Writing Opinion Pieces with Supporting Reasons
Writing Opinion Pieces with Supporting Reasons Objective: Students will be able to write a clear opinion piece on a topic or text, supporting their opinion with reasons and providing a concluding statement or section.
Learning Objectives
- Understand what an opinion is and how it differs from a fact.
- Learn how to state an opinion clearly in writing.
- Support an opinion with at least two reasons.
- Write a simple concluding statement to finish the opinion piece.
Materials Needed
- Paper or notebook
- Pencil and eraser
- Example opinion writing sample
- Chart paper or whiteboard
- Markers
Key Vocabulary
- Opinion
- A personal belief or judgment about something, which may not be based on fact.
- Reason
- A thought or idea that explains why you feel a certain way or support an opinion.
- Concluding statement
- A sentence at the end of writing that wraps up the main idea or opinion.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Opinion Writing
- Begin by explaining what an opinion is and give examples that are relatable to a 3rd grader.
- Read an example opinion piece aloud, highlighting the opinion, reasons, and concluding statement.
- Discuss how the writer supports their opinion with reasons.
Brainstorming Opinions and Reasons
- Choose a simple topic familiar to the student (e.g., favorite fruit or season).
- Help the student state their opinion about the topic.
- Guide the student to think of at least two reasons why they hold that opinion and write them down.
Writing the Opinion Piece
- Model writing an opinion sentence on the chosen topic on chart paper or whiteboard.
- Assist the student in writing their own opinion sentence.
- Help the student write sentences that explain their reasons.
- Guide the student to write a concluding sentence that restates their opinion.
Review and Share
- Read the student’s writing together and review if it includes an opinion, supporting reasons, and a concluding statement.
- Praise the student for their effort and encourage sharing their opinion piece aloud.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to express their thoughts freely; there are no wrong opinions.
- Use everyday topics your child enjoys to make the writing more engaging and meaningful.
- Be patient and provide gentle guidance when helping your child organize their thoughts into writing.
Assessment Questions
- Can your child clearly state their opinion on the chosen topic?
- Does the writing include at least two reasons supporting the opinion?
- Is there a concluding sentence that wraps up the opinion piece?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child write opinion pieces on different topics to practice.
- Encourage your child to draw pictures to illustrate their opinion writing.
- Introduce comparing two opinions and discussing which reasons are stronger and why.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try asking guiding questions like ‘Why do you like that?’ or ‘What makes it special?’ to help them think of reasons.
Use graphic organizers like a simple chart with three sections: opinion, reasons, and conclusion to visually separate ideas.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse opinions with facts and need clarification on the difference.
- Some students may write opinions without supporting reasons, so emphasize the importance of reasons.
- Students might struggle with writing a concluding sentence and may need examples or sentence starters.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters such as ‘I think…’ or ‘My opinion is… because…’.
- Use verbal discussion to formulate opinions before writing.
- Limit the writing to one reason before gradually adding more.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage adding more than two reasons with examples.
- Introduce linking words like ‘also’ or ‘furthermore’ to connect reasons.
- Challenge them to write a paragraph with multiple supporting details.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Allow extra time for brainstorming if the student needs it.
- Spend more time modeling and discussing examples if the concept is new.
- Review and celebrate the student’s writing to build confidence before moving on.
Standards
- 3.W.3 — Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
Printable Worksheet
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