2021-2022 SPRING Weeks 8-10

B1+ Writing

OPINION ESSAY
What is an opinion essay?

An opinion essay requires students to write their thoughts about a subject matter. In this type of essay, you will need to
agree or disagree with a given statement, then discuss the reasons why you agree or disagree with it. You should always
remember that you will need to support your point of view (your arguments - reasons why you agree/disagree) with
enough supporting details/explanations/examples… etc.

Read the sample opinion essay below, and get ready to analyze the essay and its parts.

ESSAY QUESTION: E-cigarettes should be banned. Do you agree or disagree?

E-CIGARETTES
An e-cigarette, or vape pen, is an electronic device that heats a pod of liquid, turning it into vapor that contains
nicotine, flavorings, and other substances. Especially in the last decade, e-cigarette use has become common not only
among adults but also among teenagers, which brought about the discussion of whether or not they should be banned.
In my opinion, electronic cigarettes should be banned since they pose a potential risks for a person’s health and they
cause the younger population to become addicted to nicotine.
E-cigarettes pose a potential risks for a person’s health. Firstly, vaping is harmful for a person’s lungs since e-
cigarettes contain and emit toxic substances which are highly dangerous to the respiratory system. Long-term use of vape
pens has also been associated with lung injuries and permanent lung diseases such as asthma and lung cancer. Secondly,
electronic cigarettes are potentially dangerous to the heart. Nicotine is the primary component of e-cigarettes, and it is a
highly addictive substance. It is also well-known that nicotine raises the blood pressure and increases adrenaline, which
increases the heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack. Therefore, I strongly believe that they must be banned.
Vape pens also cause the younger population to become addicted to nicotine. To begin with, there is a common
view among young people that vaping is less harmful than smoking actual cigarettes. When this view is combined with
hundreds of fun flavours and colourful packaging, the results are shocking. More and more teenagers are taking up vaping
every day without even realizing that they are actually letting so much nicotine into their blood systems and becoming
nicotine addicts. Moreover, this addiction to nicotine often leads to using traditional tobacco products down the road. As
the young consume more and more nicotine by vaping, they are more likely to look for stronger products for their nicotine
cravings. In other words, e-cigarettes could be the first step of tobacco addiction for younger people.
All in all, I strongly believe that e-cigarettes ought to be banned since they are potentially dangerous to our
health and lead the youth to become addicted to nicotine. With so many misconceptions around them, and very few
long-term and extensive research on the subject, I think, the best way to protect the well-being of society is banning e-
nicotine products.

Components of an Opinion Essay
Introduction
(Body 1) First argument / first reason why you
agree/disagree with the statement
(Body 2) Second argument / second reason why
you agree/disagree with the statement
Conclusion
2021-2022 SPRING Weeks 8-10
B1+ Writing
 General statements (from general to specific - 2 or 3
sentences) about the given statement. This can be a
definition, background information about the main topic,
or a general explanation. This move from general to
specific is similar to the introduction of a cause/effect
essay. Thesis statement includes your point of view and
your arguments. That is, in a thesis statement, you agree
or disagree with a given statement and give two reasons
why you agree/disagree.
 Partial agreement is NOT ALLOWED.
 The first body paragraph includes one reason why you
agree/disagree with the given statement. This is your first
argument. This argument/reason should be extended by
two supporting ideas which must be reinforced with
supporting details. (Similar to cause-effect essay)
 The second body paragraph includes the second reason
why you agree/disagree with the given statement. This is
your second argument. This argument/reason should be
extended by two supporting ideas which must be
reinforced with supporting details. (Similar to cause-effect
essay)
 Concluding sentence+ Final comment
 Concluding sentence is the restated form of your thesis
statement. Please do not forget that you have to use
transitional signals such as “all in all, to sum up, in brief
etc.” for your concluding sentence.
 Final comment can be a piece of advice, a warning, a
prediction or any statement that maintains your position
in your essay.
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B1+ Writing

The Essay Question

The question for an opinion essay consists of two parts:

The first part of the question is a statement. In the sample essay question above, the statement is “E-cigarettes should
be banned”.

The second part is the question: “Do you agree or disagree?”

