Are you struggling with writing an opinion essay, or is it your first time writing one? Then, you might as well use our ideas, tips, and tricks to write an opinion essay that scores you an A+ grade.
,
The process of creating a successful essay is different for everyone. Some will prefer working undistracted while others work better with distractions.
,
Although no guide can comprehensively fit your writing style, one thing is for sure: our guide will help you write an opinion essay in a step-by-step format. We have broken down the opinion-writing process into three core stages: prewriting, writing, and revision to make it easy to grasp.
,
This guide also covers aspects such as opinion essay topic, structure, and the essential guidelines to set you up with writing an opinion essay.
,
Our comprehensive opinion essay guide inspires your confidence as a writer from the beginning, mid-way, to the end. Consult with us if you feel you need further help.
,
What is an Opinion Essay?
,
An opinion essay is a formal piece of writing that presents an author’s point of view (opinion) supported with reasoning, evidence, and examples and can entail opposing inconsistent viewpoints.
,
Unlike an argumentative or persuasive essay where you offer counterarguments or counterpoints, you focus more on your opinion about an issue at hand in an opinion essay.
,
You don’t necessarily have to explore the advantages or disadvantages (pros and cons). Besides, you don’t have to describe the essay topic from a different perspective. Instead, you give your opinions based on well-researched data.
,
Opinion writing is all about you giving your point of view or perspective in a layered manner. By layering, we mean that you support your opinion with examples and explanations.
,
Opinion essays are often written by college and university students. Besides, non-native English-speaking students enrolled in the IELTS must write an opinion piece. Thus, opinion essays help you express your thoughts, perceptions, and opinions while writing in English.
,
Prewriting Stage
,
Before you commence writing your opinions in an essay, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to write about in your opinion essay and how you will express it. Here are a few major steps that you must undertake:
,
1. Understand the assignment
,
Consider reading the opinion essay prompt as the very first step in your writing journey. As you read the instructions, you will get to know the objective of the assignment/essay, the length and deadline of your opinion essay, the formatting style required, and the number of sources to use when writing the essay.
,
Reading the prompt also helps you understand the questions you will be tackling as you write. It also helps set out the main points that must feature in your opinion writing. These points include the central idea or thesis and the extent of research required to support the opinions in your essay.
,
2. Brainstorming
,
As you read the instructions, you can use mind maps or short notes to brainstorm over the topic provided. You can also do the same to develop ideas that you can turn into topics if one is not given.
,
In this phase of your writing, you can utilize the freewriting technique to develop as many ideas as possible. Freewriting allows you to download all your thoughts concerning a certain topic.
,
No idea is terrible, off-topic, or strange during the discovery or investigation phase. As you brainstorm, do some light research to familiarize yourself with concepts, frameworks, and facts about the ideas you have developed.
,
If you think outside the box, for one moment, you will be amazed at how much there is to write an opinion essay about.
,
3. Select a topic
,
If no topic is given, go ahead and select a topic you feel works well for you. Pick something that you are familiar with and find interesting to write about. As you have already brainstormed, choosing a topic should not be hard.
,
4. Do your research
,
Read through the primary and secondary sources as you take notes, organize facts, and develop ideas so that you can work out your position, perspective, lens, and perspective on a topic.
,
This is the evidence that you will be using when drafting your opinion essay.
,
Research online, read related books, find related peer-reviewed scholarly journals, use Wikipedia to familiarize with concepts, and choose the sources to keep for the writing phase.
,
5. Formulate a thesis
,
Are you already familiar with thesis statements? If you are, you do not have to worry about developing an opinion essay thesis statement. The process is the same because an opinion essay thesis is a central idea or argument you want the entire essay to be about. It is the idea that the body paragraphs will be expounding and developing. Remember to have a clear thesis so that you have a focused opinion essay. To do this, refer to your thesis each time you are writing the paper.
,
6. Choose a befitting title
,
Opinion essays, like other academic papers, must have a short, clear, and precise title. Your title often comes from the topic and the thesis. To develop your title, take your thesis and compress it into 3-4 words. Remember, the title should not tell the entire story; it leaves that to the body paragraphs.
,
7. Create an outline
,
With the topic, thesis, and title ready, it is time to create an outline or a rough template for your opinion essay. An outline helps you to organize your essay into paragraphs. It is the blueprint or the map of the rough structure of your essay. Although many students deliberately skip this step, it is vital as it makes it easier to stay focused when writing an opinion essay.
