First Grade English: Opinion Writing: Stating Thoughts & Reasons

Have you ever had a favorite flavor of ice cream, a favorite animal at the zoo, or a favorite game to play at recess? You probably have strong feelings about why your favorite is the absolute best! In the craft of writing, sharing what you believe, feel, or think about a subject is called opinion writing. But an opinion piece is not just about shouting "I like dogs!"; an expert first-grade writer provides strong, convincing reasons supported by the magic word "because." In this chapter, you will master the art of authoring persuasive opinion reviews and essays.

What Is an Opinion?

An opinion is a personal thought, belief, or feeling about something. Unlike a scientific fact, an opinion cannot be proven true or false; different people can look at the exact same thing and have completely different, wonderful opinions!

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 FACT VS. OPINION CONTRAST                   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                             |
|     FACT (Can be proven):                                   |
|     "Dogs are mammals with four legs and fur."              |
|                                                             |
|     OPINION (A personal feeling or belief):                 |
|     "Dogs make the best pets in the entire world!"          |
|                                                             |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Respecting Different Opinions

Opinions make the world colorful! One student might believe that winter is the best season because of sledding in the snow, while another student might believe that summer is the best season because of swimming in the lake. Both opinions are valid when supported by thoughtful reasons.

The O.R.E.O. Opinion Writing Formula

To build an organized, convincing opinion paragraph that persuades your reader, use the delicious OREO formula:

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 THE O.R.E.O. WRITING SANDWICH               |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                                                             |
|   O - OPINION     : State clearly what you think or believe |
|                     "In my opinion, apples are the best     |
|                      fruit."                                |
|                                                             |
|   R - REASON      : Tell WHY using the word "because"       |
|                     "This is because they are sweet, crisp, |
|                      and juicy."                            |
|                                                             |
|   E - EXAMPLE     : Give a specific detail or evidence      |
|                     "For example, cold apple slices make a  |
|                      refreshing snack after playing tag."   |
|                                                             |
|   O - OPINION     : Restate your opinion with feeling!      |
|                     "That is why apples are truly the       |
|                      tastiest fruit of all!"                |
|                                                             |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

The Top Cookie: Stating the Opinion (O)

Begin your piece with a strong opinion sentence starter: "In my opinion..." "I believe that..." "I feel that..." "My favorite __ is..."

The Delicious Cream: Reason and Example (R & E)

Your reason is the heart of your piece. Never stop at just stating your opinion; always attach the golden linking word: BECAUSE! Weak: "Recess is great." Strong: "Recess is the best part of the day because it lets us run in the fresh air and play active games with our friends."

The Bottom Cookie: Restating Your Opinion (O)

Wrap up your sandwich paragraph by restating your main thought in fresh words: "For all these reasons, dogs are truly the greatest companions."

Linking Words for Opinion Writing

To make your opinion writing flow smoothly from thought to reason, use linking transition words.

+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 OPINION LINKING WORDS                       |
+-------------------------------------------------------------+
|  Opinion Starters  | Reason Connectors   | Concluding Lines |
|  ------------------+---------------------+------------------|
|  I think that...   | because...          | That is why...   |
|  In my opinion...  | Another reason is...| For these        |
|  I prefer...       | Also,...            | reasons,...      |
|  I strongly believe| For instance,...    | As you can see...|
+-------------------------------------------------------------+

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1: Read the following sentences and identify whether each is a FACT or an OPINION: Sentence A: Strawberries have tiny seeds on the outside of their skin. Sentence B: Strawberry ice cream is much more delicious than chocolate ice cream. Sentence C: Swimming in the ocean is more fun than swimming in a pool. Sentence D: Whales breathe air through blowholes located on top of their heads.

Exercise 2: Write a complete four-sentence OREO opinion paragraph about your favorite game, sport, or recess activity. Follow the O.R.E.O. structure: Opinion, Reason, Example, and restated Opinion.

Exercise Solutions

Solution to Exercise 1: Sentence A is a FACT (scientifically verifiable). Sentence B is an OPINION (personal taste). Sentence C is an OPINION (personal preference). Sentence D is a FACT (biological truth).

Solution to Exercise 2: A student could write: (O) In my opinion, hide-and-seek is the most exciting game to play at recess. (R) I believe this because finding a clever hiding spot makes your heart race with thrilling suspense. (E) For example, yesterday I hid behind the big oak tree and nobody could find me for five whole minutes. (O) For these reasons, hide-and-seek is definitely the best playground game!