reader.
Before you turn in that paper, don’t forget to cite your sources in APA format , MLA format , or a style of your choice.
Edit, Polish, Consult an Expert
Editing and polishing a paper include looking at the picky little pieces. Even though you are probably tired by now and tempted to turn it in as-is, this step is important so that your work can be published.
- Double check spelling and grammar . Even if you run your paper through an automatic check, there are usually words or typos that could be missed.
- Check the flow of your paper . Make sure you have used transitional words to link your ideas.
- Think of varying your sentence structures. This helps reduce redundancy and helps make the paper more readable. Start some sentences with a subject/verb and others with phrases or clauses.
- Get an outside review of your paper . After you have completed your paper, consulting with an expert can help ensure further success. Using a tool like Chegg Writing is a great way to polish your piece and help you develop the best possible draft.
Example Opinion Essay
If you would like the downloadable version, open this opinion essay example .
Common Writing Assignments, Apps & Tests
- Analytical Essay
- AP synthesis Essay
- Argumentative Essay
- Book Report
- Compare and Contrast Essay
- Cause and Effect Essay
- College Admissions Essay
- Critical Analysis Essay
- Definition Essay
- Descriptive Essay
- Dissertation
- Explanatory Essay
- Expository Essay
- Informative Essay
- Narrative Essay
- Opinion Essay
- Personal Essay
- Persuasive Essay
- Reflective Essay
- Research Paper
- Rhetorical Analysis
- Scholarship Essay
- Short Essay
- Thesis Paper
What’s included with a Chegg Writing subscription
- Unlimited number of paper scans
- Plagiarism detection: Check against billions of sources
- Expert proofreading for papers on any subject
- Grammar scans for 200+ types of common errors
- Automatically create & save citations in 7,000+ styles
- Cancel subscription anytime, no obligation
IMAGES
VIDEO