OSSLT Prep #4: Writing a Series of Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion

Adapted from Heart Lake Secondary School Literacy Prep

About the Task #4 : How to Write a Series of Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion

• An opinion is a thought or belief about something or someone.

• There is NO WRONG opinion. You just need to support your opinion.

• The series of paragraphs expressing an opinion is a longer piece of writing in which you state your opinion about a specific topic.

• In a minimum of three paragraphs, you will state your opinion and support your opinion by giving reasons, examples, facts and details that will persuade a reader that your opinion is reasonable.

What does it look like? On the OSSLT, the topic is CURRENT and familiar.

• The instructions are always the same; the only change is the topic you are given to write

about.

What are the instructions asking you to do?

• “Task: Write a minimum of three paragraphs expressing an opinion…”

• As you are writing about YOUR opinion, you may use first person. (I, me, us, we)

• The next slides will outline the structure of the task: Writing a Series of Paragraphs Expressing an Opinion.

The Steps to Success! The structure of the series of paragraphs should look like this:

Introductory Paragraph/Sentence:

• Clearly state your opinion in your topic sentence (T). ✔ Pick one side of the argument only and stick with it.

• DO NOT choose both sides. Example: “I agree in some cases, but disagree in other cases”.

• Include three reasons why you think this way.

Body Paragraphs: TEECPresent & support your three reasons!1 paragraph = 1 reason. Therefore, 3 body paragraphs!

• Use the TEEC method to organize what you want to say. 🔑There are generally 4-5 sentences in a paragraph.

• T - Sentence 1 – Topic Sentence: This is your topic sentence and directly supports your point #1.

• E - Sentence 2 – Example: This supports your opinion. It can be facts, evidence, quotes, data, etc. This is your PROOF! You can make this up on the OSSLT!

• E - Sentence 3 –Explanation: This supports the example - how do the facts, evidence, quotes, data, etc. support your reason?

• C - Sentence 4 – Concluding sentence

The conclusion!…and you’re done!

• In a final paragraph/sentence(s), RESTATE your opinion.

• Sum up your main POINTS to prove that the position you have clearly stated is a valid one.

Be sure to use to use transition words:They connect your ideas across all of your paragraphs.

• Examples of transition words are:•

The first (second, third) reason is… • Another reason is… • First (Firstly), / Second (Secondly), / Third (Thirdly), … • Moreover, / Furthermore, / In addition, / Also, … • Finally, / Lastly, … • The final / last reason is…

You should also choose effective transition words for your conclusion:•

In conclusion, … • In Summary, … • To sum up, … • To conclude, … • In short, … • In brief, …

Scoring Guide:

Code Reason for Code

0 You left it blank (you didn’t write anything)

Your response is illegible, or your response doesn’t relate to the writing prompt -Your response is off-topic

10 Your response is related to the prompt but does not express an opinion,

OR Your response expresses an opinion, but it has no supporting details, or it gives details that don’t re-late to your opinion. There is no evidence of organization.

20 The response is related to the prompt, but:

o only part of your response expresses and supports your opinion,

OR

o you express and support your opinion, but the opinion is unclear or inconsistent. -You have provided too few details, or repeat them

There is not much evidence of organization.

30 The response is related to the prompt and expresses a clear opinion, but:

o the supporting details you provided are vague, or too few, or

o you haven’t always connected the details to your opinion clearly.

Some organization is evident, but not enough to keep the reader from being distracted and puzzled.

40 The response is related to the prompt. Your opinion is clear and consistent, and you developed it with sufficient supporting details, but:

o only some details are specific.

The organization of ideas is mechanical.

50 The response is related to the prompt. Your opinion is clear and developed consistently. You have included sufficient specific supporting details. The organization is logical.

60 The response is related to the prompt. Your opinion is clear and developed consistently with thoughtfully chosen and sufficient details. The organization is coherent, demonstrating a thoughtful progression of ideas.

A pass is between 40

and 60.

Opinion is clear, developed

and includes specific

supporting details.

Why/What is it a

PASS?

Organization is coherent ,

demonstrating thoughtful

progression.

Language Conventions Scoring Guide:

Code Reason for Code

10 You haven’t written enough for your writing to be scored, OR

Errors you’ve made make it very hard for a reader to understand what you have written.

20 Errors distract the reader

30 Errors do not distract the reader

40 Control of spelling, grammar and punctuation is evident in written work.

You want to aim

for a 30 or 40.

Exemplar:

This is a student

exemplar that scored

a 60.

In the test booklet, you

will have two lined

pages to write your

response.

Exemplar Continued

Now you try!Teachers: Students can complete this task or one that is embedded in your curriculum.