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Ultimate guide to writing an opinion essay: 50 inspiring examples and topics, carla johnson.

June 14, 2023
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An opinion essay is often given to students at all levels of schooling. In this type of essay, the writer has to say what they think about a certain topic or issue and back up their point with evidence and examples. Students should learn how to write opinion essays because they teach them how to think critically and how to explain and defend a point of view. Opinion essays are an important part of academic writing, but they are also a great way to learn persuasive communication skills that you can use in your personal and professional life. This article will tell you everything you need to know about how to write an opinion essay. It will also give you 50 examples and ideas to help you get started. We will talk about the basic structure of an opinion essay and how to make a strong argument and back it up with facts and examples.

This guide will give you the tools you need to learn how to write a good opinion essay, whether you are a student looking to improve your academic writing or a professional looking to improve your persuasive communication skills .

What You'll Learn

Understanding Opinion Essays

Opinion essays are a type of academic writing in which the writer has to say what they think about a certain topic or issue. In an opinion essay, the writer should back up their point of view with evidence and examples and try to get the reader to agree with them. The point of opinion essays is to teach students how to think critically and talk in a way that makes others want to agree with them. If students want to do well in school, on the job, and in their personal lives, they need to have these skills. Opinion essays are different from descriptive or narrative essays because the writer has to take a clear stance on a certain topic and back up their claim with evidence and examples. It’s also important to have a clear thesis statement that explains the writer’s point of view.

Elements of an Opinion Essay

An opinion essay typically includes the following elements:

1. Introduction paragraph : The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide background information on the topic. It should also include a clear thesis statement that outlines the writer’s position.

2. Body paragraphs: The body of the essay should provide supporting evidence and examples to support the writer’s argument. Each paragraph should focus on a single point and should begin with a topic sentence that relates back to the thesis statement .

3. Supporting evidence and examples: It is important to use evidence and examples to support the writer’s argument. This can include statistics, facts, quotes, and personal experiences.

4. Counter arguments: It’s also important to address counter arguments or opposing viewpoints in an opinion essay. This shows the reader that the writer has considered alternative perspectives and has still arrived at their own position. Addressing counter arguments can also strengthen the writer’s position by showing that they have thought critically about the issue .

5. Conclusion paragraph: The conclusion should summarize the main points of the essay and restate the thesis statement . It should also leave the reader with a final thought or call to action.

Opinion essays are an important genre of academic writing that require critical thinking and persuasive communication skills. To write an effective opinion essay, it is important to have a clear thesis statement , use supporting evidence and examples, address counter arguments, and provide a strong conclusion. By mastering the elements of an opinion essay, students can develop their writing skills and become more effective communicators.

Writing Process of an Opinion Essay

Writing an opinion essay requires careful planning and organization. Here are the steps to follow when writing an opinion essay:

1. Pre-writing strategies: Before you start writing, it’s important to brainstorm ideas and gather information on your topic . This can include researching your topic , making a list of arguments and counterarguments, and creating a mind map or outline.

2. Outlining an opinion essay : Once you have gathered your ideas, create an outline to organize your thoughts and develop a clear structure for your essay . Your outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

3. Writing the introduction: The introduction should grab the reader’s attention and provide some background information on the topic. It should end with a thesis statement that clearly states your position on the issue.

4. Developing body paragraphs: The body of the essay should provide supporting evidence and examples to support your argument. Each paragraph should focus on a single point and should begin with a topic sentence that relates back to the thesis statement.

5. Using evidence and examples to support your argument: Use evidence and examples to support your argument. This can include statistics, facts, quotes, and personal experiences.

6. Addressing counter arguments: It’s important to address counterarguments or opposing viewpoints in an opinion essay. This shows the reader that you have considered alternative perspectives and have still arrived at your own position. Addressing counter arguments can also strengthen your position by showing that you have thought critically about theissue.

7. Writing the conclusion: The conclusion should summarize the main points of your essay and restate your thesis statement . It should also leave the reader with a final thought or call to action.

Tips and Techniques for Writing a Strong Opinion Essay

To write a strong opinion essay, follow these tips and techniques:

1. Writing with clarity and precision: Use clear and concise language to express your ideas. Avoid using too many complex words or phrases that may confuse the reader.

2. Crafting an effective thesis statement: Your thesis statement should be clear and concise, and it should clearly state your position on the issue.

3. Using transitional words and phrases: Use transitional words and phrases to connect your ideas and make your essay flow smoothly. Examples include “however,” “on the other hand,” and “in addition.”

4. Avoiding logical fallacies: Logical fallacies are errors in reasoning that can weaken your argument. Examples include ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false causality.

5. Editing and proofreading: After you have written your essay, take the time to edit and proofread it carefully. Look for spelling and grammar errors, and make sure that your ideas are presented clearly and logically.

Writing an opinion essay requires careful planning, organization, and attention to detail. By following the steps outlined above and using the tips and techniques provided, you can craft a strong and persuasive opinion essay that effectively communicates your position on the issue at hand.

10 Inspiring Opinion Essay Examples

To help you understand what makes a strong opinion essay, here are 10 examples of well-written opinion essays, along with a detailed analysis of what makes each essay effective:

1. “The Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet” by Jane Smith

2. The Importance of Early Childhood Education” by John Doe

3. The Negative Effects of Social Media on Teenagers” by Sarah Johnson

4. The Pros and Cons of Online Learning” by Tom Brown

5. “The Need for Stricter Gun Control Laws” by Emily Davis

6. “The Ethics of Animal Testing” by Rachel Lee

7. The Benefits of Exercise for Mental Health” by David Nguyen

8. “The Importance of Diversity in the Workplace” by Maria Hernandez

9. The Harmful Effects of Plastic Pollution on the Environment” by Alex Lee

10. The Need for Universal Healthcare in the United States” by Samantha Jones

Each of these essays effectively communicates the writer’s position on a particular issue and provides strong supporting evidence and examples. By analyzing these essays , you can learn important lessons about how to effectively structure and develop an opinion essay.

50 Opinion Essay Topics That Will Impress Your Professors

To help you choose a topic for your opinion essay, here are 50 unique and engaging opinion essay topics that are relevant and important:

1. The impact of social media on interpersonal communication

2. The benefits and drawbacks of homeschooling

3. The role of technology in modern education

4. The need for stricter penalties for hate crimes

5. The impact of climate change on the global economy

6. The ethics of genetically modified foods

7. The impact of automation on jobs and the workforce

8. The effects of video games on children’s behavior

9. The need for better mental health support in schools

10. The benefits and drawbacks of remote work

11. The impact of social media on mental health

12. The need for stronger anti-bullying policies in schools

13. The effects of the gig economy on workers’ rights

14. The benefits and drawbacks of artificial intelligence

15. The impact of fast fashion on the environment

16. The ethics of animal agriculture

17. The need for more affordable housing in urban areas

18. The impact of immigration on local communities

19. The effects of screen time on children’s development

20. The need for stronger gun control laws

21. The impact of social media on political discourse

22. The benefits and drawbacks of renewable energy sources

23. The need for stronger anti-discrimination laws

24. The effects of legalization of marijuana on society

25. The impact of automation on the environment

26. The ethics of human cloning

27. The need for more accessible healthcare in rural areas

28. The effects of income inequality on society

29. The benefits and drawbacks of online dating

30. The impact of virtual reality on society

31. The need for stronger data privacy laws

32. The ethics of artificial intelligence in decision-making

33. The effects of social media on democracy

34. The impact of globalization on local economies

35. The benefits and drawbacks of autonomous vehicles

36. The need for stronger measures to combat cyberbullying

37. The effects of air pollution on public health

38. The ethics of euthanasia and assisted suicide

39. The impact of the sharing economy on traditional industries

40. The need for better access to mental health care for veterans

41. The benefits and drawbacks of cryptocurrency

42. The impact of space exploration on society

43. The ethics of gene editing

44. The need for stronger measures to combat human trafficking

45. The effects of social media on body image and self-esteem

46. The impact of automation on the future of work

47. The benefits and drawbacks of a cashless society

48. The need for stronger measures to combat domestic violence

49. The effects of social media on relationships

50. The impact of artificial intelligence on education

Choose a topic for your opinion essay that is important to you and about which you have strong feelings. Use the ideas and tips in this article to come up with a strong argument and back it up with proof and examples . With these tools, you can write a great opinion essay that will impress your professors and get your point across clearly.

1. What is the difference between an opinion essay and a persuasive essay?

An opinion essay and a persuasive essay are similar in that they both require the writer to express their viewpoint on a particular topic or issue. However, a persuasive essay is more focused on convincing the reader to take a particular action or adopt a particular viewpoint, while an opinion essay is more focused on expressing the writer’s personal perspective on the issue.

2. Can I include personal anecdotes in my opinion essay?

Yes, personal anecdotes can be a powerful tool for supporting your argument and making your essay more engaging. However, it’s important to ensure that your anecdotes are relevant to the topic and that they support your overall argument .

3. How do I address counterarguments in my essay?

To address counterarguments in your essay, consider presenting them in a separate paragraph or section of your essay . Then, explain why you disagree with the counterargument and provide evidence and examples to support your position.

4. How do I choose a topic for my opinion essay?

Choose a topic that you are passionate about and that you have a strong opinion on. Consider current events , social issues, or topics related to your field of study.

5. What is the recommended length for an opinion essay?

The length of an opinion essay can vary depending on the assignment requirements. However, a typical opinion essay is usually around 500-800 words.

6. What are some common mistakes to avoid when writing an opinion essay?

When writing an opinion essay, some common mistakes to avoid are not having a clear thesis statement, using weak or irrelevant evidence to back up your argument, not addressing counterarguments, and not proofreading your essay for mistakes. It’s important to take the time to carefully plan and edit your essay to make sure it clearly shows your point of view and gives strong evidence and examples to back up your argument.

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Opinion Writing: a Guide to Writing a Successful Essay Easily

An opinion essay requires students to write their thoughts regarding a subject matter. Relevant examples and explanations back their point of view. Before starting an opinion paper, it is important to study the definition, topics, requirements, and structure. Referring to examples is also highly useful. Perhaps you need help with our admission essay writing service ? Take a look at this guide from our dissertation writing service to learn how to write an opinion essay like an expert.

What Is an Opinion Essay

A common question among students is: ‘What is an Opinion Essay?' It is an assignment that contains questions that allow students to share their point-of-view on a subject matter. Students should express their thoughts precisely while providing opinions on the issue related to the field within reasonable logic. Some opinion essays type require references to back the writer's claims.

Opinion writing involves using a student's personal point-of-view, which is segregated into a point. It is backed by examples and explanations. The paper addresses the audience directly by stating ‘Dear Readers' or the equivalent. The introduction involves a reference to a speech, book, or play. This is normally followed by a rhetorical question like ‘is the pope Catholic?' or something along those lines.

What Kind of Student Faces an Opinion Essay

Non-native English-speaking students enrolled in the International English Language Testing System by the British Council & Cambridge Assessment English are tasked with learning how to write the opinion essays. This can be high-school or college students. It is designed to enhance the level of English among students. It enables them to express their thoughts and opinions while writing good opinion essay in English.

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What Are the Requirements of an Opinion Essay?

Avoid Going Off-Topic: Always write an opinion essay within relevance to answer the assigned question. This is also known as ‘beating around the bush' and should not be included in any opinion paragraph as it may lower your grade.

Indent the First Paragraph: With most academic papers, opinion writing is not different. Therefore, it contains the rule of indenting the first line of the introduction.

A Well-Thought Thesis: The full thesis statement is a brief description of the opinion essay. It determines the rest of the paper. Include all the information that you wish to include in the body paragraphs

The Use of Formal Languages: Although it is okay to write informally, keep a wide range of professional and formal words. This includes: ‘Furthermore,' ‘As Stated By,' ‘However', & ‘Thus'.

Avoid Internet Slang: In the opinion paper, avoid writing using slang words. Don'tDon't include words like ‘LOL', ‘OMG', ‘LMAO', etc.

The Use of First Person Language (Optional): For the reason of providing personal thought, it is acceptable to write your personal opinion essay in the first person.

Avoid Informal Punctuation: Although the requirements allow custom essay for the first-person language, they do not permit informal punctuation. This includes dashes, exclamation marks, and emojis.

Avoid Including Contradictions: Always make sure all spelling and grammar is correct.

We also recommend reading about types of sentences with examples .

Opinion Essay Topics

Before learning about the structure, choosing from a wide range of opinion essay topics is important. Picking an essay theme is something that can be done very simply. Choosing an excellent opinion essay topic that you are interested in or have a passion for is advisable. Otherwise, you may find the writing process boring. This also ensures that your paper will be both effective and well-written.

Do sports differ from ordinary board games?
Is using animals in circus performances immoral?
Why should we be honest with our peers?
Should all humans be entitled to a 4-day workweek?
Should all humans become vegetarians?
Does a CEO earn too much?
Should teens be barred from having sleepovers?
Should everyone vote for their leader?
The Pros & Cons of Day-Light Saving Hours.
What are the most energy-efficient and safest cars of X year?

Opinion Essay Structure

When it comes to opinion paragraphs, students may struggle with the opinion essay format. The standard five-paragraph-essay structure usually works well for opinion essays. Figuring out what one is supposed to include in each section may be difficult for beginners. This is why following the opinion essay structure is something all beginners should do, for their own revision before writing the entire essay.

You might also be interested in getting more information about: 5 PARAGRAPH ESSAY

Opinion essay introduction

Address the audience directly, and state the subject matter.
Reference a speech, poem, book, or play.
Include the author's name and date of publication in brackets.
1 or 2 sentences to make up a short description.
1 or 2 summarizing sentences of the entire paper.
1 sentence that links to the first body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 1

Supporting arguments
Explanation
A linking sentence to the second body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 2

Supporting argument
A linking sentence to the third body paragraph.

Body Paragraph 3

A linking sentence to the conclusion.

Conclusion paragraph

Summary of the entire paper
A conclusive sentence (the bigger picture in conclusion)

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Opinion Essay Examples

Do you need something for reference? Reading opinion essay examples can expand your knowledge of this style of writing, as you get to see exactly how this form of an essay is written. Take a look at our samples to get an insight into this form of academic writing.

Over the past, American popular culture has been strong in creating racial stereotypes. Images displayed through television, music, and the internet have an impact on how individuals behave and what individuals believe. People find their identities and belief systems from popular culture. Evidently, I believe that American pop culture has created racial stereotypes that predominantly affect other ethnic minorities. Analyzing the history of America reveals that African Americans have always had a problem defining themselves as Americans ever since the era of slavery. AfricanAmericans have always had a hard time being integrated into American culture. The result is that African Americans have been subjected to ridicule and shame. American pop culture has compounded the problem by enhancing the negative stereotypes ofAfrican American. In theatre, film, and music, African Americans have been associated with vices such as murder, theft, and violence.

The family systems theory has a significant revelation on family relations. I firmly agree that to understand a particular family or a member, they should be around other family members. The emotional connection among different family members may create functional or dysfunctional coexistence, which is not easy to identify when an individual is further from the other members. Taking an example of the extended family, the relationship between the mother-in-law and her daughter-in-law may be tense, but once they are outside the family, they can pretend to have a good relationship. Therefore, I agree with the theory that the existing emotional attachment and developed culture in the family is distinctively understood when the family is together.

Opinion writing is a form of academic paper that asks students to include their thoughts on a particular topic. This is then backed by a logical explanation and examples. Becoming more knowledgeable is a practical way to successfully learn how to write an opinion paper. Before writing anything, it is essential to refer to important information. That includes the definition, topics, opinion writing examples, and requirements. This is what turns amateur writers into master writers.

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How to Write an Opinion Essay

Home / Blog / How To Write An Opinion Essay: Structure And Examples

Introduction

Opinion essays are a type of academic writing that requires a writer to express their personal opinions about a particular topic or issue. Unlike other forms of academic writing, the main focus of an opinion essay is not on presenting facts, but on expressing personal opinions and providing arguments to support them. In this blog post, we will discuss the structure of an opinion essay and provide some examples to help you write a well-structured and convincing opinion essay.

Structure of an Opinion Essay

An opinion essay should have a clear and well-organized structure, which consists of the following components:

1. Introduction

2. Body Paragraphs

3. Conclusion

Let's take a closer look at each of these components.

