SFL/METU
Dept. of B.E.
WHO 4
Opinion Paragraphs
April 2017
UPPER-INTERMEDIATE GROUP
(Instructor’s Copy)
Objectives: 1. Analyze a sample opinion paragraph 2. Study the parts of an opinion paragraph 3. Revise the structures and
vocabulary items that are frequently used in opinion paragraphs 4. Study and practice the subjunctives.
In an opinion paragraph, you agree or disagree on an issue, using reasons to support your opinion. Your goal
is to persuade or convince the reader so that the reader agrees with you. The most common way of doing this
is to state your claim, give reasons and justifications. Please note that facts or generally accepted truths are
not open for discussion, and they cannot be topics for opinion paragraphs.
Depending on the topic, you may use several different types of writing styles to support your opinion:
 compare / contrast two opinions
 mention advantages / disadvantages of the opinion you support
 write results / consequences of your opinion when it is accepted or rejected as long as they are relevant
to your argument.
DISCUSSION
TASK 1.
A. Which of the following purposes do you use your mobile phone for? Compare your answers with
a partner.
To:
1. browse the Internet
2. download music
3. take and share pictures
4. do shopping
5. download podcasts
6. log into social networking sites
7. download and stream videos
8. download e-books
9. watch videos on YouTube
10. other (please specify)
B. Discuss the following questions with a partner.
1. Do you use your mobile phone during class hours? Why/Why not?
2. Dou you think students should be allowed to use their mobile phones during class hours? Why/Why
not?
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SAMPLE OPINION PARAGRAPH
The use of mobile phones during class hours should be restricted for two main reasons. Firstly, it causes
disruption in the flow of the lesson. When students continuously use their mobile phones during class,
the teacher will feel the need to warn these students to put them away, thinking that they are using their
phones for texting rather than academic purposes. If this happens constantly, the teacher may not be able
to focus on what s/he is teaching and will lose his/her concentration unless the students stop trying to
look at their devices. This will disrupt the process of teaching. Secondly, and more importantly, the use
of mobile phones during class hours distracts the students’ attention. As their minds are preoccupied with
their phones, they cannot participate in the class activities nor can they understand what their teacher is
saying. Moreover, the ones who look at their phones during class hours may distract their classmates
while texting or logging into their accounts on social-media sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. As a
result, this behaviour might affect the students’ academic performance negatively unless their use is
limited. To conclude, it is crucial that the use of mobile phones in class be restricted for a more efficient
and effective learning environment.
TASK 2. Answer the following questions according to the paragraph above.
1. What question does the paragraph answer? Write the question below.
Do you think the use of mobile phones should be restricted during class hours? Why? / Why not?
Should the use of mobile phones be restricted in class hours? Why? / Why not?
2. What is the writer’s opinion about restricting the use of mobile phones during class hours? Why does s/he
think so?
The writer thinks that the use of mobile phones during class hours should be restricted because it
causes a disruption in the flow of the lesson, and it distracts the students’ attention.
3. Which of the following does the writer do to support his/her point?
a) Compare two things
b) Give his/her opinion
c) Mention negative effects
d) Show what will happen if his/her opinion is not accepted
e) Mention/Imply the advantages of his/her opinion
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THE PARTS OF THE PARAGRAPH
THE TOPIC SENTENCE
In an opinion paragraph, the topic sentence presents the topic and the controlling idea (your personal view
or belief) about the topic as well as the number of reasons to support the idea. It should express a personal
view or belief you have about the topic-one that other people may agree or disagree with.
THE SUPPORTING SENTENCES
In the supporting sentences of an opinion paragraph, you develop and support your controlling idea, or
opinion, by giving two or three reasons to support it.
Each major supporting sentence should include at least one specific reason that supports the opinion you
expressed in your topic sentence. For each reason, you should also provide explanations or examples to show
the reader why you think the way you do. To help readers understand each of your reasons, explanations and
examples and how they are connected, make sure that you use transition words.
While supporting your claims, you should AVOID:
 providing a personal feeling. When you present another personal opinion to support your opinion, your
claim will not be reliable.
Example:
“Morning classes should start at 10:00 am because I think it is a good idea. It will be very useful and
beneficial.”
 making up statistics or a scientific study which does not exist. When you present some statistics, you
may think that your claim becomes really strong. However, making up a fake statistic or study will only
make your claim unreliable.
Example:
“According to a study by NASA in 2013, 83.4 million working people (85% of the population) fall asleep
on their desks at 9 am.”
 overgeneralizing. Using words such as all, most, every, always, and never makes a point of argument
weak as it leads to the exaggeration of an idea or wrong perceptions about the idea.
Example:
“All working people around the world have difficulty starting work at 8 am. Everybody suffers from low
energy at work.”
 providing trivial examples. When you present examples, make sure that the examples actually illustrate
a concept well. If you give an exception or an overly personal example, it will not act as a strong argument.
Example:
“Students cannot comprehend the topics during the morning classes because their mind has not awakened
yet. For example, I cannot understand new vocabulary in the morning.”
 jumping from an explanation to a conclusion. When you are presenting your reasons, you should refrain
from stating one explanation and then your conclusion. Make sure that you fully explain your reasons and
then come to your conclusion.
Example:
“Students feel sleepy early in the morning. It is a bad feeling, so morning classes are not beneficial.”
THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE
In the conclusion part, you should provide either a recommendation or a result of the stated reasons. Do not
simply repeat the main points in your conclusion. You can also call authorities to take action.
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USEFUL LANGUAGE
a. These expressions and grammatical structures can be used in an opinion paragraph.
USEFUL LANGUAGE
To express reason:
since / because / as, in view of / because of / owing to / on
account of / due to (the fact that)…, The reason that … / why
… / for… is that…
To express result:
thus / therefore / consequently, as a result / consequence, so, the
result of … would be …, … would result in …
To express purpose:
so that…, so as /in order (not) to …, with the purpose of /
intention of (+ing)
To present examples:
for example / for instance / to illustrate / such as
To add more points to the same furthermore / moreover / also / in addition / besides / apart from
topic:
this / that
To
emphasize
importance:
(The Subjunctive)
urgency
or It is necessary / essential / urgent / crucial / recommended /
proposed/ requested / vital / important / suggested that …
b. The Subjunctive


The Subjunctive is used to emphasize urgency or importance. It is used after certain expressions.
Below are the most common verbs and adjectives requiring the subjunctive form. The use of should
is also possible after these verbs and adjectives.
VERBS
advise
desire
order
recommend
require
urge
ask
demand
insist
propose
request
suggest
ADJECTIVES
essential
important
crucial
advisable
necessary
urgent
vital
imperative
e.g. I insisted (that) he (should) pay the bill.
The manager urged (that) the company (should) not lose any more customers to its competitors.
The mother suggested (that) the new-born baby (should) be named after his grandfather.
It is advisable (that) you (should) write a career objective at the start of your CV.
TASK 3. Use the subjunctive form to complete the sentences below.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The governor proposed (that) a new building (should) be built (build) to meet the needs of charity
organizations.
The minister requested (that) the workers’ salaries (should) not be paid (pay) late.
It is vital that our government (should) make (make) a serious effort to repair our country’s
relationship with its neighbors.
The American Medical Association is now recommending that vitamins (should) only be sold (only /
sell) with a doctor’s prescription.
Scientists say that it is urgent that Ankara (should) act (act) immediately to restrict the use of water
due to the continuing drought.
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