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Opinion and Persuasive Essay
Alternative: Debate in the classroom
Each major topic listed on this site has a premise followed by two possible position statements. These offer classrooms the opportunity to verbally debate as individuals, as small groups, or to practice writing a position with supporting ideas or evidence.
Alternatively, after having researched the subject, students might debate one of the topics as individual competitors or teams of two.
Here, Technique 18 emphasizes a skill that is applicable to science – but most other subjects as well. See the related English Language Arts standards at the bottom of this page. Once students gain mastery of the general approach, science students can undergo more significant research efforts using skills developed from this technique.
5:41 Opinion Essay or Persuasive Essay
An Example.
For example, Earth science topic 11 suggests two ideas. Position A suggests Earth science should be taught without distractions from the inclusion of the study of other planets. Position B counters with an opposing view. Here, and example “position paper” illustrates how a student might formulate and document their choice of A or B.
Example of Technique 18. This written example illustrates a possible format and approach to selecting then formulating an argument related to a position presented in Earth science topic 11.
Steps for How to Write an Opinion.
Technique 18 Steps (and practice) (pdf file – Honeycutt Science)
WikiHow web link (“How to Write an Argumentative Essay”).
Academic Writing Site (“Academic Writing Help for the Students”)
Relevant ELA standards
OSA-ELA Standard 3: Critical Reading and Critical Writing – Students will apply critical thinking skills to reading and writing. Students will write for varied purposes and audiences in all modes, using fully developed ideas, strong organization, well-chosen words, fluent sentences, and appropriate voice.
- RST.11-12.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of science and technical texts, attending to important distinctions the author makes and to any gaps or inconsistencies in the account.
- WHST.9-12.7 Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects to answer a question (including a self-generated question) or solve a problem; narrow or broaden the inquiry when appropriate; synthesize multiple sources on the subject, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
- WHST.11-12.8 Gather relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, using advanced searches effectively; assess the strengths and limitations of each source in terms of the specific task, purpose, and audience; integrate information into the text selectively to maintain the flow of ideas, avoiding plagiarism and overreliance on any one source and following a standard format for citation.
- WHST.9-12.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.