How to Write an Opinion Essay: Step-by-Step Guide
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Whether in primary education, high school, or college, knowing how to write a paper that supports your position is vital. The ability to build arguments is another essential skill you can demonstrate in your work. Moreover, writing a persuasive opinion essay will help you score higher grades and let your voice resonate across many topics.
Opinion essays invite writers to express their standpoints regardless of what the opposing views might be. As long as you can back up your reasoning with facts and examples, it will remain valid. The author should also suggest a contrasting idea but refute it with arguments that expose its inconsistency.
Above all, students have the freedom to express their opinion on a specific topic. Yet, no idea is relevant if it lacks a proper explanation. Hence, learning the definition, purpose, criteria, and structure is highly beneficial. This step-by-step guide will show you how to write an essay and proceed to the finale like a pro.
What Is an Opinion Essay?
According to academia, an opinion essay is a written text that includes the author’s thoughts on a defined subject matter. The sentences should develop gradually and build upon logically presented claims. Eventually, you must arrive at an outcome that arises from relevant facts and arguments.
Including several examples from your life can be a big plus in the eyes of your educator. This point is particularly relevant for entry applications. Composing a good college admission essay requires the author to state ideas clearly, without excessive fillers and long reasoning. Referring to facts from studies and research or mentioning historical figures is advisable, too.
Finally, your manuscript must be technically accurate and structured and follow the rules of academic writing shared by your teacher. Since it is a formal piece, students must adhere to pre-set requirements. Typos, grammatical errors, and illogical sentences are off-limits, too.
The Ultimate Purpose
Teachers prefer the opinion essay format because it has proven to teach learners to express their views correctly. In addition, such reasoning lets educators test their students’ knowledge and critical thinking. Here are the underlying objectives convincing writing can achieve:
- Polished writing style. Even in a highly digitalized world, writing skills are still relevant. More specifically, you will have to write different types of college essays in school and later in your career. The sooner you master the process, the more efficiently you’ll deliver your standpoints in the future.
- Ability to convey thoughts. Regardless of the topic, teachers aim to help each student become an independent individual, knowing how to fight for their rights. Everyone must learn to express convincing arguments that put opposing views in a subordinate position.
- Mastering a specific subject. Educators must implement methods to test each student’s acquisition of the subject taught in school. Hence, writing a short essay is an excellent opportunity to ensure topic understanding. Social sciences and literature are ideal courses for this purpose.
- Developing creativity and reaching your audience. Any text intends to attract the reader’s interest and leave a mark on or modify their views. This way, you boost your confidence and improve your composition skills.
Key Features of Opinion Essay Writing
Essays have a specific form and characteristics you must follow to produce a high-quality piece. Consider these suggestions to make your text unique and attention-grabbing.
- Address the question at hand from both sides. This approach shows you’re knowledgeable about the subject and can tackle opposing views.
- Present a concise and well-reasoned subjective opinion. Ensure all your proof leads to it and that the conclusion summarizes your main points.
- Draw arguments and examples from your prior experiences. However, you can also include literary quotes and historical facts to strengthen your position.
- Stick to a logical essay structure. Sentences should flow naturally and lead to the finale.
- Incorporate speech instruments. Various language constructs will impact your audience and hook their attention.
- Use transition words to progress smoothly to the end of your manuscript. As a result, your reader will feel engaged and eager to proceed.
Criteria of a Convincing Opinion Essay
Many people don’t know how to write an opinion essay introduction even after graduation. Thus, they turn to a professional writing service to order an essay or read a few samples. Whatever your preference, there are specific guidelines you must consider when writing.
- Straight to the point: Going off-topic will lower your grade. Hence, check the relevance of your standpoints to the assignment and don’t steer away from the central idea.
- No fluff. Don’t write long sentences with no point in sight and a lot of water. Run-on sentences are also unacceptable because they bore the reader.
- Indentation: Remember to indent the first line of the intro for about 0.5 inches from the left margin. Indenting other body paragraphs isn’t necessary if there is enough visual spacing between them.
- A carefully crafted thesis: This part will describe the essay briefly and signpost what follows. Hence, offer insight about what you will support in the main body.
- Formality level: Although you might include some informal wording, concentrate on scholarly constructions. If you have problems, consider hiring a reflective essay writing service to boost your academic vocabulary. Also, choose more complex linking phrases.
- First-person sentences: Since you’re offering details from your experience, consider writing in the first person.
- Clear structure. Your essay must be coherent and follow the standardized layout.
- No slang: Forget about acronyms and abbreviations like “LOL” and “OMG, because these examples reveal you aren’t familiar with the essential rules.
- Focus on proper spelling and impeccable grammar.
- Versatile vocabulary: Use a lot of synonyms and high-learned phrases that demonstrate your academic skills.
- Refrain from parentheses, dashes, and exclamation marks. Also, avoid emojis at all costs.
Tips for Writing an Opinion Essay
Here’s some more expert advice on how to make an opinion essay stand out from the crowd.
Dos
- Use a scholarly tone for your opinion writing. It should sound as if you’re making a persuasive speech.
- Introduce the subject with clarity. Avoid useless phrases that distance the reader from the writing opinion paper.
- Avoid jargon and non-literary wording.
- The main ideas must be easy to spot. All body segments begin with a topic sentence.
- Write an excellent opinion essay conclusion.
- Stick to the present simple tense.
- Cite your sources and references.
- Use phrases like “I believe”, “I reckon,” and “In my view.”
- Brevity is the key. Write a concise introduction and conclusion that round up your positions.
- Ensure a logical sequence and give reasons that are easy to follow.
Don’ts
- Avoid colloquial expressions that come and go quickly.
- Abbreviated forms aren’t correct. Replace all contractions with their non-contracted versions. The reader should grasp what you’re contemplating.
- Over-generalizations are irrelevant. Stay precise.
- Don’t integrate statistics without citing them.
- Don’t forget essay examples that substantiate your position.
- Avoid repeating arguments. Group several similar facts in a single claim.
- Too many straightforward sentences are not typical for academic writing.
- Don’t use an imperative voice but be discreet.
- Emotive vocabulary should get avoided.
- Avoid addressing the audience “you”.
Writing an opinion essay can be a daunting task. However, with enough dedication and research, you can craft an essay that will demonstrate your knowledge and opinion on a given topic. To get started, head to PapersOwl.com, a reliable writing service that can provide you with quality opinion essay samples and guidance.
Opinion Essay Outline
The five-paragraph structure is perfect for this kind of writing. Alternatively, you might find someone to write your essay online for a fee. This way, beginners can see what each paragraph includes and how to develop their skills. Overall, the following structure will steer you in the right direction.
Introduction
– State the subject matter
– Share a famous quote or scientific fact and give credit
– Thesis statement (one or two sentences to describe the overall content)
– Sentence that introduces the first argument
Body Part 1
– Supporting claim
– Example
– Explanatory part
– Sentence that transitions to the second argument
Body Part 2
– Supporting claim
– Example
– Explanatory part
– Sentence that transitions to the third argument
Body Part 3
– Supporting claim
– Example
– Explanatory part
– Sentence that transitions to the conclusion
Conclusion
– Summary of the essay
– An overall sentence that rounds up the theme.
