How to Write an Opinion Essay

By: Max Malak

15 min

11

10.04.2022

How to Write an Opinion Essay

“What is an opinion essay” followed by “How to write an opinion paper”, are the two most common questions among college students.

How to write a good opinion essay is all about creating a point of view. Relevant explanations and examples support this point of view. Before you begin a paper, you need to first study the topics, structure and requirements.

With that in mind, read this guide to learn how to write an opinion essay step by step.

What is an Opinion Essay

An opinion essay is an academic writing assignment that contains questions students can use to share their opinions concerning a subject matter. This form of assignment tends to require various references to back up your claims. To simplify the definition, it consists of your view segregated into a point. The paper tends to address the readers directly. Such an introduction begins by referencing a book, play, or speech. It is then followed by a rhetorical question such as "is the American president American?" or something along those lines.

Opinion Essays Structure

Most students tend to struggle with an opinion essay structure. An opinion paper format comes in your standard 5 paragraph structure. It can be difficult for beginners to figure out what to write in each section. Nevertheless, this is why every beginner must follow an essay outline when writing.

To help you with an essay format, here is a template:

Opinion writing structure

Before you begin the text structure highlighted above, there are a few steps between starting and finishing a paper.

🤔 Pre-writing

This step requires you to consider the following:

  • The questions you intend to tackle in your assignment
  • The main points that your readers must be aware of
  • The central argument or idea that makes your paper an academic writing success.
  • The research it took to create this opinion, coupled with evidence. It should also include any contradictions if any.

🤯 Brainstorming

As its name states, this process requires you to develop your organic ideas, developing them into meaningful topics. When you write your ideas, you should not be afraid of writing ideas that don’t seem to make sense.

If you already have a topic for your essay, you can start jotting down content supporting your argument with evidence.

👉 Topic Selection

If you haven’t been given a topic, you will need to take several brainstormed ideas and transform them into a powerful topic. Discover if you agree or disagree with the topic in question.

Deciding if you agree or disagree with the topic right at the beginning ensures that you do not diverge from your initial statement.

Paper Outline

The last thing you want to do is to skip this section, as it can make or break your academic writing. When creating your outline, it can be a rough opinion essay template with particular headings that enable you to create the bones of your assignment.

Now let’s discuss the parts of an essay and how to write an introduction.

How to Format?

Introduction

The opinion essay introduction section requires you to directly address the audience by stating the subject matter. You will need to reference a play, book, poem, or speech to do this. You should also reference the name of the author and, of course, the date of the publication you are referencing in brackets.

Thesis statement

The thesis statement is the full form of your point of view. It follows the introduction for opinion essay. It is in this section that you are allowed to be opinionative. This section contains the following:

  • 1 to 2 sentences that make up a small description
  • 2 sentences that summarise the entire paper.
  • 1 sentence that links to the first body paragraph of your essays

Body Paragraph 1

This is the main section where you state your argument or reason for or against the topic. The great thing about this section is that you can have as many arguments as possible. In this section, you will discover how to write a body paragraph for an opinion essay.

The body paragraph will contain the following:

  • Your supporting argument
  • An example of your supporting argument
  • An explanation of your argument using your own words
  • It should also contain a sentence that links to your second body paragraph

Body Paragraph 2

This body paragraph will contain the following:

  • Your supporting argument
  • An example of your supporting argument
  • An explanation of your argument using your own words
  • It should also contain a sentence that links to your third body paragraph

Body Paragraph 3

This body paragraph will contain the following:

  • Your supporting argument
  • An example of your supporting argument
  • An explanation of your argument in your own vocabulary
  • It should also contain a sentence that links to the conclusion of the subject

Conclusion

The conclusion of your academic writing provides an entire summary of your paper. It should also include a conclusive sentence that answers the question in a broad or general view. Ensure that you reinforce your major points by briefly repeating them in this section.

