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.