The introduction is the first part of your essay , and it should grab the reader's attention and provide them with some background information on the topic you are writing about. In an opinion essay, the introduction should also include a clear thesis statement that summarizes your main argument or opinion.

For example, if you were writing an opinion essay on the topic of climate change, your thesis statement might be something like this:

"Climate change is a pressing issue that requires immediate action from individuals, governments, and businesses alike."

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of your opinion essay should provide more detailed information and arguments to support your thesis statement. Typically, an opinion essay will have three to five body paragraphs, each focusing on a different argument or piece of evidence.

In each body paragraph, you should start with a clear topic sentence that summarizes the main point of the paragraph. Then, you should provide evidence, examples, or personal experiences to support your argument.

For example, if you were writing an opinion essay on the topic of climate change, one of your body paragraphs might focus on the impact of carbon emissions on the environment. Your topic sentence might be something like this:

"The burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which contributes to global warming and other environmental problems."

You could then provide evidence to support this argument, such as statistics on carbon emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, or examples of how global warming is affecting ecosystems around the world.

The conclusion of your essay should summarize your main arguments and restate your thesis statement in a new and compelling way. You should also provide some final thoughts or recommendations for the reader to consider.

For example, if you were writing an opinion essay on the topic of climate change, your conclusion might look something like this:

"In conclusion, climate change is a pressing issue that requires immediate action from individuals, governments, and businesses alike. By reducing our carbon footprint and investing in renewable energy sources, we can help mitigate the effects of global warming and protect our planet for future generations."

Examples of Opinion Essays

To help you better understand the structure of an opinion essay, let's take a look at some examples.

Example 1: Should College Athletes Be Paid?

Introduction:

College athletics is a billion-dollar industry, with universities making millions of dollars off the hard work and talent of their student-athletes. In my opinion, college athletes should be paid for their efforts on the field or court.

Body Paragraphs:

College athletes generate millions of dollars for their universities through ticket sales, merchandise, and television deals.

College athletes often do not have the time or resources to hold a part-time job while competing at a high level.

Paying college athletes would help to reduce the financial burden of student-athletes and their families.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, college athletes should be paid for their hard work and talent on the field or court. By compensating these athletes, we can ensure that they are able to pursue their athletic dreams without sacrificing their financial stability or future opportunities.

Example 2: Should Social Media Platforms Be Regulated?

Social media platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives, with billions of people using them to connect with friends, family, and colleagues. However, the increasing use of social media has also led to concerns about their impact on society, including the spread of misinformation and hate speech. In my opinion, social media platforms should be regulated to ensure that they are not used to spread harmful content.

Social media platforms have a responsibility to prevent the spread of harmful content, including hate speech, fake news, and misinformation.

The current self-regulation system has proven to be inadequate, with many social media platforms failing to remove harmful content in a timely manner.

Government regulation could help to ensure that social media platforms are held accountable for the content they host, while also protecting the rights of users.

In conclusion, social media platforms should be regulated to ensure that they are not used to spread harmful content. By holding these platforms accountable for the content they host, we can protect the rights of users while also preventing the spread of hate speech, fake news, and misinformation.

Example 3: Should Recycling Be Mandatory?

The importance of recycling has become increasingly clear in recent years, with growing concerns about the impact of waste on the environment. In my opinion, recycling should be mandatory to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect our planet.

Recycling is essential for reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and pollutes our environment.

Many people do not recycle voluntarily, and mandatory recycling programs have been shown to increase recycling rates.

Recycling can also have economic benefits, such as creating jobs in the recycling industry and reducing the need for raw materials.

In conclusion, recycling should be mandatory to ensure that we are doing everything we can to protect our planet. By increasing recycling rates, we can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, protect our environment, and create economic benefits for our communities.

In summary, writing an opinion essay requires a clear and well-organized structure that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction should include a clear thesis statement that summarizes your main argument or opinion. The body paragraphs should provide detailed information and arguments to support your thesis statement, while the conclusion should summarize your main arguments and restate your thesis statement in a new and compelling way. By following this structure and using examples to support your arguments, you can write a convincing and well-structured opinion essay on any topic.

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How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)

Are you struggling with how to write an opinion essay that effectively communicates your viewpoint on a particular topic while providing strong evidence to back it up? Fear not! In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of crafting a quality opinion essay, from understanding the purpose and structure to choosing engaging topics and employing effective writing techniques. Let’s dive in!

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Opinion essays are formal pieces of writing that express the author’s viewpoint on a given subject.
Crafting an effective thesis statement and outline, choosing engaging topics, using formal language and tone, addressing counterarguments and maintaining logical flow are essential for creating compelling opinion essays.
The revision process is key to producing polished opinion essays that effectively convey one’s opinions.

What is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay, also known as an opinion paper, is a formal piece of writing wherein the author expresses their viewpoint on a given subject and provides factual and anecdotal evidence to substantiate their opinion. The purpose of an opinion essay is to articulate a position in a clear and informative manner, following a proper opinion essay structure. Opinion essays are commonly found in newspapers and social media, allowing individuals to articulate their perspectives and opinions on a specific topic, striving to create a perfect opinion essay.

While the focus of an opinion essay should be on the writer’s own opinion concerning the issue, it necessitates more meticulous planning and effort than simply articulating one’s own thoughts on a particular topic. The arguments in an opinion essay should be grounded on well-researched data, making it crucial to consult pertinent information, including the definition, topics, opinion writing examples, and requirements, to write an opinion essay and transform novice writers into proficient writers.

Crafting the Perfect Thesis Statement

A strong thesis statement is the foundation of a great essay. It clearly expresses the writer’s opinion and sets the stage for the rest of the essay. To craft the perfect thesis statement, start by perusing the essay prompt multiple times to ensure you fully understand the question or topic you are being asked to discuss. Once you have a clear understanding of the topic, construct your opinion and conduct thorough research to locate evidence to corroborate your stance and examine counterarguments or contrasting perspectives.

Remember, your thesis statement should provide a succinct overview of the opinion essay and serve as a guide for the remainder of the paper. By crafting a strong thesis statement, you will be able to capture your reader’s attention and set the tone for a well-structured and persuasive essay.

Building a Solid Opinion Essay Outline

A well-structured opinion essay format is crucial for organizing your thoughts and ensuring that your entire essay flows smoothly from one point to the next. An opinion essay outline typically comprises an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, following the standard five-paragraph essay structure.

Let’s delve deeper into each component of the outline. The introduction should provide a brief overview of the topic and your opinion on it. It should be.

Introduction

The introduction of your opinion essay should hook the reader and provide an overview of the essay’s content. To achieve this, consider addressing the reader directly, introducing a quotation, posing thought-provoking or rhetorical questions, or referring to a remarkable or unconventional fact, concept, or scenario.

It is essential to introduce the topic clearly in the introduction to avoid superfluous phrases and inapplicable facts that are not pertinent to the topic. By crafting an engaging introduction, you will set the stage for a compelling and well-organized opinion essay.

Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of your good opinion essay should provide arguments and supporting examples to substantiate your opinion. Begin each paragraph with a distinct topic sentence and use credible sources to provide substantiation for your viewpoint with dependable data.

Addressing counterarguments in your body paragraphs can also enhance your essay by illustrating a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and fortifying your stance.

Organize your body paragraphs in a coherent manner, ensuring that each argument and supporting example flows logically from one to the next. This will make it easier for your reader to follow your train of thought and strengthen the overall impact of your essay.

The conclusion of your opinion essay should summarize the main points and restate your opinion in a new manner, providing a sense of closure and completion to your argument. Keep your conclusion concise and avoid introducing new information or arguments at this stage. By effectively summarizing your main points and restating your opinion, you will leave a lasting impression on your reader and demonstrate the strength of your argument.

In addition to summarizing your main ideas, consider providing a final thought or call to action that will leave your reader pondering the implications of your essay. This can further reinforce the impact of your conclusion and leave a lasting impression on your reader.

Choosing Engaging Opinion Essay Topics

Selecting engaging topics for opinion essays is crucial for capturing the reader’s interest and encouraging critical thinking. While there are an abundance of potential questions or topics that could be utilized for an opinion essay, it is important to choose topics that are relevant, interesting, and thought-provoking.

To find inspiration for engaging opinion essay topics, consider browsing the Op-Ed sections of newspapers, exploring social media debates, or even reflecting on your own experiences and interests. Keep in mind that a well-chosen topic not only draws the reader’s attention, but also stimulates critical thinking and fosters insightful discussions.

Opinion Essay Writing Techniques

Effective opinion essay writing techniques include using formal language and tone, addressing counterarguments, and maintaining logical flow.

Let’s explore each of these techniques in more detail.

Formal Language and Tone

Using formal language and tone in your opinion essay is essential for conveying a sense of professionalism and credibility. This can be achieved by avoiding slang, jargon, and colloquial expressions, as well as short forms and over-generalizations. Moreover, expressing your opinion without utilizing the personal pronoun “I” can give your essay a seemingly more objective approach.

Remember that the recommended tense for composing an opinion essay is present tense. By maintaining a formal language and tone throughout your essay, you will demonstrate your expertise on the subject matter and instill confidence in your reader.

Addressing Counterarguments

Addressing counterarguments in your opinion essay is an effective way to demonstrate a well-rounded understanding of the topic and strengthen your position. To do this, introduce opposing viewpoints in a straightforward manner and provide evidence to counter them. This not only showcases your comprehension of the subject matter, but also bolsters your own argument by refuting potential objections.

By acknowledging and addressing counterarguments, you will create a more balanced and persuasive opinion essay that encourages critical thinking and engages your reader.

Maintaining Logical Flow

Ensuring your opinion essay maintains a logical flow is critical for enabling your reader to follow your arguments and evidence with ease. To achieve this, utilize precise and succinct words, compose legible sentences, and construct well-structured paragraphs. Incorporating transitional words and varied sentence structures can also enhance the flow of your essay.

By maintaining a logical flow throughout your opinion essay, you will create an organized and coherent piece of writing that effectively communicates your viewpoint and supporting arguments to your reader.

Analyzing Opinion Essay Examples

Analyzing opinion essay examples can help improve your understanding of the structure and style required for this type of writing. Numerous examples are available online as a source of reference, providing valuable insights into how other writers have approached similar topics and structured their essays.

By examining opinion essay examples, you will be better equipped to identify the elements of a successful essay and apply them to your own writing. This will not only enhance your understanding of opinion essay writing, but also inspire you to develop your own unique voice and style.

The Revision Process: Polishing Your Opinion Essay

The revision process is essential for polishing your opinion essay, ensuring clarity, logical flow, and proper grammar and punctuation. Start by rereading your first draft, making improvements as you progress and rectifying any grammar errors that may be observed. Having another individual review your writing, such as a family member or friend, can provide candid feedback, allowing you to refine your essay further.

The ultimate step in composing an opinion essay is proofreading. This final review will ensure that your essay is polished and free from errors, resulting in a well-crafted and persuasive piece of writing that effectively communicates your opinion on the topic at hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start an opinion essay.

To start an opinion essay, begin by stating the subject of your essay and expressing your perspective on it. Follow up by using an interesting or provocative statement to capture the reader’s attention.

Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words, making sure to make your opinion clear throughout your essay.

What is the structure of an opinion essay?

An opinion essay is typically structured with an introduction containing a thesis statement, body paragraphs providing arguments or reasons that support your view, and a conclusion.

Each section of the essay should be written in a formal tone to ensure clarity and effectiveness.

What is the format of an opinion paragraph?

An opinion paragraph typically begins with a clear statement of the opinion, followed by body sentences providing evidence and support for the opinion, before finally summarizing or restating the opinion in a concluding sentence.

It should be written in a formal tone.

What not to write in an opinion essay?

When writing an opinion essay, make sure to stay on topic, avoid slang and jargon, introduce the topic clearly and concisely, and do not include unnecessary facts that do not relate directly to the question.

Use a formal tone and keep your conclusion clear in the first sentence.

What is the purpose of an opinion essay?

The purpose of an opinion essay is to articulate a position in a clear and informative manner, providing evidence to support it.

This type of essay requires the writer to research the topic thoroughly and present their opinion in a logical and convincing way. They must also be able to back up their opinion with facts and evidence.

In conclusion, crafting a quality opinion essay requires a clear understanding of the purpose and structure of this type of writing, as well as the ability to choose engaging topics and employ effective writing techniques. By following the guidelines and tips provided in this guide, you will be well on your way to creating a compelling and persuasive opinion essay that effectively articulates your viewpoint and supporting arguments.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you write and revise, the more adept you will become at crafting insightful and impactful opinion essays. So, go forth and share your opinions with the world, backed by strong evidence and persuasive writing!

An opinion essay

Learn how to write an opinion essay.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

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Information will soon be so easy to find on the internet that people will not need to remember anything. Do you agree?

Nowadays all the information we could ever need is available online and some people say that means the end of having to learn anything.

It is true that these days everything you want to know is a few clicks away as long as you have internet access. However, not everyone has working internet all the time, for example in certain buildings or remote locations, so we do need to be able to remember information. Moreover, it takes time to look up everything you need to know online, whereas remembering something is immediate. The human memory is a much more efficient system.

Another problem is the quality of the information online. How do we know if it is accurate or reliable? We need to think about other facts we know and remember how to compare information from different websites. Knowing (and remembering) how to find certain information will be more important than knowing the information itself.

Finally, the internet is a good tool but it is not a useful replacement for our brains. If we did not remember anything, we would all spend even more time on our phones and computers than we already do, which is not good for society.

In conclusion, the internet offers us many things but it is still important to use our knowledge and memories. We need our memories to function without the internet and we also need to know how to use the internet properly.

Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it.
Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones.
Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words.
Show understanding of both sides of the argument.
Use linking words to connect your ideas.
Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay. Don't introduce new ideas at the end.

What do you think about the question? Would it be better or worse if we never learned anything and just used the internet instead?

Language level

It would be worse. If we only look for information on the internet, for everythingg and every time when we have a question about something we will become ''rusty robots''.

In other words, our minds, without exercising the creativity and memory of our brains, will be almost completly out of purpose. What's more, we will be lazy and with a slow capacity of thinking properly.

It is evidently known that in recent days, the exchange of information is progressive over the network of various channels which we call it as Internet. Experts have made some definite predictions about the availability of data and information on the above mode of communication in near future. This particular development is totally agreeable. With respect to the technological advancements pertaining to the above, the human life shall be prepared to be compatible with the communication platforms on the network of servers. The key strengths will mainly focus on speed of communication, less errors and information accuracy. This aspect of technological development will eventually replace the traditional modes of information storage. This requires no effort in preservation of information on physical devices as all the core information will be stored in virtual servers. On the other hand, the above paradigm shift in terms of data centralization will certainly replace human brains. This attempt will not trigger any living beings to memorize information physically. It is quite obvious that our brains are limited and restricted with space constraints. Hence, this technology of information storage will drastically replace these drawbacks. Overall, this phenomenal trend of networking has provided a seamless mode of gathering, interpreting and storing information. At the same time, the consequences will be tremendous and noticeable as it will lead to an era where in people across the globe can surf and search their expected piece of data with-in no time. Practically, they don’t have to bother about any challenges related to failure of storage elements. Finally, this pattern of information storage is promisingly going to be accepted.

I think the use of the internet is not only in conflict with learning, but It has made the speed of learning faster and more comfortable.

On the one hand, With the advent of the internet and access to data whenever we want, we were able to free our minds from memorizing a lot of unnecessary data. It caused that instead of spending our time to remember the formulas and data, we use our time for a deeper understanding of the concepts. Concentration on understanding was a big step in order to make us more clear about how to apply scientific concepts practically, and It made the evolutionary process of turning scientific concepts into experimental tests go faster. Going through this evolutionary process quickly, in turn, caused, firstly, the faster growth of modern technologies and, secondly, the creation of many new data, concepts, and sciences. And now the data volume is so much that not only you can never remember or learn them, but you have to choose the best one that works for you. Somehow, the internet has changed how to learn. It has focused on analyzing the options and choosing the best one to learn Instead of memorizing a bunch of content.