,
Writing Stage
,
Real work begins during the drafting phase, where you actually begin to write your paper. With all you’ve done in the preparation phase, you should not be afraid to handle this stage.
,
You already have a thesis, which is good because lack of it often leads to drifting, making it hard to frame the fact. As you draft the opinion essay, you will be using the materials from the prewriting stage to build your paragraphs.
,
Most successful opinion writers will begin with the body paragraphs without the introduction. When you start with the body paragraphs, you get the independence to work through your ideas without restriction to a thesis. However, this is only useful if you are unsure about the exact direction that you need your opinion essay to take. However, we will explain it step by step and leave the approach for your choosing.
,
1. Write the introduction
,
Your opinion essay must have an introduction as the very first paragraph after the title page. The introductory paragraph presents your subject and states your opinion clearly, concisely, and precisely.
,
Since it is the first part that your reader focuses on, you need to impress them straight away. You can only beckon them off the bat by using a solid essay hook.
,
When you introduce a hook in the opinion essay introduction, you will capture the attention, psyche, and interest of your audience, motivating them to keep reading. For example, you can begin your essay with a statistic, fact, rhetorical question, addressing the readers directly, anecdote, or a quote of your choosing. It should be the first sentence in your introduction.
,
After hooking your reader, provide the background on your topic to help your readers understand: the intent and significance of your opinion essay. Offer some overview of the critical debates about the topic, but do not provide too much details in the introduction.
,
Finally, in your last one or two sentences, present your thesis statement. You already have your thesis statement from the prewriting stage. Present it so that your reader understands your central argument, focus and so that you can signal your readers about your position on the topic.
,
If you are writing a longer opinion essay, say eight pages, and beyond, you can end your introduction by briefly describing the contents of every section of the essay. Thus, you provide a roadmap of your essay so that your reader grasps the structure and has a preview of how you will develop arguments in your opinion essay.
,
2. Write the main body (body paragraphs)
,
The main body of your essay needs to support your thesis statement, set out in the introduction. For a standard five-paragraph essay, your opinion essay will have three body paragraphs that are linked. Each paragraph should present a separate idea or point of view that is supported by evidence, examples, and facts that must be well-cited.
,
Each body paragraph must begin with a unique topic sentence, a mini-thesis, or the main idea that you will back with arguments and evidence in the paragraph. Ensure that you do not start a new paragraph because the one you are writing has become longer. Instead, begin a new paragraph only when you want to discuss another idea.
,
As you write the body paragraph, use the right tenses, transition or linking words, formal vocabulary, right punctuations, and cite the sources well.
,
The body paragraphs account for 80% of your essay, which means that you should balance the word count among the three body paragraphs.
,
After the topic sentence, present evidence that can include quotes, data, or examples from the relevant scholarly sources. Then, interpret and explain the evidence and show how it builds your thesis.
,
Related Read: How to develop ideas in a paragraph.
,
3. Write the conclusion
,
The third step in writing an opinion essay is concluding it. The conclusion of an opinion essay should restate the main opinion/thesis statement using different words. It should also contain a brief summary of the main points supporting your arguments. Finally, it should equally show why your main opinion matters.
,
Refrain from introducing new ideas or apologizing for your opinions in the essay. But, on the other hand, never undermine your arguments as well. You should also avoid cliché concluding phrases like to sum up, in summary.
,
The conclusion should engage your readers. You can end with a warning, ask a provocative question, make recommendations, or suggest consequences if your opinion is not considered.
,
For a great and meaningful conclusion for an opinion essay, end your essay with an impactful or memorable sentence to create one last strong impression in the mind of your readers.
,
Revision Stage
,
After writing your first draft, take some break from writing. This is the time to close your computer, arrange your table, catch that movie or series, drink some water, or take a walk.
,
Once you have rested enough, assuming your essay is not urgent, you can proceed to the revision stage when fresh. Some call it the editing and proofreading phase; whatever it is, it is the last part of writing an opinion essay where you make sure you dot your i’s and cross your t’s.
,
In the revision phase:
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
An opinion essay is written in prose form. Therefore, ensure that you do not have listicles in your essay; it is not a camping list either way!
,
If crafted the right way, your opinion essay will become an excellent piece of writing that your professor can use as an example of the best opinion essay for the following classes. The tips we have shared above can help you pull your a-game when writing an opinion essay.
,
Related Read: How to write a comprehensive A+ essay.
