English 2 - Module 5 lesson 2

English 2 - Module 5 lesson 2

• 1.
  Module 4 OpinionParagraphs In everyday life, people have opinions about issues and talk about them. People also write their opinions. In college classes you often have to express and support your opinions. Information taken from: Hogue, A. (2008). First Steps in Academic Writing. Longman.
• 2.
  There are fourkeys to writing a successful opinion paragraph. 1. State your opinion clearly in the topic sentence. 2. Explain each reason in logical order. 3. Use facts to support each reason. 4. End with a powerful concluding sentence that your reader will remember.
• 3.
  Facts and Opinions Opinions are statements of someone’s belief. When you say, “I believe…” or “I think that…” you are expressing your opinion. Opinions are different from facts. People can disagree with opinions. Facts are true statements that none can disagree with. Facts Opinions The sun rises in the east. The sunrise was beautiful this morning. Women could not vote in the United States until 1920. Everyone should vote. The temperature of the lake is 55°F. The lake is too cold for swimming. Mrs. Kingsley said, “I am a good Mrs. Kingsley is a good mother. mother.”
• 4.
  Model ~ OpinionParagraph Video Games and Violence In my opinion, violent games are harmful to young people. First of all, playing these games can cause changes in the behavior of Young people. According to studies by psychologist, frequen players have poorer grades in school. They are also more hostile and act more agressively toward their teaches and classmates. A second reason is that they make young people less sensitive to violence in the real world. The games make it fun to shoot and kill, and the line between play violence and real violence becomes very thin or disapears entirely. Thirteen-year-old Noah Wilson was stabbed to death by a friend who often played the violent game “Mortal Combat”. Noah’s mother said, “The boy who stabbed him was acting out the part of Cyrex,” who is a character in the game. A third reason is that violent video games teach players to use violence to solve problems. If classmates tease you, don’t try to work it out – bring a gun and shoot them. An extreme Example of this kind of thinking resulted in the Columbine High School massacre. Two students shot and killed twelve classmates, a teacher, and themselves at Columbine High School in Colorado. The two Young killers were fans of the games “Doom” and “Wolfenstein 3D”. For these three reasons, I feel that violent video games are harmful to young people and should be controled – or, even better, banned.
• 5.
  Questions on theModel Answer the questions based on the model paragraph. 1. What is the writer’s opinion about violent video games? What phrase does she use to introduce her opinion? 2. How many reasons does she give for her opinion? 3. How does she support her opinions?
• 6.
  Answers Answer thequestions based on the model paragraph. 1. What is the writer’s opinion about violent video games? What phrase does she use to introduce her opinion? Video games are harmful to young people. The phrase she uses is: In my opinion, … 2. How many reasons does she give for her opinion? She gives three reasons. 3. How does she support her opinions? She supports her opinions giving specific facts.
• 7.
  Model Detailed Outlinefor Opinion Paragraph Look at part of the outline for the previous opinion paragraph. Remember to support your opinion with examples: facts or experiences. TITLE Violent Games and Violence Topic Sentence In my opinión, violent video games are harmful to Young people. Opinion 1st Reason A. Playing these games can cause changes in the behavior of young people. Opinion Detail 1. According to psycologist, frequent players have poorer grades in school. Fact Detail 2. They are also more hostile and act more agressively toward their teachers and classmates. Fact 2nd Reason B. Violent games make young people less sensitive to violence in the real world. Opinion Detail 1. The games make it fun to shoot and kill, and the line between play violence and reality becomes thin or disappears. Opinion Detail 2. Noah Wilson was stabbed to death by a friend who often played the violent game “Mortal Combat”. Fact Detail 3. Noah’s mother said, “The boy who stabbed him was acting out the part of Cyrex”. Fact
• 8.
  Transition Signals foran Opinion Paragraph When you state an opinion, you should indicate that it is an opinion by using an opinion signal, such as these: Transition signal Example In my opinion, … (with a comma) In my opinion, everyone should be allowed to own a gun. In my view, … (with a comma) In my view, no one should be allowed to own a gun. In believe (that)… (without a comma) I believe that smoking should not be allowed in public paces. I think (that)… (without a comma) I think smokers have rights too.
• 9.
  Transition Signals foran Opinion Paragraph To give information from an outside source (a book, a newspaper, another person), use according to with a comma. Transition signal Example According to X, … (with a comma) According to Gregory, his mother never wrote to him or sent him birthday cards. According to a story in Science Today Magazine, the Earth is becoming warmer. According to a government report, few Russians have more than one child.
• 10.
  Writer’s Tip! Whenyou write, you can use on the sentences starters above (In my opinion, in my view…). However, be careful not to use too many, or to use them too often. That can make your writing sound weak. The reader knows that the paragraph is your opinion, because you wrote it!.
• 11.
  Modal Auxiliaries forExpressing Opinions When you speak, you introduce opinions with phrases like I think, In my opinion, and I believe. In general, these introductory phrases are not needed in writing. They can even make you sound less sure of your ideas. Instead, writers use grammatical methods such as modal auxiliary verbs to express their opinions.
• 12.
  Affirmative The citycould should ought to has to must add more bike paths. Modal auxiliary verbs show the strength of a writer’s opinion or argument. weakest strongest
• 13.
  Negative The citydoesn’t have to shouldn’t can’t must not allow more cars. Modal auxiliary verbs show the strength of a writer’s opinion or argument. weakest strongest