On the other hand, Theoretically speaking, One of the laws In the world is that everything can be useful or harmful in turn. This law also applies to the internet. In fact, how to use the internet determines whether it is useful or harmful. Like many other tools that have been invented such as smartphones, smartwatches, electric cars, and so on we have spent time learning how to use them. In order to get the best out of the internet and don't waste our time, we must take the time to learn how to search. The searching skill is the most important one that helps us find better results.

In conclusion, Given the two analyzed reasons above, I agree with the idea that easy access to Information makes people get rid of memorizing lots of data. But this has nothing to do with the quality or quantity of learning.

I think it depends on the type of information. Some information are easier to remember, and hence it's more efficient to have them in memory instead of looking for them online. However, some complex information is offered online, and it will be impractical if we tried to remember it. Additionally, I believe that learning is not just about acquiring knowledge. It's about learning how to think with this knowledge available and solve problems efficiently. That's why the internet is considered a valuable tool to promote learning, not to replace it.

Nowadays we are witnesses how far technology has developed in a short time. A huge of information is backing up on internet and if you have access of surfing you can find any information that you are looking for. However, there are some relevant aspects that should be taking into account when we are talking about using always internet instead of learning. In this sense, the purpose of this essay will be to explain why it is not a good idea. Firstly, as you know, most of the information on internet is fake. For that reason, it is impossible the learning process can be replaced by internet use. If you are looking for reliable information you have to learn how it works. In other words you need of learning even if you want to use internet all the time because you have to discern what of all information is useful for you purpose. For example, if you are a student and want to write an essay about a specific topic you likely have to search for the best information if you want to get a job position or scholarship. Secondly, there is a high demand for professionals who have specific skills in the field that they are pretending to be involved. That’s why learning always is a must for satisfying the requirements of companies and institutions. For instance, in the education field, the main aim is the learning and knowledge which are essential on a daily life to be an expert in your field of action and these skills can’t be acquired through internet surfing. To sum up learning and knowledge are fundamentals in a current world that is demanding professionals highly qualified even in our daily live and the internet is far away of satisfying the required skills that you get every day through the practice, research and networking.

I think it become worse and dangerous for our society, we need to control it making rules. Without internet, many skills and knowledge could´nt be used.

I believe that, The internet become even more dangerous for young people who barely discovered the world around them, If they count on it for seeking information without parental supervision, it would be a disaster!

In nowadays,there are many ways to reach information.The Internet is just one of them but maybe most promising one.The Internet helps us to find information easily and efficently.

However there are some negative sides of Internet.For instance realibilty of information.There are no real control on Internet.I reckon there will not be soon.This reduces the trust in internet.This is why People will always need another source to be make sure and need to remember information.

It is also necesseray for objectivity. You can not just have one source and expect true and impartial information. It is against nature of science.This is not how science works.People must have and process the information.In this way we expand our knowledge.When we make brainstorm we always end up with another information. If we don’t have and process the information how Science works?

I suppose in the future People will never trust completely to Internet. They will always need another source and they will need to interrogate source of information.In conclusion Internet is by far most promising invention People have ever invented.However Internet is not beyond our brain and imagination.We will always need to posses and process the information.

It is about my hometown: My hometown is a beautiful, attractive and cool. N'beika is one of the most famous places in Mauritania where attractive views and economic capacities are in. It is located in Tagant which is in middle of the map. Therefore, It is one the biggest cities in the country. As there are interesting geographical features such as: high Mountains, nice valleys, light hills and wonderful pools. Historically, N'beika played an important role in culture, trade exchange and fighting colonialist. Also it has saved historical landmarks, for example: manuscripts, books and cities which the most important is Gasr Albarka. In the north, there have tourist views and in the East big mountains with lovely valleys like Matmata where there are some Alligators in and other attractive animals. As well as from the south and the west there are some fields, forests and farms. Moreover, people are interested in agriculture, trade, development and education. Furthermore, there are many schools and Mahidras and three colleges providing well-deserved education to students. What's more, mall shops is offering demands and created jobs for unemployment. There are different favourite for people , some of them are crazy about football as youth, and some people like doing agriculture and development. Moreover, there are entrepreneurs doing a small business like selling clothes, pitch, barbershop... etc. In conclusion, N'beika is a gift of Allah that has given to people to spend nice moments in order to feel happy and to invest for everything we want due to gain lots of money .

I believe it is amazing updated technology which has helped us a lot in our lives. In todays era everyone has access to internet over the globe. you can easily find all the information on internet that is required to you. Even though learn many new skills which aren't even taught you from the help of internet. it is good help for book writer like us where we can be part of book writing communities or book writing resources to enhance our skills and provides more guidance to others.

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How to Write an Opinion Essay: A Complete Guide

In an opinion-based essay, the author presents a point of view supporting it with important information, existing examples, and arguments. Unlike other sorts of papers, when you are writing an opinion essay you don’t have to rely on facts. It can rely only on the writers’ opinions on a topic, as long as they can back up their thoughts with convincing arguments.

The opinion essay requires a strong introductory part. The purpose of an introduction paragraph for an opinion essay is to declare and write a thesis statement. You will have to develop your statement with some arguments in the supporting chapters. State your opinion and summarize the above-written thoughts to form an excellent opinion essay conclusion. In this article, we will tell a reader in detail how to write an opinion essay so that your result exceeds all expectations.

Structure And Format Of An Opinion Essay

Let’s start our opinion essay outline with explanations of the opinion essay format and structure. It is not the only opinion essay structure available, but it is the one we recommend. It is simple to understand and will allow you to outline and compose a high-level essay rapidly.

If you want to write a good opinion essay, it is critical that you thoroughly plan the layout. An introduction, main body, and conclusion will be the main parts of the opinion paper. The classic structure consists of 5 passages. That is, three will be in the main part and two more for the opinion essay introduction and final part.

You may include some supporting grounds for your opinion on a topic in the introductory part. Prove your thought with facts, evidence, and examples in the central passages. In contrast to standard texts, an essay author might utilize terms such as “I believe” and “I assume”. Unlike a persuasive essay, here, you don’t need to convince the audience in your outline. Conclude with a clear statement that not only expresses the same narrative but also summarizes the key idea, opinion, and findings.

Don’t forget to cite your sources if you use them. Citations are useful for those who wish to learn more about concepts or where they originated. You can discover more about citation in essay from our expert website. These formatting rules are very important because if you do not issue a quote correctly, you risk subjecting your work to plagiarism.

How To Start An Opinion Essay?

The initial body paragraph of an opinion essay serves as the opening and should have a hook or writing that catches the reader’s attention. This technique may contain some statistical data. It would help if you expressed yourself throughout. You can agree, partially agree , or disagree with the topic sentence while explaining and defending your position in this paragraph.

The thesis statement is also included in the first body paragraph. It is the principal focus, assertion, or viewpoint of your opinion paper. After you’ve piqued your reader’s interest, present the issue and briefly list the statement points to be expanded on in the next passages. You may provide one or two argumentative sentences. This should be enough before moving on to the next parts.

The beginning paragraph serves as a road map for your essay’s direction. Its major objective is to get your readers ready to dive into the material. The key is to attract their focus and make the following text captivating. If you need some other opinion writing prompts to get started, visit our custom essay writing service website online. This is a reliable service where the authors completely adhere to the requirements and demands. Our platform will assist you in obtaining a properly prepared essay by a skilled team of professionals.

Tips For Writing Main Body Paragraphs Of An Opinion Essay

The central part of the essay is built to inform the readers of your opinion. For this, the essay’s author must use some reasons and explanations. Each new passage must involve a new idea or an argument. Large texts are better divided into parts with subheadings; sometimes, they can be directly highlighted in bold. The layout of the central part resembles a chain of rings. First, put forward an argument, then supplement it with several opinion illustrations. You may move on to the next one if the thesis is proven.

The author independently decides how to write opinion essays. Still, the number of mentioned theses should not be less than three pieces. A large quantity overwhelms the research, and a smaller amount seems insufficient for academic writing. Experts on our research paper writing service take into account such subtleties to ensure the high quality of the essay. If you order such support from professional authors, you will get an excellent essay and more free time for other vital duties.

The possible essay central opinion piece may look like this:

Introduce discussion
Explanation of the concept
Examples for illustration
Link to the subsequent passage
A link that will lead you to write a conclusion for an opinion essay

Each opinion writing must first address the questions and then be constructed so that the thoughts move naturally from one sentence to another. This will bring you top grades for task achievement. Essays are more than just short stories that describe an activity or process. If you take different types of academic essays and essay topics, you can see that the students write them to evaluate, discuss issues, convince readers, or declare reasons. Our service offers distinctive, one-of-a-kind essay examples based on the relevant objective.

How To End An Opinion Essay?

The next point in our writing guide is how to write the final opinion concluding passage. This part of your text should summarise the subject and ideas expressed throughout the text. The topic is frequently paraphrased in the writer’s terms to emphasize the relation to the subject. A summary must be powerful enough to finish a topic and make the readers feel satisfied after the reading.

A concluding part is your final opportunity to create an impact on your readers. Unlike the previous passages, where you can elaborate on your views, the summary allows recapping your most powerful ideas. If you experience some difficulties, you may consult our specialists, that will prompt you on how to write a conclusion for an essay and assist you in clear wording. Their goal will be to hold your readers’ interest while retaining a feeling of creativity and high writing standards.

Opinion Essay Topics

Choosing an essay topic might be difficult if the students do not explore appropriate opinion essay themes. How to write an effective text to obtain an A grade? The answer is as simple as it gets. You have to choose a powerful subject. An excellent opinion essay topic should be related to personal abilities, experience, reputable sources, analysis, and thorough investigation that shows grounds for a certain viewpoint.

An elaborated topic is especially crucial for admissions. It is also a text submitted by prospective students applying to a college or university. The specialists from our admission essay writing service will promptly support you in this issue. You will get a unique text with a great layout that includes vivid images or an engaging “hook”. Alternatively, the members may prompt you on how to write with their expert ideas and pieces of advice.

Great opinion subjects are related to the student’s primary discipline and greatest talents. These are 15 ideas that you can use to write an opinion essay.

Ancient Egyptian Symbolism
The History of Propaganda in the American Media
Should there be access to World War II archives?
Gun control is a tool for political control
Methods for reducing corruption
Climate change is a fake
Electric vehicles have advantages
Is animal chipping ethical?
Are herbalists on par with traditional doctors?
Should children have the right to make decisions in life-or-death situations?
Physical bullying versus cyberbullying
Is technological progress dangerous?
The impact of smartphones on youth
Video games are linked to campus violence
What are the primary indicators of a generation gap?

Most Common Mistakes In Writing an Opinion Essay

You’ve undoubtedly read a lot of essay instructions. They encourage you to adhere to the assignment and incorporate a powerful framework. That’s a suitable place to begin, but you must also understand which faults to avoid. Here are the most common of them to consider before you begin to write an opinion.

Copied content
There are too many opinions stated
Unclear introductory part
A summary that simply rephrases the previous opinion
False formatting or neglecting writing requirements
Skipping the steps of post-essay writing
Overuse of emotional language (e.g., too many exclamation marks, hate speech, slang, etc.)
Too formal style with complicated words that are hard to percept
Redundant phrases that don’t have any meaningful sense
Wrong tense choice, use of past rather than present

Opinion Essay FAQ

How many parts of an opinion essay should i include.

Try to make a clear layout that consists of 5 parts. Start your writing with an introductory part stating the given topic, reveal a minimum of three theses with personal illustrations and conclude with a relevant summary of your opinion.

What Makes A Fine Opinion Essay?

You do not need to compare and contrast the pros and cons of this type of essay. Instead, concentrate solely on your viewpoint about the topic. Write new and innovative theses that can impress the readers. Check your spelling and grammar. Follow the instructions, use the transition words, and adhere to the classical layout scheme.

Can You Use First Person In An Opinion Essay?

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Argumentative Essays

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The Modes of Discourse—Exposition, Description, Narration, Argumentation (EDNA)—are common paper assignments you may encounter in your writing classes. Although these genres have been criticized by some composition scholars, the Purdue OWL recognizes the wide spread use of these approaches and students’ need to understand and produce them.

What is an argumentative essay?

The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner.

Please note : Some confusion may occur between the argumentative essay and the expository essay. These two genres are similar, but the argumentative essay differs from the expository essay in the amount of pre-writing (invention) and research involved. The argumentative essay is commonly assigned as a capstone or final project in first year writing or advanced composition courses and involves lengthy, detailed research. Expository essays involve less research and are shorter in length. Expository essays are often used for in-class writing exercises or tests, such as the GED or GRE.

Argumentative essay assignments generally call for extensive research of literature or previously published material. Argumentative assignments may also require empirical research where the student collects data through interviews, surveys, observations, or experiments. Detailed research allows the student to learn about the topic and to understand different points of view regarding the topic so that she/he may choose a position and support it with the evidence collected during research. Regardless of the amount or type of research involved, argumentative essays must establish a clear thesis and follow sound reasoning.

The structure of the argumentative essay is held together by the following.

A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.

In the first paragraph of an argument essay, students should set the context by reviewing the topic in a general way. Next the author should explain why the topic is important ( exigence ) or why readers should care about the issue. Lastly, students should present the thesis statement. It is essential that this thesis statement be appropriately narrowed to follow the guidelines set forth in the assignment. If the student does not master this portion of the essay, it will be quite difficult to compose an effective or persuasive essay.

Clear and logical transitions between the introduction, body, and conclusion.

Transitions are the mortar that holds the foundation of the essay together. Without logical progression of thought, the reader is unable to follow the essay’s argument, and the structure will collapse. Transitions should wrap up the idea from the previous section and introduce the idea that is to follow in the next section.

Body paragraphs that include evidential support.

Each paragraph should be limited to the discussion of one general idea. This will allow for clarity and direction throughout the essay. In addition, such conciseness creates an ease of readability for one’s audience. It is important to note that each paragraph in the body of the essay must have some logical connection to the thesis statement in the opening paragraph. Some paragraphs will directly support the thesis statement with evidence collected during research. It is also important to explain how and why the evidence supports the thesis ( warrant ).

However, argumentative essays should also consider and explain differing points of view regarding the topic. Depending on the length of the assignment, students should dedicate one or two paragraphs of an argumentative essay to discussing conflicting opinions on the topic. Rather than explaining how these differing opinions are wrong outright, students should note how opinions that do not align with their thesis might not be well informed or how they might be out of date.

Evidential support (whether factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal).

The argumentative essay requires well-researched, accurate, detailed, and current information to support the thesis statement and consider other points of view. Some factual, logical, statistical, or anecdotal evidence should support the thesis. However, students must consider multiple points of view when collecting evidence. As noted in the paragraph above, a successful and well-rounded argumentative essay will also discuss opinions not aligning with the thesis. It is unethical to exclude evidence that may not support the thesis. It is not the student’s job to point out how other positions are wrong outright, but rather to explain how other positions may not be well informed or up to date on the topic.

A conclusion that does not simply restate the thesis, but readdresses it in light of the evidence provided.

It is at this point of the essay that students may begin to struggle. This is the portion of the essay that will leave the most immediate impression on the mind of the reader. Therefore, it must be effective and logical. Do not introduce any new information into the conclusion; rather, synthesize the information presented in the body of the essay. Restate why the topic is important, review the main points, and review your thesis. You may also want to include a short discussion of more research that should be completed in light of your work.

A complete argument

Perhaps it is helpful to think of an essay in terms of a conversation or debate with a classmate. If I were to discuss the cause of World War II and its current effect on those who lived through the tumultuous time, there would be a beginning, middle, and end to the conversation. In fact, if I were to end the argument in the middle of my second point, questions would arise concerning the current effects on those who lived through the conflict. Therefore, the argumentative essay must be complete, and logically so, leaving no doubt as to its intent or argument.

The five-paragraph essay

A common method for writing an argumentative essay is the five-paragraph approach. This is, however, by no means the only formula for writing such essays. If it sounds straightforward, that is because it is; in fact, the method consists of (a) an introductory paragraph (b) three evidentiary body paragraphs that may include discussion of opposing views and (c) a conclusion.

Longer argumentative essays

Complex issues and detailed research call for complex and detailed essays. Argumentative essays discussing a number of research sources or empirical research will most certainly be longer than five paragraphs. Authors may have to discuss the context surrounding the topic, sources of information and their credibility, as well as a number of different opinions on the issue before concluding the essay. Many of these factors will be determined by the assignment.

