You will learn
- State an opinion.
- Give reasons.
- Support with facts.
- Organise an essay.
Version 0.2 · expanded edition · built from cited public sources Content is based on the official frameworks and sources listed under Sources and standards. No official endorsement is claimed. Written in the style of common primary school assessments. No exam result is promised.
Student lesson
- Choose your opinion.
- List reasons.
- Add facts for each reason.
- Write and conclude.
Words to know
writing that argues for a point of view
why you hold your opinion
a statement that can be checked
your main opinion in one sentence
1. Discover: Should every school have a library?
Opening. Every school should have a library. Reason 1. Libraries help children read more. Learners with access to books read for pleasure more often. Reason 2. Libraries give equal chances. A child with no books at home can borrow one. Closing. For these reasons, every school should have a library.
Think: What reasons and facts are given?
2. Understand: Argue with reasons
Idea 1: State it
An opinion essay begins with a clear thesis: Every school should have a library.
Idea 2: Reasons and facts
Give two or three reasons and support each with facts or examples.
Idea 3: Close
End by restating your opinion and summing up the reasons.
3. Worked examples
Example 1 (I show you): Thesis
What is the thesis?
- Opinion.
Answer: Every school should have a library.
Example 2 (We do it together): Reason
Name a reason.
- Why?
Answer: libraries help children read more (or give equal chances)
Example 3 (You try): Fact
Name a supporting fact.
Show the steps and answer
- Evidence.
Answer: learners with books read for pleasure more often
Did you know?
Famous speeches often use a clear opinion, strong reasons and a powerful ending.
Why this matters
Opinion writing helps you share your views fairly and persuasively.
4. Explore: Argue it
Write an opinion essay.
- Pick an issue.
- Write a thesis.
- Give two reasons with facts.
- Write a conclusion.
Think about it: what did you notice?
You can write an opinion essay.
5. Practise
Say it in a sentence
Use these starters when you talk about the lesson. Say them out loud.
- I believe that ___.
- The first reason is ___.
- For example, ___.
- Therefore, ___.
Guided practice
Question 1. Writing that argues for a point of view is an ___ essay.
opinion
Question 2. Why you hold an opinion is the ___.
reason
Question 3. A statement that can be checked is a ___.
fact
Independent practice
Level 1: Start
- Writing that argues for a point of view is an ___ essay.
- Why you hold an opinion is the ___.
- A statement that can be checked is a ___.
- Your main opinion in one sentence is your ___.
- Every school should have a ___.
Level 2: Grow
- What do libraries help children do?
- What can a child with no books do?
- What is the closing phrase?
Level 3: Stretch
- Should an opinion essay have reasons?
- Should reasons have facts?
- Should it end with a conclusion?
Answers are in the answer key below. Try first, then check.
6. Apply: English in everyday life
Write a short opinion essay with a thesis, two reasons and a conclusion.
Show a sample answer
an opinion essay
Another one. Write an opinion paragraph on whether children should have homework.
Show a sample answer
a completed task
7. Common mistakes
Fix: Slow down and check your work.
Fix: Study the example first, then try.
8. Lesson summary and revision card
- I can state an opinion.
- I can give reasons.
- I can support with facts.
- I can organise an essay.
9. Check and master
Answer all 14 questions. You will see feedback after each one.
Your result appears here after you answer every question.
10. Key takeaways
- Choose your opinion.
- List reasons.
- Add facts for each reason.
- Write and conclude.
11. Next lesson
Next lesson: Logical reasoning. Keep going with the next idea in this course.
Exam practice
These questions are written in the style of common school and international primary assessments. Try them on your own, without looking back. Then check your answers in the marking guide. The marks are shown in brackets.
- What is an opinion essay? [1 mark]
- What is a thesis? [1 mark]
- Give a reason and a fact for a school garden. [2 marks]
- How should an opinion essay end? [1 mark]
- Explain how to write an opinion essay. [3 marks]
Total: 8 marks.
Marking guide and model answers
- writing that argues for a point of view [1]
- your main opinion in one sentence [1]
- a reason [1]; a supporting fact [1]
- restate the opinion and sum up [1]
- state a clear opinion [1]; give reasons with facts [1]; conclude by restating the opinion [1]
Score guide: 7 to 8 = secure. 5 to 6 = nearly there, revise the parts you missed. Under 5 = work through the lesson again with a grown-up.
Printable worksheet
- Writing that argues for a point of view is an ___ essay.
- Why you hold an opinion is the ___.
- A statement that can be checked is a ___.
- Your main opinion in one sentence is your ___.
- Every school should have a ___.
- What do libraries help children do?
- What can a child with no books do?
- What is the closing phrase?
- Should an opinion essay have reasons?
- Should reasons have facts?
Homework
Write an opinion paragraph on whether children should have homework.
