opinion essay prompts 11th grade

49 Opinion Writing Prompts for Students

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One of the most common essay types is the opinion, or persuasive, essay. In an opinion essay , the writer states a point of view, then provides facts and reasoned arguments to support that viewpoint. The goal of the essay is to convince the reader to share the writer’s opinion.

Students aren't always aware of how many strong opinions they already hold. Use the following opinion writing prompts to inspire them to start thinking and writing persuasively.

Prompts About School and Sports

School- and sports-related topics often elicit strong opinions in students. Use these writing prompts to kick off the brainstorming process.

• Ch-ch-ch-changes . What is one thing about your school that needs to change? Is bullying an issue? Do students need longer breaks or a dress code? Choose one vital issue that needs to change and convince school leaders to make it happen.
• Special guest. Your school is trying to decide on a famous person to give a speech or presentation to students. Who do you think they should choose? Write an essay to convince your principal.
• Oxford or bust. Is the Oxford comma essential or obsolete?
• Scribble scrabble. Do students still need to learn cursive handwriting?
• Co-ed conflict. Would students perform better if more schools were single-gender rather than co-ed? Why or why not?
• Participation awards. Should there be winners and losers in sports, or is participation the ultimate goal?
• Homework overload. Write an essay to convince your teacher to assign less homework.
• Sports. Which sport (or team) is the best? What makes it better than the others?
• No slacking . Write an essay persuading a fellow student to do their homework.
• Class trip. This year, students get to vote on where to go for a class trip. Write an essay convincing your fellow students to vote for the place you’d like to go.
• Superlatives. Which would you rather be: a top student, a talented athlete, or an accomplished artist?
• Virtual athletes . Video games competitions are often aired on TV and treated like sports competitions. Should video games be considered sports?
• Class debate. Should classes that students may not use or that don’t interest them (such as physical education or foreign language) be required?

Prompts About Relationships

Friendships, dating, and other relationships can be both rewarding and exasperating. These writing prompts about relationships will help students explore their feelings about both the positive and the negative moments.

• Snitch. Your best friend tells you about his plan to cheat on a test. Should you tell an adult? Why or why not?
• Give it a chance. Your best friend is convinced that she would hate your favorite book, even though she's never read it. Convince her to read it.
• Friendships vs. relationships. Are friendships or romantic relationships more important in life? Why?
• Driving age. What age do kids start driving in your state? Is that age too old, too young, or just right? Why?
• Truth or consequences. Your best friend asks your opinion about something, but you know that a truthful answer will hurt her feelings. What do you do?
• Who chooses? Your best friend is visiting, and you want to watch TV together, but his favorite show is at the same time as your favorite show. Convince him that your show is a better choice.
• Fun times. What is the most fun thing you and your best friend have ever experienced together? Why does it deserve the top spot?
• Dating. Are long-term dating relationships good or bad for teens?
• New friends. You want to spend time with a new student at school, but your best friend is jealous. Convince your friend of the importance of including the newcomer.
• Be mine. Is Valentine’s Day worthwhile or just a scheme for the greeting card and chocolate industry to make more money?
• Debbie Downer. Should you cut ties with friends or relatives who are always negative?
• He loves me not. Is it really better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all?
• Elders. Should you respect your elders merely because they are older, or is respect something that must be earned?

Prompts About Family, Pets, and Leisure Time

The following writing prompts related to family, furry friends, and free time will help students reflect on preferences, ethics, and integrity.