,
Opinion Essay Outline/Template
,
You have probably already encountered and used the basic five-paragraph essay structure, which works well with opinion essays.
,
I. Introduction
,
,
,
,
II. Body Paragraphs
,
A. Body Paragraph 1
,
- Topic sentence with the chief argument that supports your opinion.
- Evidence and facts supported the ideas on a thesis statement.
- Analysis and explanation of your facts and pieces of evidence.
- A closing remark that points out the correlation between the thesis statement and your arguments in paragraph one
- Transition to your next paragraph.
,
,
,
,
,
,
B. Body Paragraph 2
,
- Topic sentence with the principal argument that supports your opinion.
- Evidence and facts supported the ideas on a thesis statement.
- Analysis and explanation of your facts and pieces of evidence.
- A closing remark that points out the correlation between the thesis statement and your arguments in paragraph one
- Transition to your next paragraph.
,
,
,
,
,
,
C. Body Paragraph 3
,
- Topic sentence with the main argument that supports your opinion.
- Evidence and facts supported the ideas on a thesis statement.
- Analysis and explanation of your facts and pieces of evidence.
- A closing remark that points out the correlation between the thesis statement and your arguments in paragraph one
- Transition to your next paragraph.
,
,
,
,
,
,
III. Conclusion
,
,
,
,
Expressions to use when writing an Opinion Essay
,
We already covered some phrases to use when writing essays. However, when you are undertaking opinion writing, the chances are that you need to explain your point of view in the best way. So, here are some basic expressions that you can use to expose how good a critical thinker and a creative writer you are, which is the key to scoring an A+ grade.
,
If you want to fix an opinion essay assignment faster and for better, use some of these expressions or phrases to put through your opinions:
,
Expressions to use when writing an opinion essay
,
It is not entirely convincing that
,
It is not entirely convincing that
,
Even though it is arguable that.
,
Even though it is arguable that.
,
It is compelling that
,
It is compelling that
,
Although Y agrees with X that,
,
Although Y agrees with X that,
,
The principal opinion here is
,
The principal opinion here is
,
The vivid fact is that
,
The vivid fact is that
,
Y firmly/strongly believes that
,
Y firmly/strongly believes that
,
Research has proven that
,
Research has proven that
,
X feels/thinks/holds that
,
X feels/thinks/holds that
,
One is inclined to think that
,
One is inclined to think that
,
With all the assumptions considered.
,
With all the assumptions considered.
,
It is evident that
,
It is evident that
,
This suggests that
,
This suggests that
,
It would mean that
,
It would mean that
,
This proves that
,
This proves that
,
Although
,
Although
,
To
,
To
,
To bring an end to the debate about
,
To bring an end to the debate about
,
In support of.
,
In support of.
,
To clear the confusion around
,
To clear the confusion around
,
In contrast.
,
In contrast.
,
For example, or for instance
,
For example, or for instance
,
,
Nothing is cast in stone; you can always choose your words wisely. However, the ultimate goal is to write an outstanding opinion essay that seduces the best grade from your instructor or professor. Remember, you can use adverbs, adjectives, and nouns when writing but mind the flow of ideas and simplicity of your opinion piece.
,
Dos and Don’ts when Writing an Opinion Essay
,
As you set out to write an opinion essay, we have gathered some dos and don’ts to help you write a great essay. Read them and keep them in mind when researching, drafting, writing, and editing your opinion essay.
,
Dos
,
Don’ts
,
- Have a clear thesis statement
,
,
- Avoid using jargon or, cliché, or slang words
,
,
- Use a formal writing style
,
,
- Do not forget to cite your statistics and facts
,
,
- Use both short and long sentences
,
,
- Desist from using short forms
,
,
- Balance the word count of your paragraphs
,
,
- Do not overgeneralize
,
,
- Each paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting facts/evidence/examples, and a concluding sentence.
,
,
- Avoid overusing sentences
,
,
- Use transitions to maintain flow and knit ideas in your essay
,
,
- Avoid using passive language
,
,
- Use present tense
,
,
- Do not overgeneralize
,
,
- Use active language
,
,
Avoid using exclamation marks, parentheses, and dashes. Instead, be discreet.
,
Avoid using exclamation marks, parentheses, and dashes. Instead, be discreet.
,
- Be brief, clear, concise, and coherent.
,
,
- Unless allowed, do not use personal pronouns when writing. Do not address your readers as you.
,
,
- Check your plagiarism score before submitting.
,
,
- Do not use challenging vocabulary in your opinion essay. Please keep it simple.