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Opinion Essay and How to Make It Accurate

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An opinion essay is a type of essay that presents the writer's personal viewpoint on a particular issue. It is a form of persuasive writing that aims to convince the reader of the validity of the writer's opinion. Students should clearly state their standpoint and provide supporting evidence to persuade the reader.

An opinion essay as well as a diagnostic essay is something every student will eventually meet. And let’s not question that statement. It is our opinion, and it shall be proved in this guide. But here is where it can get tricky. How can one write such a type of work? You’re always expected to get excellent results, but information about academic writing is rather limited. Or perhaps it’s not limited, but it is written in a highly complicated way. So continue on this journey with our service delivering college essay help , and you will definitely nail the writing of any article, especially the opinion one.

What Is an Opinion Essay?

What does it even mean to write an opinion essay ? Well, it is a very good question, so thank you for asking. This article is a formal piece of writing that presents your point of view on a specific question or subject. More importantly, you have to use the academic devices required for this type of writing. This article usually uses evidence to prove your point or an argument. You can also use examples or any piece of information that would prove that your opinion is actually correct and worthy of remembering. In other words, here you have to prove your point, and that’s all. Before writing this kind of task, browse topics for an opinion essay and choose the best one for yourself.

Opinion Essay Structure

Writing an opinion essay also involves a very specific structure. Although it may not be dramatically different from other articles, we still want to go step-by-step through creating such a piece of writing together. Keep in mind that we need a clear structure to effectively prove our point. That is why you also would require an outline and planning of all of your paragraphs. Trust us; it will help you a lot in the future, save time and deliver better results. Also, don’t forget that we provide stellar writing assistance for students who ask ‘ write my college essay for me .’

Opinion Essay: Introduction

How to start an opinion essay? Well, you should definitely start strong. The first paragraph of any article is usually an introduction. It includes something eye-catching or the so-called hook. There you can also include a thesis statement which is usually your last sentence of this paragraph. For example, you want to prove that Marvel comics are better than DC ones. Many people might not share your opinion. So you have to prove it. Your introduction might start with statistics, for example. So answer the question of how many people actually write comics of these brands. In the middle of the paragraph, you can slowly lead into your thesis. In this case, our thesis will state that marvel comics are usually more beloved for light tones, their cinematic universe, and character development.

Opinion Essay: Argument/Reason

An opinion essay obviously involves an argument you’re trying to prove. But try to come up with not one but two or more likely three different arguments that will defend your initial thesis statement. You should also keep in mind that each argument or reason needs its own evidence. He can use statistics, academic sources, or anything relevant to your subject. For example, we are still researching marvel comics and rivals. Our three main arguments state that their comics are more fun, popular because of the cinematic universe and character development. Therefore, we need to provide evidence for each of our reasons like an argumentative essay writer would do. Here we can definitely use comments from fans, statistics from the cinemas, and several comic book arcs of our favorite characters.

Opinion Essay: Supporting Evidence

Writing an opinion essay requires looking for bulletproof evidence, as we said before. But what do we mean by saying evidence? For example, there are many examples of good evidence that you can use. Usually, researchers try to reach an essay conclusion by quoting an academic paper. Those things are peer-reviewed and contain truthful data. You can also use graphics and statistical data if they fit your research question. Basically, anything that can be trusted will do. However, try not to quote such websites as Wikipedia or non-governmental pages. Your readers will not believe or support your argument if they can tell whether data is trustworthy.

Opinion Essay: Conclusion

How to write a conclusion paragraph for an opinion essay? That was a journey, but it is our last question. Surprisingly enough, this article is not that challenging to understand. Nevertheless, the conclusion is a final opportunity to wrap up all of your points and remind the readers of the main argument of your paper.

For example: as our thesis stated that Marvel comics are the best, we should definitely rewrite this statement for the first sentence of our conclusion. This is the best way to highlight your argument. You can definitely include your own opinion. Also, don’t forget to leave some peace of mind hinting at future research or possible opportunities.

How to Write an Opinion Essay: Tips

We have just covered how to write an opinion essay. But of course, we couldn’t leave you without different tricks and tips for students. So here they are:

Start with the strongest argument first (it’s like throwing the first punch in the fight. You have to show all of your cards at once).
Never use a question for an essay title (it is a general rule of writing in public cystic that question and title must be answered with “yes”).
Try using the active voice (it is simply more convincing this way).
Don’t overcomplicate things (You’re still writing for readers who must understand you).
Don’t repeat yourself (with a lot of repetitions, our text might seem slightly dull).

Opinion Essay Examples

We also are here to give you the best possible opinion essay example. We know how hard it is to sometimes understand the theory. So you should definitely use our provided sample to refer to a guide and check what is actually meant. Besides, you can print it out and save it somewhere for inspiration. Go ahead and check the sample down below!

Final Thoughts on Writing Opinion Essay

Congratulations, because now you know everything there is about the opinion essay. We hope that all of the information that we have compiled will help you in your future academic life. Also, don’t hesitate to practice at writing essays . Making mistakes is more than all right, and only by practicing can you succeed.

If you're interested in honing your persuasive writing skills beyond opinion essays, our blog post on how to write an editorial is a must-read.

Our essay writing service is always here. How writers are brilliant in making excellent papers and delivering them in time. Buy a persuasive essay or any other type of writing to get a high grade effortless!

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

How to Write an Opinion Essay Like a Pro

So, they want you to write an opinion essay on a particular topic. What is that? What makes it different from other paper types? And, if this piece is so specific, how to structure it for a high grade?

Opinion papers have specifics. At schools or universities, educators assign them for students to learn how to build arguments and prove their position with logic and evidence. While its format resembles standard 5-paragraph academic papers, it’s critical to structure it with a particular tone and argument sequence.

In this blog post, we’ll tell you how to write an opinion essay. If you don’t have time to read or need practical help with writing, you can always ask our specialists for assistance.

What is an Opinion Essay?

An opinion essay is a writing piece that presents the author’s point of view on a particular topic backed by reasoning, evidence, and examples. It also shares an opposing viewpoint but suggests arguments as to why it’s inconsistent.

Why write opinion pieces?

The purpose is to articulate your position, demonstrating what you think on a topic (question) and why you think so. The whys behind your thoughts come in handy when you write reflective essays .

In academia, educators assign opinion essays to students so they learn how to express their views right. With these papers, teachers test students’ critical thinking, writing skills, ability to convey thoughts, and knowledge of a particular subject.

Opinions are also trendy online. (We all write social media posts expressing our thoughts on something.) You can also find them in personal blogs and Op-Ed sections of newspapers like the New York Times.

When structured and presented right, opinion papers can impact how people think about a particular question. Millions of online users read them, and opinions expose the audiences to a massive array of points! How do you understand which one to believe?

The opinion writing skill will help you recognize a solid argument that is logical, reasoning, and backed with substantial evidence.

How is it different from other essay types?

Some students confuse opinion pieces with other paper types. Thus, argumentative or persuasive essays also convey points supported by research and other evidence. How do you know when it’s an opinion essay?

All these essay types have different goals.

Opinion essays are for sharing your views and explaining why you think so.
Persuasive essays are for convincing readers to agree with your statement.
Argumentative essays are for stating a fact and using even more arguments to back it up.

There’s also an expository essay where you explain a topic (not your point of view), providing the evidence but not trying to prove anything or convince anyone.

For an even deeper understanding of the opinion essay specifics, below are its criteria and guidelines to consider when writing it:

Opinion writing:

Addresses a question from both sides;
Provides a well-reasoned statement;
Supports the opinion with arguments, evidence, and examples;
Follows a logical structure;
Incorporates writing instruments like power words, diverse language, and transition words to engage readers and motivate them to proceed.

Opinion Essay: How to Write (7 Steps)

Choose a topic
Outline your essay
Write an opinion essay introduction
Draft a 3-paragraph essay body
Write a conclusion

Now, to practice:

Below are your seven steps on how to write an opinion essay. They aren’t tricky to follow but are a must to consider if you want your paper to sound argumentative, logical, and reasoning for readers to understand you.

1 – Choose a topic

In school or college life, a teacher assigns essay topics for students to cover. But if you don’t have a prompt and are free to choose a topic, your first step would be brainstorming:

Decide what you might want to cover in your opinion essay.

Important: Remember that your task is to form an opinion and back it up with reasoning and evidence. You’ll need to not only agree or disagree with an issue but explain why you think so.

Here are some topics for opinion essays to inspire you:

Children watch too much television
Sex education in the schools
The acceptance of using animals in scientific research
Parents are the best teachers. Yes or no?
Children should grow up in the countryside than in a big city.
Are women better parents than men?
There are situations when it’s better to hide the truth
The mass media shape and influence people’s ideas. Agree?
Should rich countries forgive all the debts of poor ones?
Schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers.

Once you have a topic, decide on your opinion and think of the arguments (and data) to support it. Investigate the topic and research sources you’ll use in an essay. Also, ensure to research counterarguments or alternative perspectives: You’ll need to present them in your paper and explain why they are inconsistent.

2 – Outline your essay

While researching the topic, do your best to develop an outline for your future paper. It’s a plan (structure of opinion essay) to place all the arguments where they make the most sense.

Use a 5-paragraph essay structure (1): Your opinion paper will need an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Feel free to use this template:

The outline will save you tons of time in writing an essay. Once you have all the arguments, facts, and examples of where they should go, it will be easier (and faster!) to write a draft. All you’ll need to do is join them in a coherent text.

3 – Write an opinion essay introduction

Now, it’s time to start writing a draft. The introduction of your opinion essay is one paragraph with a hook, topic intro, and thesis statement explaining your point of view to readers.

How to write an introduction paragraph for an opinion essay?

A writing hook — one sentence
Stating the subject matter — one or two sentences
Thesis statement and introducing your first argument — one or two sentences

Remember that opinion essays are about brevity and accuracy. Write a concise introduction, using a scholarly tone and introducing your subject (topic) with clarity.

How do you write a hook for an opinion essay? You can start with a statement, a question, surprising statistics, or an intriguing and rare quote related to your topic. A writing hook is an instrument to capture interest and motivate the audience to keep reading.

4 – Draft a 3-paragraph essay body

After the introduction, the essay body comes. A standard opinion essay consists of three body paragraphs, each with a claim, explanations with proofs and examples, and a transitional sentence to the next paragraph.

The first two paragraphs are for the arguments supporting your point of view. The third paragraph is for alternative opinions and your explanation of why they are inconsistent.

When writing, include references (quotes, examples, etc.) you’ve gathered when researching. Address the outline to ensure your points are reasoning and presented in a logical consequence.

5 – Write a conclusion

How to write a conclusion for an opinion essay?

Summarize all points — one or two sentences
Restate your thesis — one sentence
Round up the subject — one sentence

The conclusion of an opinion essay is one final paragraph organizing all the information for readers to remember. It’s a summary repeating your opinion statement with the arguments you introduced to prove it’s valid. You can also provide another related fact, ask a rhetorical question, or leave readers with a call to action.

6 – Revise

Once your opinion essay draft is ready, it’s time to revise it. Reread it several times to check for logic, reasoning, and flow. Re-check the evidence you used to support your opinion, remove colloquial expressions and repetitions, and ensure it sounds scholarly and crystal clear.

7 – Proofread

The final stage before submitting an essay to a teacher or publishing it online is proofreading:

Reread your draft (yes, once again!) to “catch” all possible typos or slight grammar mistakes. A little trick can help here: Read the essay aloud! It allows you to “hear” how it sounds and notice tiny details you might miss when working on the draft.

Opinion Essay Examples

Any questions left on how to start an opinion essay, what is an opinion essay format, or how does it look when completed? The below samples will help. Seeing once is better than hearing twice, right?

Please note that the below opinion essay examples are for informative and educational purposes only. Do not copy them to submit to teachers.

A 500-word essay sample:

A 300 words essay sample:

Dos and Don’ts of Writing an Opinion Essay

We’ve asked our writers to share practical tips on writing an A-worthy opinion essay. Here come their dos and don’ts of crafting this type of academic paper:

Bonus! Opinion Words and Phrases

They allow your writing to flow, linking the points together to ensure a logical sequence and help readers follow your train of thought. In opinion writing, these words are introductory phrases, transitions, and opinion clues to explain your view and make the audience understand how your ideas relate.

For those wondering how to write an opinion essay without using I, the phrases could be as follows:

Sure enough, they work for standard first-person opinion essays, too.

That is it! Opinion essay writing is not that challenging to master:

Be concise, use a clear thesis, support it with arguments and references, and ensure its logical consequence.

Any doubts or questions left on how to write an opinion essay? Don’t hesitate to ask: Our professional academic writers are here to help!

References:

https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/ace/downloads/tipsheets/writingtipsheets/fivparstr.pdf
Essay samples
Essay writing
Writing tips

Can an Essay Have personal Opinion: Expressing Personal Views

by Joseph Kenas
January 30, 2024

Including opinions in an essay is at times difficult for students. This is because presenting opinions that are not general knowledge may require formal citations and the essay has to remain objective or unbiased.

In most cases, your opinion can be expressed as a sentence. This one sentence becomes your thesis statement,thus the center of focus in your essay.

Can an essay have personal opinion and how do you express personal views formally in an essay?

Can an Essay have Opinions?

The answer to this question is yes. Essays can have opinions . As noted, when writing a formal essay, you should be objective.

What this means is that you should avoid the usage of personal pronouns, express your attitudes through the use of feeling and thinking verbs, usage of attitudinal adjectives like spectacular, and emotive language or strong arguments.

When such features are included in your essay, it makes the essay informal. The essay will sound subjective and personal instead of presenting objective arguments concerning a certain topic or claim.

Through this is the case, there are times when you are required to present original or personal perspectives concerning a specific issue, theory, or event. Some instructors may deliberately ask you to present personal perspectives in your essay.

What this means is that the instructor wants to know your opinion and you must present it. Part of the essay instructions will present questions like: Do you agree or disagree? What do you think? Evaluate. Argue against or in favor of . Opinions that have been logically presented can also be found in hypotheses, interpretations of results, and evaluations.

So far, have you noticed that there is some contradiction here? On one hand, the essay is supposed to be objective.

On the other hand, it should contain a well-considered opinion that is based on research, analysis of the research, and critically thinking about the arguments and opinions.

In short, what you should note from the contradiction is that your opinions need to be presented in such a way that they appear objective.

Now that we have understood the need or use of opinions in an academic essay, you may be wondering where you can add them in your essay or where to expect them in other formal essays.

As aforementioned, opinions can be included when interpreting results, evaluating the results, or when writing hypotheses.

However, the location of opinions depends on the type of essay or genre. For example, opinions in academic essays for students can be located within the introduction and the conclusion.

The reason why they can appear within the introduction is that the student is introducing their topic and how they intend to present their arguments.

Furthermore, the thesis outlines the perspectives of the writer. Opinions can also be included within the conclusion because the student is allowed to reflect on the topic and present recommendations.

Difference Between an Opinion and an Argument in an Essay

There is a big difference between an opinion and an argument in an essay. However, how do you know the difference? Well, on one hand, an opinion is when a writer puts forth their perspective or point of view.

An opinion is generally a personal judgment or belief concerning a concept, theory, or subject matter that is not based on certainty or proof. It can be a vague idea that a writer has confidence in.

On the other hand, an argument is an assertion or fact given as evidence that something is factual .

Here, a discussion is provided in which valid reasons are advanced for or against a specific claim.

As such, an argument is balanced in a way that the writer gives the reader a valid alternative to how they perceive the claims in the essay.

In a nutshell, an opinion is a view or belief held by the writer while an argument is a logical and coherent set of reasons that are used to support an overall assessment or judgment in an essay.

How to Add Opinions in an Essay

As noted, opinions in academic essays can be located within the introduction and the conclusion. Furthermore, opinions can also be included within the. Just like writing compare and contrast essay , the structure and outline is similar.

Though this is the case, you have to add opinions using certain strategies. This not only signifies to your readers that you are about to express an opinion but also adds flow or continuity to your essay.

One method of adding opinions to an essay is to introduce them using informal English phrases.