Please note that, in an opinion essay, you CANNOT partially agree/disagree with the given statement. For your essay,
you HAVE TO pick a side, and write about the reasons why you agree or disagree with the idea you have been
presented.

Here are some more examples for opinion essay questions:

Graffiti should be considered art, not vandalism. Do you agree or disagree?

statement question

Unpaid internships should be illegal. Do you agree or disagree?

statement question

Doctors should be allowed to promote medicines. Do you agree or disagree?

statement question

Introduction Paragraph
The introduction paragraph of an opinion essay consists of 3 or 4 sentences. These sentences move from general to
specific, and give background information about the topic. The last sentence of the introduction paragraph MUST BE the
thesis statement.
In the essay sample about e-cigarettes above, you can see that the essay starts with the definition of an e-cigarette to
give background information about the subject matter. After the definition, the author points out the spread of e-
cigarette use, and finishes the introduction paragraph with a THESIS STATEMENT.

Thesis Statement for Opinion Essay Type

In an opinion essay, the thesis statement must have TWO components. First, you have to say whether you AGREE or
DISAGREE with the given statement. Then, you need to write down two reasons why you agree/disagree, which are your
arguments. Read the sample thesis statement:

In my opinion, electronic cigarettes should be banned since they pose a potential risks for a person’s health and they
cause the younger population to become addicted to nicotine.
author’s point of view Electronic cigarettes should be banned
(agreement with the statement)
1st argument harmful to the health
(1st reason why the author agrees)

2nd argument cause the younger population to become addicted to nicotine

(2nd reason why the author agrees)
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B1+ Writing

Giving Opposing Views in Thesis Statements

Providing an opposing view is a common strategy for writing the thesis statement of an opinion essay. While giving an
opposing view, you may make use of reporting phrases and connectors or linking words of contrast. Read the following
sentences:

Essay Question:
Graffiti should be considered art, not vandalism. Do you agree or disagree?
Sample Thesis Statements:

 Some people may think that graffiti is an act of vandalism, which is deliberate destruction of or damage to public
or private property. However, I strongly believe that graffiti should be considered an art form as it beautifies our
cities and gives the youth a chance to express themselves through colors.

 Many people argue that graffiti is an act of vandalism as it damages property, yet in my view, graffiti should be
considered an art form since it makes our cities more beautiful and enables the youth to express themselves
with colors.

Essay Question:
Unpaid internships should be illegal. Do you agree or disagree?
Sample Thesis Statements:

 There are many who support the idea that internships can be unpaid. However, I am convinced that work
placements without pay must be made illegal as they give the companies a chance exploit the youth and cause a
lack of professional motivation for interns.

 Some people doubt whether internships should be paid, but it is clear to me that unpaid internships should be
illegal since they give the companies a chance exploit the youth and cause a lack of professional motivation for
interns.
Here are some reporting phrases that you might use while writing your thesis statements:
SUGGESTED SUBJECTS REPORTING VERBS
Some people
Many people argue that
A lot of people state that
Many claim that + SVO
Some believe that
A number of people think that
A few

SUGGESTED SUBJECTS REPORTING VERBS

Some people
Many people
A lot of people doubt whether
Many question whether +SVO
Some
A number of people
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B1+ Writing

SUGGESTED SUBJECTS REPORTING VERBS

Some people
Many people
A lot of people support the idea that
Many object to the idea that +SVO
Some oppose the idea that
A number of people

Body Paragraphs of an Opinion Essay

In an opinion essay, body paragraphs consist of the reasons why you agree or disagree with the given statement. These
reasons are called arguments. Remember that each body paragraph MUST focus on ONLY ONE reason/argument for
your agreement/disagreement, and it MUST adequately support your reason/argument with sufficient supporting
details/examples/explanations etc.

Read the sample body paragraphs below and examine the table below.
ESSAY QUESTION: E-cigarettes should be banned. Do you agree or disagree?

THESIS STATEMENT: In my opinion, electronic cigarettes should be banned since they pose a potential risk for a person’s
health and they cause the younger population to become addicted to nicotine.

