Writing Opinions

1. Writing Opinions Lily Granville TAFE 2010

2. Things to be aware of • A university writing assignment can be thought of as an extended answer to a quite specific question that has been posed by your lecturer. A key consideration for lecturers when they mark students' work is whether the writing before them is relevant; that is whether it does in fact provide an answer to the question being posed. • For this reason it is important when you prepare to work on an assignment that you spend a reasonable amount of time reading and mulling over the assignment topic so that you understand precisely what is being asked. This involves identifying and thinking about key words in the topic, among other things.

3. Writing an opinion • An opinion is what you believe. To write an opinion paragraph, you just write down what you think about the subject. You will have to look up some facts about your topic - make a list of all the facts about each side, or each thing you must decide between. Before you write your paragraph, decide which facts support your own opinion. Now, write your paragraph, using just the facts which support your ideas. Pretend you are talking to someone, and just write instead of saying it out loud.

4. Your opinion is always valid • Because opinion writings involve the writer’s thoughts and feelings, it’s more intimate than other forms of writing.  There’s also no wrong idea to express – it’s your message, so it’s always valid.  • Contrast this to other forms of academic writing, where personal opinion usually takes the backseat to hard facts, and you understand the medium’s intrinsic value in helping you to evolve into a more competent wordsmith.

5. Emphasis on the problem presented, not your feelings • Student writers sometimes have a tendency to emphasize personal opinions instead of analyzing the problem presented. • At EFS, teachers want to see students become engaged with the ideas learned in class, and reactions to ideas are good, in the right context.

6. Engaging your opinion on the case, not feelings • On the other hand, instructors believe that reactions in writings should not consist solely of your personal "feelings," but should reflect some understanding of the problem or how your reaction relates to your careful analysis. How you think and feel about the subject is understood in the way you present your argument.

7. Opinion writing language and vocabulary • It is also important to realize that your writing teacher is not asking you to completely censor your personal reactions in writing assignments, just to avoid introducing opinions that have no supporting evidence somewhere in your assignment.

8. Opinion writing language and vocabulary • You can also learn to present your opinions objectively by comparing them to the opinions of others, possibly the politicians, media, and scholars who have discussed your topic in previous assigned readings. • This strategy accomplishes two things. First, it shows your teacher that you have been reading and that you understand what you have read. Second, it demonstrates to your instructor that you understand how your own reaction compares to those of others and that you are able to engage in a "dialogue" with other scholars and politicians.

9. Opinion writing language and vocabulary • Avoid being too personal – don’t expose too many details from your personal life. • Avoid going off topic – all arguments should reinforce topic statement made in the introduction and you shouldn’t go off mark providing additional information on the arguments themselves – their origin, definition, etc. • Avoid excessively emotional content. Opinion writing presents a point of view and illustrates how it was developed by the author. Avoid aggressive tone, moral judgments, and don’t attack the opposite side. • Overall, avoid being excessively vocal about your opinion, however strong it is. Instead, concentrate on composing a logical flow of diversified arguments, and essential examples.