While informal English phrases should not be used a lot when introducing an opinion because they make the essay too personal, they can be used when you wish to demonstrate to the reader the gravity of your opinion.

It means that you want your readers to know your perspective on the issue at hand.

The informal English phrases include “in my opinion”, “I believe that”, “in my mind”, “according to my perspective/point of view”, and so on.

For example, you can state: In my opinion , a college education should be the minimum requirement for anyone seeking an elective position .

You can also state: I believe that a college education should be the minimum requirement for anyone seeking an elective position . Such phrases can be used interchangeably.

You can also use formal phrases when adding opinions to an essay. They are more acceptable in academic writing because they sound objective and are straightforward.

They include “it would seem that”, “it could be argued that”, “this suggests that”, “this proves that”, “this supports the idea that”, and so on. You only need to add your opinion after the word “that”.

For example, an opinion would look like this: It could be argued that a college education should be the minimum requirement for anyone seeking an elective position .

It can also look like this: This suggests that a college education should be the minimum requirement for anyone seeking an elective position .

Another method of adding an opinion is to use the word “although” to demonstrate that you either agree with the claims or disagree with the claims. This is a very effective strategy because shows that you have considered every side of the argument.

Finally, the use of adjectives, adverbs, and nouns can help you add an opinion to an essay. They can include “poorly”, “highly”, “brilliant”, and so on.

How to Support your Opinion with References

If you have conducted proper research before writing your essay, there is a high probability that you will find a resource that will support or concur with your opinion. this leaves you with a well researched paper with no plagiarism .

Here, you will only need to create an in-text citation at the end of the sentence using your preferred academic format (APA, MLA, etc.), and then reference the resource on the last page of your essay.

Another strategy to support your opinion with references is to use the phrase “as (author) suggests…” This should be followed by the opinion.

For example, if a person called Maxwell King authored a book in the year 2020 that concurs with your opinion about politicians and college education, your opinion will look like this:

As King (2020) suggests in his book, college education should be the minimum requirement for anyone seeking an elective position .

How to Prevent the First-Person Language while Giving an Opinion

The first strategy is to avoid its use completely. First-person pronouns include “I”, “me”, “my”, “we”, and “us”. They make your essay wordy and less confident.

It is not a must to include a phrase like “I think that”. Consider the following sentences: I think that the character is highly motivated .

The character is highly motivated . The second sentence has eliminated personal pronouns while still maintaining the opinion (written in bold).

The second method is to use a different subject in place of personal pronouns. For example, I think that the character is highly motivated and can have a different subject and look like this: This paper argues that the character is highly motivated .

Joseph is a freelance journalist and a part-time writer with a particular interest in the gig economy. He writes about schooling, college life, and changing trends in education. When not writing, Joseph is hiking or playing chess.

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What is an Opinion Essay? Explore its Structure, Key Differences & Exciting Topics

What is an opinion essay?

An opinion essay is a type of essay in which students have to express their opinions on a topic. Their point of view is supported by relevant examples and justifications. An opinion essay helps you to present and argue your point of view logically. Therefore, you should be clear in expressing your viewpoint.

The opinion essay's basic purpose is to:

Support some ideas.
Share your thoughts on a particular subject.
Describe anything from the perspective of a writer.
Describe the causes and relationships of something from the writer's viewpoint.

However, gather sufficient evidence and justifications to support your viewpoint on a given issue. The data you gather is consistent with the arguments you express in the essay.

How does an opinion essay differ from an argumentative essay?

Opinion essays are just one type of essay you might have to write. Different types of essays have different purposes. Let’s discuss their differences.

Opinion Essay

It is an essay that supports an opinion with evidence. The main goal of writing an opinion essay is to express the writer's personal point of view. You use logical reasoning and evidence to support your viewpoint.

In an opinion essay, you start with an introduction that tells your main idea. Then, in the middle part, you explain your ideas and give evidence to support them. Finally, you finish with a conclusion where you repeat your main idea and sum up what you said.

Argumentative Essay

In an argumentative essay, you state a fact. Then, support it with more evidence. The purpose of this essay is to support the argument. These essays heavily rely on factual evidence and logical reasoning. The writing tone is formal in this essay. Argumentative essay thoroughly address and refute opposing arguments to strengthen the writer’s position.

Opinion Essay Structure

An opinion essay followed the same format as all other essays. Your essay is useless if the right structure or format is not used. Consider the essay structure or opinion essay template listed below to help you write a strong opinion essay.

Introduction

Start with the hook statement
Respond to the question
Share your point of view
Give two arguments in support

Paragraph 1 in Body

Topic sentence – Outline the first argument in favour of your opinion
Explanation – Discuss this concept
Example – Give a specific instance or elaborate on the concept

Paragraph 2 in Body

Topic sentence – Outline the second argument in favour of your opinion
Explanation – Discuss this idea in a clear way
Example – Provide an illustration or elaborate on the concept
Summarize your point of view and key reasons
Restate the thesis statement in the conclusion
Leave a lasting impression on the reader

Opinion Essay Topics

There are a plethora of problems or concerns that would make great essay topics. Any issue or subject that keeps you thinking deeply can be the subject of an interesting opinion essay. Your teacher will provide you with a list of topic ideas, or you can think of one on your own. Here is a list of some popular topics for opinion essays:

The Impact of Social Media on Society: Is It More Harmful or Beneficial?
Should School Uniforms Be Mandatory or Optional?
Is Online Learning More Effective Than Traditional Classroom Learning?
Is Technology Making Us More Connected or More Isolated?
Do CEOs make too much money?

Best Tips for Writing Opinion Essay

The following are some pointers to consider when writing an opinion essay:

Every sentence should start with a topic phrase that sums up the main ideas.
Avoid using slang or jargon.
Introduce your topic clearly. Moreover, avoid using irrelevant information that does not directly relate to your topic.
Use present tense to write an opinion essay.
Make sure to maintain a logical sequence between sentences.
Your reader must understand what you're writing about.
Maintain a formal tone and writing style.

Final Thoughts

An opinion essay assignment requires students to express their thoughts on a specific issue by providing logical justification and examples to support it. Improving your knowledge is a practical strategy to learn how to write an opinion essay . Referring to relevant facts before writing anything is also important. This covers the requirements, definition, themes, and examples of opinion writing essays. This is what transforms novice writers into expert writers.

If you need some help with your personal opinion essay or any kind of paper, contact Nerdpapers . No matter what kind of essay writer you need, an opinion writer or a persuasive essay writer, we have a team of experts.

Persuasive essay topics – how to choose one for you, how to write a persuasive essay- expert tips.

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, how to write an a+ argumentative essay.

Miscellaneous

You'll no doubt have to write a number of argumentative essays in both high school and college, but what, exactly, is an argumentative essay and how do you write the best one possible? Let's take a look.

A great argumentative essay always combines the same basic elements: approaching an argument from a rational perspective, researching sources, supporting your claims using facts rather than opinion, and articulating your reasoning into the most cogent and reasoned points. Argumentative essays are great building blocks for all sorts of research and rhetoric, so your teachers will expect you to master the technique before long.

But if this sounds daunting, never fear! We'll show how an argumentative essay differs from other kinds of papers, how to research and write them, how to pick an argumentative essay topic, and where to find example essays. So let's get started.

What Is an Argumentative Essay? How Is it Different from Other Kinds of Essays?

There are two basic requirements for any and all essays: to state a claim (a thesis statement) and to support that claim with evidence.

Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement.

Essays can be roughly divided into four different types:

#1: Argumentative #2: Persuasive #3: Expository #4: Analytical

So let's look at each type and what the differences are between them before we focus the rest of our time to argumentative essays.

Argumentative Essay

Argumentative essays are what this article is all about, so let's talk about them first.

An argumentative essay attempts to convince a reader to agree with a particular argument (the writer's thesis statement). The writer takes a firm stand one way or another on a topic and then uses hard evidence to support that stance.

An argumentative essay seeks to prove to the reader that one argument —the writer's argument— is the factually and logically correct one. This means that an argumentative essay must use only evidence-based support to back up a claim , rather than emotional or philosophical reasoning (which is often allowed in other types of essays). Thus, an argumentative essay has a burden of substantiated proof and sources , whereas some other types of essays (namely persuasive essays) do not.

You can write an argumentative essay on any topic, so long as there's room for argument. Generally, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one, so long as you support the argumentative essay with hard evidence.

Example topics of an argumentative essay:

"Should farmers be allowed to shoot wolves if those wolves injure or kill farm animals?"
"Should the drinking age be lowered in the United States?"
"Are alternatives to democracy effective and/or feasible to implement?"

The next three types of essays are not argumentative essays, but you may have written them in school. We're going to cover them so you know what not to do for your argumentative essay.

Persuasive Essay

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative essays, so it can be easy to get them confused. But knowing what makes an argumentative essay different than a persuasive essay can often mean the difference between an excellent grade and an average one.

Persuasive essays seek to persuade a reader to agree with the point of view of the writer, whether that point of view is based on factual evidence or not. The writer has much more flexibility in the evidence they can use, with the ability to use moral, cultural, or opinion-based reasoning as well as factual reasoning to persuade the reader to agree the writer's side of a given issue.

Instead of being forced to use "pure" reason as one would in an argumentative essay, the writer of a persuasive essay can manipulate or appeal to the reader's emotions. So long as the writer attempts to steer the readers into agreeing with the thesis statement, the writer doesn't necessarily need hard evidence in favor of the argument.

Often, you can use the same topics for both a persuasive essay or an argumentative one—the difference is all in the approach and the evidence you present.

Example topics of a persuasive essay:

"Should children be responsible for their parents' debts?"
"Should cheating on a test be automatic grounds for expulsion?"
"How much should sports leagues be held accountable for player injuries and the long-term consequences of those injuries?"

Expository Essay

An expository essay is typically a short essay in which the writer explains an idea, issue, or theme , or discusses the history of a person, place, or idea.

This is typically a fact-forward essay with little argument or opinion one way or the other.

Example topics of an expository essay:

"The History of the Philadelphia Liberty Bell"
"The Reasons I Always Wanted to be a Doctor"
"The Meaning Behind the Colloquialism ‘People in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones'"

Analytical Essay

An analytical essay seeks to delve into the deeper meaning of a text or work of art, or unpack a complicated idea . These kinds of essays closely interpret a source and look into its meaning by analyzing it at both a macro and micro level.

This type of analysis can be augmented by historical context or other expert or widely-regarded opinions on the subject, but is mainly supported directly through the original source (the piece or art or text being analyzed) .

Example topics of an analytical essay:

"Victory Gin in Place of Water: The Symbolism Behind Gin as the Only Potable Substance in George Orwell's 1984"
"Amarna Period Art: The Meaning Behind the Shift from Rigid to Fluid Poses"
"Adultery During WWII, as Told Through a Series of Letters to and from Soldiers"

There are many different types of essay and, over time, you'll be able to master them all.

A Typical Argumentative Essay Assignment

The average argumentative essay is between three to five pages, and will require at least three or four separate sources with which to back your claims . As for the essay topic , you'll most often be asked to write an argumentative essay in an English class on a "general" topic of your choice, ranging the gamut from science, to history, to literature.

But while the topics of an argumentative essay can span several different fields, the structure of an argumentative essay is always the same: you must support a claim—a claim that can reasonably have multiple sides—using multiple sources and using a standard essay format (which we'll talk about later on).

This is why many argumentative essay topics begin with the word "should," as in:

"Should all students be required to learn chemistry in high school?"
"Should children be required to learn a second language?"
"Should schools or governments be allowed to ban books?"

These topics all have at least two sides of the argument: Yes or no. And you must support the side you choose with evidence as to why your side is the correct one.

But there are also plenty of other ways to frame an argumentative essay as well:

"Does using social media do more to benefit or harm people?"
"Does the legal status of artwork or its creators—graffiti and vandalism, pirated media, a creator who's in jail—have an impact on the art itself?"
"Is or should anyone ever be ‘above the law?'"

Though these are worded differently than the first three, you're still essentially forced to pick between two sides of an issue: yes or no, for or against, benefit or detriment. Though your argument might not fall entirely into one side of the divide or another—for instance, you could claim that social media has positively impacted some aspects of modern life while being a detriment to others—your essay should still support one side of the argument above all. Your final stance would be that overall , social media is beneficial or overall , social media is harmful.

If your argument is one that is mostly text-based or backed by a single source (e.g., "How does Salinger show that Holden Caulfield is an unreliable narrator?" or "Does Gatsby personify the American Dream?"), then it's an analytical essay, rather than an argumentative essay. An argumentative essay will always be focused on more general topics so that you can use multiple sources to back up your claims.

Good Argumentative Essay Topics

So you know the basic idea behind an argumentative essay, but what topic should you write about?

Again, almost always, you'll be asked to write an argumentative essay on a free topic of your choice, or you'll be asked to select between a few given topics . If you're given complete free reign of topics, then it'll be up to you to find an essay topic that no only appeals to you, but that you can turn into an A+ argumentative essay.

What makes a "good" argumentative essay topic depends on both the subject matter and your personal interest —it can be hard to give your best effort on something that bores you to tears! But it can also be near impossible to write an argumentative essay on a topic that has no room for debate.

As we said earlier, a good argumentative essay topic will be one that has the potential to reasonably go in at least two directions—for or against, yes or no, and why . For example, it's pretty hard to write an argumentative essay on whether or not people should be allowed to murder one another—not a whole lot of debate there for most people!—but writing an essay for or against the death penalty has a lot more wiggle room for evidence and argument.

A good topic is also one that can be substantiated through hard evidence and relevant sources . So be sure to pick a topic that other people have studied (or at least studied elements of) so that you can use their data in your argument. For example, if you're arguing that it should be mandatory for all middle school children to play a sport, you might have to apply smaller scientific data points to the larger picture you're trying to justify. There are probably several studies you could cite on the benefits of physical activity and the positive effect structure and teamwork has on young minds, but there's probably no study you could use where a group of scientists put all middle-schoolers in one jurisdiction into a mandatory sports program (since that's probably never happened). So long as your evidence is relevant to your point and you can extrapolate from it to form a larger whole, you can use it as a part of your resource material.

And if you need ideas on where to get started, or just want to see sample argumentative essay topics, then check out these links for hundreds of potential argumentative essay topics.

101 Persuasive (or Argumentative) Essay and Speech Topics

301 Prompts for Argumentative Writing

Top 50 Ideas for Argumentative/Persuasive Essay Writing

[Note: some of these say "persuasive essay topics," but just remember that the same topic can often be used for both a persuasive essay and an argumentative essay; the difference is in your writing style and the evidence you use to support your claims.]

KO! Find that one argumentative essay topic you can absolutely conquer.

Argumentative Essay Format

Argumentative Essays are composed of four main elements:

A position (your argument)
Your reasons
Supporting evidence for those reasons (from reliable sources)
Counterargument(s) (possible opposing arguments and reasons why those arguments are incorrect)

If you're familiar with essay writing in general, then you're also probably familiar with the five paragraph essay structure . This structure is a simple tool to show how one outlines an essay and breaks it down into its component parts, although it can be expanded into as many paragraphs as you want beyond the core five.

The standard argumentative essay is often 3-5 pages, which will usually mean a lot more than five paragraphs, but your overall structure will look the same as a much shorter essay.

An argumentative essay at its simplest structure will look like:

Paragraph 1: Intro

Set up the story/problem/issue
Thesis/claim

Paragraph 2: Support

Reason #1 claim is correct
Supporting evidence with sources

Paragraph 3: Support

Reason #2 claim is correct

Paragraph 4: Counterargument

Explanation of argument for the other side
Refutation of opposing argument with supporting evidence

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

Re-state claim
Sum up reasons and support of claim from the essay to prove claim is correct

Now let's unpack each of these paragraph types to see how they work (with examples!), what goes into them, and why.

Paragraph 1—Set Up and Claim

Your first task is to introduce the reader to the topic at hand so they'll be prepared for your claim. Give a little background information, set the scene, and give the reader some stakes so that they care about the issue you're going to discuss.

Next, you absolutely must have a position on an argument and make that position clear to the readers. It's not an argumentative essay unless you're arguing for a specific claim, and this claim will be your thesis statement.