1st argument/reason will be the topic of your first body paragraph: they pose a potential risk for a person’s health

E-cigarettes pose a potential risk for a person’s health. Firstly, vaping is harmful for a person’s lungs since e-
cigarettes contain and emit toxic substances which are highly dangerous to the respiratory system. Long-term use of vape
pens has also been associated with lung injuries and permanent lung diseases such as asthma and lung cancer. Secondly,
electronic cigarettes are potentially dangerous to the heart. Nicotine is the primary component of e-cigarettes, and it is a
highly addictive substance. It is also well-known that nicotine raises the blood pressure and increases adrenaline, which
increases the heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart attack. Therefore, I strongly believe that they must be banned.

Topic Sentence = 1st argument/1st reason E-cigarettes pose a potential risk for a person’s health.

1st Supporting idea harmful for a person’s lungs

Supporting details contain and emit toxic substances / highly dangerous to the respiratory
system / lung injuries / permanent lung diseases / asthma and lung
cancer

2nd Supporting idea potentially dangerous to the heart

Supporting details Nicotine: highly addictive / raises blood pressure / increases adrenaline /
increases heart rate / causes heart attack

Concluding Sentence (OPTIONAL) Therefore, I strongly believe that they must be banned.
 2021-2022 SPRING Weeks 8-10
B1+ Writing

PRACTICE 1: Read the sample essay on the first page and fill in the table with the information given.

THESIS STATEMENT: In my opinion, electronic cigarettes should be banned since they pose a potential risk for a person’s
health and they cause the younger population to become addicted to nicotine.

2nd argument/reason will be the topic of your second body paragraph: they cause the younger population to become
addicted to nicotine.

Topic Sentence = 2nd argument/2nd reason

1st Supporting idea

Supporting details

2nd Supporting idea

Supporting details

Concluding Sentence (OPTIONAL)

Useful Phrases to Express Opinion

Here are some phrases that you can make use of while writing an opinion essay. You may read the sample thesis
statements and introduction paragraphs in this unit to see how they are used in this essay type.
 In my opinion, ……  In my view, ...
 Personally, I believe (that)….  From my point of view, …
 I strongly believe that….  As far as I am concerned, ...
 It is clear (to me) that….  I am sure/ convinced that …
 I (completely) agree/disagree with …  I (dis)agree with the statement because …

Read the examples below for the essay question: Students should wear uniforms. Do you agree or disagree?

In my view, students should not be required to wear uniforms since they stop students from expressing themselves
through their clothes and they are mostly uncomfortable.

I disagree with the statement that school uniforms should be obligatory as they are not only uncomfortable but also
outdated.

In my opinion, students should wear school uniforms because they are practical and economical.

Personally, I believe that school uniforms should be obligatory due to the fact that they are convenient and budget-
friendly.
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B1+ Writing

Conclusion Paragraph in an Opinion Essay

Conclusion Paragraph of an opinion essay consists of two parts.

Conclusion Paragraph = Concluding Sentence + Final Comment

Concluding Sentence:
The first sentence of your conclusion is the concluding sentence. For a good concluding sentence, you need to
restate/paraphrase your thesis statement. In other words, you need to rewrite your thesis statement. Do not copy and
paste your thesis statement. Keep the core meaning of your thesis, but use different words and sentence structures to
say what you have said in your introduction paragraph. Also, do not forget to use transition signals/signal words.

Final comment:
This is the last sentence of your essay. You may use this sentence to give advice, make a warning, state a prediction,
make a suggestion etc.

ATTENTION: Do not add any new ideas to your essay in the conclusion paragraph. Summarize your key points and state
your opinion. At the beginning of your essay, you have made a decision and picked a side. You cannot change your mind
or write anything that does not support your point of view at this point.

Common transition signals are:

All in all, Briefly, On the whole,
To summarize, In brief, In summary,
To conclude, To sum up, In conclusion,

Sample Thesis Statement

In my opinion, electronic cigarettes should be banned since they pose a potential risks for a person’s health and they
cause the younger population to become addicted to nicotine.