In other words, you need to rewrite the thesis statement in your own words whilst including your stance. The conclusion is an underrated section of a paper, as it can be used to further underline your ideas to the reader. Nevertheless, you shouldn’t make this paragraph longer than it needs to be.

The best bet is to have a conclusion paragraph that is brief and straight to the point. This format ensures that your readers have something useful to take from the end of the article.

How to Start an Essay: Tips for writing an opinion paper

Now that you understand how to structure an essay outline, it is time to discuss how to state your opinion in an essay.

Your essay should begin with the most compelling and convincing explanation of why you are right, and then work down to less important issues.

  • Why do I believe what I believe?
  • Why do I think the way I think?
  • Why do I feel the way I feel?

If you can answer these questions for yourself, then you have already begun writing an essay.

The first sentence of your essay should state the topic. However, this sentence should not be too general. Instead of being vague, your goal should be to be specific about what you're talking about when you say "topic." This will help convince the reader that you're not just spouting off, but that you're offering a specific perspective on the subject.

This type of essay seeks to explain something from the writer's subjective point of view, to prove an idea, or to persuade someone of anything. From the author's point of view, it reveals and describes the causes and interconnections of any phenomenon.

Requirements

There are integral dos and don’ts for what to write about.

When writing, you should always use a formal style.

You should also clearly introduce your topic by avoiding any unnecessary facts and phrases that don’t correlate to the topic.

Also it is imperative that you correctly cite your sources.

Credible sources for your essay can include the following:

  • Academic databases
  • Google Scholar articles
  • Governmental and educational institutions
  • Texts authored by respected individuals
  • Information created within the last 10 years

Furthermore, there are also a few things you shouldn’t do when writing an essay. For one, you should refrain from using over-generalizations, ensuring your sentences are very precise. You should also only use statistics with proper referencing. As an academic writing format, you should steer clear of personal examples. Doing so takes away from the formal mood and writing style.

Do's

  • Always stay formal. Treat your essay as if it is one of your final papers;
  • Keep the introduction of your topic free from unnecessary facts;
  • Use each paragraph for a separate opinion piece;
  • Always use the last line of the paragraph as a bridge or link to the next one to ensure coherence;
  • Use generalizations;
  • Try to use present tense;
  • Always cite the material that you have used;
  • Try to stay brief. Do not wander or get carried away with your opinions;
  • Stay logical. Make sure that your essay is in the logical sequence. Arguments that go back and forth will confuse the reader;
  • Never skip proofreading;
  • Always check plagiarism before you submit your work.

Don'ts

  • Do not use slang or jargons;
  • Avoid using short forms;
  • Stay away from over-generalizations;
  • Do not use a material that you haven't cited;
  • Avoid using personal examples in the essay. Your view must be based on the topic;
  • Do not repeat arguments as it will eat up the word count and add no value;
  • Do not overuse sentences that are straightforward or short;
  • Steer clear of using an imperative voice;
  • Do not use dashes, parentheses, or exclamation marks;
  • Refrain yourself from using "you" in the content;
  • Stay away from the expressive vocabulary.

When citing sources, you should refrain from using the following:

  • Blog posts
  • Citation articles
  • Commercial websites
  • Outdated information

If you look back on the outline section, you will discover that you can have as many arguments as necessary for that subject. This, however, doesn’t mean that you should continually repeat arguments. This type of essay requires you to create various subheadings under your main argument.

One last thing to remember is that you should refer to your reader as "you” under no circumstance! Speaking directly to the reader can be seen as disrespectful, especially if you fall into using an informal tone.

Examples of Opinion Writing

Below are one of the examples of an opinion essay:

Can video games be a great way to remain fit?

In today’s world, numerous teenagers spend most of their time at home on video game consoles, and they often play active video games. These games are great for several reasons,

First of all, I believe that active video games can be a great way to remain fit. Various forms of exercises are available in these games, such as dance, water-skiing, and basketball. What's even more important is that these games can be played directly in a home, without the need to venture outside.

In my opinion, these games can be extremely interactive and fun since they can be played with friends, even if the participants are located in different areas, thanks to the internet.