Your thesis CANNOT be a mere statement of fact (e.g., "Washington DC is the capital of the United States"). Your thesis must instead be an opinion which can be backed up with evidence and has the potential to be argued against (e.g., "New York should be the capital of the United States").

Paragraphs 2 and 3—Your Evidence

These are your body paragraphs in which you give the reasons why your argument is the best one and back up this reasoning with concrete evidence .

The argument supporting the thesis of an argumentative essay should be one that can be supported by facts and evidence, rather than personal opinion or cultural or religious mores.

For example, if you're arguing that New York should be the new capital of the US, you would have to back up that fact by discussing the factual contrasts between New York and DC in terms of location, population, revenue, and laws. You would then have to talk about the precedents for what makes for a good capital city and why New York fits the bill more than DC does.

Your argument can't simply be that a lot of people think New York is the best city ever and that you agree.

In addition to using concrete evidence, you always want to keep the tone of your essay passionate, but impersonal . Even though you're writing your argument from a single opinion, don't use first person language—"I think," "I feel," "I believe,"—to present your claims. Doing so is repetitive, since by writing the essay you're already telling the audience what you feel, and using first person language weakens your writing voice.

For example,

"I think that Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

"Washington DC is no longer suited to be the capital city of the United States."

The second statement sounds far stronger and more analytical.

Paragraph 4—Argument for the Other Side and Refutation

Even without a counter argument, you can make a pretty persuasive claim, but a counterargument will round out your essay into one that is much more persuasive and substantial.

By anticipating an argument against your claim and taking the initiative to counter it, you're allowing yourself to get ahead of the game. This way, you show that you've given great thought to all sides of the issue before choosing your position, and you demonstrate in multiple ways how yours is the more reasoned and supported side.

Paragraph 5—Conclusion

This paragraph is where you re-state your argument and summarize why it's the best claim.

Briefly touch on your supporting evidence and voila! A finished argumentative essay.

Your essay should have just as awesome a skeleton as this plesiosaur does. (In other words: a ridiculously awesome skeleton)

Argumentative Essay Example: 5-Paragraph Style

It always helps to have an example to learn from. I've written a full 5-paragraph argumentative essay here. Look at how I state my thesis in paragraph 1, give supporting evidence in paragraphs 2 and 3, address a counterargument in paragraph 4, and conclude in paragraph 5.

Topic: Is it possible to maintain conflicting loyalties?

Paragraph 1

It is almost impossible to go through life without encountering a situation where your loyalties to different people or causes come into conflict with each other. Maybe you have a loving relationship with your sister, but she disagrees with your decision to join the army, or you find yourself torn between your cultural beliefs and your scientific ones. These conflicting loyalties can often be maintained for a time, but as examples from both history and psychological theory illustrate, sooner or later, people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever.

The first two sentences set the scene and give some hypothetical examples and stakes for the reader to care about.

The third sentence finishes off the intro with the thesis statement, making very clear how the author stands on the issue ("people have to make a choice between competing loyalties, as no one can maintain a conflicting loyalty or belief system forever." )

Paragraphs 2 and 3

Psychological theory states that human beings are not equipped to maintain conflicting loyalties indefinitely and that attempting to do so leads to a state called "cognitive dissonance." Cognitive dissonance theory is the psychological idea that people undergo tremendous mental stress or anxiety when holding contradictory beliefs, values, or loyalties (Festinger, 1957). Even if human beings initially hold a conflicting loyalty, they will do their best to find a mental equilibrium by making a choice between those loyalties—stay stalwart to a belief system or change their beliefs. One of the earliest formal examples of cognitive dissonance theory comes from Leon Festinger's When Prophesy Fails . Members of an apocalyptic cult are told that the end of the world will occur on a specific date and that they alone will be spared the Earth's destruction. When that day comes and goes with no apocalypse, the cult members face a cognitive dissonance between what they see and what they've been led to believe (Festinger, 1956). Some choose to believe that the cult's beliefs are still correct, but that the Earth was simply spared from destruction by mercy, while others choose to believe that they were lied to and that the cult was fraudulent all along. Both beliefs cannot be correct at the same time, and so the cult members are forced to make their choice.

But even when conflicting loyalties can lead to potentially physical, rather than just mental, consequences, people will always make a choice to fall on one side or other of a dividing line. Take, for instance, Nicolaus Copernicus, a man born and raised in Catholic Poland (and educated in Catholic Italy). Though the Catholic church dictated specific scientific teachings, Copernicus' loyalty to his own observations and scientific evidence won out over his loyalty to his country's government and belief system. When he published his heliocentric model of the solar system--in opposition to the geocentric model that had been widely accepted for hundreds of years (Hannam, 2011)-- Copernicus was making a choice between his loyalties. In an attempt t o maintain his fealty both to the established system and to what he believed, h e sat on his findings for a number of years (Fantoli, 1994). But, ultimately, Copernicus made the choice to side with his beliefs and observations above all and published his work for the world to see (even though, in doing so, he risked both his reputation and personal freedoms).

These two paragraphs provide the reasons why the author supports the main argument and uses substantiated sources to back those reasons.

The paragraph on cognitive dissonance theory gives both broad supporting evidence and more narrow, detailed supporting evidence to show why the thesis statement is correct not just anecdotally but also scientifically and psychologically. First, we see why people in general have a difficult time accepting conflicting loyalties and desires and then how this applies to individuals through the example of the cult members from the Dr. Festinger's research.

The next paragraph continues to use more detailed examples from history to provide further evidence of why the thesis that people cannot indefinitely maintain conflicting loyalties is true.

Paragraph 4

Some will claim that it is possible to maintain conflicting beliefs or loyalties permanently, but this is often more a matter of people deluding themselves and still making a choice for one side or the other, rather than truly maintaining loyalty to both sides equally. For example, Lancelot du Lac typifies a person who claims to maintain a balanced loyalty between to two parties, but his attempt to do so fails (as all attempts to permanently maintain conflicting loyalties must). Lancelot tells himself and others that he is equally devoted to both King Arthur and his court and to being Queen Guinevere's knight (Malory, 2008). But he can neither be in two places at once to protect both the king and queen, nor can he help but let his romantic feelings for the queen to interfere with his duties to the king and the kingdom. Ultimately, he and Queen Guinevere give into their feelings for one another and Lancelot—though he denies it—chooses his loyalty to her over his loyalty to Arthur. This decision plunges the kingdom into a civil war, ages Lancelot prematurely, and ultimately leads to Camelot's ruin (Raabe, 1987). Though Lancelot claimed to have been loyal to both the king and the queen, this loyalty was ultimately in conflict, and he could not maintain it.

Here we have the acknowledgement of a potential counter-argument and the evidence as to why it isn't true.

The argument is that some people (or literary characters) have asserted that they give equal weight to their conflicting loyalties. The refutation is that, though some may claim to be able to maintain conflicting loyalties, they're either lying to others or deceiving themselves. The paragraph shows why this is true by providing an example of this in action.

Paragraph 5

Whether it be through literature or history, time and time again, people demonstrate the challenges of trying to manage conflicting loyalties and the inevitable consequences of doing so. Though belief systems are malleable and will often change over time, it is not possible to maintain two mutually exclusive loyalties or beliefs at once. In the end, people always make a choice, and loyalty for one party or one side of an issue will always trump loyalty to the other.

The concluding paragraph summarizes the essay, touches on the evidence presented, and re-states the thesis statement.

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 8 Steps

Writing the best argumentative essay is all about the preparation, so let's talk steps:

#1: Preliminary Research

If you have the option to pick your own argumentative essay topic (which you most likely will), then choose one or two topics you find the most intriguing or that you have a vested interest in and do some preliminary research on both sides of the debate.

Do an open internet search just to see what the general chatter is on the topic and what the research trends are.

Did your preliminary reading influence you to pick a side or change your side? Without diving into all the scholarly articles at length, do you believe there's enough evidence to support your claim? Have there been scientific studies? Experiments? Does a noted scholar in the field agree with you? If not, you may need to pick another topic or side of the argument to support.

#2: Pick Your Side and Form Your Thesis

Now's the time to pick the side of the argument you feel you can support the best and summarize your main point into your thesis statement.

Your thesis will be the basis of your entire essay, so make sure you know which side you're on, that you've stated it clearly, and that you stick by your argument throughout the entire essay .

#3: Heavy-Duty Research Time

You've taken a gander at what the internet at large has to say on your argument, but now's the time to actually read those sources and take notes.

Check scholarly journals online at Google Scholar , the Directory of Open Access Journals , or JStor . You can also search individual university or school libraries and websites to see what kinds of academic articles you can access for free. Keep track of your important quotes and page numbers and put them somewhere that's easy to find later.

And don't forget to check your school or local libraries as well!

#4: Outline

Follow the five-paragraph outline structure from the previous section.

Fill in your topic, your reasons, and your supporting evidence into each of the categories.

Before you begin to flesh out the essay, take a look at what you've got. Is your thesis statement in the first paragraph? Is it clear? Is your argument logical? Does your supporting evidence support your reasoning?

By outlining your essay, you streamline your process and take care of any logic gaps before you dive headfirst into the writing. This will save you a lot of grief later on if you need to change your sources or your structure, so don't get too trigger-happy and skip this step.

Now that you've laid out exactly what you'll need for your essay and where, it's time to fill in all the gaps by writing it out.

Take it one step at a time and expand your ideas into complete sentences and substantiated claims. It may feel daunting to turn an outline into a complete draft, but just remember that you've already laid out all the groundwork; now you're just filling in the gaps.

If you have the time before deadline, give yourself a day or two (or even just an hour!) away from your essay . Looking it over with fresh eyes will allow you to see errors, both minor and major, that you likely would have missed had you tried to edit when it was still raw.

Take a first pass over the entire essay and try your best to ignore any minor spelling or grammar mistakes—you're just looking at the big picture right now. Does it make sense as a whole? Did the essay succeed in making an argument and backing that argument up logically? (Do you feel persuaded?)

If not, go back and make notes so that you can fix it for your final draft.

Once you've made your revisions to the overall structure, mark all your small errors and grammar problems so you can fix them in the next draft.

#7: Final Draft

Use the notes you made on the rough draft and go in and hack and smooth away until you're satisfied with the final result.

A checklist for your final draft:

Formatting is correct according to your teacher's standards
No errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
Essay is the right length and size for the assignment
The argument is present, consistent, and concise
Each reason is supported by relevant evidence
The essay makes sense overall

#8: Celebrate!

Once you've brought that final draft to a perfect polish and turned in your assignment, you're done! Go you!

Be prepared and ♪ you'll never go hungry again ♪, *cough*, or struggle with your argumentative essay-writing again. (Walt Disney Studios)

Good Examples of Argumentative Essays Online

Theory is all well and good, but examples are key. Just to get you started on what a fully-fleshed out argumentative essay looks like, let's see some examples in action.

Check out these two argumentative essay examples on the use of landmines and freons (and note the excellent use of concrete sources to back up their arguments!).

The Use of Landmines

A Shattered Sky

The Take-Aways: Keys to Writing an Argumentative Essay

At first, writing an argumentative essay may seem like a monstrous hurdle to overcome, but with the proper preparation and understanding, you'll be able to knock yours out of the park.

Remember the differences between a persuasive essay and an argumentative one, make sure your thesis is clear, and double-check that your supporting evidence is both relevant to your point and well-sourced . Pick your topic, do your research, make your outline, and fill in the gaps. Before you know it, you'll have yourself an A+ argumentative essay there, my friend.

What's Next?

Now you know the ins and outs of an argumentative essay, but how comfortable are you writing in other styles? Learn more about the four writing styles and when it makes sense to use each .

Understand how to make an argument, but still having trouble organizing your thoughts? Check out our guide to three popular essay formats and choose which one is right for you.

Ready to make your case, but not sure what to write about? We've created a list of 50 potential argumentative essay topics to spark your imagination.

Need more help with this topic? Check out Tutorbase!

Our vetted tutor database includes a range of experienced educators who can help you polish an essay for English or explain how derivatives work for Calculus. You can use dozens of filters and search criteria to find the perfect person for your needs.

Courtney scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT in high school and went on to graduate from Stanford University with a degree in Cultural and Social Anthropology. She is passionate about bringing education and the tools to succeed to students from all backgrounds and walks of life, as she believes open education is one of the great societal equalizers. She has years of tutoring experience and writes creative works in her free time.

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The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type.

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

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Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
The body presents your evidence and arguments
The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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9 Ways to Think More Rationally and Develop Your Own Opinions

Image shows part of the painting 'Girl With Book' by Jose Ferraz de Almeida Júnior. She is resting her head on her hand and looking up slightly, in thought.

When it comes to writing essays, many students regurgitate the opinions of whichever scholar they happen to be reading at the moment, without questioning whether or not they actually agree with it.

You should also read…

12 Mistakes That Will Ruin Your University and Job Interviews
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However, if you really want to excel academically, you need to be able to think rationally and develop your own opinions (and, of course, articulate them clearly). Such skills are essential for good essay-writing, and will allow you to impress admissions tutors in your personal statement – and, even more so, in university interviews. Examiners and admissions tutors will be able to tell immediately whether you’re spouting an opinion that’s actually someone else’s or if you’ve thought about it carefully enough to come up with your own take on an issue. But figuring out what your own opinion is can be challenging when you’re deeply immersed in the opinions of other people. In this article, we look at how you can approach whatever you’re studying with an objective mind, and how you can work out what you really think about something.

1. Read lots

Image shows a girl reading a book, surrounded by stacks and stacks of other books.

The first and most crucial point about forming your own opinions is that it’s vital to read widely – and consider what you read critically, looking for holes in arguments. If you only read one academic’s work about a particular issue, you only have one point of view – and you’ll end up regurgitating that view as if it was the only possible approach to the argument. In fact, it’s almost certainly only one of a range of opinions, and it might not even be the most compelling argument. How many other scholars agree with this opinion? Is this writer the only one who thinks this? Even in instances in which there is one widely accepted viewpoint, there will be others seeking to challenge this view with opinions that may be surprisingly persuasive. And no matter how widely accepted an opinion is, it’s still worth reading what the ‘challengers’ have to say, because if nothing else, it at least provides a fresh perspective and may point to weaknesses in the mainstream argument. Academia by its very nature seeks to challenge accepted opinions, and this is a mindset you need to start developing if you want to be academically successful yourself.

2. Understanding writers’ motivations

Image shows a farmer holding up a copy of Mao's Little Red Book.

The key to thinking logically about what you read – and ultimately forming your own opinion – is to remember that writing is rarely impartial. People write with their own motivations and agendas, which have been shaped by their upbringing and experiences, and in turn shape the text and attempt to persuade the reader that the writer’s opinion is right. Seen in isolation, with no counter-arguments, it’s easy to be lulled into thinking that this is the only possible viewpoint on a particular issue. This is, of course, not the case, and that’s why it’s important to read widely. Writing of any kind – whether it’s academic scholarship or an original source – should always be assessed in the context of the writer themselves. Ask yourself what the writer’s motivation is in writing this piece. Whether it’s obvious or not, there may be an agenda. Has it been influenced by their political opinions, for example? What is their background – what has led them to believe this particular opinion? Did a writer giving their opinion about the UK care system come from a troubled background themselves? Is this a scholar seeking to discredit the work of a fellow academic because of some personal animosity? You wouldn’t have thought that these kinds of things would shape an academic’s opinion, but they do – they’re people too, and prone to the same weaknesses and biases as you or I. So, whenever you read something, ask yourself: “why does this writer want me to think this? And what is this argument really about?”

3. Be honest with yourself about your own biases

Image shows a man walking a dog. They are both trying to walk in opposite directions.

Just as writers have their biases, so do you – even if you don’t realise it. Your own background and views shape how you view the world, and may influence your response to what you read. If you see yourself as a socialist, for example, you may take an automatic dislike to literature written from a conservative viewpoint – whether or not the evidence supports that conservative argument. What’s more, we often read into things what we expect or want to see; new opinions and challenges to our existing points of view are difficult for us to handle because they force us to change how we think about things, and that’s hard sometimes. A key to finding your true opinions is to overcome this bias. If you find yourself jumping to a particular conclusion or strongly agreeing or disagreeing with something you read, you should be questioning both the writer and yourself particularly rigorously. Going back to the evidence behind an opinion – assessing the bare facts – is a good way to force yourself to look objectively at it.

