An Opinion Essay

In an opinion essay you say what you think about a statement or a topic, giving reasons for your views.

A. Get Ideas

Think about the topic. What do you already know about it? (Background information) | Piensa sobre el tema. ¿Qué sabes sobre él?
Decide what your opinion is. Remember that there is no right or wrong answer. | Decide cuál es tu opinión. Recuerda que no hay opinión correcta o incorrecta.
Think of as many arguments as you can to support your opinion. | Piensa en tantos argumentos como puedas para reforzar tu opinión.
Choose your two or three best ideas. | Elige las dos o tres mejores ideas.

B. Plan

Organise your ideas into paragraphs. Use a new paragraph for each main subject or argument. | Organiza las ideas en párrafos y desarrolla cada una en un párrafo distinto.

Paragraph 1: Introduction to the topic. | Introducción al tema y opinión.
Paragraph 2: Your first main argument. | Primer argumento principal
Paragraph 3: Your next main argument. | Segundo argumento principal
Paragraph 4: Summary of your opinion | Resumen de tu opinión

C. Write

Use linkers of cause, result, purpose, addition and contrast to connect ideas. | Utiliza conectores de causa, resultado, finalidad...
Use a variety of opinion expressions.
Give the main idea of each paragraph in the first sentence. | Utiliza la primera oración de cada párrafo para dar la idea principal.
Give examples or reasons to support your ideas. | Da ejemplos o razones para apoyar tus ideas.
Sum up your own opinion at the end. | Resume tu opinión al final.

TIPS

Keep on topic. Discuss the ideas in the question - do not introduce new ideas! | Céntrate en el tema y la pregunta. No añadas ideas que no estén relacionadas.
Introduce the topic at the start. You can give background information or say what other people think. | Introduce el tema en el primer párrafo. Puedes hablar de antecedentes o decir lo que otra gente piensa.
Use a variety of opinion expressions, not just I think. | Utiliza expresiones de opinión variadas...
End with a clear conclusion summarising your opinion.|Termina con una conclusión clara en la que resumas tus ideas principales.

BASIC DO'S

Introduce each paragraph with a topic sentence, outlining the main ideas. (Introduce cada párrafo con una oración que resuma la idea principal)
Write in formal style. Don't use contractions. (Utiliza un estilo formal. No uses contracciones)
Do not write about advantages or disadvantages or points for or against.

BASIC DON'TS

Don’t use colloquial expressions. (No uses expresiones coloquiales)
Don’t use short forms. (No utilices contracciones)
Don’t use emotive vocabulary. (No utilices vocabulario emotivo)
Don’t give personal examples. (No des ejemplos personales)

Powerpoint

EXAMPLE

British Council

LINKING WORDS

Giving Background Information

Some / Many people think / believe / argue / consider (that) ...
According to (the media, etc.), ...
Studies show / suggest that ...
It is well-known that ...
It is generally agreed that ...

Expressing Opinions

I think / believe / feel (that) ...
Personally, I think ...
I personally think (that) ...
I (strongly) agree / disagree that ...
I (strongly) agree / disagree with the statement that ...
In my opinion / view, ...
It is clear (to me) that ...
It seems to me that ...

Adding Ideas

Furthermore, ...
Moreover, ...
What is more, ...
In addition (to this), ...
As well as this

Expressing Reason/Cause

Because ... (=porque)
As ... (=porque)
Since ... (=dado que, ya que, porque...)
Seeing that... (=visto que/considerando que...)
- As/Because/Since you're so busy, I'll cook dinner.
- I'll cook dinner as/because/since you're so busy.
Because of + Noun/Noun Phrase (=por, a causa de, debido
Due to + Noun/Noun Phrase (=por, a causa de, debido a)
Owing to... + Noun/Noun Phrase (=debido a)
As a result of... + Noun/Noun Phrase (=debido a)
- Because of/owing to/due to the weather, we stayed home.
- We stayed home because of/owing to/due to the weather.
For this / that reason, ...
- There was an accident in the highway. For this reason, we were late.
One/Another reason for .... is...

Expressing Result

Therefore, ... (por tanto, por eso, luego...)
As a result, ... (=como consecuencia)
Consequently, ... /As a consequence, ... (= por consiguiente, por eso)
For this reason, ... (=por esta razón)
That is why ... (=por esto)
Thus (=por lo tanto, por consiguiente) [+ FORMAL]
- - I was sceptical. Therefore/As a result/As a consequence/ Consequently/For this reason/ Thus, I didn't listen to her advice.
..., so ... (=así que)

- I was sceptical, so I didn't listen to her advice.
- It's very cloudy. That's why we can't see the stars.

..., therefore ... (=por lo tanto, por eso, luego)

- I think, therefore I am

as a result of + Noun/Noun Phrase (=como resultado de, a consecuencia de, por).

- As a result of his great performance, he was awarded player of the match.

Expressing Purpose

In order (not) to + infinitive (=para (no))
So as (not) to + infinitive (=para (no))
to + infinitive (=para (no))
- We are leaving now in order to/so as to/ to be on time.

In the negative:

- - She is studying in order not to fail
  - She is studying so as not to fail.
  - She is studying not to fail.

In order that ... (=para) + oración con verbo modal.
So that ... (=para) + oración con verbo modal.
- We are leaving now in order that/so that we can be on time.

*En el lenguaje hablado se suele omitir "that" en "so that".

Contrasting Ideas

On the one hand, .... On the other hand, ... (Por un lado, ... Por otro lado, ...)
However, ... (Sin embargo, ...)
Although ... , ... (Aunque..., ...)
- Although eating meat is important, we must not forget the damage its production causes to the environment)
Despite this
In spite of this

Giving examples

For example, ...
For instante, ...
One ... (possible consequence might be/ reason for this is..., etc.)
..., such as ... (e.g. illnesses, such as colds)
..., like... (e.g. illnesses, like colds)

Highlighting Specific Ideas

..., especially ... (+)
..., particularly ... (+)
..., apart from ... (-)

Concluding

All in all, ... / To sum up, ....:
In conclusion, / To conclude, ... :
"In general, I think ....... . However, ..."
"On the whole, I think........ . However, ..."

KEY WORDS TO MAKE OUR WRITING BETTER

Depend on (reg);
Insist on (reg)
Listen to (reg)
Talk to (reg)
Deal with (deal-dealt-dealt): tratar de; ir sobre
Worry about (reg)
Care about: importar
Be aware of (estar enterado de)
Remind someone of (reg) recordarle a alguier
Suffer from (reg): padecer de
Belong to (reg) pertenecer .-
Be responsible for: ser responsable de
Blame (someone) for: culpar por
Have influence on: Tener influencia en

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