• Self-reflection. This time, you're the one who needs convincing! Write an essay to persuade yourself to start a healthy habit (or kick a bad habit).
• Paper wars. Should toilet paper hang with the loose end resting on the top of the roll or hanging from the bottom?
• Movie vs. book. Choose a book that has been made into a movie. Which version is better, and why?
• Weekend wanderings . Do you prefer to stay home on the weekends or get out and do things around town? Write an essay to convince your parents to let you do what you prefer this weekend.
• Sweepstakes. A travel agency is hosting an essay contest to give away an all-expenses-paid trip to the one place in the world you’d most love to visit. Craft a winning essay that convinces them they need to choose you.
• Zoo debate. Is it ethical to keep animals in zoos? Why or why not?
• Presence of pets. Should there be limits on the types of places pets can go (e.g. airplanes or restaurants)? Why or why not?
• Inspiring stories. What is the most inspiring book you’ve ever read? Why is it so inspiring?
• Dollar discovery. You find a $20 bill in the parking lot of a crowded store. Is it okay to keep it, or should you turn it in to customer service?
• Vacation day. What is the very best way to spend an unexpected day off from school and why is it the best?
• Digital or print? Is it better to read books in print or digitally? Why?

Prompts About Society and Technology

The people and technology around us have a significant impact on our lives. These writing prompts encourage students to consider the effect that society and technological advances have on our day-to-day lives.

• Reverse technology. Pick one technological advancement that you think the world would be better off without. Explain your reasoning and persuade the reader.
• Out of this world . Do aliens exist? Why or why not?
• Social media. Is social media good or bad for society? Why?
• Emoji. Has the use of emoji stunted our ability to express ourselves in writing, or does it help us identify our emotions more precisely?
• Auto safety. Have advancements like self-driving cars, blind spot indicators, and lane departure warning systems made driving safer, or have they just made drivers less attentive?
• Exploration Mars. Write a letter to Elon Musk convincing him that you should be part of a colony to Mars.
• Fundraisers. Is it okay for kids to stand outside stores and ask shoppers for money for their sports teams, clubs, or band? Why or why not?
• Inventions. What is the greatest invention ever made? Why is it the best?
• Important cause. In your opinion, what global problem or issue deserves more attention than it currently receives? Why should more time and money be invested in this cause?
• Minimalism. Does living a minimalist lifestyle make for a happier life? Why or why not?
• Gaming gains. Are video games generally a positive or a negative influence? Why?
• Rose-colored glasses. Is the current decade the best era in history? Why or why not?
• Paper or plastic. Should plastic bags be outlawed?
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Help High School Students Grow as Writers with These Argumentative Articles

Dorothy Hodges

Sparking student interest is sometimes best done with a bit of controversy. That’s why we’ve collected some of our most engaging argumentative articles for high school students. Each of these informational texts from our digital literacy program will not only launch a class debate but also serve as an opportunity for students to have fun grappling with relevant topics and argumentative analysis. They also serve as exemplars of great argumentative writing! Do I hear an opinion essay coming?

“ No, Mobile Phones Should Not Be Banned in UK Schools ” by Stephen Corbett (9th grade)

Students will be excited to read this argumentative article claiming that cell phones should be allowed in schools. Poll the class on this topic before and after reading to see if anyone has changed their mind.

This argumentative article for students is a great model of opinion writing. Have students follow the development of the author’s argument through their annotations while reading. This not only supports students reading comprehension, but it will also prepare them for Assessment Question 3, “How does Paragraph 7 develop the idea that mobile devices should be allowed in school?”

“ Life Isn’t Fair - Deal With It ” by Mike Myatt (9th grade)

In this argumentative article, Mike Myatt argues that fairness is actually a subjective idea rather than a natural characteristic of life. Do you agree? Do you think your students will?

Use this argumentative text and reading comprehension lesson as a launchpad for students to write their own opinion essay responding to Discussion Question 2, “The author believes that ‘fairness’ is not a useful term, and that it makes people feel entitled to good outcomes. Make an argument for the opposite - how would you convince someone that the concept of ‘fairness’ is an important one?”

“ Should We Scoff At The Idea Of Love At First Sight? ” by James Kuzner (10th grade)

This spicy opinion piece focuses on the neuroscience of love. It’s also sure to be a relatable and engaging topic to bring your students into a deep analysis of a writer’s argumentative structure.

This is a great text to use as a baseline for extended argumentative writing practice. Ask students to discuss and draft a written response to Discussion Question 2, “Do you think that love at first sight exists in the real world? Why or why not?” 

