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Carol Wolff

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ESSAY WRITING Opinion Essays Carol Wolff

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TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS <ul><li>Understand the task that has been assigned. Use your dictionary to help you. Rephrase the task to make sure you understand the requirements. </li></ul><ul><li>Write a draft of your ideas. Do not skip this step of the writing process. You can use different diagrams to help you think on paper. </li></ul><ul><li>DO NOT WRITE THE ESSAY TWICE. </li></ul>

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TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS <ul><li>Produce texts which are appropriate to the task, reader and purpose. </li></ul><ul><li>You will be required to write to a teen magazine or school newspaper. Use age appropriate examples. </li></ul><ul><li>Beware: Do not use informal language. </li></ul>

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TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS <ul><li>This should be a four paragraph essay. </li></ul><ul><li>Introduction: State opinion </li></ul><ul><li>Body: Supporting and example </li></ul><ul><li>Supporting and example </li></ul><ul><li>Conclusion : R estate your opinion </li></ul>

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Introduction <ul><li>State your opinion right in the beginning. It can be argued for or against. </li></ul><ul><li>Use words from the assignment to make sure you are answering the question. </li></ul>

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PARAGRAPHS <ul><li>Each piece of supporting evidence should be presented in a separate paragraph. </li></ul><ul><li>Always write in paragraphs to organize your ideas. </li></ul><ul><li>(Main point, elaboration, examples) </li></ul>

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TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS <ul><li>When you state your opinion do not explain. Give examples and then explain. </li></ul><ul><li>Don’t presume your reader knows what you are talking about – be clear and precise. </li></ul><ul><li>Be consistent : Firstly </li></ul><ul><li>Secondly </li></ul><ul><li>On the one hand </li></ul><ul><li>On the other hand. </li></ul>

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Be clear and Precise <ul><li>Use examples . Illustrations and personal stories are persuasive tools. They help explain and bring to life complicated issues. </li></ul><ul><li>Make a specific recommendation . This is an opinion piece. State your opinion on how to improve matters. </li></ul>

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Workshop Example of an Opinion Essay

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Assignment <ul><li>A teen magazine has asked readers to write on the following topic: </li></ul><ul><li>Some people believe that money should be one of the most important reasons for choosing a job or career. What is your opinion? </li></ul><ul><li>Write a passage for the newspaper, stating and explaining your opinion. </li></ul>

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Draft

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Introduction <ul><li>In my opinion money should not be one of the most important reasons for choosing a job or career . What we should consider is that we will spend most of our waking hours at work . So being happy in the career we choose should be the most important factor when deciding what we want to do with our lives. A career is something that we have to think about very seriously, as it is a decision that will effect most of our life. </li></ul>

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1 st Paragraph <ul><li>Firstly , in choosing the right career we should plan for the future and think about the demands that a family will put on our schedules. Taking care of a family is very time consuming. For example , children need to attend different school activities, which we need to take them to. So if we spend too much time at work , who will transport our children for us. </li></ul>

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3 rd Paragraph <ul><li>Secondly , I can’t imagine spending so many hours at work and being unhappy, it must be the worst thing in the world. An important fact is, we need to be happy. If we are happy , we will be productive at work. For instance , having to work overtime to complete an urgent job will not annoy us , if we enjoy our work. Job satisfaction is also very important as to how we see ourselves. </li></ul>

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Conclusion <ul><li>In conclusion, the belief that money should be one of the most important reasons for choosing a job or career is not an option for me . I strongly disagree that money should be a deciding factor in choosing a career. What should be important is how much time I need to spend at work each day and job satisfaction. </li></ul>

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TIPS IN WRITING ESSAYS <ul><li>Use linkers to correlate one paragraph to the other. </li></ul><ul><li>e.g. To show difference - On the other hand, In contrast, On the contrary, However, Despite. </li></ul><ul><li>To add to point - In addition, Besides, As a result, Similarly. </li></ul>

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Grammar Structures <ul><li>Use the advanced grammar structures: </li></ul><ul><li>Present / Past Perfect </li></ul><ul><ul><li>have/has + V3 had + V3 </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Conditionals </li></ul><ul><ul><li>If ………. , subject would ……. . </li></ul></ul><ul><li>Passive voice. </li></ul><ul><ul><li>The ball was kicked by the boy. </li></ul></ul>

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Always put yourself in the place of the reader. <ul><li>* Are you convinced with the writer’s point of view? </li></ul><ul><li>* Are you interested to read the essay until the end? </li></ul><ul><li>* Are you satisfied with the information presented in the essay? </li></ul>

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Don’t expose yourself. <ul><li>Avoid being too personal – don’t expose too many details from your personal life. </li></ul>

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Don’t go off topic <ul><li>Avoid going off-topic – all arguments should reinforce thesis statement and you shouldn’t go off mark providing additional information on the arguments themselves – their origin, definition, etc. </li></ul><ul><li>Do not repeat yourself. </li></ul>

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Choose your words. <ul><li>Avoid excessively emotional content – opinion essay presents a point of view and illustrates how it was developed by the author. </li></ul><ul><li>Avoid aggressive tone, moral judgments, and don’t attack the opposite side – for comparison. </li></ul>

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Now write your own opinion essays. <ul><li>An international teen magazine has asked readers to write on the following topic: </li></ul><ul><li>It has been suggested that in order to increase road safety, everyone with a driver's licence should be required to take another driving test every five years. Do you agree or disagree with this suggestion? </li></ul><ul><li>Write a passage for the newspaper stating and explaining your opinion. </li></ul>

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Now write your own opinion essays. <ul><li>Your school newspaper has asked readers to write on the following topic: </li></ul><ul><li>Many famous people complain that the media does not respect their privacy. Do you think their complaint is legitimate, or does the media have a right to report on their private lives? </li></ul><ul><li>Write a passage for the newspaper, stating and explaining your opinion </li></ul>

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Now write your own opinion essays. <ul><li>An international youth magazine has asked students to write on the following topic: </li></ul><ul><li>It is generally believed that people of the same generation have certain ideas, beliefs and / or characteristics in common. What do you think is typical of your generation? </li></ul><ul><li>Write a passage for the magazine, describing some ideas, beliefs and / or characteristics of your own generation. You may also compare your generation to previous generations. </li></ul>