OPINION ESSAY

OPINION ESSAY
This type of essay is where you are presented with someone else’s opinion and
you are asked if you agree or disagree with it.
The opinion is often flawed or extreme in its views. Some teachers call this the
Argumentative Essay. The instructions can be written in a number of ways.
Below are a few examples:
• To what extent do you agree?
• Do you agree?
• Do you agree or disagree?
• What is your opinion? / What do you think?
No matter how the instructions are written, you can take any position you
want: agree, disagree or partial agreement (balanced view).
 EXAMPLES OF OPINION ESSAY QUESTION
A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction. Do you
agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

Some people say that modern technology such as the Internet and
computers will ever replace the book or written word as the main
source of information in the future. What do you think?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your
own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

3 COMMON MISTAKES IN OPINION ESSAYS

1. Not stating an opinion: The most common mistake that students make
is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must
choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low
score for task fulfilment.
2. Giving arguments for both views: Make sure that you don’t change
your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the
opposing view.
3. Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons: It doesn’t matter
which side of the argument you take or even that you agree with it.
Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.
 ESSAY STRUCTURE
1) Introduction (Đoạn mở bài)
Paraphrase the question (diễn đạt lại nội dung chủ đề bài viết)
• Some individuals/ people argue/consider/believe that…
• People have different views about…
• Nowadays, an increasing number of people are concerned about…
• Whether… is a controversial issue.
Thesis statement (trình bày quan điểm của người viết)
• My view is that…
• I completely/totally agree/disagree that…
• There is merit to the argument that…
• Although I accept/agree that…, I believe that …

ESSAY STRUCTURE
2) Main body paragraph 1 (Thân bài đoạn 1)
Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view (Câu chủ
đề luận điểm 1):
• To begin with, there are a variety of reasons …
• First, it is obvious that
Explanation – explain this idea:
• In other words,... / That is to say…
• This means that
Example – give an example or expand the idea:
• An example of this is…
• For example,...
• For instance,...
• This is demonstrated/illustrated by…
 ESSAY STRUCTURE
3) Main body paragraph 2 (Thân bài đoạn 2)
Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view (Câu chủ đề luận điểm
2):
• Moreover,…/ Furthermore,…
• Additionally,... / In addition,...
• Besides,...
Explanation – explain this idea
Example – give an example or expand the idea
4) Conclusion
Summarise opinion and key reasons
• In conclusion,…
• In sum,…
• In brief,...

ANALYZING AND PLANNING AN ESSAY

1. Analyze the question
Smoking is considered highly dangerous to our health because it impacts
the smokers and the people around them. Therefore, there should be
some strict controls on smoking in public places. To what extent do you
agree or disagree? Give reasons for your answer and include any
relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Identify 3 different types of words:
1. Topic words: identify the general subject of the question
2. Other keywords: tell you the specific topic you must write about
3. Instruction words
2. Decide on your opinion
 HOW TO WRITE THE INTRODUCTION
An introduction should have 2-3 sentences (40-60 words long) and take 5 minutes
to write.

For many academic essays there are three parts to the introduction
1. The hook
2. A background statement
3. A thesis statement.

1. Hooks
• We don’t need to write a “hook” in VSTEP essay.
• A hook is there to create interest, but that is not part of the marking
criteria for VSTEP. Interest is NOT marked and does not improve
your score.

HOW TO WRITE THE INTRODUCTION

2. Background Statements
• The function of a background statement is to present the issues in the essay
question.
• You do this by paraphrasing the question. This means you rewrite the essay
question your way.
• We do this because these are the issues your whole essay will be addressing.
It is the only way that your essay will make sense.

3. Thesis Statements
• The second sentence in the introduction is the thesis statement. This is your
answer / your opinion. It provides the reader with a clear answer to the task.
 PARAPHRASE THE QUESTION
Use synonyms Question:
• The best way = The most effective method
The best way to improve health
• To improve health = to develop health, to ensure
is to do regular exercise. To what
a healthier body extent do you agree?
• Regular exercise = daily exercise
Change word formation
• To improve health = to ensure improvement in
(physical and mental) health
• Regular exercise = to exercise regularly / daily
Change the sentence structure
• Exercising regularly/ daily is considered to be
the most effective method to ensure
improvement in physical and mental health.

WRITING PRACTICE – INTRODUCTION

Question: Smoking is considered highly dangerous to our
health because it impacts the smokers and the people
around them. Therefore, there should be some strict
controls on smoking in public places. To what extent do
you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience.
🡪 Introduction paragraph:
 PARAPHRASE THE QUESTION
Use synonyms
• Highly dangerous to our health = potentially harmful Question:
to our health, seriously damaging to our health Smoking is considered
• impact the smokers = badly/ negatively/ seriously/ highly dangerous to our
severely affect the smokers. health because it impacts
• People around them = non-smokers, people who do the smokers and the
not smoke, people who breathe in/ inhale second-hand
people around them.
smoke, people who are exposed to second-hand smoke
Therefore, there should
• Strict/tight/close controls on sth = strict/ severe/ tight
limits on sth, strict/ severe/ strong/ tight restrictions on be some strict controls
sth, social restraints on sth on smoking in public
• Public places = public locations, pubs, clubs, places. To what extent
restaurants, movie theaters, public transport waiting do you agree or
points, major sporting facilities, building entrances, disagree?
public swimming pools, and children’s playgrounds.

