Writing Opinions and Reasons

Writing Opinions and Reasons

• Opinions are personal beliefs or judgments.
• Reasons support opinions, providing justification or evidence.
• Strong opinions are well-supported by logical reasons.
• Reasons should be clear, concise, and relevant to the opinion.
• Examples and evidence can strengthen reasons.
• Different opinions exist on many topics, and understanding reasoning is vital.
• Recognizing assumptions and biases in reasoning helps evaluate arguments critically.
• Consider diverse viewpoints when forming opinions.

Topics and Development

• Topics are the subjects of discussion or writing.
• A topic needs clear boundaries and a focus.
• Development of a topic involves organizing and expanding on ideas.
• Developing a topic involves: logically sequencing ideas, using examples, and providing evidence.
• Supporting details strengthen the overall topic.
• Transitions between ideas are important for flow and clarity.
• Structure and organization enhance the development of a topic.
• Structure could be chronological, spatial, or thematic.

Linking Words

• Linking words connect ideas, creating cohesive paragraphs and texts.
• They show relationships between sentences and arguments.
• Examples include:
  • Showing addition: and, also, furthermore, in addition, besides
  • Showing contrast: but, however, on the other hand, conversely
  • Showing cause and effect: because, since, therefore, consequently, as a result
  • Showing examples: for example, for instance, such as
  • Showing sequence: first, second, next, finally
• Using precise linking words improves clarity and flow.

Conclusions

• Conclusions summarize the main points of an argument or discussion.
• They restate the thesis in a new way, but not a copy.
• They offer a final thought or insight.
• Conclusions provide a sense of closure and completeness.
• They should draw together the arguments presented.
• Conclusions are not just summaries, but offer a final perspective.
• Avoid presenting new information in the conclusion.
• The conclusion should follow logically from the body of the essay.
• They should be concise and impactful.

This quiz explores the essential components of writing opinions and supporting reasons. You will learn how to structure your thoughts, provide clear evidence, and develop topics effectively. Understanding the importance of logical reasoning and diverse viewpoints is crucial for crafting compelling arguments.