Writing an Opinion Essay Exercise

Argumentative Essay Requirements

• The main requirement for writing an argumentative essay is to identify key elements in a question before writing.

Essay Writing Process

• The process of identifying key elements in a question before writing is called deconstruction.
• Discussing the delights and frustrations of being a teenager serves to explore the pros and cons of a particular aspect of life.
• When exploring the pros and cons of playing video games from a young age, the focus is on the advantages and disadvantages of the activity.

School Uniforms

• One disadvantage of school uniforms is the restriction of personal freedom and expression.
• The main reason for having school uniforms is to promote a sense of community and equality among students.
• Not having school uniforms can lead to social conflicts and distractions due to differing attire.

Essay Framework

• Social mixing in schools is supported by anecdotal evidence, which highlights the importance of social interaction.
• Mainstream schools in SG need to help identify visitors to ensure safety and security.
• The discursive essay framework emphasizes the need to outline both supporting and alternative viewpoints to present a balanced argument.
• A hook in the introduction of an essay is used to grab the reader's attention and engage them in the topic.

Time Management

• Time should be managed effectively when writing an examination-style essay to ensure all questions are answered within the allotted time.

Essay Writing Strategies

• Brainstorming on possible reasons for your viewpoint helps to generate ideas and support your argument.
• Providing reader orientation in one or two sentences helps the reader understand the topic and context.
• Limiting the opening paragraph to 4 or 5 sentences helps to focus the reader's attention and avoid unnecessary information.
• Using a graphic organizer helps to organize ideas and structure the essay.
• Coming up with 3 topic statements to support your position helps to develop a clear and concise argument.
• Using support strategies while writing an expository essay helps to provide evidence and reinforce your argument.
• The language features learned are crucial in the body paragraphs of an expository essay.
• The primary role of a thesis statement in an expository essay is to clearly state the main argument or position.

Practice writing an opinion essay by choosing a main point, providing a reason, and supporting it with evidence. The exercise involves discussing whether school uniforms should be abolished or not, following the format of stating a point, reason, and evidence.