Sample Conclusion Paragraph

All in all, I strongly believe that e-cigarettes ought to be banned since they are potentially dangerous to our
health and lead the youth to become addicted to nicotine. With so many misconceptions around them, and very few
long-term and extensive research on the subject, I think the best way to protect the well-being of society is banning e-
nicotine products.

All in all, I strongly believe that e-cigarettes

ought to be banned since they are potentially CONCLUDING SENTENCE
dangerous to our health and lead the youth
to become addicted to nicotine.

With so many misconceptions around them, and

very few long-term and extensive research on the subject, FINAL COMMENT
I think the best way to protect the well-being of
society is banning e-nicotine products.
 2021-2022 SPRING Weeks 8-10
B1+ Writing

OPINION ESSAY PRACTICE PACK

EXERCISE 1: Read the following introduction paragraph below and fill in the table according to the thesis statement.

QUESTION: University education should be free to everyone, regardless of income. Do you agree or disagree?

Over recent years, with the growth of the world’s youth population, more and more people have been attending
university. The high number of students in higher education has brought about the question of whether students should
pay for this privilege or not. Although there are convincing arguments on both sides, I strongly believe that university
education should be free since it will lead to a better society and ensure equal opportunities for everyone.

author’s point of view

(Does the author agree or disagree?)

1st argument
(1st reason why)

2nd argument
(2nd reason why)

EXERCISE 2: Read the opinion essay question below, brainstorm ideas and fill in the table. Then, using the information
you put in the table, write a THESIS STATEMENT.

QUESTION: It has been claimed that workers over 50 are not responsive to rapidly changing ideas in the modern
workplace, and for this reason, younger workers should be preferred. Do you agree or disagree?

your point of view

(Do you agree or disagree?)

1st argument
(1st reason why)

2nd argument
(2nd reason why)

Write your thesis statement here:

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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B1+ Writing

EXERCISE 3: Read the essay question below, and think of some ideas to fill in the table.

ESSAY QUESTION: In many countries, children are engaged in some kind of paid work. Some people think that it is
completely wrong, while others consider it a valuable work experience. What is your opinion?

your point of view

1st argument / 1st reason why

2nd argument / 2nd reason why

Using your ideas from the table, write your thesis statement to complete the introduction paragraph below.

Nowadays, many children are involved in different types of jobs to gain some kind of financial benefit for

themselves and their families. However, whether this is good for their development and personality is a controversial

issue. _____________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 4: Read the thesis statement and the body paragraph below. Then, fill in the table with the information in
the body paragraph.
QUESTION: Some people believe that they should be able to keep all the money they earn, and they should not have to
pay taxes to the government. Do you agree or disagree?

THESIS STATEMENT: Some people may argue that paying taxes should not be an obligation; however, I strongly believe
that every citizen should pay taxes as paying them ensures better public services and helps to keep the economy stable.
first argument/reason

1st argument/reason becomes the topic of the first body paragraph: taxes ensure better public services

Citizens should be obliged to pay taxes so that their government can offer them better services. First of all,
citizens should accept that taxes help their government to provide better public services all over the country. These
public services are things such as the construction of roads, bridges, public hospitals, parks, sewer systems, and power
lines. By paying taxes, citizens make sure that even the most remote parts of their country receive the same level of
service from their government. Secondly, education is perhaps the most valuable service that a government can provide
to its people. For a free and quality education, citizens should consider paying taxes as their most important
responsibility. By paying taxes, citizens ensure free education not only for themselves but also for those who would not
be able to afford a good education otherwise. In brief, paying taxes gives the citizens the right to demand better service
from their officials in numerous aspects of life.
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B1+ Writing

Topic sentence = 1st argument/1st reason

1st Supporting idea

Supporting details

2nd Supporting idea

Supporting details

EXERCISE 5: Read the thesis statement and study the information provided in the table. Then, using the information,
write the second body paragraph of the essay.

QUESTION: Some people believe that they should be able to keep all the money they earn, and should not have to pay
taxes to the government. Do you agree or disagree?

THESIS STATEMENT: Some people may argue that paying taxes should not be an obligation; however, I strongly believe
that every citizen should pay taxes as it ensures better public services and helps to the keep economy stable.
2nd argument / reason

2nd argument/reason becomes the topic of the second body paragraph: paying taxes helps to keep the economy stable.

