Activities to Teach Students to Complete the Opinion Passage With an Example
As a teacher, one of your main objectives is to ensure your students can express their opinion in written form. However, getting students to complete an opinion passage can be challenging, especially for young learners who struggle with sentence structure and grammar. Here are some activities you can use to help your students complete the opinion passage.
1. Brainstorming Session
Begin by having a brainstorming session with your students to think of topics that inspire opinions. Some topics can be fun and lighthearted, such as “Should we have school on Saturdays?” or more serious, like “Should school uniforms be mandatory?” When brainstorming, encourage your students to share their thoughts and opinions freely.
2. Promote Critical Thinking
Once you have a topic or two, encourage your students to analyze the topic and form an opinion based on facts and logic. Encourage them to present reasons to support their opinion or to create a list of pros and cons.
3. Introduction to Opinion Writing
Teach your students how to write an effective introduction to an opinion passage. Their introduction should grab the reader’s attention, present the topic, and state their opinion clearly. A good introduction can hook the reader and encourage them to read more.
4. Supporting Paragraphs
Help your students write supporting paragraphs by providing them with a graphic organizer or an outline. Each supporting paragraph should present one reason why they hold their opinion. Use a persuasive language and encourage students to provide evidence or facts to support their opinions.
5. Conclusion
Finally, help your students summarize their opinion passage by writing a conclusion. The conclusion should summarize their main points and restate their opinion. Encourage your students to end with a strong statement that will leave the reader thinking about their opinion.
Example Passage
Here’s an example of an opinion passage about dogs using the activities listed above:
Introduction: I believe dogs make the best pets. They are loyal, loving, and always there for us.
Supporting paragraph 1:
Dogs are loyal. They will always be by our side, no matter what. Even when we are sad or lonely, our dogs are always there to provide comfort.
Supporting paragraph 2:
Dogs are loving. They shower us with affection and are always happy to see us. They don’t judge us based on our appearance or character.
Supporting paragraph 3:
Having a dog provides us with a sense of safety. Dogs are natural watchdogs which make our homes and family safe.
Conclusion: For all these reasons, I believe that dogs make the best pets. They bring a lot of joy to our lives, helping to make our home a happier and safer place.
Using these activities, you can help your students learn how to write their opinion in a clear and organized way. With practice and guidance, your students will become confident opinion writers.