GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Pay attention:
Start with a brainstorming to get your ideas clear and ogranized.
You should start each paragraph with a topic sentence, which should
state very clearly what the paragraphs main idea is;
the sentences that follow are called supporting / secondary sentences
and they provide examples, details, reasons, justifications and/or evidence to
support the topic sentence.
You should always check your piece of writing before handing it in. You
should make sure that:

you have used topic sentences and supporting sentences;

you have written a conclusion;
you have divided your composition in paragraphs;
you use different vocabulary and structures;
the words are in the correct order;
you have used the correct grammar;
there are no spelling errors;
you have used the correct punctuation;

Enrich your writing with:

Formal linking words or phrases
Passive Voice
Idioms
Impersonal Construction
Inversion Generally
Inversion in conditionals
Subjunctive
Emphatic Constructions

OPINION ESSAY

Opinion essay is a formal piece of essay writing which presents the

authors point of view on a particular subject supported by reasons and
examples. The opposing viewpoint can also be presented, with arguments that
show that it is wrong. You should convince the reader to support your opinion.
Decide whether you agree or disagree with the subject of the topic, then make a list of your
viewpoints and reasons.
Write well organised paragraphs, joining the sentences with the properly
linkers. Dont forget to start each paragraph with a topic sentence which
sumarises what the paragraph is about.
A successful Opinion Essay consists of:
1 Paragraph: Introduction: you introduce the topic, the controversy that
exists, and your opinion.
Nowadays more and more students bring their mobile phones to school. While I
believe that students should carry mobile phones in case of an emergency, I
am strongly opposed to phones being used at school, particularly in the
classroom. In this essay I am going to give arguments on why mobiles should
not be allowed at school.
st

2nd Paragraph you present your claims supported by reasons and examples
3rd Paragraph: you present the opposing viewpoint and prove it is
unconvincing. Or you present another argument supporting your opinion.
4th Paragraph: Conclusion: you summarize the main points in the essay and
restate your opinion in a different way.
USEFUL VOCABULARY: LINKING WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
OPINION
ADDING
CONTRAST
CONCLUSION
- In my opinion
Besides
However
In conclusion
- As I see it
In addition (to) On the other hand
To sum up
- As far as I am
What is more
(correlative to on the
All in all
concerned
Another
one hand)
In short
- It seems to me that
resaon is
Despite
In a nutshell
- It is clear that
Furthermore
As opposed to the above In brief
- I think/feel that
Moreover
ideas
On the whole
- I agree/disagree
And
Nonetheless
To summarize
- Personally
Also
- (Un)fortunately
What is more
- Of course
Not to
- To my mind
mention the
- I am inclined to
fact that
believe that
- I (strongly) believe
that
Linking words / phrases can be used to:
show time: when, whenever, before, while, as soon as, etc.
list points or show sequence: first, to start with, next, finally, secondly... etc.
show cause or effect: because, since, as a result, etc.
give examples: for instance, for example, such as, especially, etc.
Dos
Write in a formal style
Introduce the topic clearly
Make a list of viewpoints and reasons supporting
your point of view

Use linking words and phrases

Start each paragraph with a topic sentence
Donts
Dont use colloquial expressions
Dont use short forms

Dont use over-generalizations

Dont use statistics without proper referencing

Dont give personal examples