Prewriting to Select a Topic

To write a convincing opinion letter, you have to choose a topic that you feel strongly about. Your passion for the topic (or lack thereof) will show in your letter.

1. What would make your school better?

   an afternoon recess

   (Answers will vary.)

2. What would make your classroom better?

   more computers

    

3. What problems in your school need to be solved?

   overcrowded playground at lunch

    

4. What would make your community or neighborhood better for kids?

   ice skating rinks in the parks

    

5. What problems in your community or neighborhood need to be solved?

   not enough streetlights

    

Prewriting to Develop Your Opinion

An opinion statement should identify a topic and state your feeling about it. Phrases and words like “I think,” “I believe,” “I feel,” “we need,” and “should” are often used when writing opinion statements.

Here is a formula that you can follow to write an opinion statement.

1. Write your topic:

 

2. Write a strong feeling you have about the topic:

 

3. Combine your answers to questions 1 and 2 to create your opinion statement. (Feel free to change the wording to make it clearer.)

 

4. Write your opinion statement in a different way (optional):

 

Prewriting to Gather Reasons

A strong opinion should be supported by effective reasons. (Reasons answer the question “Why?”)

Opinion Statement:

I believe we should have an afternoon recess.

Reasons:

We get antsy after working in our seats for too long.

We don’t have a lot of time to play with friends.

We just need the exercise.

Opinion Statement:

Reason 1:

Reason 2:

Reason 3:

Prewriting to Order Your Reasons

The reasons in opinion letters are usually organized by order of importance. This means that the most important reason is stated first and the least important reason is stated last. (Or a writer can work the other way around.) In the sample letter about afternoon recess, the writer starts with his most important reason and ends with his least important reason.

Reason 1:

Details:

Reason 2:

Details:

Reason 3:

Details:

Prewriting to Understand the Parts of Business Letters

Because an opinion letter is a type of business letter, you need to include these parts in this order.

1. Heading The heading includes your address and the date you wrote the letter. Write the heading in the upper left-hand corner.
2. Inside Address The inside address gives the reader’s name and address.
3. Salutation The salutation is a polite way to say hello. Start with the word “Dear” and give the person’s name. Put a colon (:) after the person’s name.
4. Body The body is the main part of the letter. It includes the beginning, middle, and ending.
5. Complimentary closing The complimentary closing is a polite way to say good-bye. “Sincerely” is often used. Place a comma after the closing.
6. Signature The signature is the final part of the letter. Write it beneath the closing. (If you are using a computer, leave four spaces after the closing, then type your name. Write your signature between the closing and your typed name.)