Writing Opinion Pieces with Reasons and Information
Writing Opinion Pieces with Reasons and Information Objective: Students will learn how to write an opinion piece that clearly states their opinion, provides reasons supported by facts and details, and includes a concluding statement.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the structure of opinion writing including opinion statement, reasons with supporting details, and conclusion.
- Practice organizing thoughts using a graphic organizer before writing.
- Write a complete opinion paragraph that includes a clear opinion, reasons, facts, and a closing statement.
Materials Needed
- Paper or writing notebook
- Pencil and eraser
- Example opinion writing samples
- Graphic organizer for opinion writing
Key Vocabulary
- Opinion
- A personal belief or judgment about something, which may not be based on fact.
- Reason
- A statement that explains why you believe your opinion is true.
- Supporting Details
- Facts or examples that explain or prove your reason.
- Conclusion
- A sentence that wraps up the writing and restates the opinion in a different way.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Opinion Writing
- Explain what an opinion is and how it is different from a fact.
- Read aloud a simple example of an opinion piece, discussing the opinion, reasons, and conclusion.
- Ask the student to share an opinion on a familiar topic and explain why.
Organizing Ideas with a Graphic Organizer
- Introduce the graphic organizer with sections for opinion, reasons, supporting details, and conclusion.
- Help the student choose a topic and write their opinion at the top.
- Guide the student to think of at least two reasons and supporting details to write in the organizer.
Writing the Opinion Piece
- Using the graphic organizer, have the student write a paragraph stating their opinion clearly.
- Encourage them to include reasons and facts from the organizer.
- Help the student write a concluding sentence that restates their opinion differently.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- Encourage your child to speak their opinion aloud before writing to build confidence.
- Use simple and familiar topics your child cares about to make writing easier and more engaging.
- Be patient and offer help spelling words or organizing ideas, as this is a new writing skill.
Assessment Questions
- Can your child clearly state their opinion on a topic?
- Does your child provide at least two reasons with supporting details for their opinion?
- Is there a concluding sentence that restates the opinion in their writing?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child write a second opinion piece on a different topic to practice skills.
- Discuss how to respectfully agree or disagree with others’ opinions.
- Create a mini book of opinion pieces on favorite books, foods, or activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Help them think about why they like or dislike something by asking guiding questions like ‘What do you like about it?’ or ‘What makes it fun?’
Use the graphic organizer as a visual aid and work together step-by-step to fill in each part before writing the paragraph.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students may confuse opinions with facts. Reinforce the difference by providing clear examples.
- Some students might write a list of reasons without connecting them to their opinion. Emphasize the importance of linking reasons directly to their opinion.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Provide sentence starters or fill-in-the-blank opinion writing templates.
- Work one-on-one to help organize thoughts and provide vocabulary support.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage writing multiple paragraphs with several reasons and more detailed supporting facts.
- Have students practice revising their opinion pieces for stronger word choice and clearer reasons.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend 10-15 minutes introducing opinion writing and vocabulary.
- Use 15 minutes for organizing ideas with the graphic organizer.
- Reserve 15-20 minutes for writing and revising the opinion piece.
Standards
- 5.W.10 — Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
Printable Worksheet
Plan Your Own Lesson
Looking for a custom lesson plan? Try our Lesson Planning Generator — create standards-based plans for any topic, instantly!
Common Core Aligned Lesson Plans
Looking for another common core lesson? See all of the lesson plans here.
More Free Lesson Plans
We’re adding more every week! Check back soon or explore all our lesson plans here.
Leave a Reply