🟩What Is an Opinion Essay?
An opinion essay is a short piece of writing where you share your point of view on a topic and try to convince the reader that your opinion is reasonable. You must clearly state whether you agree or disagree and support your view with reasons, facts, and examples.
A strong opinion essay includes:
- An introduction that presents the topic and your opinion.
- Two or three body paragraphs with clear arguments and supporting details.
- A conclusion that summarises your points and restates your opinion in different words.
🟩Plan Your Ideas
Before you write, decide your position (agree/disagree) and list 2–3 strong reasons with facts or examples. For example:
Topic: Top sports players are paid too much.
Opinion: I disagree.
Reason 1: Their careers are very short.
• Fact: Most retire in their 30s.
• Fact: Injuries can end careers even earlier.
Reason 2: They lose their privacy.
• Fact: Followed by journalists and fans.
• Fact: Anyone can take and share photos instantly on social media.
🟩Organise Your Text
An opinion essay has three main parts:
- Introduction – Present the topic and state your opinion clearly.
- Body paragraphs – Give 2–3 reasons with explanations, facts, or examples.
- Conclusion – Summarise your arguments and restate your opinion.
🟩Example: Introduction
Nowadays, top sportspeople, such as football players or basketball players, have huge salaries, and this promotes a lot of debate. However, I don’t think they earn too much. In my opinion, their salaries are fair.
How often have you heard a friend or a colleague complain about the excessive salaries of professional sports players? But do they really earn too much? I don’t think they earn too much. I truly believe their salaries are fair.
🟩Example: Body Paragraph (Argument 1)
Firstly, despite all the money professional sports players earn every year, they work for only a few years – they usually retire when they are in their thirties. In addition, many of them have to retire earlier because they get injured and have to stop playing.
🟩Example: Body Paragraph (Argument 2)
Secondly, sports stars are celebrities, and all celebrities lose their privacy. Journalists, paparazzi and fans follow them everywhere, and they want to get pictures or talk to them all the time. Moreover, now anyone can take photos with their mobile phone and publish them at any moment on their social media accounts.
🟩Example: Conclusion
To sum up, I believe top professional sports players have the salaries they deserve because their careers are short and because during those years, their personal lives are affected by their popularity.
🟩Useful Language for Opinion Essays
Sequencing your ideas
- Firstly / First of all, …
- Secondly / Thirdly, …
- Finally, …
Adding more points
- In addition, …
- Moreover, …
Giving your opinion
- In my opinion / In my view, …
- I think / feel that …
- I (truly) believe that …
- I am convinced that …
- I agree that … / I disagree with …
Introducing examples
- For example, …
- For instance, …
Contrast, purpose & reason
- Contrast: although, however, despite
- Purpose: to, in order to, so that
- Reason: because (of), since, due to
Concluding your essay
- In conclusion, …
- To sum up, …
🟩Remember!
Always state your opinion clearly, support it with logical reasons and real-life examples, and use linking words to make your essay easy to follow. Keep your tone polite and persuasive—not aggressive.