Opinion

Graphs may ask "Should we have extra indoor or outdoor recess today?" or other questions directly relate to students.

Our Opinion Writing unit occurs in the Spring, but we warm up for it throughout the year by verbally giving opinions with reasons and examples every day. We develop these skills through our morning meeting and integrated into other subject areas. Students take turns with partners and whole group in defending their choices and convincing others of them. Students eventually include a reason whenever they offer an opinion or answer to a choice.

How you can help at home: Ask your child's opinion about things daily and encourage giving detailed reasons, especially based on evidence they can see or hear. Where should we go this weekend? What should we have for dinner? Who do you think will win that football game? What was the best part of our trip to the zoo?

Structure of Opinion Writing (OREO)

INTRODUCTION - Catches the Reader's interest with a hook, states opinion clearly, and gives any background information necessary to understand the topic

2-3 different REASONS for your opinion that all strongly support your side

Each REASON should have several EXAMPLES to support that reason. These could be based on personal experience, facts and later evidence from books, including direct quotations from characters.

CONCLUSION - Remind your readers in a different way of your opinion and leave them feeling satiated or wanting to act on your advice.

Spring Break Opinion Writing Exercise (above)

Students share a Fall book recommendation with another 2nd grade class

Our major goal is for students to connect reading and writing by writing opinion pieces about BOOKS and CHARACTERS. First we want to make sure that students understand the structure of opinion by allowing them to practice the above structure talking about things they care strongly about. Some writing exercises may include:

Spring Break is coming! Where do you suggest your friends vacation?
Let's Leave our Mark on OHES! What would you change/add/remove and why to make our class/school better for the upcoming second graders? (Write to Mrs. Piccirillo or our principals/decision makers)
Would you want to live in an Urban/Rural/Suburban community and why? Consider advantages and disadvantages from Social Studies.
Should 2nd graders have homework? Or other controversial school issues that students might answer YES/NO to.
What is the best kind of pet and why? (introduces researching factual evidence to include)

Then we move to literature-related writing...

What is your favorite book and why do you recommend it?
Writing about themes and traits of characters and giving reasons and examples within the books about why you think.

We start to think more about our AUDIENCE in this unit. Are we writing to Kindergarteners? Adults? Family or Strangers? People who know a lot about the topic or who are new to it? This will determine what reasons are best and the tone we will use to write it.

Here’s a very simplified example for you -

State Opinion (with hook): Are you looking for a new pet? Cats are the best kind of pet and I'll tell you why!

Reason #1: Cats are super cute.

Examples: They have soft fur. They come in many colors and patterns. They have long wiggly tails.

Reason #2: Cats are easy to take care of.

Examples: You don’t have to walk them outside; they use the litter box. You can leave them for a couple days if you go on a trip with just food and water and they’ll be fine. They generally groom themselves and keep themselves clean. They don’t take up much space so you can have them in a smaller apartment.

Reason #3: Cats are entertaining to watch.

Examples: They curl up and sleep in weird places, like bags, boxes and even the Christmas tree (seriously!). They run around to play with strings and toys. They get really excited and jump around when a bug gets in the house.

Restate Opinion in a different way and persuade: If you are looking for an easy-to-care-for pet that’s super cute, you should definitely consider a cat! Check out a local shelter today.

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