4. Assessing the evidence

Image shows a statue with a magnifying glass.

The other important question to ask yourself when reading a scholarly work is: “what are they basing their opinion on?” All academic opinions should be based on adequate evidence, though there are plenty of scholars who aren’t above basing an entire grand theory on a few shreds of very tenuous evidence. This is why it’s important to approach academic works with a critical mind. What evidence is there, really, for this opinion? And is there any compelling evidence to the contrary? If it helps, jot down a big list of what the evidence is on a particular issue; for each thing you read on that topic, keep adding points to the list. You will end up with a list of actual evidence and you can use it to decide what you think is the most compelling argument based on the facts. You may even end up forming your own unique hypothesis by doing this. Thinking about what you read in this way will help you make up your own mind and stop you from becoming swayed by whatever opinion you happen to be reading at the time.

5. Pay attention to the language

When I was at university, my tutor told me that I must never use the word “surely” in an essay, because it made me sound as though I was trying – unsuccessfully – to convince myself of what I was writing: “This is surely evidence that…” This is just one of many examples of subtly persuasive language that can reveal how confident (or not) a writer is in their own opinion. Phrases such as “as far as I know” or “it seems likely that” should sound alarm bells in your head. Identifying such language can also tell you whether or not you are being ‘led down the garden path’; though academic writing should be as objective as possible, the writer will often use subtly persuasive language to try to convince you that their own opinion is right.

6. Don’t get lost in the details

When you’re reading academic literature – which is often painstakingly detailed – it’s all too easy to get bogged down in the minutiae and lose sight of the bigger picture. Clearly, sweeping generalisations are bad, and should naturally be questioned; there is a reason why academic works are so detailed. But there’s a danger in becoming too focused on the fine details, which should be viewed in the context of how they fit into this ‘bigger picture’. For example, let’s say you’re looking at an Ancient Greek vase. The details of its decoration can come to feel incredibly important when you’re reading about them – how this particular squiggle in this mythical scene represents a development from an earlier kind of squiggle and this must represent an important advance in the development of art at the time. However, these details can lead you to lose sight of a more important point, which is what the vase was used for: this was a krater, for example, and it was used to mix wine and water, as drinking undiluted wine was something that Ancient Greeks considered to be quite ‘barbarian’; it was therefore something that facilitated an action that the Greeks considered made them civilised (an important cultural distinction). Such vases were present at Ancient Greek ‘symposia’, intellectual drinking parties that were an important feature of aristocratic Greek society. That squiggle in the decoration may be an interesting development in artistic techniques, but such vases in general are important too. When forming your own opinions, taking the context into consideration is vital. If you don’t, your argument is incomplete and may miss the point.

7. Annotate your books

Image shows a student looking at a heavily annotated book.

One method I’ve found quite useful in forming my own opinions about what I’m reading is keeping a pencil beside me ready to make comments and questions in the margins and underline key sentences. You don’t have to write long comments (there isn’t room for that); sometimes just a “No!” is enough! Obviously you should only do this with your own books – not library books. I find that just having the pencil at the ready forces me to interact more with what I’m reading, making me look more critically at the text and think about whether or not I agree with something. Underlining sentences that you feel to be important doesn’t just help you find them again – it helps you remember them, and it’s a way for you to engage with the text more as you would in an academic discussion. Imagine you’re having a discussion with the author – what would you say to them or ask them?

Writing things down forces you to articulate your thoughts clearly, so keeping a notebook beside you while you’re reading is good practice. Whenever something occurs to you about what you’re reading – an independent thought or question suddenly springing to mind – write it down. You may end up finding something that contradicts your thought, but this is all part of the process of reaching your own conclusions. As you prepare to write an essay, note down a quick bullet point summary of what each scholar’s opinion on the topic is, with a sub-bullet point or two detailing what evidence supports each opinion. Logically, which makes most sense? Which do you find yourself agreeing most with? Or does your opinion lie somewhere in between the viewpoints laid out in front of you? Another good way of writing to form your own opinions is to start a blog. This would allow you to share your responses to what you’ve been reading, and its more informal setting may make it easier for you to express your own views than the more formal context of an essay. An added bonus is that blogging about what you’ve read will really impress university admissions tutors!

9. Engage in debate

Image shows two road signs, pointing in opposite directions.

Academia doesn’t – or shouldn’t – take place in isolation, with just you and some books. Scholarship is about debate, and although you’ll probably see debate going on between scholars in books and journals, it’s probably not going to be enough to stimulate you to explore what you think. This is why academic discussion is so important. Engaging in debate with fellow students and tutors will challenge your opinions and offer alternative viewpoints to your own; it may be that they are more persuaded by different bits of evidence to you, or that they’ve read something that you haven’t. The act of explaining and defending your own opinion also gives you a chance to articulate it and consolidate the reasons why you believe something. Don’t be stubborn, though – you won’t gain any brownie points for sticking to an opinion for which the evidence doesn’t add up, so if you are found to be wrong, accept it! If this all sounds like way too much to think about when you’re already struggling to get to grips with scholarly literature, don’t worry! The more you practise this critical approach, the easier it will become. Make it a challenge to yourself to find something in an academic work to disagree with – and find evidence to back up your disagreement. This will help you become brilliant at debating, a skill that will prove invaluable in essays, the classroom and university interviews. This critical thinking will also stand you in good stead for life: from our friends to the news to television adverts, everyone is trying to convince you of something, so adopting a healthy degree of skepticism can only be a good thing!

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Look at the essay and do the exercises to improve your writing skills.

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OASIS: Writing Center

Writing a paper: comparing & contrasting.

A compare and contrast paper discusses the similarities and differences between two or more topics. The paper should contain an introduction with a thesis statement, a body where the comparisons and contrasts are discussed, and a conclusion.

Address Both Similarities and Differences

Because this is a compare and contrast paper, both the similarities and differences should be discussed. This will require analysis on your part, as some topics will appear to be quite similar, and you will have to work to find the differing elements.

Make Sure You Have a Clear Thesis Statement

Just like any other essay, a compare and contrast essay needs a thesis statement. The thesis statement should not only tell your reader what you will do, but it should also address the purpose and importance of comparing and contrasting the material.

Use Clear Transitions

Transitions are important in compare and contrast essays, where you will be moving frequently between different topics or perspectives.

Examples of transitions and phrases for comparisons: as well, similar to, consistent with, likewise, too
Examples of transitions and phrases for contrasts: on the other hand, however, although, differs, conversely, rather than.

For more information, check out our transitions page.

Structure Your Paper

Consider how you will present the information. You could present all of the similarities first and then present all of the differences. Or you could go point by point and show the similarity and difference of one point, then the similarity and difference for another point, and so on.

Include Analysis

It is tempting to just provide summary for this type of paper, but analysis will show the importance of the comparisons and contrasts. For instance, if you are comparing two articles on the topic of the nursing shortage, help us understand what this will achieve. Did you find consensus between the articles that will support a certain action step for people in the field? Did you find discrepancies between the two that point to the need for further investigation?

Make Analogous Comparisons

When drawing comparisons or making contrasts, be sure you are dealing with similar aspects of each item. To use an old cliché, are you comparing apples to apples?

Example of poor comparisons: Kubista studied the effects of a later start time on high school students, but Cook used a mixed methods approach. (This example does not compare similar items. It is not a clear contrast because the sentence does not discuss the same element of the articles. It is like comparing apples to oranges.)
Example of analogous comparisons: Cook used a mixed methods approach, whereas Kubista used only quantitative methods. (Here, methods are clearly being compared, allowing the reader to understand the distinction.

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Guest Essay

The One Idea That Could Save American Democracy

By Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix

Ms. Taylor and Ms. Hunt-Hendrix are political organizers and the authors of the book “Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea.”

These days, we often hear that democracy is on the ballot. And there’s a truth to that: Winning elections is critical, especially as liberal and progressive forces try to fend off radical right-wing movements. But the democratic crisis that our society faces will not be solved by voting alone. We need to do more than defeat Donald Trump and his allies — we need to make cultivating solidarity a national priority.

For years, solidarity’s strongest associations have been with the left and the labor movement — a term invoked at protests and on picket lines. But its roots are much deeper, and its potential implications far more profound, than we typically assume. Though we rarely speak about it as such, solidarity is a concept as fundamental to democracy as its better-known cousins: equality, freedom and justice. Solidarity is simultaneously a bond that holds society together and a force that propels it forward. After all, when people feel connected, they are more willing to work together, to share resources and to have one another’s backs. Solidarity weaves us into a larger and more resilient “we” through the precious and powerful sense that even though we are different, our lives and our fates are connected.

We have both spent years working as organizers and activists . If our experience has taught us anything, it is that a sense of connection and mutualism is rarely spontaneous. It must be nurtured and sustained. Without robust and effective organizations and institutions to cultivate and maintain solidarity, it weakens and democracy falters. We become more atomized and isolated, suspicious and susceptible to misinformation, more disengaged and cynical, and easily pitted against one another.

Democracy’s opponents know this. That’s why they invest huge amounts of energy and resources to sabotage transformative, democratic solidarity and to nurture exclusionary and reactionary forms of group identity. Enraged at a decade of social movements and the long-overdue revival of organized labor, right-wing strategists and their corporate backers have redoubled their efforts to divide and conquer the American public, inflaming group resentments in order to restore traditional social hierarchies and ensure that plutocrats maintain their hold on wealth and power. In white papers, stump speeches and podcasts, conservative ideologues have laid out their vision for capturing the state and using it as a tool to remake our country in their image.

If we do not prioritize solidarity, this dangerous and anti-democratic project will succeed. Far more than just a slogan or hashtag, solidarity can orient us toward a future worth fighting for, providing the basis of a credible and galvanizing plan for democratic renewal. Instead of the 20th-century ideal of a welfare state, we should try to imagine a solidarity state.

We urgently need a countervision of what government can and should be, and how public resources and infrastructure can be deployed to foster social connection and repair the social fabric so that democracy can have a chance not just to limp along, but to flourish. Solidarity, here, is both a goal worth reaching toward and the method of building the power to achieve it. It is both means and ends, the forging of social bonds so that we can become strong enough to shift policy together.

Historically, the question of solidarity has been raised during volatile junctures like the one we are living through. Contemporary conceptions of solidarity first took form after the democratic revolutions of the 18th century and over the course of the Industrial Revolution. As kings were deposed and the church’s role as a moral authority waned, philosophers and citizens wondered how society could cohere without a monarch or god. What could bind people in a secular, pluralistic age?

The 19th-century thinkers who began seriously contemplating and writing about the idea of solidarity often used the image of the human body, where different parts work in tandem. Most famously, the French sociologist Émile Durkheim put solidarity at the center of his inquiry, arguing that as society increased in complexity, social bonds between people would strengthen, each person playing a specialized role while connected to a larger whole. Solidarity and social cohesion, he argued, would be the natural result of increasing social and economic interdependence. But as Durkheim himself would eventually recognize, the industrial economy that he initially imagined would generate solidarity would actually serve to weaken its fragile ties, fostering what he called anomie, the corrosive hopelessness that accompanied growing inequality.

In the United States, solidarity never achieved the same intellectual cachet as in Europe. Since this nation’s founding, the concept has generally been neglected, and the practice actively suppressed and even criminalized. Attempts to forge cross-racial solidarity have met with violent suppression time and again, and labor organizing, effectively outlawed until the New Deal era, still occupies hostile legal ground. Decades of market-friendly policies, promoted by Republicans and Democrats alike, have undermined solidarity in ways both subtle and overt, from encouraging us to see ourselves as individual consumers rather than citizens to fostering individualism and competition over collectivity and cooperation.

As our profit-driven economy has made us more insecure and atomized — and more susceptible to authoritarian appeals — the far right has seized its opportunity. A furious backlash now rises to cut down the shoots of solidarity that sprung up as a result of recent movements pushing for economic, racial, environmental and gender justice. In response, programs that encourage diversity and inclusion are being targeted by billionaire investors, while small acts of solidarity — like helping someone get an abortion or bailing protesters out of jail — have been criminalized.

Awaiting the return of Mr. Trump, the Heritage Foundation has mapped out a plan to remake government and society, using the full power of the state to roll back what it calls “the Great Awokening” and restore a Judeo-Christian, capitalist “culture of life” and “blessedness.” “Woke” has been turned into a pejorative so that the word can be wielded to tarnish and break the solidarity that people have only just begun to experience.

Our vision of a solidarity state offers a pointed rejoinder to this project. Social democrats and socialists have been right to emphasize the need for redistribution and robust public investment in goods and services. We must restructure our economy so that it works for the many and not the few. But unlike conservatives — think, for example, of Margaret Thatcher, the prime minister of Britain who in 1981 said, “Economics are the method; the object is to change the heart and soul” — liberals and leftists have tended to downplay the role of policy in shaping public sensibilities. This is a mistake.

Laws and social programs not only shape material outcomes; they also shape us, informing public perceptions and preferences, and generating what scholars call policy feedback loops. There is no neutral state to aspire to. Policies can either foster solidarity and help repair the divides that separate us or deepen the fissures.

Today, the American welfare state too often does the latter. As sociologists including Suzanne Mettler and Matthew Desmond have detailed, lower-income people tend to be stigmatized for needing assistance, while more-affluent citizens reap a range of benefits that are comparatively invisible, mainly through tax credits and tax breaks. Both arrangements — the highly visible and stigmatized aid to the poor and the more invisible and socially acceptable aid to the affluent — serve to foster resentment and obscure how we are all dependent on the state in various ways.

Instead of treating citizens as passive and isolated recipients of services delivered from on high, a solidarity state would experiment with creative ways of fostering connection and participation at every opportunity for more Americans. What if we had basic guarantees that were universal rather than means-tested programs that distinguish between the deserving and undeserving, stigmatizing some and setting groups apart? What if, following the model of a widely admired program in Canada, the government aided groups of private citizens who want to sponsor and subsidize migrants and refugees? What if public schools, post offices, transit systems, parks, public utilities and jobs programs were explicitly designed to facilitate social connection and solidarity in addition to providing essential support and services?

We’ll get there only if we take up the challenge of building solidarity from wherever we happen to sit. Both means and end, solidarity can be a source of power, built through the day-to-day work of organizing, and our shared purpose. Solidarity is the essential and too often missing ingredient of today’s most important political project: not just saving democracy but creating an egalitarian, multiracial society that can guarantee each of us a dignified life.

Astra Taylor and Leah Hunt-Hendrix are political organizers and the authors of the book “Solidarity: The Past, Present, and Future of a World-Changing Idea.”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

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Regions & Countries

5 facts about religion and americans’ views of donald trump.

Faith leaders pray over then-President Donald Trump during an "Evangelicals for Trump" campaign event held at the King Jesus International Ministry on Jan. 3, 2020, in Miami. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

For most of the last decade, observers have been trying to understand why so many highly religious Americans have a favorable view of Donald Trump, asking how values voters can support a candidate who has been divorced twice, married three times and found liable for sexual abuse . Is Trump viewed most positively by those who might be described as “Christians in name only” – people who identify as Christians but aren’t actually religious?

The latest Pew Research Center survey sheds light on these and related questions. Here are five facts about religion and views of Trump, based on our survey of 12,693 U.S. adults conducted Feb. 13-25.

Pew Research Center conducted this analysis to explore the connection between religion and views of Donald Trump.

For this analysis, we surveyed 12,693 respondents from Feb. 13 to 25, 2024. Most of the respondents (10,642) are members of the Center’s American Trends Panel, an online survey panel recruited through national random sampling of residential addresses, which gives nearly all U.S. adults a chance of selection.

The remaining respondents (2,051) are members of three other panels, the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, the NORC AmeriSpeak panel and the SSRS opinion panel. All three are national survey panels recruited through random sampling (not “opt-in” polls). We used these additional panels to ensure that the survey would have enough Jewish and Muslim respondents to be able to report on their views.

The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education, religious affiliation and other categories.

For more, refer to the ATP’s methodology and the methodology for this survey .

Among religious groups, White evangelical Protestants continue to have the most positive opinion of Trump. Overall, two-thirds of White evangelical Protestants say they have a favorable view of the former president, including 30% who have a very favorable opinion of him.

