Opinions need reasons, so I ask the kids, "If you have a stool with one leg, will it stand by itself?" They say it won't. "If you have a stool with two legs, will it stand on its own?" Most of them think not. "How about if the stool has three legs, then will it stand up?" They say, "Yes!" So I tell them that that's why they should have three reasons when they write an opinion.
After discussing the three-legged stool analogy with them, I give them a blank copy of my stool graphic organizer. It says "Text-based reason" on it because the opinions we write in fourth grade Ready Gen, which I taught for many years, were opinions based on the text we had just read and analyzed as a class.
First: Write an Opinion Statement
Give the students a sentence starter based on the subject at hand.
For example, with regards to the above graphic organizer, Jacob is a character in the book, Quake! Disaster in San Francisco by Gail Langer Karwoski. I show my students how to write an opinion statement on the graphic organizer by writing on the overhead (or on paper in a small group);
I instruct them to choose either "was" or "was not".
Second: Find Three Reasons
To help my students find text-based reasons for whichever opinion they choose, I give them an example for each side of the argument. Alternatively, a student volunteer on each side of the argument may suggest to the class an excerpt from the text that supports their opinion. In that way, I've given each student one example reason for their graphic organizer. Next, they are prompted to find two reasons on their own or with a partner. During this time I circulate among the kids, guiding them and answering their questions.
Third: Write a Five-Sentence Paragraph
Using their graphic organizer as a guide, the next step is for students to write five sentences. For this, a paragraph frame is helpful; so is a list of linking words. If this is their first opinion paragraph ever, I like to provide the linking words in a paragraph frame that they can use as a guide. They are free to change the wording, but are also allowed to copy the sentence starters if they need to.
The above paragraph frame also includes an optional "hook sentence" at the beginning.
Sentences to write:
Opinion statement.
Linking words + first reason.
Linking words + second reason.
Linking words + third reason.
"In conclusion" or other linking words + restate opinion using different wording.
Fourth: Share!
There are several ways to invite students to share their work in the classroom. This is an important step that validates their efforts, and gives purpose to the writing assignment. Provide one of these opportunities for students to share: whole class, with a partner or friend, in small assigned groups, or in a sharing circle on the rug.
In Summary
The four steps to writing an opinion are as follows. 1) Provide an opinion statement with a "pro or con" choice. 2) Help students find three reasons that support their view. 3) Provide linking words and a paragraph frame for students to write five sentences (or more). 4) Let students share their work.
For more detailed opinion writing lessons click below.
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