Grammar
Opinion paragraphs: state and support a view
Sign in to saveYour class is discussing whether phones should be used during short breaks. You have a view, but a reader needs more than the words I agree or I disagree. A good opinion paragraph shows the view, the reason for it, and a detail that helps the reader understand it.
Write an opinion paragraph that states one clear view and supports it with relevant reasons and an example.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
In my opinion, a shared calendar would make the project easier to organize. /ɪn maɪ əˈpɪnjən, ə ʃeəd ˈkælɪndə wʊd meɪk ðə ˈprɒdʒekt ˈiːziə tə ˈɔːɡənaɪz/
The short answer
State your view in one clear sentence, then support it with a reason and a relevant example or explanation. End by returning to the same view.
I think employers should offer flexible start times because people travel to work in different ways. For example, a later start can help a parent avoid the busiest part of the morning journey.
Why it works: The first sentence gives the writer's view and reason. The example explains how the reason can matter in real life.
5 more examples
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In my opinion, the town should add more benches near the market because many people need a place to rest while they shop.
The writer takes a clear position and gives one reason that explains the suggestion.
Not this:The market has
benches, shops, buses, and many visitors. What changes: This list gives information about the market, but it does not tell the reader what the writer thinks should happen. -
Students should learn basic cooking at school. It can help them prepare simple meals when they live on their own.
The second sentence supports the opinion by explaining a practical benefit.
Not this:Students should learn basic cooking at school.
My uncle makes soupevery Sunday. What changes: The second sentence may be interesting, but it does not explain why cooking lessons belong in school. -
I prefer paper tickets for a local event because I can check the time and seat number without opening my phone.
Because introduces a reason that is closely connected to the writer's preference.
Not this:I prefer paper tickets. They are
small, white, and easy to lose. What changes: These details do not clearly support the preference. Some of them may even make the reader question it. -
For example, an online appointment system can save time because patients can choose a suitable time before they call the office.
The example shows one way an earlier opinion about online booking might work.
Not this:Online systems are
modern. What changes: Modern is too general here. The reader still needs to know what useful result the system brings. -
For these reasons, a shared calendar would make our group project easier to organize.
The conclusion returns to the view after the paragraph has explained the reasons.
Not this:In conclusion, there are
many thingsto think about. What changes: This ending is too vague. It does not tell the reader which view the paragraph supports.
Read the full guide
Before you write, decide what you want the reader to believe. Put that idea into a direct sentence. Then choose support that answers a reader's natural question: Why do you think that? One strong reason with a clear explanation is more useful than a long list of unrelated points. When you finish, check that every sentence helps the reader understand your view.
Turn a topic into a clear view
Start with the difference between a topic and an opinion. A topic names the subject. An opinion says what you believe about it. When your first sentence gives a clear view, the reader can understand the purpose of the reasons that follow.
Topic: public transport. View: The city should make buses more frequent in the evening.
Public transport is only the subject. The second sentence gives a position that a paragraph can support.
I believe small parks are useful places for people who live in busy neighborhoods.
The writer gives a judgment about small parks and identifies the people affected by the idea.
How can you turn the topic group study into a clear view?
Write a sentence such as: Group study can help learners prepare for a difficult exam.
Give a reason the reader can follow
A reason tells the reader why you hold your view. Put it close to the opinion, often in the same sentence or the next one. A useful reason connects directly to the claim instead of giving a new subject for the paragraph.
Our building should have a bike room because more residents would cycle if they had a safe place to leave their bikes.
The reason explains how a bike room could change what residents do.
Our building should have a bike room. The manager has worked here for five years.
The second sentence does not explain why a bike room would be useful, so it does not support the view.
Which link word can introduce a reason after an opinion?
Use because: I support the earlier opening time because it gives customers more choice.
Explain the reason with a detail
After a reason, add an explanation or a small example. This step shows the reader how the reason works. Choose a detail that is possible and relevant. A personal experience can work well when it explains the point, but it should not replace the explanation.