A diverging bar chart showing that two-thirds of White evangelicals see Trump favorably.

Roughly half of White Catholics (51%) express positive views of Trump, as do 47% of White nonevangelical Protestants and 45% of Hispanic Protestants.

But in every other U.S. religious group large enough to be analyzed in this survey, large majorities have unfavorable opinions of Trump, including:

88% of atheists
82% of agnostics
80% of Black Protestants
79% of Jewish Americans

These religious patterns largely reflect partisan differences . Most White evangelicals tend to vote for Republicans, as do smaller majorities of White Catholics and White nonevangelical Protestants. By contrast, most atheists, agnostics, Black Protestants and Jews tend to vote for Democrats.

Trump’s favorability rating is similar among Christians who attend church regularly and those who don’t. Some observers have pointed out that Trump’s political base consists largely of people who call themselves Christians but don’t go to church. However, our survey shows that Christians who regularly go to church express equally favorable views of Trump as those who don’t often attend religious services.

A diverging bar chart showing that Christians who attend church regularly and those who don't have similar views of Trump.

Among Christians as a whole, 47% of those who attend church at least monthly say they have a favorable view of the former president. That’s on par with the 46% of non-church-attending Christians who say the same.

Among White evangelical Protestants, 68% of regular churchgoers have a positive view of Trump – similar to the 64% among White evangelicals who don’t attend church regularly.

The only exception to this pattern is among White Protestants who do not identify as born-again or evangelical. In this group, Trump is viewed more favorably by those who don’t attend church regularly than by those who do (52% vs. 32%).

Many of the people who view Trump favorably don’t go to religious services regularly – but very few are nonreligious. Overall, 64% of respondents who have a favorable view of Trump say they attend religious services a few times a year or less often, while 35% say they go to services at least once or twice a month. (Among all respondents, 69% say they attend religious services a few times a year or less, while 30% go at least monthly.)

Table comparing those who have a favorable view of Donald Trump by level of religious commitment. 23% of U.S. adults with a favorable view of Trump are highly religious, including 11% who are highly religious White evangelical Protestants.

Religious attendance is just one way of looking at religious commitment. Another common way we measure it is to combine survey questions about attendance at religious services, how often people pray and how important religion is to them.

U.S. adults who attend religious services at least weekly, pray daily and say religion is very important in their lives are categorized as highly religious. Those who seldom or never attend services, seldom or never pray and say religion is not too important or not at all important in their lives are counted as having low religious commitment. Everyone else is counted as having medium religious commitment.

Looked at this way, 23% of U.S. adults with a favorable view of Trump are highly religious, including 11% who are highly religious White evangelical Protestants.

Another 62% of Americans with a favorable view of Trump have medium levels of religious commitment, including 13% who are White evangelicals.

Just 15% of people with a favorable view of Trump have low levels of religious commitment. By far the biggest subgroup within this category is religious “nones” – people who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” Overall, 18% of people with a positive view of Trump are religious “nones,” including 10% who are “nones” with low levels of religiousness.

Very few of the people who have a positive view of Trump are White evangelical Protestants with a low level of religiousness. Indeed, self-described White evangelical Protestants who are not religiously observant account for less than 1% of the overall U.S. population. Even if a candidate wanted to form a coalition rooted in support from nonreligious evangelicals, there just aren’t enough of them to be a national political base.

Most people who view Trump positively don’t think he is especially religious himself. But many think he stands up for people with religious beliefs like theirs. Just 8% of people who have a positive view of Trump think he is very religious, while 51% think he is somewhat religious and 38% say he is not too or not at all religious .

But 51% of those with a favorable view of Trump think he stands up for people with religious beliefs like their own, including 24% who think he does this a great deal and 27% who say he does this quite a bit.

Among White evangelical Protestants with a favorable view of Trump, just 9% view him as very religious. But roughly two-thirds think he does a great deal (32%) or quite a bit (35%) to stand up for people with religious beliefs like theirs.

Table showing that among Americans who like Donald Trump, just 8% say he is very religious himself – but 51% say he does a great deal or quite a bit to stand up for people with religious beliefs like theirs

Religious “nones” who are culturally Christian view Trump a bit more positively than religious “nones” who aren’t.

A diverging bar chart showing that, among religious 'nones, cultural Christians are modestly more favorable toward Trump.

One way to measure for differences between “cultural” and “practicing” Christians is to compare Christians who do and don’t do go to church regularly, as we did above. Another is to look at religiously unaffiliated respondents, or “nones” – people who describe themselves, religiously, as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.” In our new survey, we asked these Americans whether they think of themselves as Christians “aside from religion … for example ethnically, culturally or because of your family’s background.”

Religious “nones” who identify as culturally Christian have a modestly more favorable opinion of Trump than “nones” who do not identify as Christian in any way. Still, large majorities in both groups express negative views of the former president.

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Two-thirds of Republicans want Trump to retain major political role; 44% want him to run again in 2024

A partisan chasm in views of trump’s legacy, how america changed during donald trump’s presidency, trump’s approval ratings so far are unusually stable – and deeply partisan, most americans don’t see trump as religious; fewer than half say they think he’s christian, most popular.

About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

Washington is holding up a future of inexpensive EVs

Both biden and trump have stood in the way of cheap electric vehicles from china. who’s that really benefiting.

The BYD Seal U electric car at the Geneva International Motor Show in Switzerland last month.

Back in the early 1980s, when the US government forced Japan to limit car exports to the United States, the goal was to protect Detroit.

American car companies said the restraints would give them time to cut costs and improve their vehicles’ quality and fuel economy. If the Japanese wanted to sell more vehicles than the limits allowed, they would have to build factories here. Those factories, the Detroit automakers assumed, would ultimately be organized by the United Auto Workers union, whose contracts stipulated hundreds of pages of work rules.

We all know how that turned out. Japanese companies, as well as Korean and German automakers, built a flock of nonunion plants, mainly in the South. Thousands of people applied for jobs, the factories fueled local economies, and the protectionist solution backfired. Unable to stave off the onslaught, Detroit lost market share and closed factories.

“It was more of a political tactic than anything else,” says Jeffrey Garten, dean emeritus of the Yale School of Management and undersecretary of commerce for international trade during the Clinton administration.

Now, in a repeat of the politics that enveloped the 1980s, the Biden administration is fighting Chinese automakers that make inexpensive electric vehicles.

There are no Chinese-built cars available in the United States yet, even though Chinese companies have been displaying vehicles at American auto shows for years. The main reason is a 27.5 percent tariff on imports of Chinese-built cars, levied by the Trump administration and still in force. Last month, President Biden announced an investigation into whether Chinese vehicles are security threats.

Many pundits say that was done to pick up crucial votes in my home state of Michigan, but it isn’t clear whether American consumers really believe that goods from China pose such perils. Similar allegations are being levied against TikTok in Congress, and yet Americans have helped make it a social media behemoth.

As I’ve said before, I doubt Detroit’s heart is truly in the transition to electric vehicles: The companies are already backing away from their bold proclamations of an EV future. So why not give consumers more choices, in the form of Chinese electric vehicles?

The United Auto Workers would instantly cry “No!” The union has put on a full-court press to organize the workers at the international carmakers and Tesla. Union president Shawn Fain regularly rails against “all the Chinese companies that want to enter our market.”

But while Detroit is still talking about a transition from gasoline engines to EVs, Chinese manufacturers are far ahead of American companies in bringing a wide range of EVs to the market. Since 2010, some 300 companies have rolled out EVs of all shapes and sizes, from minicars to full-on luxury vehicles.

A BYD car carrier ship moored in Bremerhaven, Germany, on Feb. 26.

While competition has winnowed their ranks to about 100 brands, “there’s a lot of very intriguing, quite frankly fascinating, new technology, features, and design that we’ve never seen before here in the United States,” says Robby DeGraff, product and consumer insights analyst at AutoPacific. “Some of it is really, really cool.”

For instance, the BYD Han, a midsized family car, can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in a zippy 3.9 seconds. Wuling has sold more than 1 million of its Hongguang Mini EV, which goes for just $4,730 with a battery . You also can buy one without a battery and get a subscription that lets you swap in your choice of charge, depending on how you will use it.

BYD, or Build Your Dream, is the clear Chinese EV leader, challenging Tesla for global leadership, even accumulating its own fleet of ships to send its EVs around the world. BYD wants to build a plant in Mexico , officially to supply Latin American countries, a move many experts suspect is the first step toward selling in the United States, although BYD denies it.

A big fear is that the Chinese carmakers, facing sales pressure at home, will dump their cheaper EVs in the US market, where the overall average EV costs about $55,000 , or around 17 percent more than the average gasoline-powered car.

Price “remains one of the top reasons” that consumers are rejecting EVs, DeGraff says, along with worries about range and refueling.

But cheaper sticker prices alone won’t be enough to recruit customers. Just as imports have done in the past, BYD, or any other Chinese company, would have to prove to Americans that it is trustworthy enough to earn their business. That might be a long-range prospect.

Toyota, which now ranks second in US market share behind General Motors, needed a half century to climb to that spot. It introduced its first imports to America in 1957, only to pause when it learned its cars did not have enough power to accelerate on American highways. It returned for good in 1959 but took until 2003 for it to pass Chrysler and Ford.

Given the lesson from the Japanese automakers, the United States can allow Chinese entrants but keep close watch on them. If there are true concerns about security, the government can monitor what goes under the hood of these cars. You might not be able to block the transmission of all data back to China — after all, every company, domestic and foreign, tracks buyers’ information — but there could be penalties if customers’ data is used for spying.

For years, American companies simply didn’t care about EV development, while Chinese companies did. Detroit should not be rewarded for its lack of vision, nor should consumers be penalized for it.

Micheline Maynard is the author of “The End of Detroit: How the Big Three Lost Their Grip on the American Car Market.”

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Ultimate Guide To Writing An Opinion Essay: 50 ...
To write an effective opinion essay, it is important to have a clear thesis statement, use supporting evidence and examples, address counter arguments, and provide a strong conclusion. By mastering the elements of an opinion essay, students can develop their writing skills and become more effective communicators. Writing Process of an Opinion Essay
How to Write an Opinion Essay: Structure, Examples
Opinion Essay Topics. Before learning about the structure, choosing from a wide range of opinion essay topics is important. Picking an essay theme is something that can be done very simply. Choosing an excellent opinion essay topic that you are interested in or have a passion for is advisable. Otherwise, you may find the writing process boring.
An opinion essay
You can either agree, partially agree or disagree with the statement, explaining and justifying your opinion. The structure should be: Introduction. The first reason why you agree/disagree. The second reason why you agree/disagree. The third reason why you agree/disagree (if you have one) Conclusion. Use phrases to organise and link your ideas ...
How to Write an Opinion Essay: Structure and Examples
Structure of an Opinion Essay. An opinion essay should have a clear and well-organized structure, which consists of the following components: 1. Introduction. 2. Body Paragraphs. 3. Conclusion. Let's take a closer look at each of these components.
How to Write an Opinion Essay (With Tips and Examples)
Body Paragraphs. The body paragraphs of your good opinion essay should provide arguments and supporting examples to substantiate your opinion. Begin each paragraph with a distinct topic sentence and use credible sources to provide substantiation for your viewpoint with dependable data. Addressing counterarguments in your body paragraphs can ...
How to Write an Argumentative Essay
Make a claim. Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim. Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim) Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives. The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays.
An opinion essay
Read the question carefully. Respond to all ideas in it or all parts of it. Plan your ideas first and then choose the best ones. Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words. Show understanding of both sides of the argument. Use linking words to connect your ideas. Draw your conclusion from the main ideas in your essay.
How to Write an Opinion Essay: A Complete Guide
An introduction, main body, and conclusion will be the main parts of the opinion paper. The classic structure consists of 5 passages. That is, three will be in the main part and two more for the opinion essay introduction and final part. You may include some supporting grounds for your opinion on a topic in the introductory part.
How to Write an Opinion Essay in 5 Steps
Opinion Essay Writing Tips. 1. Clarity is Key. Ensure your writing is clear and concise. Use straightforward language and avoid unnecessary jargon. A well-articulated opinion essay is easily understood and resonates with a broader audience. 2. Stay Focused. Maintain a clear focus on your chosen topic.
Argumentative Essays
The argumentative essay is a genre of writing that requires the student to investigate a topic; collect, generate, and evaluate evidence; and establish a position on the topic in a concise manner. Please note: Some confusion may occur between the argumentative essay and the expository essay. These two genres are similar, but the argumentative ...
Opinion Essay
Check for free. An opinion essay is a type of essay that presents the writer's personal viewpoint on a particular issue. It is a form of persuasive writing that aims to convince the reader of the validity of the writer's opinion. Students should clearly state their standpoint and provide supporting evidence to persuade the reader.
How to Write an Opinion Essay Like a Pro
Use a 5-paragraph essay structure (1): Your opinion paper will need an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Feel free to use this template: The outline will save you tons of time in writing an essay. Once you have all the arguments, facts, and examples of where they should go, it will be easier (and faster!) to write a draft.
Can an Essay Have personal Opinion: Expressing Personal Views
The answer to this question is yes. Essays can have opinions. As noted, when writing a formal essay, you should be objective. What this means is that you should avoid the usage of personal pronouns, express your attitudes through the use of feeling and thinking verbs, usage of attitudinal adjectives like spectacular, and emotive language or ...
What is an Opinion Essay? Explore its Structure, Key Differences
An opinion essay is a type of essay in which students have to express their opinions on a topic. Their point of view is supported by relevant examples and justifications. An opinion essay helps you to present and argue your point of view logically. Therefore, you should be clear in expressing your viewpoint. The opinion essay's basic purpose is ...
3 Strong Argumentative Essay Examples, Analyzed
Argumentative Essay Example 2. Malaria is an infectious disease caused by parasites that are transmitted to people through female Anopheles mosquitoes. Each year, over half a billion people will become infected with malaria, with roughly 80% of them living in Sub-Saharan Africa.
How to Write an A+ Argumentative Essay
Though every essay is founded on these two ideas, there are several different types of essays, differentiated by the style of the writing, how the writer presents the thesis, and the types of evidence used to support the thesis statement. Essays can be roughly divided into four different types: #1: Argumentative. #2: Persuasive. #3: Expository.
The Four Main Types of Essay
An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays. Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and ...
9 Ways to Think More Rationally and Develop Your Own Opinions
1. Read lots. Increase and diversify what you read. The first and most crucial point about forming your own opinions is that it's vital to read widely - and consider what you read critically, looking for holes in arguments. If you only read one academic's work about a particular issue, you only have one point of view - and you'll end ...
An opinion essay
Worksheets and downloads. An opinion essay - exercises 806.72 KB. An opinion essay - answers 284.99 KB. An opinion essay - essay 657.49 KB. An opinion essay - writing practice 187.62 KB.
130 New Prompts for Argumentative Writing
Try our student writing prompts. In 2017, we compiled a list of 401 argumentative writing prompts, all drawn from our daily Student Opinion column. Now, we're rounding up 130 more we've ...
Academic Guides: Writing a Paper: Comparing & Contrasting
Use Clear Transitions. Transitions are important in compare and contrast essays, where you will be moving frequently between different topics or perspectives. Examples of transitions and phrases for comparisons: as well, similar to, consistent with, likewise, too. Examples of transitions and phrases for contrasts: on the other hand, however ...
Opinion
New York Times Opinion columnists, editorials and guest essays. Analysis from David Brooks, Maureen Dowd, Charles Blow, Paul Krugman and others.
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Plastics have enabled extraordinary advances in virtually every area of medicine and have made our lives immeasurably more convenient. Multiple lines of evidence now indicate, however, that plastic...
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Among religious groups, White evangelical Protestants continue to have the most positive opinion of Trump. Overall, two-thirds of White evangelical Protestants say they have a favorable view of the former president, including 30% who have a very favorable opinion of him.. Roughly half of White Catholics (51%) express positive views of Trump, as do 47% of White nonevangelical Protestants and 45 ...
Washington is holding up a future of inexpensive EVs
Since 2010, some 300 companies have rolled out EVs of all shapes and sizes, from minicars to full-on luxury vehicles. A BYD car carrier ship moored in Bremerhaven, Germany, on Feb. 26. FOCKE ...

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