“ Why I Despise the Great Gatsby ” by Kathryn Schulz (11th grade)

In this opinion piece, Author Kathryn Schulz argues why The Great Gatsby isn’t actually all that great of a novel.

After completing the reading comprehension assessment questions from this lesson, use the related media video “ Psychology of Strong Opinions and Social Connections ” to expand student thinking regarding opinions and argument. Ask students to evaluate Kathryn Schulz’s opinion. Is Schulz’s opinion strong? Why or why not? Then, ask students to apply that same evaluation to revise their own opinion writing.

“ The Fallacy Of Success ” by G.K. Chesterson (11th grade)

Some students have very specific ideas of success. This 1915 argumentative article challenges widely-held ideas of success and just may push your students to do the same.

Use the reading assessment questions to push students to support their analysis of Chesterson’s argument with text-specific evidence with Assessment Question 3, which asks how a specific quote from paragraph 4 supports the passage’s central idea.

“ What Adolescents Miss When We Let Them Grow Up In Cyberspace ” by Brent Staples (12th grade)

Today’s students (and many of today’s teachers!) have never lived in a world without the Internet. In this argumentative article , Brent Staples asks readers to consider the ways growing up with such connectivity could impact them as they age.

This is a great text to push students to create their own piece of thoughtful argumentative writing. Use Discussion Question 2 as a writing prompt that must be supported with evidence: “What costs does the author identify of growing up online? Do you agree with the author’s views on the Internet? Why or why not? What benefits do you think the Internet provides teenagers?”

“ Will The ‘Right’ College Major Get You A Job? ” by Glenn Altshuler (12th grade)

Top of mind for many 12th graders, this argumentative article explores whether or not college pays off in the ways it’s advertised to students.

Use the paired text “ Is College Worth It? Is This Even the Right Question? ” by Josipa Roksa and Richard Arum to extend student thinking further. Ask students to compare how both texts explore the differences between the experiences of those with college degrees in the job market and those without degrees? Then ask students to write a response to the same question: Is college worth it?

Want even more argumentative articles that will assist students in crafting their own argumentative writing essays? Check out our Target Lessons for high schoolers.

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Elementary School

Middle school, high school, ets criterion sm library, grade 11 prompts, ws friends (descriptive).

Human beings are social creatures, so friends are an important part of anyone’s life. What qualities and behaviors make a person a good friend? Write an essay explaining three or four traits of a true friend. Use specific details and anecdotes from your own experiences.

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WS Memorable Class (Expository)

Think about the classes you have had so far today. Which was most memorable? Choose one class period and write an essay explaining the main point of the class. Support the main point using at least two different types of details: facts (things that can be proven), statistics (facts with numerical values), quotations (exact words of a speaker), or anecdotes (stories that gives insight).

WS Freedom of Expression (Expository)

The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of expression. The framers of the Constitution believed this freedom was essential to a strong democracy. Write an essay that explains how freedom of expression contributes to democracy. Use several examples of freedom of expression to support your response.

WS Transportation (Expository)

People travel by many different means, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Choose two of the following modes of transportation and write an essay comparing and contrasting them: walking, bicycling, driving a car, taking a train, flying, and sailing by ship. Support your viewpoint with specific examples and details for each mode of transport.

WS Similar Sports (Expository)

Cross-country and downhill skiing share certain similarities, yet they offer different experiences to the people who enjoy them. Field hockey and ice hockey also require different skills. Think of two similar sports or activities that you enjoy and write a brief essay to compare and contrast them. Make sure you include specific details for each activity.

WS Proper Punishment (Narrative)

Remember a time when you received a punishment you thought was unfair. Narrate what happened and how you felt about it then, and explain whether you still feel the same way. Suggest a different punishment that may have been more effective. Remember to give details and examples.

WS Add a Class (Persuasive)

Your school budget will allow for an additional class to be offered in the coming school year, and your principal has asked students to make suggestions. Can you think of subjects that you would like to learn or subjects you think need to be taught? Write a letter to the principal convincing him or her to select the class you think would be best. Be sure to support your view with specific reasons and examples.