Answer key and marking scheme
| Question | Expected response | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Writing that argues for a point of view is an ___ essay. | opinion | 1 |
| 2. Why you hold an opinion is the ___. | reason | 1 |
| 3. A statement that can be checked is a ___. | fact | 1 |
| 4. Your main opinion in one sentence is your ___. | thesis | 1 |
| 5. Every school should have a ___. | library | 1 |
| 6. What do libraries help children do? | read more | 1 |
| 7. What can a child with no books do? | borrow one | 1 |
| 8. What is the closing phrase? | For these reasons | 1 |
| 9. Should an opinion essay have reasons? | yes | 1 |
| 10. Should reasons have facts? | yes | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
Independent practice answers. Level 1: 1 opinion; 2 reason; 3 fact; 4 thesis; 5 library. Level 2: 1 read more; 2 borrow one; 3 For these reasons. Level 3: 1 yes; 2 yes; 3 yes.
Quiz answers: 1 B, 2 C, 3 A, 4 B, 5 C, 6 A, 7 B, 8 C, 9 A, 10 B, 11 C, 12 A, Challenge 1 B, Challenge 2 C.
Mastery and remediation
| Objective | Bronze (Developing) | Silver (Proficient) | Gold (Advanced) |
|---|---|---|---|
| O1 State an opinion | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O2 Give reasons | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O3 Support with facts | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
| O4 Organise an essay | Shows this with help from an adult or a picture | Does this independently and explains how they know | Explains it clearly and uses it in a new situation |
Courseversity badge thresholds (overall quiz score): Gold = 90–100%; Silver = 80–89.9%; Bronze = 70–79.9%. A badge is never a full record of progress.
If a learner struggles
- Find the misconception: Rushing without checking. Slow down and check your work.
- Explain another way: use real objects, pictures or actions first, then words.
- Show a simpler example: Re-read the examples slowly and use the sentence frames.
- Guided practice: work through one example together and let the learner try the next one.
- Reassess: use the quiz again or the worksheet.
- Move on when the learner shows Silver-level evidence independently.
For parents and guardians
In this lesson your child practises a key Grade 3 English skill with clear examples and a quiz. You do not need to be an expert to help.
- Listen while your child explains the idea.
- Ask for one new example.
- Praise effort and careful work.
- Ask “how do you know?” after each answer, and listen.
- Praise effort, not only right answers. Mistakes are how we learn.
- Ten to fifteen minutes a day is better than one long session.
Teacher package
1–5. Objectives, prerequisites, materials, preparation, duration
Lesson objectives. Learners will: state an opinion; give reasons; support with facts; organise an essay.
Prerequisite knowledge. Informational reports.
Materials. Chart paper or board, pencils, picture or word cards, a reading book if available. Low-resource options: use chalk or charcoal on a board or wall, drawings in the sand, and objects from the classroom instead of printed materials.
Preparation. Write the key words and examples on the board or on cards before the lesson.
Suggested duration. 45–60 minutes. It can be split into two shorter sessions.
6–9. Teaching procedure, explanation notes, guided and independent activities
Introduction (5 min). Introduce the idea with the opening example.
Explanation (10 min). Teach the key words.
Guided activity (10 min). Practise together.
Independent activity (10 min). Check understanding with the quiz.
Assessment and reflection (5 min). Ask each learner to say one thing they learned and how they know it.
Key questions. What is the key idea? Can I give my own example?
Teacher explanation notes. Move from the spoken word to pictures and then to print. Read aloud often, point to the words, and let learners hear and say before they read and write.
10–12. Differentiation, formative assessment, common misconceptions
Support. Use the sentence frames and work with a partner. Extension. Create a harder example of your own.
Formative assessment. Listen to learners read and explain, ask “how do you know?”, and check the independent work.
Misconceptions. Rushing without checking. Slow down and check your work.
13–15. Assessment questions, answer keys, marking scheme
Use the quiz, the 8-mark exam practice and the worksheet on this page. All answers and marking guides are in the answer sections above. Re-check every answer before use.
16–19. Remediation, enrichment, homework, teacher reflection
Remediation. Re-read the examples slowly and use the sentence frames. Enrichment. Make up your own example and teach it to someone at home. Homework. See above.
Teacher reflection. After teaching, record: which ideas learners understood; which misconceptions occurred; which activities worked; which learners need more practice; and what to improve next time.
Sources and standards
This lesson is based on the sources below, and no official endorsement is claimed. Reference starting points: Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts, Cambridge Primary and the IB Primary Years Programme. Where a standard code is named, it points to the official framework.
Official standards for this topic area. Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts (official site): Grade 4 » Writing; Grade 4 » Language. These pages list the standards that cover this topic area; read them alongside the lesson.
Research used to shape this lesson. Common Core W.4.1 (write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information); Cambridge Primary English Stage 4 (persuasive writing). These sources informed the lesson.