TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
Topic sentence
Many people think that there is not life anywhere outside the Earth. In my opinion, however, there are some good reasons to believe we are not alone in the universe.
Opinion sentence
Language
Starting the essay - Another Example
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
Topic sentence
Nowadays, more and more people are starting to defend that there is/isn't life outside our planet. Personally, I agree/disagree, with them, and I think there are some good reasons to believe we are not / are alone in the universe.
Opinion sentence
Language
Starting the essay - More Examples (II)
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
It is a mystery if our planet is the only one with life in the whole universe. From my point of view, ...
Some experts say that there is life outside the Earth, whereas other defend we are alone in the universe. As I see it, ...
Language*
Starting the essay - Example (using a question to introduce the opinion) - Problem + Solution + Opinion
TASK: Do you think your country should lower the legal age to vote? Give reasons.
Proposal / Solution
Topic sentence
Some people think the legal age to vote is too high. The question is: should the government lower it to 16 years? As I see it, the current voting age is correct and there is not a real need to change.
Opinion sentence
Structure
Options
2 arguments + Examples/Explanation
3 arguments + Some examples / Explanations
4 arguments + Some examples / Explanations
Arguments
Paragraph
+ Examples
Paragraph
Adding ideas "Además,..."
Also, ...
In addition, ...
Besides, ...
Moreover,...
What's more, ...
Furthermore, ...
Language
Ordering arguments
Firstly,...,
First of all, ...
First and foremost,...
In the first place.
Secondly,
Thirdly,...
Finally, ...
Introducing examples
For example,...
For instance, ...
Language
Introducing arguments - Example
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
Connectors
Argument 1
Firstly, the fact that humans have not found any life outside this planet does not mean that it does not exist at all. In fact, human technology is not advanced enough to reach much beyond our solar system.
+ Explanation-> Emphasis
Secondly, the cosmos is so huge that the probability of the existence of life in planets in other galaxies is very high. Finally, ... (Argument 3)
Argument 2
Structure
Concluding the text - Example
Paragraph
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
CONCLUSION:
Summary of text
Opinion (rephrased)
Two sentences
Summing up, although life outside the Earth has not been discovered so far, it is clear to me that it is likely to exist. The high number of galaxies and planets makes it hard for me to consider that our planet is the only one with living beings.
Language
Introducing conclusion
By and large,
All things considered,...
To conclude, ...
(and more...)
In conclusion,
To sum up, ...
Summing up...
All in all,.
Language
Other expressions
Emphasis:
In fact, ...;
As a matter of fact, ...
Result:
Therefore, ..., As a result, ..., Consequently, ... For this reason,..., Thus,... Hence, ..., Henceforth, ---> Formal
Contrasting:
However, ..., Nevertheless, ...
Task 1
Write the 1st paragraph of an opinion essay with one of these topics
Do you think your country should lower the legal age to vote? Give reasons.
"Everybody should donate money to charities". Do you agree?
Task 2
Finish your opinion essay (120/150 w)
"Everybody should donate money to charities". Do you agree?
Do you think your country should lower the legal age to vote? Give reasons.
ADVICE:
Take some time to organise your opinion and arguments (make notes of what you'd like to say on each paragraph)
Checklist your writing:
Have I used written the opinion at the beginning?
Have I stated more than one argument?
Have I used connectors?
Task
Deadline: Friday, 9th February
120-150 words
Last thoughts
Avoid contractions
is not, are not, should not...
Last thoughts
Avoid repetitions
I think, I think, I think... In my opinion, ..., In my opinion, ...
Last thoughts
Connector + Comma
Firstly students should not use their phones because...
1 BAT - Writing U4: Opinion essay
David Gutiérrez Camp
Created on January 31, 2024
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Transcript
Writing Unit 4
AN OPINION ESSAY
Structure
Topic + OPINION
Paragraph
Paragraph
Arguments
+ Examples
Paragraph
Paragraph
CONCLUSION: Summary of text + Opinion
Structure
Language
Starting the essay
In this day and age...
Nowadays...
These days...
Many people think / claim that...
It is often said that...
Paragraph
It is generally believed that...
It is a well-known fact that...
Introducing your opinion
In my opinion,..
Personally, I think (that)...
I think / believe / feel (that)
As I see it, ...
From my point of view, ...
I agree / disagree ...
Language
Starting the essay - Example
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
Topic sentence
Many people think that there is not life anywhere outside the Earth. In my opinion, however, there are some good reasons to believe we are not alone in the universe.
Opinion sentence
Language
Starting the essay - Another Example
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
Topic sentence
Nowadays, more and more people are starting to defend that there is/isn't life outside our planet. Personally, I agree/disagree, with them, and I think there are some good reasons to believe we are not / are alone in the universe.
Opinion sentence
Language
Starting the essay - More Examples (II)
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
It is a mystery if our planet is the only one with life in the whole universe. From my point of view, ...
Some experts say that there is life outside the Earth, whereas other defend we are alone in the universe. As I see it, ...
Language*
Starting the essay - Example (using a question to introduce the opinion) - Problem + Solution + Opinion
TASK: Do you think your country should lower the legal age to vote? Give reasons.
Proposal / Solution
Topic sentence
Some people think the legal age to vote is too high. The question is: should the government lower it to 16 years? As I see it, the current voting age is correct and there is not a real need to change.
Opinion sentence
Structure
Options
Arguments
Paragraph
+ Examples
Paragraph
Adding ideas "Además,..."
Language
Ordering arguments
Introducing examples
Language
Introducing arguments - Example
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
Connectors
Argument 1
Firstly, the fact that humans have not found any life outside this planet does not mean that it does not exist at all. In fact, human technology is not advanced enough to reach much beyond our solar system.
+ Explanation-> Emphasis
Secondly, the cosmos is so huge that the probability of the existence of life in planets in other galaxies is very high. Finally, ... (Argument 3)
Argument 2
Structure
Concluding the text - Example
Paragraph
TASK: Do you think there is life outside our planet? Give reasons.
Summing up, although life outside the Earth has not been discovered so far, it is clear to me that it is likely to exist. The high number of galaxies and planets makes it hard for me to consider that our planet is the only one with living beings.
Language
Introducing conclusion
Language
Other expressions
Task 1
Write the 1st paragraph of an opinion essay with one of these topics
Task 2
Finish your opinion essay (120/150 w)
ADVICE:
Take some time to organise your opinion and arguments (make notes of what you'd like to say on each paragraph)
Checklist your writing:
Have I used written the opinion at the beginning?
Have I stated more than one argument?
Have I used connectors?
Task
Deadline: Friday, 9th February
120-150 words
Last thoughts
Avoid contractions
is not, are not, should not...
Last thoughts
Avoid repetitions
I think, I think, I think... In my opinion, ..., In my opinion, ...
Last thoughts
Connector + Comma
Firstly students should not use their phones because...
Last thoughts
Silly mistakes on verb tenses
do / does, tell - tells... -ed ...
Last thoughts
Make it simple
Connector, Subject + Verb + Object. (Repeat)