WS Sports Funding (Persuasive)

Your school board has announced plans to cut funding for sports teams. It has stated that some sports are not supported well by the student body and their funds are better used elsewhere. As a concerned student, write a letter to the school board airing your opinion about funding cuts. Argue your points using specific examples to support your position.

WS Leaky Faucet (Persuasive)

Addressing a problem requires different methods of persuasion. Write a letter of complaint to your landlord, who has put off fixing a leaky faucet in your apartment. Include specific details about why you need it fixed soon. State your case in a cool, neutral tone, and include a call to action for the landlord.

WS Sleep Time (Persuasive)

Teenagers often have different sleep habits than adults. Would you oppose or support moving the start and finish time of school back one hour? As a concerned student, write a letter to the school board convincing them of your position. Include reasons, facts, and examples.

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50 Argumentative Essay Prompts for Secondary ELA

When it comes to teaching argument essays , students prefer a choice in their argumentative essay topics. That is why I filled this page with 50 argumentative essay prompts for students to choose from. By including students in the essay topic selection process, they feel more included in the process, but they will also be more engaged because they will feel like they have a say in their assignment.

When assigning a hot topic or controversial issue argumentative essay , I always let students select a topic in which they are passionate. However, I also make it clear that their topic cannot be discriminatory or hateful in any way and that they must fund valid and credible evidence to back up their claims. When I do this in the classroom, I also like to make sure that only one student per class has the same topic.

I usually have essay topic sign-ups in two different ways, and both are first come first serve. One way that works is that I usually open up topic selection either before or after school. The students know about the day in advance, and they come into the classroom to sign up for it. For the students who cannot make it to the classroom before or after school, I have them email me their topics.

The other way that I have students sign up for topics is through a Google Form. In the Google Form, I have them select their top choice and a backup. Usually, every student gets either their first or second-choice topic.

Furthermore, I also make sure that students understand the status quo about their topic before selecting it. I cannot even tell you how many years it took me to realize this and how many “medical marijuana should be legal” essays I read before coming to this conclusion. Since I teach in a state where it is (and was at the time) legal, I would explain to the student that they needed to add in some detail to their argument so that they weren’t arguing the status quo.

If you are planning an argument or controversial issue essay assignment, here is a list of potential topics you can include in your classroom. If you need teaching materials, this argument writing teaching unit will help you walk your students through the process.

50 Argumentative Essay Prompts

Argument essay topics about technology.

• Is social media harmful?
• Is technology making people more dependent?
• Should the Internet be a public utility?
• Is technology more harmful or beneficial?
• Should students be allowed to use phones in class?
• Should schools provide students with laptops?
• Should there be a legal age limit for social media?
• Should the US invest more money in the space program?
• Are teens too reliant on technology?
• Are emojis beneficial or destructive to communication?

Argument Essay Topics about School

• Should the dress code be abolished?
• Is the school dress code sexist?
• Should students be required to wear school uniforms?
• Should school start later?
• Should the school year be year-round?
• Is homework necessary?
• Should students participate in standardized tests?
• Should there be a school voucher system?
• Should schools require physical education?
• Should teachers accept late work?

Argument Essay Topics about the Environment

• Should fracking be banned?
• Should single-use plastic be eliminated?
• Are humans responsible for global climate change?
• Are electric cars as environmentally friendly as they claim to be?
• Is vegetarian food good or bad for the environment?
• Who or what is responsible for deforestation?
• What is the biggest environmental threat?
• Should the US do more to prevent global climate change?
• Can nuclear waste be stored safely?
• Is the US doing enough to reduce CO2 emissions?

Argument Essay Topics about Animals

• Should factory farming be banned?
• Should recreational hunting and fishing be banned?
• Should wild animals be kept in captivity?
• Is animal testing for pharmaceuticals necessary?
• Is animal testing for beauty and skin products necessary?
• Should certain dog breeds be considered illegal?
• How should endangered animals be protected?
• Should people keep exotic animals as pets?
• Who or what is responsible for animal extinction?
• Should farm animals be treated with antibiotics?