Additionally, you can play these games whenever; some people believe that it is better to engage in exercise outside. And while this is true, it can be much more difficult to play outside in various weather conditions. This reason makes video games a great alternative.

To sum it up, I believe that video games can be a social and fun way to remain fit. They make a great alternative, in my opinion, for days when the weather outside is not conducive to playing outside. Video games can even encourage more people to exercise.

There you go, above are some opinion essay introduction examples.

Opinion writing can be termed as expository writing. The reason for this is because this type of paper format utilizes a style of writing that is defined by the capacity to justify your point of view using resources, facts, and reasons.

The statements or topic sentences are typically supported by elaboration found in the center of the essay. You also provide reasons for your stance on the particular subject. The subject could be social issues, politics, or current events.

The purpose of this form of writing isn't only to inform; it is also to underscore that information using specific examples that convince the reader to support a particular point of view.

Writing this English assignment will require using language such as "as far as I am concerned" and "I think”. Using the phrases mentioned above in the essay sample shows that you, as the author, want to provide an opinionated viewpoint.

Opinion writing can be a wonderful way to create and push out your viewpoint to those who will read it. Additionally, it is an opportunity for you to let others understand how you feel about certain issues and the reason for those feelings. The opinion essay writing model is something that is practiced and developed.

FAQ

What is an opinion paper?

An opinion paper enables writers to put down their thoughts and opinions on a subject matter with carefully crafted sources and examples supporting their viewpoint.

How to start off an opinion essay?

Writing an opinion essay begins with the introduction of the topic in its entirety. In this instance, you also introduce your viewpoint and your argument for or against the topic in question.

What is the structure of an opinion essay?

The structure of an opinion essay goes as follows:

  • Pre-writing
  • Brainstorming
  • Topic Selection

Once you have done the former, you can then begin creating your essay using the structure below:

  • Introduction
  • Thesis
  • Body Paragraph 1
  • Body Paragraph 2
  • Body Paragraph 3
  • Conclusion

What are the 3 parts of opinion writing?

There are three parts to every opinion essay. These include 1) introduction, 2) body and 3) conclusion.

The essay begins with an introduction. It introduces the essay's topic. The body of your essay should explain, describe, argue, or summarize your introduction's points. The conclusion should restate your thesis and answer the questions generated by your essay.

How do you write an opinion essay for kids?

Having formed a point of view indicates that you have made up your mind about what you believe. In order to write an paper about your favorite book, for example, you must first decide on your favorite book and then ensure that you have a variety of reasons why it is your favorite.

What is opinion writing for students?

Opinion writing is intended to express a personal point of view. The writer sets out to elaborate on an idea and to convince the reader that they agree with that idea.

What must be included in opinion writing?

The opinion piece should begin with a strong, clear statement of opinion, and that opinion should be held unwaveringly and constantly reinforced throughout the text. Using a hook to capture the reader's interest, as with many other writing genres, is also an important practice.

How do you write an opinion essay without using I?

Simply remove the first-person element of your statement to do this. In formal writings, "one," "the reader," "readers," "the viewer," or something similar can sometimes be used effectively in place of first-person pronouns but be careful not to overuse these expressions.

What is a statement of opinion?

A statement of opinion is a written statement about a topic. The statement may be a personal opinion, an evaluation, an interpretation, or a policy proposal. The purpose of the statement of essays is to convince the reader that the writer understands a topic well enough to write about it.

Can you say “I” in an opinion essay?

Yes, you can say “I” in this type of essay. This is because, unlike other forms of writing, writing an opinion paper can be termed a personal opinion essay. It requires you to write your point of view on a particular topic.

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Max Malak

Product Manager

Here at Studybay, I work as a Head of Affiliates in the marketing department. I studied Liberal Arts and took related classes at Tokyo Sophia University. I believe that challenges are what make my job fun and exciting. That's why I like completing complex, complicated, and even weird tasks and then sharing my experience with colleagues.

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