Opinion-based essays: Agree or Disagree

Opinion Essays

Decidewhichisthebestanswer:

Hello ladies,

What is an opinion essay?

Is it the same as a descriptive report?

1. Youonlywriteaboutfactsandyoumustnotgiveexamplesfromyourownlifeorstateyouropinion

2. Youwriteaboutfactsrelatingtothesubjectbutyoumustalsostateyouropinionandgiveexamplesfromyourownlife

A

1. ItisdifferentfromaTaskI reportand,youhavetowritemorewords

2. ItisthesameasaTaskIreportbut,youhavetowritemorewords

B

1. Youshouldclearlystateyouropinion(thisisrequired)

2. You shouldnotgiveyouropinion(itisnotrequired)

C

1. Thepurposeofaanopinionessayistodescribethesubjectbutnottogiveyourpersonalopinion

2. Thepurposeofaanopinionessayistodiscussthesubject,giveyouropinionandsupportthiswithreasons

D

Example Prompts

How many reasons must I provide in my essay?

Should I copy the exam prompt?

Many people think that students at university learn more easily and quickly with an iPad.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

A

Some people think obesity is the biggest health problem faced by the UAE these days.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

B

Some people think that parents should punish their children by smacking them.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

C

Many people think that most women who study at university in the UAE do not plan to

get a job once they graduate.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

D

Agree “or” Disagree

Did you know that one of the most important things you need to do is provide good reasons!

Some people think that parents should punish their children by smacking them.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

1

Many people think that most women who study at university in the UAE do not plan to

get a job once they graduate.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

2

1. Look carefully at the prompt, it has three parts, what is the purpose of each?

1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. In the body of your essay, can you agree in one paragraph and disagree in the second paragraph? _ _ _

Some people think obesity is the biggest health problem faced by the UAE

these days.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

Introductions

Nowadaystherearemanytypesofhealthproblemsallaround theworld.

Differentcountriessufferfromdifferentproblems.Iagree withthetopic.

Toomanypeoplenowhavethisdiseasebecauseoffastfoodshopslike

MacDonald's.Iwill giveareasontoagreeanddisagreeinthisreport.

A

Thesedayseverycountryhastodealwithdifferentsortsofhealthissues.

FortheUAEtherearetwomainproblemsdiabetesandobesity.Inmy

opinionIactuallyagreewiththepointofviewthatobesityistheykey

problemintheUAE.InthisessayIwillprovidetwokeyreasonsthat

supportmyview,thefirstoneisthishealthissuecancausemanyother

healthproblemsand,thesecondreasonispeoplewhoareobesecannot

findworkeasilyandareoftenveryunhappy.

B

How many parts should my introduction have?

What is the best introduction, A or B?

Which one should I choose?

Body Paragraphs

Answerthesequestions:

1. Howmanybody paragraphsshouldmyTASK IIessayhave?

2. HowshouldIbegineach ofmybodyparagraphs?

3. MustIwritetheexplanationpartbeforetheexamplepart?

How many do I need?

How should I start them?

Must every body paragraph have an explanation part and an example?

Conclusions

Answerthesequestions:

1. Howmanypartsshouldagoodconclusionhave?

2. HowshouldIbeginmyconclusion?

3. MustIgivesomeadvice?

What should I do in my conclusion?

How many parts does in need?

Should my recommendations be the same as my reasons?

Agree “or” Disagree

Decide (a) which of these points are related to the subject and (b) are they reasons to agree or disagree

Some people think that parents should punish their children by smacking them.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

1

1. It will teach children to be respectful

2. It will reduce traffic accidents

3. Some families have too many children

4. It will make children think violence is

the answer for all situations

5. The hot weather makes people angry

6. Punishments should only be verbal (spoken)

7. Many computer games involve fighting and killing

8. If children are not physically disciplined (hit)

they will become very naughty

Reasons to AGREE Reasons to DISAGREE

1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Many people think that most women who study at university in the UAE do not plan to

get a job once they graduate.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion.

2

Agree “or” Disagree

Decide (a) which of these points are related to the subject and (b) are they reasons to agree or disagree

1. It will lead to an increase in obesity

2. Actually, many want to work, but cannot find a job

3. In the past this was true, but not these days

4. This is correct, many only study at university

to be able to educate their own children

5. Emiratisation is important for the economy

6. Girls perform better at maths compared to boys

7. The traditions encourage women to get an

education but not necessarily a job

8. These days not all Emiratis can get a government

job when they graduate from university

Reasons to AGREE Reasons to DISAGREE

1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Practice What You’ve Learnt! – Task One

Many people think that cameras (including those on phones and iPads) should be

forbidden on the UAE University campus.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion

1

Reasons to AGREE Reasons to DISAGREE

1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Do you agree or disagree? _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Now, give an example for the two reasons that support your opinion:

Example for reason one: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Example for reason two: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Practice What You’ve Learnt! – Task Two

These days many students spend lots of time in lessons watching videos and looking at

pictures on apps like Snapchat and Instagram. Therefore, iPads should be banned.

Do you agree or disagree? Provide reasons to support your opinion.

Write at least 200 words, with an introduction, two body paragraphs and a conclusion

2

• Now, write a practice essay using the prompt above.

• Use L2 lined writing paper.

• You will have a maximum of 50 minutes.