1.0 Planning and organizing

A successful opinion essay should have:

1. an introductory paragraph in which you state the topic and your opinion;

2. a main body which consists of several paragraphs, each presenting a separate viewpoint supported by reasons. You also include a paragraph presenting the opposing viewpoints and reason why you think it is an unconvincing viewpoint; and

3. a conclusion in which you restate your opinion using different words.

Introduction Paragraph 1 introduce the subject and state your opinion clearly Main Body Paragraph 2 viewpoint 1 and reasons/examples Paragraph 3 viewpoint 2 and reasons/examples Paragraph 4 opposing viewpoint and reasons/examples Conclusion Final Paragraph summarize/ restate your opinion

NOTE: The number of paragraphs in the main body depends on the number of viewpoints included.

1.1 Points to consider

• Decide whether you agree or disagree with the subject of the topic, then make a list of your viewpoints and reasons.

• Write well-developed paragraphs, joining the sentences with appropriate linking words and phrases. Do not forget to start each paragraph with a topic sentence which summarizes what the paragraph is about.

• Apply techniques presented on p. 16-18 to begin and end your essay.

• When you speak, you introduce opinions with phrases like I think, In my opinion, etc. In general, these introductory phrases are not needed in writing. They can even make you sound less sure of your ideas. Instead, writers use grammatical methods such as modal auxiliary verbs and transition words to express their opinions. Modal auxiliary verbs show the strength of a writer’s opinion or argument.

AFFIRMATIVE The city	could should ought to has to/ must	add more cycle paths.	weakest ▼ strongest
NEGATIVE The city	doesn’t have to shouldn’t can’t/ must not	allow more cars	weakest ▼ strongest

(Successful Writing. Proficiency. St’s book. p.70)

(Successful Writing. Upper-Intermediate. St’s book. p.54)

(Academic Writing from Paragraph to Essay. p.35)

1.2 Sample essays

Sample task:
In many countries today, the eating habits and lifestyles of children are different from those of previous generations. Some people say this has had a negative effect on their health. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?

(Suggested answer)

It has recently been suggested that the way children eat and live nowadays has led to deterioration in their health. I entirely agree with this view, and believe that this alarming situation has come about for several reasons. To begin with, there is the worrying increase in the amount of processed food that children are eating at home, with little or none of the fresh fruit and vegetables that earlier generations ate every day. Secondly, more and more young people are choosing to eat in fast-food restaurants, which may be harmless occasionally, but not every day. What they eat there is extremely high in fat, salt and sugar, all of which can be damaging to their health. There is also a disturbing decline in the amount of exercise they get. Schools have become obsessed with exams, with the shocking result that some pupils now do no sports at all. To make matters worse, few even get any exercise on the way to or from school, as most of them go in their parents’ cars rather than walk or cycle. Finally, children are spending far more time at home, playing computer games, watching TV or surfing the Internet. They no longer play outside with friends or take part in challenging outdoor activities. To sum up, although none of these changes could, on its own, have caused widespread harm to children’s health, there can be little doubt that all of them together have had a devastating effect. This, in my opinion, can only be reversed by encouraging children to return to more traditional ways of eating and living.
	Sample task:
	People spend too much time and money on fashion. Do you agree or disagree?

(Suggested answer)

Every season, the great fashion houses of Europe and America present their new collections in the hope of persuading people to renew their wardrobes by purchasing the latest designs. In my opinion, one does not have to be a slave to fashion in order to look smart.

To start with, following the latest trends in fashion can be extremely expensive. This is especially true for those who buy costly designer cloth­ing. There is also the risk of getting into debt in order to keep up with the lat­est fashions.

In addition to this, followers of fashion often give up their individuality for the sake of fashion. They choose clothes which suit neither their figures nor their per­sonalities. This is unfortunate, as the way we dress should reflect who we really are.

On the other hand, some people argue that it is necessary to dress fashionably in order to create the correct image for their careers. This is particularly true of those who work with the public, as they reflect the image of their company. This does not mean that the latest fashions are the most appropriate, however. Simple but well-made cloth­es are almost always the best choice for business wear.

To conclude, I strongly believe that it is advisable to dress with style by choosing good quality clothes which suit you as an individual and have lasting elegance. As the famous designer Coco Chanel put it, "Fashion is made to become unfashionable." So instead of changing your wardrobe constantly, isn't it better to build up a collection of clothes which you can always wear?

(Successful Writing. Upper-Intermediate. St’s book. p.73)

Revision Box pp.69-70

Writing topics bank pp. 73-77

MODULE 2