Topic sentence = 2nd argument/2nd reason Paying taxes helps to keep the economy stable.

1st Supporting idea taxes: main source of income/revenue for governments

Supporting details can be used for a variety of investments (give examples) / to create
employment and improve the economy

2nd Supporting idea taxes: can be used to buy foreign currencies or gold for the country’s
treasury
Supporting details more money or gold in the treasury / more balanced local currency,
little or no exchange rate fluctuation / no value loss for the local
currency / more balanced economy

Write your paragraph here:

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________
 2021-2022 SPRING Weeks 8-10
B1+ Writing

EXERCISE 6: Read the thesis statement and the body paragraph below. Then, fill in the table with the information in
the body paragraph.

QUESTION: University education should be free for everyone, regardless of income. Do you agree or disagree?

THESIS STATEMENT: Although there are convincing arguments on both sides, I strongly believe that university education
should be free since it will lead to a better society and ensure equal opportunities for everyone.

1st argument/reason will be the topic of your first body paragraph: Free university education for everyone will lead to
a better society.

FIRST BODY PARAGRAPH

Making university education free for all will lead to a better society. Firstly, free university education
encourages more people to attend and get a degree from university. A population with a high number of university
graduates leads to a more productive and educated workforce, and it plays an important role in the race to become a
world-power. Secondly, university education creates a population with better critical thinking skills. Research has
generally shown that countries with a better educated population have higher levels of innovation and productivity. It
can be argued that, in today’s world, innovation and productivity are some of the most valuable resources for a country.
With more people graduating from university, countries make sure they never fall behind in the race to become more
developed and offer a better life to their citizens.

Topic sentence = 1st argument/1st reason

1st Supporting idea

Supporting details

2nd Supporting idea

Supporting details
 2021-2022 SPRING Weeks 8-10
B1+ Writing

EXERCISE 7: Read the thesis statements below. Using the information in the thesis statements, try to write concluding
sentences.

QUESTION: University education should be free for everyone, regardless of income. Do you agree or disagree?

THESIS STATEMENT: Although there are convincing arguments on both sides, I strongly believe that university education
should be free since it will lead to a better society and ensure equal opportunities for everyone.

To sum up, _________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

QUESTION: Some people believe that they should be able to keep all the money they earn, and they should not have to
pay taxes to the government. Do you agree or disagree?

THESIS STATEMENT: Some people may argue that paying taxes should not be an obligation; however, I strongly believe
that every citizen should pay taxes as paying them ensures better public services and helps to keep the economy stable.

All in all, _________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

EXERCISE 8: Choose one of the topics below and write an opinion essay. You may use the table provided below to
brainstorm and organize ideas before you start writing.

 Besides its advantages, some people believe that the Internet creates many problems. Do you agree or disagree
with this statement?
 Parents are the best teachers. Do you agree or disagree?
 With the rise in popularity of the Internet, newspapers will soon become a thing of the past. Do you agree or
disagree?

YOUR OPINION/POINT OF VIEW

ARGUMENT ONE/REASON ONE ARGUMENT TWO/REASON TWO

Supporting idea 1 Supporting idea 2 Supporting idea 1 Supporting idea 2

details/examples details/examples details/examples details/examples

 2021-2022 SPRING Weeks 8-10
B1+ Writing

Self-Editing Checklist

Does the essay

 answer all the aspects of the essay question?
 meet the requirement of 250-350 words?
 have a clear plan and sense of organization?

Does the introduction include

 background information, such as definitions or common misconceptions?
 general lead in statements?
 a clear thesis statement?

Does each body paragraph include

 a topic sentence that supports the thesis statement?
 ideas that support the topic sentence?
 supporting details / examples for each supporting idea?
 enough linking words to make the paragraph easy to understand?

Does the conclusion include

 a restatement of the thesis statement or main ideas?
 a message about the issue?

Are there any punctuation and spelling mistakes?

Do all the sentences support the thesis statement?

Are the sentences clear and direct? Can they be understood on the first reading? Are the sentences
varied in length and structure? Could any sentences be improved by combining or restructuring them?

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