Opinion Writing

This quarter, my grade level has been working on opinion writing:

• CCSS.2.W.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g.,because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.

To start this out, we first looked at fact and opinion activities.  We used to have to teach fact and opinion in reading as part of our state standards.  In common core, it's not there.  But I really see it as an underlying skill for opinion writing.  Kids have to know what the difference between a fact and opinion is before they can be expected to write an opinion themselves.  

I then had the kids pick one story that we have read together in their anthology books from our basal adoption.  The story they picked had to be their favorite one.  

I then passed out a graphic organizer to help them write down reasons for why it was the best story. Their reasons had to have examples from the text.  If they thought it was funny, they had to say which part was funny or why it was funny.  Citing evidence has been hard for this group, so the more practice the better! 

After they had their reasons, they could start writing their essay.  We followed the opening statement, 3 reasons with details, then concluding sentence format.  I know these formulaic essays can be boring, but I feel that they need to learn this systematic format in order for them to be able to write more creative essays down the road.  This is the skeleton and they can add the meat to it later.  

After a written and edited rough draft, they re-wrote their essays and made a cell phone craft.  It's called IMHO (which is text-speak for In My Honest Opinion).

Here they are all hung up in the hallway.  

If you are interested in our Opinion Writing craft, you can pick it up at Teachers Pay Teachers.

I also have a Fact and Opinion center in my latest Literacy Center pack.  

How do you introduce and teach opinion writing?