Opinion essay
Opinion essay
Paragraphs
| Contents of paragraphs
| Linkers
| I.
Introduction
| Background (history or importance)
| of all the problems facing…today, … is one of the most important ones
One of the biggest questions/challenges/problems in the short-term (medium-term/long-term/the next five years/our lifetime) will be...
The problem of…has been in the focus of public attention for many years
The problem/issue.. is widely discussed in mass media
Over the last decade, there has been
Due to recent technological advances a growing number of people
Something is becoming increasingly popular nowadays….
People often argue about the role of …in the development of our civilization
Something has become an inalienable part of our life
Over the last 10/20/30 years we have done something
Over the past few years something has become … many people are sure this is not a coincidence
Modern life is impossible without…
A recent theme in the popular media has been
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| thesis
| A
-It is often/widely/generally claimed /suggested/ accepted /argued/maintained /felt/believed /held that/ considered … Some/many/most people/experts/scientists/critics suggest/argue/point out/hold/advocated/support/oppose the view that…
Many people believe/hold the opinion that…,* but the idea seems to be a controversial one) +opinion 1 +
Question‘Are extreme sports really so dangerous?
/Is it really true? Is something as harmful as it may seem?
B
two opinions in one sentence
Although/ While some people are of the opinion that (Opinion1) …, others believe that/
Opinion 1 + however, there are many who believe that ( Opinion 20
Nowadays a large number of people tend to think that (Opinion 1) …on the contrary, many adults/ teenagers /experts, etc. consider…
It is argued by many people that…, yet others believe that
A commonly held belief is that..; yet there are some people who feel that/oppose this idea.
| II. your opinion
| Topical sentence= your opinion
| As far as I’ am concerned, I think (believe, suppose) that , in my opinion/ in my view,…
I am positive that /I am confident that …
I’m strongly in favor of…
I support the opinion that…
I strongly/absolutely/totally/certainly/ agree with/approve of/support/disagree with the idea that…
personally, I would say that
I am absolutely sure that,
I honestly/ strongly believe that,
as I see it
I would argue that
I tend to think that
the way I see it …
In my experience…,
I am convinced that...,
I honestly feel that, , I fully support the idea that… I’m strongly against…
I am totally against…
It strikes me that…
-It is my firm belief that …
(+your opinion)
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| Supporting ideas:
arguments
(2-3)
| First argument: First, firstly, first of all, for one thing, in the first place, to start with, to begin with, the first reason why,
Second argument: second, secondly, the second reason why,
second, third argument : next , then, besides, moreover, further, furthermore, also, what is more, in addition ( to this…), apart from this , additionally , another reason why, equally important is that, more than that
Last argument: Finally, lastly, last but not least, the last reason I’d like to mention is
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| | One reason is that…
The first (second…) reason for…. is that
The first reason why I think so…is
Then..
The last reason I’d like to mention
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| Supporting ideas:
2nd sentence -
examples
| For example, for instance, let me give an example
Let us look at…
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| 2nd sentence-
expert opinion
| According to...
According to statistics
(Some) experts say (claim) that
To quote... smb,
The book _____ says...
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| 2nd sentence-
general truth
| it is common knowledge that /everyone knows / if...then /
| III The Opposite opinion
| Topical sentence= opposite opinion
| On the contrary, in contrast, meanwhile, at the same time, nevertheless…..
+ opponents of…say/ believe/ maintain/argue/ think/ etc many / some people argue (think, believe, say) that…/It is sometimes argued that…/It iscommonly(generally) believed that.../It is a common belief that… /It is often said that/ ( +opposite opinion)
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| Supporting ideas = arguments
| They argue/maintaint/believe/state that…
| IV Your refuting the arguments from III
| your arguing with them
| They may be right, but is the problem not exaggerated? …The argument seems to be sound/valid/ logical, but is it really so important/ nut the truth is../but what about...,/?..
It is doubtful whether
However, it does not mean that…
It is unjustifiable to say that
it is in my opinion without reason…
That may be true but…
The problem with this (point of view) is that...
I am unconvinced that…
The fact that… contradicts the idea that
Some people find it hard to accept that
There is little evidence to support the view that
Let us face it…
| Y Conclusion
| Topical sentence (your opinion in other words)
Sentence 2 Do not summarize arguments
Do not give new information
| In conclusion, to conclude, to summarise, in summary, as it has been noted, in brief, on the whole, taking everything into account, summing it up, all things considered….
I completely/strongly agree (disagree) with the idea/view that
I fully support the idea that…
I am confident that …
I strongly believe that… I’m strongly against… I’m strongly in favour of….
(+your opinion in other words)
You could predict perspectives, etc.
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Useful phrases
–a point of view= a viewpoint= a standpoint
To hold the opinion, to adhere to an opinion
From the point of view of/standpoint of/viewpoint of,,,
To share the opinion
To support the opinion
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