Unit 7: Opinion paragraphs Structure and brainstorming - english | Đại học Văn Lang

📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming UNIT 7: OPINION PARAGRAPHS
STRUCTURE AND BRAINSTORMING I. PRE-WRITING 1. Definition
* An opinion paragraph tells what the writer thinks about a topic. The writer tries to persuade the
reader about a certain point of view. In other words, the writer presents an argument for or against something. * A good opinion paragraph:
 gives the writer's opinions about a topic
 presents facts, examples, explanations, or personal experiences to support the writer's opinions
 considers both sides of an argument (although it gives much more attention to the writer's side of the issue)
(Adapted from: Folse, K. S., Muchmore-Vokoun, A., & Solomon, E. V. (2019). Great writing 2: Great Paragraphs. National Geographic Learning.)
2. Structure (general outline)
An opinion paragraph has the same structure as other paragraph types:
Restates the topic (paraphrases the writing prompt) and states Topic sentence your opinion Supporting sentence 1
The first reason for your opinion
Facts, examples, explanations, or personal experiences to add Detail 1
more details to the supporting sentence Supporting sentence 2
The second reason for your opinion
Facts, examples, explanations, or personal experiences to add Detail 2
more details to the supporting sentence Supporting sentence 3
The third reason for your opinion
Facts, examples, explanations, or personal experiences to add Detail 3
more details to the supporting sentence Concluding sentence
Restates your opinion or summarizes the main ideas
(Adapted from: Vargo, M., & Blass, L. (2018). Pathways 1: Reading, writing, and Critical Thinking. National Geographic Learning.)
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📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming
3. Analyze a sample paragraph
An A+ for School Uniforms
School uniforms should be mandatory for all students for a number of important reasons. First of
all, uniforms make everyone equal. In this way, kids with many nice things can be at the same
level as those with fewer things. In addition, getting ready for school every morning can be
much faster and easier. Many kids waste time choosing what to wear to school, and they are
often unhappy with their final choice. Most importantly, some studies show that school uniforms
make students perform better in school. This is because students can focus more on their
lessons instead of caring about how they and their peers look. For all these reasons, I believe
that uniforms are useful to students and all schools should require students to wear them every day.
Task 1. Read the paragraph and answer the following questions.
1. What issue is discussed in the paragraph?
___________________________________________________________________________
2. What is the writer’s opinion about the issue?
___________________________________________________________________________
3. How many points does the writer use to support his topic sentence? Underline them.
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Highlight the details. What kinds of details does the writer use in the paragraph: facts,
examples, explanations, or personal experiences?
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
5. Circle the transition words and phrases that the writer uses to move readers through his or her arguments.
Task 2. Complete the outline of the paragraph above.
Topic Sentence: ______________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence 1: ________________________________________________________
Detail 1: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Supporting Sentence 2: ________________________________________________________
Detail 2: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
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📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming
Supporting Sentence 3: ________________________________________________________
Detail 3: __________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________
Concluding Sentence: _________________________________________________________
4. Topic sentence and Supporting sentences
4.1. Distinguishing Facts and Opinions
A fact is information that can be verified or proved. A fact is always true.
In contrast, an opinion is what someone thinks or believes to be true. An opinion may be true or false.
When you write an opinion paragraph, it is very important to include facts in the supporting
sentences, but not in the topic sentence. If you choose supporting facts with examples that
the reader can clearly relate to, your opinion paragraph will be stronger, and you may even
convince readers to agree with you.
Task 3. Read the following statements and decide if they are facts or opinions.
Write F for fact and O for opinion.
__O___ 1. Soccer is a much more interesting game to play and watch than golf.
__F___ 2. There are more boys than girls in my English class.
______ 3. The most beautiful city in the world is Paris.
______ 4. Our teacher gave us homework last week.
______ 5. Hanoi is the capital city of Vietnam.
______ 6. Apple juice tastes better than milk.
(Adapted from: Folse K.S., Muchmore-Vokoun, A. & Solomon, E.V. (2014). Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs. National Geographic Learning.)
Task 4. Now, write one opinion sentence about these following topics.
a. Homework: ________________________________________________________________
b. Money: ____________________________________________________________________
c. Sports: ____________________________________________________________________
d. Online games: ______________________________________________________________
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📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming 4.2. Topic sentence
 A topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph.
 The structure of a topic sentence: topic + controlling ideas
A good topic sentence for an opinion paragraph must express an opinion that can be supported
in some way. If you cannot think of a list of two good reasons to support the idea in the topic
sentence, then it is probably not a good topic sentence for an opinion paragraph. Examples:
a. Paris is a large city in France. => Not a good topic sentence. This is a fact. This topic
sentence is going to produce a paragraph describing Paris, but it does not give opinions about Paris.
b. Paris is the best place to study arts and fashion. => A good topic sentence because it
states the writer's opinion: the best place to study arts and fashion. The writer will give
reasons why he/ she thinks so in the supporting sentences.