,
,
- Proofread and edit your paper well
,
,
- Avoid using imperative voice
,
,
- Cite every source you have used
,
,
- Do not use colloquial expressions
,
,
- Do not veer off from academic writing guidelines
,
,
- Never give personal examples
,
,
,
150 Plus Opinion Essay Topics
,
Here is what to write your opinion essay about
,
- Should American citizens serve on the jury?
- Should the voting age be changed to allow minors?
- Laws should apply equally to anyone
- Is the president above the law?
- Should political leaders be held accountable for misbehavior in media?
- Should governments tax churches?
- Can wars be avoided?
- Are wars the creation of stable governments?
- Do we need to spend much on military and defense might?
- Are private prisons ethical?
- Socialism is still the best philosophy.
- Is capitalism killing the world?
- Does the media have freedom of speech?
- Should governments gag the media?
- Are protocols necessary during national celebrations?
- Can politicians represent the interests of certain media outlets?
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
Related Read: How to choose topics for your essay.
,
Social Media Opinion Essay Topics and Ideas
,
- Is Facebook becoming a surveillance tool?
- Social media has a role in governance
- Is slacktivism legitimate action or a lazy move?
- Can clicktivism shape public opinion
- Social media creates rifts between people
- Social media affects the family values
- Social media is the primary divisive tool in the U.S
- Social media and hate crimes
- Social media leads to depression and suicide among teens
- Anorexia nervosa and the rise of social media influencers
- Does social media normalize material wealth?
- Social media promotes an unrealistic lifestyle.
- Twitter is for elite thinkers in the society
- Twitter is a political messenger
- Youths are influenced by social media
- Social media is an integral tool of changing society today
- Modern students rely too much on technology
- Social media helped students during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Facebook affects the personal relationship
- Social media promotes stalking
- Social media encourages body shaming
- Memes shared through social media relieve depression
- Social media negatively impacts body image
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
,
General Opinion Essay Topics
,
- Children should not watch too much television
- Schools should teach sex education
- Countries should create buffer zones that accommodate refugees to curb emigration.
- Laws prohibiting heroin should be applied to tobacco
- Animal use in scientific research should be regulated
- Parents are a student’s first and the best teachers
- Children who grow in the countryside are well mannered compared to those from big cities
- Zoos are not cruel to animals
- Education is vital in the development of a country
- Politicians should be educated to make great laws
- Ministers should be professionals in the ministries they head
- Luck has little to do with success
- Hard work beats luck when it comes to succeeding
- Private cars are the leading cause of pollution
- Using hybrid and electric vehicles does not curb pollution
- Anybody can do without a TV
- Smartphones are addictive
- Does traveling have benefits?
- Does fasting help reduce weight?
- Are feminists destroying society?
- Should schools still teach handwriting?
- Should university and college education be free?
- Does failure in school mean failure in life?
- Should doping be allowed in extreme sports?
- Is graffiti part of art?
- Mass media has a role in shaping public opinion
- Are women better parents compared to men?
- Childhood obesity leads to an obese society
- Leaders should be fit
- Rich countries should forgive the debts from developing countries
- Rich countries should pay more for pollution
- Sometimes telling the truth hurts
- It is justifiable to tell lies if the truth is dangerous
- Students should be allowed to evaluate their teachers
- The media should give famous people privacy
- Corrupt leaders should be jailed
- Corrupt presidents should be dethroned
- Proceeds from corrupt governments hidden abroad should be used to fight hunger and poverty in the respective continents.
- Rich people should pay more taxes.
- Are hormonal birth control pills bad for women’s health?
- Fraternities promote misogyny on campus
- First-year students should reside on campus
- Rich peoples have no obligation of helping the poor
- The internet brings the world close together
- Face to face communication is deteriorating thanks to technology
- Retirement age should be compulsory at 65 years
- Governments should reserve certain leadership positions for women
- Access to law and lawyers should be affordable to poor citizens
- Homeless people are desperate
- Homelessness is not the end of the road
- The use of animals in circuses is unethical
- Poachers should be hanged
- Automakers are greenwashing electric cars
- Drug use is becoming a culture in the USA
- The American Dream is dead
- CEOs should not earn too much while employees contribute to the success
- Teens should be barred from sleepovers
- We should be honest with our peers
- Ill-gotten wealth does not last
- Celebrities are the cause of hate online
- Children should be encouraged to read physical books
- Classical music is valuable
