Series of Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion Organizer

Read the statement in the Task box Do you Agree or Disagree?

Re-write the should statement as a topic sentence where you clearly state your opinion. You may begin I believe (First person is allowed)

Write out the MAIN POINT that supports your position, stated in your introduction *you will have to explain your REASONING with supporting proofs, examples even facts or statistics -provide 2-3 sentences to persuade your adult audience that your opinion is thoughtful and valid.

1. Support proof 2. Support proof

3. Support proof

Write out the second key POINT that supports your position, stated in your introduction. Again, support your REASON with 2-3 proofs

1. Support proof

2. Support proof

3. Support proof

If you wish, you may write out the third key POINT that supports your position, stated in your introduction. Again, support your REASON with 2-3 proofs Conclusion In a final paragraph, RESTATE your opinion. Sum up your main POINTS to reaffirm that the position you have clearly stated is a valid one. Include a connection to your communityor the country, even the WORLD to persuade your adult audience. 1

Series of Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion Organizer

Read the Task Prompt carefully DO YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE? dDdisagreedisagreeDISAGREE? Rewrite the first statement as an I believe statement.

Main Point

If you wish, you may write out a 3rd Key Point.

2nd Key Point

In Conclusion (restate opinion, sum up main points, final thought)

How to Write an Opinion Paragraph

Topic Sentence
(Main Idea or Purpose)

Your Paragraph should clearly discuss or argue a topic that is established in the first sentence. The following sentences should expand on your initial position regarding the topic. You can explain by using specific examples or facts, or by describing certain details that support your argument. The final sentence should sum up your position, clearly identifying what you have proven.

Body of Support Statements

(Arguments, Explanations, Facts or Examples that clearly illustrate what you are trying to prove)

Concluding Statement
(Sums up or answers the question)

Five Sentence Paragraph

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Topic Sentence Supporting Statement Explanation or Description Example or Illustration Conclusion

Sample Paragraph

Topic: The school uniform is a necessary part of a good school.

In many ways the school uniform is a necessary part of a good school environment. The uniform helps build a sense of community, school spirit, and good will among students. It allows students to experience appropriate dress in a professional environment. Wearing the uniform adds class to a school and sets an equal standard for everybody. Finally, if it were not for the uniform, school would be more competitive, divisive, and biased against those with less money.

Suggestion for the Topic Sentence:

Start with a definite point of view, an assertion, rather than a general comment. Use key words from the topic in your sentence to clarify your position.

Suggestion for the Conclusion:

Try to make a final point with your summary, one that builds on what was proven in the body of your paragraph.

Writing a Series of Paragraphs: Checklist

The Task
Title

Do I
Focus on Key Words Clearly AGREE or DISAGREE Use a graphic organizer? Jot point form notes? Directly relate my response to the prompt? Have a thoughtful progression of ideas? Have a clear, consistent opinion? Identify key points that are thoughtfully chosen? Develop my position with specific supporting details? Include examples/proof illustrating my point? Restate my Opinion? Summarize my main points? Include a final thought connection to community/ world?

PRACTICE: Should Uniforms be worn in high school?

Rough Notes Writing the Series of Paragraphs

First Paragraph

Second / Third Paragraphs

Last Paragraph

Overall

Write at least 3 paragraphs? Write in complete sentences? Write consistently in first or third person? Check grammar, spelling, punctuation for correctness?

For a sample article go to http://www.cawthrapark.com/eqao/sample.htm

Task:

Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.).

Purpose and Audience: An adult who is interested in your opinion. Length: The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected. Should downloading pirated music from the internet be illegal?

Topic:

Write your series of paragraphs on the lines provided on the following two pages.

Rough Notes
Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

Stealing: Theft is the same no matter what

Money: funds should go to the bands

File-sharing music Downloading songs Is Wrong

Morals: its wrong to steal. Buy instead of download.

Bands: work hard to write music. They should be rewarded for it.

OR: Make a chart outlining differences:

PROS
Free music between people who file share More people get to listen to a bands music Unknown bands will become famous People around the world can communicate musical tastes Rich bands have enough money already Record labels make more money off CD sales than bands do.

CONS
Bands dont get money Viruses between computers Stealing music is immoral Lesser-known bands will not get the chance to sell CDs Kids are being taught that stealing is okay.

STEP 2: Write out a Series of Paragraphs based on your chart.

Downloading Music from the Internet Should Be Illegal Anyone who downloads pirated music from the internet should think about a few things before they do. These songs are copyrighted material that are basically stolen, ripped from CDs, uploaded to file-sharing websites and freely distributed to anyone with a computer and internet connection. This is, quite simply, theft, and anyone who does it should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. With the number of computer hackers around the world who love to create viruses, it is very easy for them to piggyback a worm or virus onto a song and then distribute it to millions of computers around the world. Even computers using virus blockers or firewalls are susceptible to new worms and viruses. File-sharing can cost individual users hundreds of dollars, and companies thousands of dollars to rid their systems of these viruses. By ripping songs from albums and freely distributing them online, people are really just stealing them from the bands that create them. When this happens, the money that would normally go to these bands from people buying their CDs does not get to them. With the high cost of making CDs, from recording time in studios to mass production, what band or record label can afford to do this if they are not getting any money back? Another reason file-sharing should be illegal is a moral one. People are ripping songs from CDs and burning copies of movies, and they do not believe this is wrong. Doing these things is just the same as stealing cable, plagiarizing someone elses words, or even robbing a bank. The excuse, its just a song, ignores the fact that it is the property of the person who wrote it, and should be respected as such. Children are taught that stealing is wrong, yet they see their older siblings and even their parents doing it every time they download music illegally from the internet. So, if file-sharing were to be made illegal, it would show people that this is a crime, and, if convicted, they will be punished for that crime, just as they would be for stealing anything else.