Argument Essay Topics about Social and Political Issues

• What should the US do about the refugee crisis?
• Should the death penalty be banned?
• Should the US prison system include for-profit prisons?
• Should Confederate statues and memorials come down?
• Should the US switch to a single-payer health system?
• Should community college be free?
• Should the minimum wage remain the same?
• Should the government regulate big tech companies?
• Should the US participate in reparations?
• Should vaccines be mandatory?

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Are you having trouble brainstorming some great opinion writing topics for your students to use during writing block or writer’s workshop? Many prompts have already been used year after year. I created a list of 50 opinion writing prompts that will get your kids thinking and may even spark some new ideas for you. Take a look at these fun topics and see what your creative kids can come up with!

In this blog post, I share 5 different category topics of opinion writing ideas to choose from. You will find 10 ideas in each category and once finished, you will walk away with FIFTY opinion writing prompt ideas! Fill out the form below to have all 50 sent to you in an easy, printable list that will help simplify your lesson planning! Get ready for an opinion writing template that will blow your mind.

50 Opinion Writing Prompt Ideas!

This FREE printable list of 50 opinion writing prompts ideas can be sent straight to your inbox! Simply drop your personal email address below & I’ll send it right over! 

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Trust me, you won’t want to miss out on these opinion essay topics for your kids. Kids of all ages will enjoy these opinion writing prompts in first grade and beyond. They are a great starting point before diving into persuasive writing.

Prompts About Entertainment and Hobbies

A few opinion essay topics for students include the best place to vacation, the greatest movie ever made, the best sport to play, their favorite board game, or the best T.V. show at the time. Use these fun 3rd-grade opinion writing samples to spark creativity in your students’ writing. Some of these are great opinion questions for kids during discussions as well.

• Where would you choose and why if you could choose anywhere in the world to go on vacation?
• In your opinion, what was the best movie ever made and why?
• Based on the sports you enjoy, which is the best sport to play?
• Which would you choose if you had to play a board game with a family member or friends?
• What is your current favorite T.V. show and why?
• If you have a favorite place to go, where is it and why?
• In your opinion, what is something everyone should learn do to?
• Which is better, cooking or baking? Tell us why you think that.
• What is the best sport to watch someone else play? Why?
• Tell us about your favorite thing to do in the winter and why.

Prompts about Family and Friends

All kids love writing about their loved ones. These opinion writing prompts are a great way to let students express their opinions and share their home life with the class. Grab your writing paper and teach opinion writing in a fun way.

• How does a family member or friend make you feel loved, and why?
• Share your Mother or Father’s superpower. What makes you think they have this superpower?
• What is the nicest thing a friend could do for you?
• In your opinion, who is the strongest person in your family and why?
• Which of your friends would be the best person to take to the zoo and why?
• Of all of your friends, which would you take to see a superhero movie and why?
• Are you a middle child, an only child, or something else in your family tree? Do you like your position in your family tree?
• Which friend or family member gives you the best hugs? Tell us about them!
• What is a great trait for a friend to have? Traits might include being a good listener, a great hugger, or someone who is creative.
• Would you like to have a pen pal? Why or why not?

Prompts about School and Extracurricular Activities

Kids have wonderful opinions about school and their extracurricular activities, so they will thoroughly enjoy these opinion writing prompts. You will love hearing their thoughts about topics like: should kids have more or less homework, should kids have more or less recess, and uniforms in school.

• What is something you like to do when you are not at school and why might others like it as well?
• What is the best thing about the school playground and why?
• In your opinion, should kids have more or less homework?
• Do you think kids should be allowed more recess time? Why or why not?
• Should kids have to wear uniforms in school? Why or why not?
• What is a school special (music, dance, art) that you wish were offered at your school and why?
• If there was one lunch item you could add to the menu every day, what would it be?
• Which subject is your favorite and why?
• Should school go year-round? Why or why not?
• What is the best way to start the day in the classroom? Tell us about it and why it’s the best way.

