ESSAY STRUCTURE

NAME: _______________________________________________________ CODE: _______________ GROUP: _______________

HOW TO WRITE AN OPINION ESSAY

OBJECTIVES: To identify the purpose of an opinion essay and its parts.

Watch the video in VS and complete the following activities.

ACTIVITY 1: What is an opinion essay?

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ACTIVITY 2: Complete the chart:

What is the structure of an opinion essay? Main characteristics

1.

Paragraph 1
2.
INTRODUCTION
3.

1.

Paragraph 2
2.
1st ARGUMENT
3.

1.

BODY Paragraph 3
2.
2 ARGUMENT
nd

3.

1.

Paragraph 4
2.
CONCLUSION
ACTIVITY 3: Read the essay titled: FREE SPEECH: SHOULD IT BE “FREE”? Highlight with different colors and name the parts of the
essay’s structure.

Hook Yellow
Background information Blue
Thesis statement Red
Topic sentence # 1 Purple
Explanation Orange
Example of further idea Green
Topic sentence # 2 Pink
Explanation Brown
Example of further idea Grey
Opinion restated Light blue
Summary of main points Green
FREE SPEECH: SHOULD IT BE “FREE”?
HOOK

Grammar tenses
Introduction

It is commonly assumed that everyone has the right to freely express their opinions. used:
Unfortunately, most people do not know the limits to express themselves in virtual
platforms, which has been causing serious problems in terms of online regulation and
people’s safety. In my opinion, free speech in social networks needs to be controlled
by the local government as the main authorities.

Grammar tenses
used:
Firstly, free speech is causing cyber-bulling. The latest empirical studies have
Argument 1

demonstrated a link between the use of social networks and this new form of peer
aggression that takes advantage of the massiveness of internet where the information
can be easily and rapidly shared. A good illustration of this is an experiment conducted
in Germany which demonstrated that a rumor that started at a random node of Twitter
network in average reaches a considerable amount of members within only a few
hours.

Grammar tenses
Secondly, free speech generates violence and affects people psychologically. When a used:
Argument 2

person is exposed to insults in social networks, it could cause lower levels of

psychological well-being and higher levels of emotional stress. Usually adolescents
are the main victims of this type of situations as online hate speech produces anxiety
and body image concerns.

Grammar tenses
In conclusion, the term “free speech” is too wide and should be limited in social used:
Conclusion

networks. If authorities, specifically in the ICTs Ministries, established certain rules,

social media users could still communicate “freely” and responsibly without the risk of
being cyberbullied and suffering possible psychological negative effects.

Adapted from a text written by a student in the period 2018-1