A quiet room at the library would help students concentrate. For instance, they could read there when their homes are noisy.
The second sentence gives a situation that makes the benefit of a quiet room easier to see.
A quiet room at the library would help students concentrate. The library also has a coffee machine.
A coffee machine may be useful, but it does not explain the claim about concentration.
What kind of detail should follow a reason in an opinion paragraph?
Add a detail, example, or explanation that shows how the reason supports your view.
Keep each sentence on the same point
Read your paragraph after drafting it and ask what each sentence is doing. A sentence may state your view, give a reason, explain the reason, or return to the view. If it only gives unrelated information, it will make the paragraph harder to follow.
Later opening hours would help the library serve people who finish work at six. They could borrow books or use the computers before going home.
Both sentences concern the same result of later opening hours: access for people after work.
Later opening hours would help the library serve people who finish work at six. My favorite book is about a musician.
The second sentence changes the subject and gives no support for the opening view.
What should you do with a sentence that starts a different idea?
Move it to another paragraph with its own view, or remove it if it does not help your writing.
Use a conclusion that matches the view
A final sentence can remind the reader of your opinion after you have given support. It does not need to repeat every word from the first sentence. Restate the idea in a natural way and avoid adding a new reason at the end.
For these reasons, a short weekly meeting would help our team avoid small misunderstandings.
This ending returns to the paragraph's view about a weekly meeting and connects it to the reasons already given.
For these reasons, we should meet weekly. We could also repaint the office.
The final sentence introduces a new subject. Save it for a paragraph about the office environment.
What should a conclusion do in a short opinion paragraph?
It should return to the main view and show that the earlier reasons support it.
Check the paragraph before you submit it
Use a short check before you finish. Can a reader find your view in the first sentence? Does every reason explain that view? Does the example make one reason clearer? Does the last sentence return to the same point? These questions help you revise a paragraph without making it longer than it needs to be.
I think the school should provide lockers. Students can keep heavy books there instead of carrying them all day. This could make the journey between classes easier.
The view, reason, and explanation all concern the practical benefit of lockers.
What should you check when you revise an opinion paragraph?
Check that the view is clear, the reasons support it, the example is relevant, and the ending matches the same point.
Before you go
Remember this
Start with a view, then support it with reasons that fit that view. Explain at least one reason with a useful detail or example. Finish by returning to your point. If a sentence does not help the reader see why you hold the view, revise it, move it, or leave it out.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Opinion paragraphs: state and support a view"
What is an opinion paragraph?
An opinion paragraph is a group of sentences that presents your view about one topic and explains why you hold it. It needs more than a statement of preference. Add reasons, explanations, or examples that help the reader understand your view.
In my opinion, the town should add more benches near the market because many people need a place to rest while they shop.
How do I begin an opinion paragraph?
Begin with a sentence that makes your position clear. You can use I think, in my opinion, or I believe, then state your view directly. For example, you might write that flexible start times are helpful for employees.
The market has benches, shops, buses, and many visitors.
How many reasons should I give for my opinion?
Give as many reasons as the task needs, but make each one relevant and explain it. In a short B1 paragraph, one well-explained reason and an example can be stronger than several reasons that only appear in a list.
Students should learn basic cooking at school. It can help them prepare simple meals when they live on their own.
Can I use a personal example in an opinion paragraph?
Yes. A brief personal example can show how a reason works. Keep it connected to your point. If you argue that a quiet study space is useful, an example about concentrating in a noisy home can help explain why.
Students should learn basic cooking at school. My uncle makes soup every Sunday.
How should I end an opinion paragraph?
End by returning to the view you stated at the beginning. You can use a phrase such as for these reasons, then restate the point in different words. Do not introduce a new topic or a new reason in the final sentence.
I prefer paper tickets for a local event because I can check the time and seat number without opening my phone.