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How to Write an Opinion Essay

Opinion essays are different from most other forms of argumentative writing in that they do not follow such a rigid structure. Because of this format, opinion essays might initially seem more challenging to write. However, opinion essays also give the writer more flexibility and room for creativity.

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This guide will walk you through the process of writing an opinion essay.

 

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1 

Brainstorm

Come up with a topic for your opinion essay. It should be something you are interested in and feel connected to. Think about issues you are passionate about and things that make you angry to see or hear. Consider experiences that have shaped you. What have you learned and what perspective can you take away? What do you want to convince readers to think or do?

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Need some topic inspiration? Read a few editorials (see Resources - Mentor Texts) or use this list of prompts from the New York Times as a jumping-off point. 

2

Develop A Thesis

Your claim is the heart of your opinion essay. It tells the reader the main argument of your essay. Your background information, evidence, and reasoning will all be built around your claim. It is important that your claim is focused and concise. If it is too broad, you will likely have a hard time effectively supporting the entire topic in a short article.

 

If there's a general issue you want to write about, try approaching a smaller part of the topic. For example, in her first opinion essay, Anne addressed how young adult literature should be more appreciated because of its ability to teach readers about themselves and their world. Her specific claim fell within the larger topic of the importance of reading.

3

Research

Before writing your opinion essay, it is important that you have a deep understanding of the topic. You should know both your side of the argument and the opposing side (if applicable). Read newspaper articles, academic journals, blog posts, and more to gain context and understand existing opinions about the topic. Research will help you develop your own ideas and write an engaging, comprehensive essay.     

4

Plan

There is no one right way to plan an opinion essay. You might be someone who writes a detailed outline of what every paragraph will cover, or you might prefer to merely start with a loose list of your main points. Either way, you should begin with some sort of plan to guide you through the writing process. Your plan should include your thesis, claims to support your thesis, and evidence to support your claims.      

5

Write

You are now ready to write your opinion essay! Don't worry about making your writing perfect. At this point, it's just about putting words on paper. Although opinion essays are less structured than other types of argumentative writing, your essay should still have a few key features.

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  1. Lede: This is your introduction. It should immediately grab the reader's attention and make them want to continue reading your essay. Your lede could be a news hook, a personal anecdote, or a shocking statistic. As long as will interest the reader and introduce your argument, anything goes.    

  2. Thesis: The thesis usually comes somewhere near the beginning of your essay. It tells the reader what your article will be about. Every part of your opinion essay should be working to support your thesis. See Step 2, Develop A Thesis for more information.

  3. Claims: Claims are smaller, more specific arguments that convince the reader of why your thesis is true. An opinion essay will typically have two to three claims.

  4. Evidence: Evidence is used to support your claims and persuade the reader of your argument. Keep in mind that evidence comes in many different forms. In an opinion essay, evidence might be statistics or a quote from a scholarly article, but it could also be something less formal, like a personal story or background info.

  5. Analysis: In your own words, explain what the evidence means. Why is it important? How does it connect to your thesis? 

  6. Counter-argument (if applicable): Acknowledge any obvious counter-arguments and use evidence to refute them. If necessary, concede to an opposing point or a flaw in your argument. This is a common technique used in persuasive writing to make the author (you) seem more logical, and thus believable.  

  7. Conclusion: Finish your opinion essay with a bang. Leave the reader with something to think about. Consider revisiting your lede, offering solutions, and/or including a call-to-action.

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Reading published editorials or opinion essays can be a great way to better understand the tone, structure, and writing style of the genre. Check out the Opinion section of your favorite newspaper or see Resources - Mentor Texts.

6

Edit

Editing is the final step in the writing process. Ensure your opinion essay has an organized and easy-to-follow structure and check for flaws in reasoning. Proofread for grammar and spelling errors. Delete repetitive sentences and make your arguments more succinct. Opinion essays are clear and concise; your final essay should be roughly between 700-1000 words. Self-editing is important, but friends, family, or mentors can also provide great constructive feedback.    

7

Submit

It's finally time to submit your opinion essay for publishing! Use the instructions and form on the Contribute page to send in your article.

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