In this example, Paris is the topic, and the best place to study arts and fashion is the controlling ideas.
(Adapted from: Folse K.S., Muchmore-Vokoun, A. & Solomon, E.V. (2014). Great Writing 2: Great Paragraphs. National Geographic Learning.)
Task 5. Read the topic sentences below. Underline the topic and highlight the
controlling ideas. Explain why these topic sentences are good.
1. Danang is the best place for vacation.
2. There are many kinds of wild cats in the world, but tigers are my favorite.
3. The most effective way to learn English is watching videos on Youtube.
4.3. Supporting sentences
- The supporting sentences in the opinion paragraph are used to support, explain, or provide
evidence for the idea expressed in the topic sentence. They answer questions – who?
what? where? when? why? and how? – and give details.
- Detailed sentences give facts, examples, explanations, or personal experiences to expand on
the supporting ideas and help the reader clearly understand the opinion.
- When introducing a new supporting idea, use transition words and phrases like First of all,
Secondly, Another, Also, In addition, Furthermore, Finally ... This helps the reader move from
one supporting idea to the next and shows how the supporting ideas are connected.
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📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming Example:
School uniforms should be mandatory for all students for a number of important reasons. First of
all, uniforms make everyone equal (Supporting sentence 1). In this way, kids with many nice
things can be at the same level as those with fewer things (Detail 1 – Explanation). In addition,
getting ready for school every morning can be much faster and easier (Supporting sentence
2). Many kids waste time choosing what to wear to school, and they are often unhappy with their
final choice (Detail 2 – Example). Most importantly, some studies show that school uniforms
make students perform better in school (Supporting sentence 3). This is because students can
focus more on their lessons instead of caring about how they and their peers look (Detail 3 –
Explanation). For all these reasons, I believe that uniforms are useful to students, and all
schools should require students to wear them every day.
Task 6. Work in pairs. Ask more questions to support your opinions about topics
in Tasks 4. Write at least 2 questions for each topic. Example:
Opinion about online game in Task 4:
I believe that online games have negative effects on children.
=> Possible questions:
 What are the negative effects of online games on children’s health? Any examples?
 What are the negative effects of games on children’s behavior? Any examples?
 What are the causes of those negative effects? a. Homework:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________ b. Money:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
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📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming c. Sports:
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________ 5. Useful language
- When you state an opinion, you should indicate that it is an opinion by using the following phrases: In my opinion, …
In my opinion, students should wear uniforms to schools. I believe (that) …
I believe that/ I think that students should be allowed to I think (that) … choose their own clothes.
- You can explain your reasons and ideas using the following phrases:
The first reason is (that) …
The first reason is that it is convenient for students.
Another reason is (that) …
Another reason is that it is cost-saving. This is because …
This is because students don't have to spend a lot of time choosing what to wear.
- To make your evidence more powerful, you can use the following phrases:
Research shows/ proves/ suggests Research suggests that school uniforms make students that ... perform better in school. Studies show that ...
Some studies show that school uniforms make students perform better in school.
- In your concluding sentence, you can restate your opinion and your reasons using the following phrases: For these reasons, …
For these reasons, students should wear uniforms when going to school. To sum up, …
To sum up, I believe that students should be allowed to choose their school clothes.
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📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming In conclusion, …
In conclusion, there are many reasons why students should
wear uniforms when going to school.
- To provide a final opinion or recommendation, you can use modal auxiliary verbs:
should/ could/ have to/ ought to
All schools should/ could require students to wear uniforms every day.
shouldn't/couldn’t/don’t (doesn’t)
Schools shouldn't require students to wear uniforms every have to/oughtn’t to day.
(Adapted from: Hogue, A. (2018). Longman Academic Writing Series 2: Paragraphs (3rd ed.). Pearson Education.) 6. Brainstorm ideas
There are two methods of brainstorming for opinion paragraphs.
* One method is to brainstorm in lists, table, or mind-map like how you did in Unit 5. Here is an example.
Topic: What do you think about online shopping?
Task 7. Practice brainstorming by making a list of 5 reasons for your choice.
Then, circle the best 3 reasons to include in a paragraph.
1. _____________________________________________________________________.
2. _____________________________________________________________________.
3. _____________________________________________________________________.
4. _____________________________________________________________________.
5. _____________________________________________________________________.
* The second method of brainstorming is to make two columns about your topic. On one side,
list the negative ideas about the topic; on the other side, list the positive ideas. Then, choose
the side that you have more or stronger arguments (explanations, examples, facts)
Task 8. Complete the table with ideas for the topic above.
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📖 AVTC2_Unit 7_Opinion Paragraphs_Structure and Brainstorming
Topic: _____________________ Positive points (For)
Negative points (Against)
=> What side do you have more or stronger arguments? ____________________________
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