2. WHAT IS AN OPINION PARAGRAPH?
In an opinion paragraph, the writer
expresses and supports an opinion on a
particular topic or issue. The writer must
give reasons and examples that help
persuade the reader to agree with him or
her.
In opinion/persuasive writing, a writer takes
a position FOR or AGAINST an issue and
writes to convince the reader to believe or
do something.
3. FACTS or OPINIONS
A FACT is something that is true. It can be proven to be
true. If you can find proof or evidence for something,
then it is a FACT. Facts are true statements that no
one can disagree with.
1. The earth orbits the sun.
2. Rabbits are mammals.
3. George Washington was the first president of the
United States.
4. Women could not vote in the United States until 1920.
5. There are books in the library.
6. Maha said, “I like chocolate cake.”
4. An OPINION is what someone thinks or believes; it
cannot be proven true or false. It is your personal feeling
or point of view. People can disagree with opinions.
1. Friends should always be honest.
2. White lies are dangerous.
3. It is better to make your friends angry than to lie to
them.
4. It is always safer to lie than to tell the truth.
5. Women should stay at home than work.
6. Using a cell phone while driving is completely fine.
7. We had a great winter this year.
FACTS or OPINIONS
5. Activity 1: Look at the following and decide if the sentence is Opinion (O) or a Fact (F):
1. Learning English is easier for girls than for boys.
2. Good teachers don’t give too much homework.
3. Our teacher gave us homework last week.
4. English is an easier language to learn than French.
5. Owls are birds that hunt at night
6. I was born in New York City
7. Internet use has increased every year since its
beginning.
8. Engineering is the best career choice
9. Many people carry cell phones these days.
10. My favourite clothes are all blue.
11. Winter in Gaza is quite mild.
6. Activity 2: For each topic below, write one fact and one opinion:
1. Green Tea
2. Violent video games
3. Money
4. Sports
5. University degree
7. Supporting Sentences with Opinions and Examples:
In your topic sentence and
supporting sentences, you can
support your opinion by
giving examples and details
which can be facts or
experiences you have had.
8. Supporting Your Ideas:
The major ways to support an opinion
Statistics
Facts
Evidence
Prediction
Observation
Comparison
Experience
Analysis
9. Activity 3: Decide if the following are Opinions (O) or Examples (E):
1. Smoking should be banned in all places.
2. Smoking is banned in restaurants in our city.
3. The air is cleaner and healthier in non-
smoking restaurants.
4. I believe that customers prefer non-
smoking restaurants.
5. My clothes smelled horrible when I had
lunch with a friend who was smoking.
6. In my country, smoking is banned in cars,
buses and all public buildings.
10. Organization
Topic Sentence: (You show whether you
agree or disagree with something)
Reasons and Supporting Details:
(Examples or evidence to show your
agreement or disagreement)
Explanation: explains how your examples
support your point and/or your overall argument
Concluding sentence: (You summarize
the main points or state the topic sentence
in different words)
11. Exercise: Complete the following paragraph outline providing reasons and details:
Are cell phones necessary in our lives?
First reason: ____________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Detail: _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Second Reason: _________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Detail: _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Third Reason: __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Detail: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
12. Exercise: Complete the following paragraph outline providing reasons and details:
TS: People who practice sports are healthier.
First reason: ____________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Detail: _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Second Reason: _________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Detail: _________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Third Reason: __________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Detail: _________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
13. Paragraph Organization: Another way to flow smoothly through
your paragraph is to use “connectives”
accordingly again for example although beyond
conversely first as a result secondly finally
simultaneously also for instance hence then
additionally next nevertheless on the
contrary
otherwise
consequently thus in addition second at the same
time
14. Use the Following Expressions to Give Your Opinion:
As far as I am concerned, …
I am (not) convinced that …
In my opinion/view …
My opinion is that …
I (firmly)believe …
I (definitely) feel/think that …
I am inclined to believe that …
15. Opinion Writing Topic
Writing Situation
Many public school systems across the country
require students to wear uniforms. Some educators
believe that wearing uniforms will help students
concentrate more on their school work. On the other
hand, some students argue that having to wear
uniforms prevents them from expressing their
individuality or personality. Your principal is
considering whether students at your school should
wear uniforms.