PARAPHRASE THE QUESTION

Change word formation
• Impact (v) 🡪 have/make damaging/ destructive/ Question:
serious/ negative impacts on smokers (n), Smoking is considered
have/produce damaging/ destructive/ highly dangerous to our
serious/harmful/ negative effects on smokers, health because it impacts
have/ lead to bad/ damaging/ dangerous/ harmful/
negative/ deadly consequences for smokers
the smokers and the
• smoker 🡪 active smoking people around them.
• Non-smoker 🡪 passive smoking, suffer from the Therefore, there should
harmful effects of second-hand smoke be some strict controls on
• Strict/tight/close controls on sth 🡪 establish/ smoking in public places.
impose/ place/ set strict limits on sth, impose/ To what extent do you
place restrictions on sth, impose social restraints agree or disagree?
on sth, control/ limit/ restrict smoking
 WRITING PRACTICE – INTRODUCTION
Question: Smoking is considered highly dangerous to our
health because it impacts the smoker and the people
around them. Therefore, there should be some strict
controls about smoking in public places. To what extent
do you agree or disagree?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant
examples from your own knowledge or experience.
🡪 Introduction paragraph:

DISCUSSION
ESSAY
 DISCUSSION ESSAY
This type of essay presents you with a statement containing two
opposing views. You will then be asked to discuss both sides of the
argument and give your own opinion.
The instructions can be written in a number of ways. Below are a few
examples:
• Discuss both views
• Discuss both views and give your opinion.
• Discuss both these views and then give your own opinion.
• Discuss both sides of this argument and give your own opinion.

EXAMPLES OF DISCUSSION ESSAY QUESTION

Some people think that zoos are cruel and should be closed down. Others,
however, believe that zoos can be useful in protecting wild animals. Discuss
both views and give your opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.

Completing university education is thought by some to be the best way to get

a good job. On the other hand, other people think that getting experience and
developing soft skills is more important. Discuss both sides and give your
opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own
knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
3 COMMON MISTAKES IN DISCUSSION ESSAYS
1. Not stating an opinion: The most common mistake that students make is
not giving their opinion. The question will clearly state that you must
choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low
score for task fulfillment.
2. Not giving arguments for both views: Make sure that you present both
sides of the argument. It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you
take or even, that you actually agree with it.
3. Not developing both sides of the argument equally: you must give equal
attention to both sides. A common error is to provide a stronger argument
for the view you favour. This leads to an unbalanced essay and a low score
for task achievement.

ESSAY STRUCTURE
1) Introduction
Paraphrase the question (Diễn đạt lại nội dung chủ đề bài viết):
• In recent years, there has been a growing debate as to whether…
• People have different views about whether…
• Some people argue that… while others say/ contend that…
• It is considered by some…. while there are others who think….
• It is often argued that... whilst others disagree and think....
Thesis statement and outline statement (Câu chủ đề của bài luận):
In the outline statement, you’ll outline the two main points that you’ll cover in the rest
of the essay. At the same time, you’ll state your opinion in the thesis statement.
• While I accept that..., I believe that...
• In my opinion, I believe that…, while…
• While there are grounds to argue that..., I (strongly) believe that...
 ESSAY STRUCTURE
2) Main body paragraph 1
Topic sentence – outline the view you don’t agree with (Câu chủ đề luận
điểm 1)
• On the one hand,…
• One of the main arguments in favor of (+ noun / noun phrase) is that…
• To begin with, there are a variety of reasons why…
Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
• Firstly, … → In addition, /Consequently, …
• Secondly, … →Furthermore, /As a result, …
Example – give an example

ESSAY STRUCTURE
3) Main body paragraph 2
Topic sentence – outline the view you do agree with (Câu chủ đề luận điểm 2)
• On the other hand,…
• Despite these arguments, there is an equally strong case to be made that...
• Others are of the opinion that…
• Convincing argument can be made that…
Explanation – explain why this view is held by some people
Example – give an example
4) Conclusion
Summarise the key points and restate your opinion
• In conclusion,... / To sum up,… / In brief…,
 ANALYZING AND PLANNING AN ESSAY
1. Analyze the question
Some young people tend to have a year of travelling before
they start work or university and see it as a chance to
broaden their knowledge. Others think that this decision is
totally waste of time. Discuss your views.
Identify 3 different types of words:
1. Topic words: identify the general subject of the question
2. Other keywords: tell you the specific topic you must write about
3. Instruction words
2. Decide on your opinion

ANALYZING AND PLANNING AN ESSAY

3.
In anVocabulary
essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either
by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms.
• young people: students, graduate students, graduates, high school students, high
school graduates, high school leavers, gap-year takers
• have a year of travelling before they start work or university: take a gap year,
have/ take a year off to do sth, work or travel for a year before starting university
studies or finding employment/ looking for a job.
• broaden one’s knowledge: widen/ acquire/ gain/ test/ apply/ enhance/ expand/
extend/ improve/ increase one’s knowledge, broaden one’s horizons, become
knowledgeable about sth, have/ gain/ get/ bring/ broaden one’s experience,
acquire/ develop/ gain/ learn/ practise/ apply/ harness/ use/ broaden/ improve/
increase one’s skills.
• decision: choice; make a choice; make a(n) (big/major/ important) decision