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I can write an opinion essay.
1 SPEAKING Discuss the questions in pairs. Give reasons for your opinions.
1 Do you think most teenagers have a healthy lifestyle?
2 Do you have a healthy lifestyle? Why? / Why not?
2 Read the task below. What two different elements does the task contain?
Many people agree that teenagers don't get enough exercise. Write an essay in which you give your own view of the problem and propose ways of solving it.
3 Read the essay. What is the writer's opinion about the problem? How many solutions does she propose?
Most people agree that the lack of exercise in teenagers' lives is a serious problem. But what are the causes of this problem and what can we do to address them?
I strongly believe that today's teenagers spend too much time playing on electronic gadgets. They hardly ever do outdoor activities and this is why many of them do not get enough exercise. What is more, many teenagers are overweight and this makes them less willing to do exercise.
In order to tackle this problem, a number of measures are necessary. In my view, it is unrealistic to limit the amount of time teenagers spend on gadgets. What I propose instead is that we make sure school canteens only serve healthy food. Furthermore, I would strongly recommend that we give all teenagers free membership of their local sports facilities.
To conclude, lack of exercise can cause long-term health problems, so it is vital that we act now. It seems to me that the measures I propose will begin to remedy the situation.
Writing Strategy
1 Divide your essay into an introduction, main body and conclusion.
2 If the task has more than one element, deal with them in different paragraphs within the main body.
3 Use formal language.
4 Support opinions with evidence or examples.
4 Read the Writing Strategy. Does the writer follow all of the advice? Give examples.
5 KEY PHRASES Complete the useful phrases with the words below and find them in the text in exercise 3.
common conclusion view
opinion propose said see seems
solution sum What widely would
1 Introducing your opinions
I (strongly) believe that In my 1___________/ 2___________.
It 3___________ to me that As I it 4___________it.
2 Introducing other people's opinions
It is a 5___________ held view that
It is often 6___________ that
It is a 7___________ belief that
3 Making an additional point
8___________ is more, Moreover, Furthermore,
4 Introducing proposals and solutions
One 9___________ might be to
What I 10___________ (instead) is that
I 11___________ strongly recommend that
5 Concluding
To 12___________ up, In 13___________, To conclude,
6 SPEAKING Work in pairs. Read the task below and discuss questions 1-3. Write notes.
Some people believe that doing sport at school is a distraction from more important work. Write an essay in which you give your own opinion about this issue and propose ways for students to do more sport at school without causing problems for their studies.
1 Which sports do you do at school? How often?
2 Are there other subjects that are more important than sport? Which ones? Why?
3 How could more sport be added to the school timetable without affecting other subjects?
7 Using your notes from exercise 6, write a paragraph plan for your essay. Use the essay in exercise 3 as a model and follow the advice in the Writing Strategy.
8 Write your essay (150-180 words). Follow your paragraph plan from exercise 7 and the advice in the Writing Strategy. Use phrases from exercise 5.
CHECK YOUR WORK
Have you ...
• followed all the advice in the Writing Strategy?
• included phrases from exercise 5?
• checked your spelling and grammar?
