When you’re tasked to write an opinion essay, you’ll be called to defend your point of view on a given topic. This can seem difficult, especially if you have a limited number of words or paragraphs to work with. You may need a few tips and tricks to help you with your writing.
The first thing you should do is start off with a strong statement. The first paragraph of your work should identify the topic you are writing about and your opinion on the matter. Limit this part to 3 or 4 succinct sentences.
The body of your opinion essay will be devoted to defending your stand. You can do this by providing evidence that supports your point of view. Another option is to demonstrate why an opposing opinion is faulty. Both of these techniques may also be combined in a single work as long as a clear distinction is made between the paragraphs in which they are used.
As most of these writing assignments are limited to 4 or 5 paragraphs, you need to use each one of them wisely. The first and the last of these will automatically be devoted to your introduction and conclusion, which means you’ll have only 2 or 3 paragraphs left to explain why your opinion is correct. You must, therefore, choose 2 or 3 major arguments that support your position, and devote one paragraph to each of these.
It’s necessary to provide details that strengthen the position you take in your paper, but it is equally important not to let these bog you down. Take care not to dwell for too long on individual examples or facts as this will disrupt the flow of your writing.
You must end your piece on a strong note as well. Do this by summarizing your major arguments in the last paragraph, and showing briefly how they support your opinion. You should also use clear, decisive language to show confidence in your stand.
One last thing to remember about writing opinion essays is that the arguments you make need to have a basis in fact. It is thus important to do preliminary research on the assigned topic before you begin writing and to cite the sources of information you use in the text.
If you need more ideas on how to write an essay, you may talk with people you know such as colleagues on what they may be writing about. For original topic and information you may need to read the newspaper and get an idea of what is trending at the moment. Be optimistic so you have a good topic worth writing about.