Opinion Column

Section One: The What and Why

An opinion column is a piece of writing that's purpose is to deliver to your reader your opinion on a topical issue. Throughout your column, your job is to convince your reader of your perspective (viewpoint).

Section Two: The How - Structure of an opinion column

An opinion column has a structure - which is the order of the ideas that you write about. It goes a little bit like this:

• An overall introduction: what's the issue that you are writing about? what's your main argument about it? why does it interest you? what's your perspective and viewpoint?

• Discussion of the reasons that you think this way;

  • For each reason, be clear about how the reason links into your main argument. 

  • Give specific examples that prove your thinking

• Use language features, such as repetition, anecdotes, listing, rhetorical questions, hyperbole, to make your reader want to read your argument.

• Conclusion: so, overall, what's your point? Why are you right? 

Have a look at these articles and You Tube Tutorials below to help you out.

Section Three: Some examples to check out

Before you start writing, a good thing to do is to check out some examples of what other people have written. So check out these ones below to give you some ideas about HOW to write an opinion column. Look out, and keep a note of, how the author is putting their opinion / argument across - what words are they using? What sentence starters are they employing? Interesting words? How are they keeping the reader interested?

Section Four: Some ideas to write about

Check out some of these texts that might get you riled up enough to write passionately. You could write in response to these provocative texts, agreeing or disagreeing and putting your own case forward.