Resource 1 An opinion essay

9.7 Writing

State school head teachers In my opinion essay:

are introducing compulsory
uniforms in their schools
more often. Write an opinion
essay on the issue for the
school paper, expressing
your ideas and taking
teenagers’ self-image
problems and freedom
of expression into account.
• In the introductory paragraph I have introduced the topic and clearly stated
my point of view.
• In the body of the essay I have included two or three paragraphs with more
detailed personal opinions and supported these with reasons and examples.
• In the conclusion I have included a summary of my main point of view and
used different words to the statement in the introduction.
• In the conclusion I have included a final comment which leaves the reader
with something to think about.
• I have used a variety of linkers to help the reader to follow my essay.
• I have used formal language and have avoided abbreviations (info/CU/gr8)
or contractions (e.g. I’m/aren’t/that’s).
• I have checked my spelling and punctuation.
• My text is neat and clear.

x
More and more state schools are deciding to introduce school uniforms. They claim this will stop unjust
‘fashion wars’, where more affluent students appear to be better dressed than poorer ones. Uniforms are also
said to help young people focus on education.
Furthermore, telling students to wear the same uniform seems to me a violation of their freedom of expression.
In my opinion, we all have the right to manifest our personalities and clothes are a way to do this. Adolescence
is a period when students’ true selves are shape and if we do not let them show that through clothing, their
transition to adulthood may be delayed.
Next, teens often struggle with self-image issues. They do not feel pretty or strong enough. They try too find
ways to feel better in their own skins. I am afraid school uniforms may slow down this process greatly.
Lastly, recent studies have suggested that students who wore uniforms were not more committed to learning
than students wearing whatever they wanted. So it seems to me that teenagers do not turned into model
students by the uniforms.
In summary, I am of the opinion that unflattering school uniforms are quite oppressive and limit young
people’s freedom to show their true colours.

More and more state schools are deciding to introduce school uniforms. They claim this will stop unjust ‘fashion wars’,
where more affluent students appear to be better dressed than poorer ones. Uniforms are also said to help young
people focus on education. I, however, strongly disagree with this view and believe uniforms are harmful. [1]
Furthermore To begin with [2], telling students to wear the same uniform seems to me a violation of their freedom
of expression. In my opinion, we all have the right to manifest our personalities, and clothes are a way to do this.
Adolescence is a period when students’ true selves are shape are shaped [3] and if we do not let them show that
through clothing, their transition to adulthood may be delayed.
Next, teens often struggle with self-image issues. They do not feel pretty or strong enough. They try too to [4] find
ways to feel better in their own skins. I am afraid school uniforms may slow down this process greatly.
Lastly, recent studies have suggested that students who wore uniforms were not more committed to learning than
students wearing whatever they wanted. So it seems to me that teenagers do not turned are not turned [5] into model
students by the uniforms.
In summary, I am of the opinion that unflattering school uniforms are quite oppressive and limit young people’s
freedom to show their true colours. Let us give them a chance to tell their story through clothing. After all, many great
personalities were the unusually dressed students in class photos. [6]

[1] Missing opinion. [2] Incorrect linker. [3] Wrong verb form. [4] Wrong spelling. [5] Wrong verb form.
[6] Missing conclusion.