Task:

Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.).

Purpose and Audience: An adult who is interested in your opinion. Length: The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected. Do Reality TV Shows actually portray reality?

Topic:

Write your series of paragraphs on the lines provided on the following two pages.

Rough Notes
Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

Cameramen, Lighting, etc are always around.

Its all scripted. Unrealistic settings, events.

No Real Reality on TV

People are fake. Too good looking.

People dont act naturally when on TV.

STEP 2: Write out a Series of Paragraphs based on your brainstorming.

Reality TV Shows Audience Little Reality In the fast-paced world of television today, shows come and go before people even know they are on the air. Reality shows have become some of the most popular shows on TV, because they are cheap to produce, and can be filmed very quickly. What most people do not realize is that these shows offer very little actual reality to the viewer. Reality shows, otherwise known as unscripted television, show beautiful people doing incredible things. What most people dont realize is that these people were carefully chosen based on their looks, personality, and how they fit into the producers vision of the show. Think about it, when was the last time an ugly, out-of-shape person won on Fear Factor? Another reason reality shows do not deserve the name is because there is very little reality going on when they are filmed. At any given time on Survivor, each contestant is being followed by at least one camera operator, sound and lighting technicians, and the director. Also, peoples reactions are being filmed around the clock, so for a one hour episode of Survivor, there is approximately 72 hours of film for each contestant covering three days of filming. The director can pick and choose which footage to use to show the person acting a certain way. How real is that? These shows are also carefully scripted by writers who plan out everything that will happen, even down to the reaction of the people in the shows. Sometimes they even have multiple takes to capture a scene or an event perfectly. Just look at the blooper reels at the end of many shows, such as The Bachelor, that show mistakes like people falling down, or messing up their lines. So, reality shows are not quite the real-life programs the producers would have viewers believe. The contestants are handpicked, there are all kinds of behind-the-scenes activity, and their plots are actually written out beforehand. In addition, people always act differently when they know they are on camera. Why would contestants on so-called reality shows be any different?

Task:

Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.).

Purpose and Audience: An adult who is interested in your opinion. Length: The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected. Should all students have to wear school uniforms?

Topic:

Write your series of paragraphs on the lines provided on the following two pages.

Rough Notes
Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

STEP 1: Make a chart outlining differences between the sides.

Yes
Looks professional More respect from students Convenient, no planning needed School is for academics, not style All students wearing same thing, so no competition Uniforms are inexpensive

No
Looks stupid, kids get made fun of No individuality; lack of uniqueness Uniforms are expensive, kids still have to buy more clothes Students still competitive: hair, shoes Kids are being taught that stealing is okay.

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STEP 2: Write out a Series of Paragraphs based on your chart.

Students should wear uniforms to school Many people today say that school has become a more violent place because there are so many gangs that identify themselves by what they wear. This problem would stop if only all schools adopted a uniform for their students to wear. This uniform would make the kids look more professional, allow them to focus on academics, and are less expensive than most name-brand clothes. One reason schools should have uniforms is because it would make the students look more professional. Young people need to start learning how to dress appropriately in the workplace, and having them wear proper uniforms would be a good step toward teaching them how proper clothes should be worn. Another reason uniforms are good is because school is a place for learning, not a fashion show. Many kids seem to feel that its more important to look good, when the real purpose of going to school is to get an education. Name-brand clothes only distract kids from their studies, and if everyone only had to worry about one thing to wear every day, it would be easier to focus on work. Uniforms are less expensive than most name-brand labels in stores today, which come in and go out of style quickly. People only need to buy a couple pairs of pants, two or three shirts, and they are good for the year. Uniforms are of a good quality, and will last as long as the person can fit into them. Finally, if uniforms were adopted at all schools, there would be less competition between students, resulting in less fights, judging of others based on wealth, and everyone could focus on their studies, which is the whole purpose of going to school.

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Writing a Series of Paragraphs Task: Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.). an adult who is interested in your opinion The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected.

Purpose and Audience: Length:

Topic: Should 16 year olds be allowed to get tattoos without parental consent?

Write your series of paragraphs on the lines provided on the following two pages.

Rough Notes
Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

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Writing a Series of Paragraphs Task: Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.). an adult who is interested in your opinion The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected.

Purpose and Audience: Length:

Topic: Should School cafeterias be banned from serving foods high in trans-fats, sugar and calories? Write your series of paragraphs on the lines provided on the following two pages.

Rough Notes
Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

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Writing a Series of Paragraphs Task: Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion on the topic below. Develop your main idea with supporting details (proof, facts, examples, etc.). an adult who is interested in your opinion The lined space provided for your written work indicates the approximate length of the writing expected.

Purpose and Audience: Length:

Topic: Should the provincial government ban soft drink vending machines in Secondary schools? Write your series of paragraphs on the lines provided on the following two pages.

Rough Notes
Use the space below for rough notes. Nothing you write in this space will be scored.

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