Opinion essays are useful writing tools for sharing your perspectives on complex topics and researching various sources and authors to support your ideas and statements. You can create an opinion essay in a variety of ways, but it's important to maintain a clear and easy-to-follow structure that includes your main points and supporting argumentation. 

An opinion essay is a non-fiction piece of writing where the author presents a thesis that comprises their personal point of view about a particular topic. This essay requires the writer to provide arguments to prove their thesis and to use logical reasoning to support their assertions. This type of essay starts with a question that the writer seeks to answer. To answer these types of questions, it's necessary to research the topics and develop more comprehensive opinions that can persuade the reader of the writer's point of view.

HOW TO WRITE AN OPINION ESSAY

1. THINK ABOUT THE TOPIC

Before starting your essay, it's important to understand the purpose of the question and the approaches to answering it. For example, consider the question, Is a video game a useful tool for learning?

Here, the topic aims to explore the pros and cons of using video games as a teaching tool. Understanding the purpose of the topic allows you to choose and research relevant sources to formulate an informed opinion. It also helps you discard irrelevant information or address the topic with a biased perspective, such as from a gamer's perspective.

2. RESEARCH THE TOPIC

Writing an opinion essay requires data, facts, and logical reasoning to support your argument. You can get relevant information from authors and books regarding the topic or consult websites, social media, and magazines to do so. You can also conduct interviews with experts and read newspapers to gather information about the topic.

3. CREATE A PERSUASIVE AND APPEALING INTRODUCTION

This section aims to introduce the topic and engage the reader. To do this, you can include any information about the subject that you consider appealing to your audience, such as a quote or a fact. If you do this, it's important to reference the source in the text by indicating the author's name and the publication year. This section comprises the first paragraph of the essay.

4. INCLUDE YOUR THESIS STATEMENT

As you're writing an opinion essay, it's essential to use the researched information to create your thesis and support your argument, rather than simply quoting information from other sources. Your thesis comprises your position or claim on the selected topic and indicates to the reader what your essay is about. Here, it's important to use a clear and concise sentence that clearly describes and explains your argument. Next, provide a summary of your argument to indicate what the reader might find in the body of your essay.

5. PROVIDE ARGUMENTS AND EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT YOUR THESIS

Provide arguments based on your research and use a logical order to show your point of view on the topic. Instead of writing a list of reasons, you can expand on each one and show your ideas in an organized manner. It's also important to provide evidence to support your arguments, which might consist of data presented by other authors on their books or websites.

Here, it's beneficial to use examples because they help readers better understand your main points, especially if the topic is complex or involves abstract concepts. For instance, if your essay addresses a topic related to physics, it might be helpful to provide examples of the concepts you're discussing. You can use three or more paragraphs to present your supporting arguments, but avoid adding more information than the one indicated in the thesis.

6. WRITE A CONCLUSION

Your conclusion usually comprises a short paragraph that summarizes your arguments and thesis. Here, you can reaffirm your opinion and emphasize your position, as you've presented all the relevant arguments throughout the essay. This section doesn't provide any new information, but it does provide a brief sentence that answers the question that motivated your essay. It's important to show confidence in your conclusion, as this is your last chance to persuade your reader that you've been fair and thorough in your arguments.