12.1 Understanding the purpose of opinion paragraphs
What is an Opinion Paragraph?
An opinion paragraph is a focused piece of writing where the author expresses their personal views, beliefs, or subjective attitudes toward a specific topic, issue, or subject.
Unlike a definition or narrative paragraph, the opinion paragraph is driven by the writer's personal stance rather than a set of facts or a sequence of events.
The Core Purposes of an Opinion Paragraph
Opinion paragraphs serve two main, persuasive goals:
1. To Persuade the Reader to Agree 🤝
The primary purpose of an opinion paragraph is to convince the reader that the writer's position is correct, reasonable, or worth supporting.
Description: The writer uses their subjective thoughts and targeted evidence to build a strong case for their viewpoint.
Pointer: Your topic sentence must clearly state your stance (e.g., "Online learning is superior to traditional classrooms.").
2. To Encourage a Different Perspective 🤔
Even if the writer doesn't fully change the reader's mind, a successful opinion paragraph should encourage the reader to consider the topic from a new or different point of view.
Description: The paragraph challenges common assumptions or explores angles the reader may not have previously considered.
Where Opinion Paragraphs Are Used
| Context | Purpose | Example |
| Persuasive Writing | Arguing a specific position in an essay, editorial, or letter. | A paragraph arguing that plastic straws should be banned. |
| Personal Narratives | Expressing the writer's emotions or reaction to a personal event. | A paragraph describing why the writer felt a trip was the 'most important' experience of their life. |
| Analytical Essays | Offering a subjective judgment or evaluation of literature, art, or policy. | A paragraph arguing that a particular novel's ending was 'unjustified.' |
Subjectivity vs. Evidence
In an opinion paragraph, the writer's subjective thoughts and feelings are emphasized.
Personal Stance: This is the core belief (e.g., "Zoos should be phased out.").
Evidence: You must still provide some evidence or examples (e.g., statistics on animal health, examples of successful sanctuary models) to support your opinion and demonstrate the validity of your viewpoint.
Overall: The purpose of the opinion paragraph is to express the writer's personal perspective on a topic and to use reasoned judgment to encourage the reader to see the topic from that point of view.