Directions for Writing
Write a paragraph expressing your view on school
uniforms. Provide convincing reasons and specific
examples to support your position.
16. Model Paragraph
Wearing uniforms to school is a necessary part of a
good school environment. First, the uniform helps build a
sense of community and school spirit among students. It
allows students to experience appropriate dress in a
professional environment. Second, a school is a place for
learning, not a fashion show. Many students seem to feel it
is more important to look good, when the real purpose of
going to school is to focus on their studies. The third reason
for wearing the uniform is that it sets an equal standard
for everybody. If it were not for the uniform, school would
be more competitive, divisive and biased against those with
less money. To conclude, school uniforms are very
beneficial for students and create a healthy learning
environment.
18. Adjective Clause
1. The adjective clause is used to modify a
noun or a pronoun. They do what regular
adjectives do – they describe nouns.
2. An adjective clause is a dependent clause
that modifies or describes a noun.
3. It will begin with a relative pronoun (who,
whose, whom, which, and that) or a
subordinate conjunction (when, where, and
since).
4. Those are the only words that can be used
to introduce an adjective clause.
19. Examples:
1. The book which I like is on the
table.
2. The man who wants the book is
here.
3. The student whose hand was up
gave the wrong answer.
4. The car that Ahmed is driving is
not here.
20. Find the adjective clause in the following sentences and tell
which word it modifies.
1. I play a kind of music that nobody likes.
2. The man whom you saw was not the famous actor.
3. I remember the day when I took my first airplane
trip.
4. I have a neighbor whose parents live in Australia.
5. The book which I like is on the table.
6. The man whom you saw on stage is my friend.
7. The teacher who gives the English classes lives next
door.
8. The man whose leg was broken was taken to the
hospital.
9. This is the place where the accident happened.
21. Who and Whom are used only for people.
Who is the subject of the clause. After Who
you should see a verb.
Whom is the object of the clause. After
Whom you should see a subject noun or
pronoun.
Which is used for things.
That is used for things (and people in
informal English). That can be both subject
and object of the clause.
22. Use an adjective clause to combine the following sentences using who,
whose, whom, which, that.
1. They followed the strange man. He had just come
from the dark alley.
2. I bought Jim a book. The book is about magic.
3. The doctor examined the patient. The patient had
fallen from a cliff.
4. The mechanic repaired my sister's car. The car had
a broken window.
5. The restaurant had closed permanently. The
customers were shot there.
6. The parents had great respect for the teacher. The
teacher had taught their children.
23. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses
Adjective Clauses come in two types:
restrictive and nonrestrictive
1. Restrictive adjective clauses: They identify
the noun or pronoun modified. They give
necessary information needed in order to know
who or what the pronoun refers to.
The doctor who lives in California is my
sister.
The car that has broken headlights belongs to
my brother.
24. Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses
2. Nonrestrictive adjective clauses give extra
information about the noun or the pronoun but is not
needed to identify it. Always put commas around a
nonrestrictive clause.
The key, which was lost, belongs to my father.
All individuals,, who bought tickets,, will be
admitted.
The Eiffel Tower has an elevator, which I rode
to the top.
25. Fragments 1
Fragments look like sentences but are missing a
subject or a verb, or don’t express a complete thought.
Fragment Error
1. told everyone to get out of the
way.
No subject
2. However, they in the
apartment.
No verb
3. Before he answered the phone A dependent clause
by itself
4. John working extra hard on his
project lately.
No subject-verb
relationship
26. Fragments 2
There is another kind of fragments when there is only a
noun and an adjective clause.
1. The children who had been lost
2. The place which was covered with grass.
3. The minute when Ahmed announced his
travel plans.
4. The artist who was going to paint the portrait.
5. the photos which we showed to our friends
27. Correct the fragments in the adjective clauses:
1. The ride which I took at the amusement park
2. The place where the plane wrecked
3. The student who answered the question
4. The dress that the Queen is wearing
5. Our pizza that is in the freezer
6. The person who owns the car
7. The time when I broke my leg
8. the man whom you admire greatly
9. The man on your left who will be the next
speaker
