In an opinion essay, we give and justify our personal opinion on a given subject.

TOPIC How can you account for the growing number of pets in European families ? Give you

opinion about this social phenomenon. (250 à 300 words)

EXAMPLE USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

PLAN
Nowadays it cannot be denied that the number of
INTRODUCTION
people who keep pets has increased in European paragraph 1
INTRODUCTION countries. Many people adopt a puppy or a Life nowadays …
paragraph 1
pussy-cat to amuse their children. They give a pet During the last century
as a present just as they would give a new toy or we have seen…..
State the topic and
However….
make a general some useless gadget. However, other people
Nevertheless …
comment. Then, keep pets because they suffer from solitude.
This is a controversial
and say that there They need a living creature to talk to, to take care topic …
are at least two of. Many buy dogs because they are afraid of
possible different burglars or because they think that a big growling
opinions or views dog is a good deterrent for troublesome peddlers.
on the subject. Some species are very much in demand because
they add a touch of elegance to fashionable ladies’
appearance.

On the one hand there are many reasons why

people keep pets but the basic one is the rise in
MAIN BODY
Paragraphs 2, 3 ….
living standards that has been taking place for a On the one hand … /
MAIN BODY few decades. Moreover, the trade in pets, and In the first place…. /
Paragraphs 2, 3 …. more especially in dogs, is flourishing. Then …
Furthermore, some are sold at a very high price. Secondly… /
Justify what you say Besides…
Then, it costs a lot to feed them and provide them
by giving facts and However… /
examples. Each time with necessary accessories and vaccines, not to furthermore…. /
you introduce a new mention dogs’ beauty parlours or shops. Finally….
idea, begin a new
paragraph. However, money is not the only factor to be taken
into account. For some years now, there have
been so many campaigns for the protection of
animals, in particular against the experimenting CONCLUSION
on animals for medical research, that people last paragraph
sometimes adopt pets in order to save them from To conclude… /
this cruel practice. To sum up… /
All in all… /
CONCLUSION All things
To conclude keeping pets can be said to be a
last paragraph
considered… In my
social phenomenon insofar as it stems from the opinion…. /
Sum up and give social and economic situation of Europe and
To my mind… /
your opinion.
corresponds to a social need. As far as I am
concerned…. /
I believe that… /