Chapter nine:

How to write an opinion

1. You must review your background research, and you must seek the other side of the story. You are most likely to embarrass yourself when you write an impassioned opinion about a subject only to discover that you completely misunderstood the facts of the case.
2. Recognize that you just might be wrong in your opinion, and anticipate the objections.
3. Always support all critical comments. The most common weakness in opinion writing is the lack of illustrative examples. An opinion is hollow and worthless without support. You are still a reporter; you have a responsibility to be objective in your analysis of the subject, though your response (your opinion) will be your own.
4. Keep the focus on commentary; have a unified, focused organization and use compelling, stylistically consistent language. The more concrete your language, the better the article. Avoid clichˇs
5. Not all opinion pieces have to attack something. Opinions can be positive as well as negative. But even positive opinions have to be supported.
6. Don't ramble. Organize and focus your opinion. Keep it relatively short--300 words. Remember, an opinion piece is essentially an analytical essay, and it should have the unity that we expect of an analytical essay.
7. Understand that the worst thing you can do is overstate your case. You have a lot of power but if you abuse that power you are responsible in front of a large readership.
8. Recognize that this is your opportunity to develop your personal voice in this class. So much of our writing has emphasized the need for objective, standard style; this is the assignment in which you can let your own style shine. Of course, you still have to be grammatical, and you have to remember that your object is to involve your audience, not indulge yourself. You still have to follow the principles of good style.
9. Don't just say you liked or didn't like something; support and defend the opinion with specifics.
10. If you've got a gift for satire or humor, consider using it. I'll allow you to write a humor piece to satisfy this assignment, and I can't really give you many rules on how to write satire or humor.

    Stating an opinion:

    Introduction

    • Examine the statement and define what it means.
    • Say how you are going to deal with the problem.

    Development

    • Decide what your point of view is going to be.
    • First look at the opposite point of view.
    • Then develop your own argument in a logical way.
    • Each paragraph you write must add something new to your argument.
    Conclusion
    • State the conclusion which follows from your arguments.
    • Sometimes there is no clear solution to the problem contained in the question. In this case you might suggest a solution but point out that it is only one of a number of alternatives.

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    The following phrases may help you:

    Introduction:

    • Examine the statement and define what it means.
      • Let's examine what .... means.
      • It is generally believed that...
      • Most people think that...
      • At first sight this statement seems to be true.
    • Say how you are going to deal with the problem.
      • The first thing that comes to my mind is...
      • In the first place I'd like to say that...
      • First of all let's get the facts straight.
      • Let's begin with the fact that...
      • Let me make quite clear from the start that...
      • The first question we have to answer is if / wh....
      • First we must define what we mean by...
      • Let's start by weighing up the pros and cons.

    Development:

    • Decide what your point of view is going to be.
      • I'm of the opinion that...
    • First look at the opposite point of view.
      • It might be argued that...
      • One could well say that...
      • It is often generally accepted that...
      • There is some evidence to suggest that...
      • On the one hand .. but on the other hand ...
    • Then develop your own argument in a logical way.
      • Nevertheless...
      • However...
      • It is only partly true that...
      • Although...
      • Every argument has two sides.
      • Take for example...
      • There seems to be a contradiction here.
      • Let us now return to...
    • Each paragraph you write or say must add something new to your argument.
      • This brings me to the next point.
      • A further point to consider is...
      • We have to admit that...
      • It is important to realize that...
      • In addition to this point I want to stress that...
      • Moreover...
      • There can be no doubt that...
      • Everybody knows that this is so.

    Conclusion:

    • State the conclusion which follows from your arguments.
      • It is for this reason that I believe that...
      • The simple truth is that...
      • It is only fair to say that...
    • Suggest a solution but point out that it is only one of a number of alternatives.
      • My own view of the matter is...
      • So all in all I believe that...

    Assignment: I'm asking you to write an opinion....300 words

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    Related links:

    Lets have some fun............

    Children's opinion web site
    - Mrs Hull's Kindergarten class.

    Adult's opinion web site
    ThinkCentreAsia - An all action think tank based in Bangkok.

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    Chapter eight | Chapter ten

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