Prompts about Favorite and Least Favorite Items

These opinion writing prompts are focused on favorite and least favorite items. Students get to write about their favorite foods, drinks, songs, and their least favorite vegetables. They will love sharing some of their favorites and some things they don’t love as much.

• Tell us what your least favorite vegetable is and why.
• Share your favorite candy and why it is your favorite.
• If you could bring one toy for show and tell what would it be and why?
• What is your favorite ice cream flavor and why?
• Which book could you read over and over again?
• If you had to eat one vegetable for the rest of your life, which would it be?
• Which season is your favorite and why?
• What is your favorite song at the moment and why?
• Do you have a favorite drink? What is it and why?
• What is your favorite day of the week and why?

Want access to all of these prompts to use in your classroom? Just fill out the form below for access.

Prompts about Pets and Animals

Allow your students to put their thoughts to paper as they consider their pets and favorite animals with these opinion writing prompts. Let them explore favorite pets, the coolest animals, and even made-up animals.

• Convince your parents to let you have a special pet. Choose an animal you would love to have as a pet and tell us why they would make an amazing pet.
• Do you think cats should be able to live indoors and outdoors or one or the other?
• What is the coolest animal you have ever seen?
• Which animal is your favorite and why?
• Are there any animals that would make horrible pets? If so, choose one and tell us why.
• Pick one ocean animal. Why is it the coolest ocean animal of them all?
• If you could create your own pet, what would it be and why? (Think about a half-dog so it can bark and a half-lizard so it can catch bugs with its tongue.)
• Are there any animals you are afraid of? If so, which one and why?
• Think of an animal you would love to encounter in real life. Which animal is it and why?
• What is an animal trait you would love to have for yourself? Maybe you would like to fly like a bird or slither like a snake. Tell us why.

Opinion writing can be such a fun task for elementary students. They get to express their thoughts on paper and share them with the class. It’s always fun to hear their ideas while teaching persuasive writing. Using these 50 opinion writing prompt ideas is a fantastic way to get their creative juices flowing as they practice paragraph writing fluency. I hope you and your students love these opinion writing activities and can benefit from them while teaching opinion writing.

Try my Weekly Writing Prompts as well! These opinion writing worksheets are a great way to practice weekly. They are perfect for the classroom and come in print and digital downloads. Who knows, they may even spark more good opinion essay topics.

I hope you enjoy these prompts. They are great 2nd-grade writing prompts as well as for upper grades! Grab these free writing prompts for 3rd-grade students to explore new topics. If you need 4th grade journal writing prompts, these work well, or you can check out the posts below.

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Opinion Writing

Mastering the art of opinion writing is an important skill—in school and in life! Scholastic’s resources foster this skill with step-by-step lessons, model texts, writing prompts, activities, worksheets, and exercises to build critical thinking skills, strategies for analyzing topics and forming opinions, plus organizers and self-assessment tools.

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72 Fun Opinion Writing Prompts that Students Will WANT to Write About!

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Kids love to tell you what they think and opinion writing is the perfect outlet for them to do it appropriately . These elementary opinion writing prompts will have your students wanting to write so they can tell you exactly what they think about topics that are relevant and interesting to them!

Opinion writing is the perfect way to introduce the more formal persuasive writing genre. It allows students to practise developing and justifying their own ideas before requiring a multi-paragraph essay with multiple pieces of evidence, proof or examples.

Want this list of prompts dropped straight into your inbox? Sign up below to get all these opinion writing topics in a hand PDF, ready to be printed and cut out for the perfect writing centre or writer’s workshop task!

72 FUN OPINION WRITING PROMPTS IN YOUR INBOX!

Get a FREE printable PDF version of all the opinion writing topic ideas in this post! Be sure to use a personal email address to make sure it gets to you!

FUN & GAMES OPINION WRITING IDEAS

From table games, to sports and TV & entertainment, your students will love to write an opinion paragraph on these interesting topics!

• What is the best game to play with friends? Why?
• Are card or dice games better? Why?
• Which are better – indoor or outdoor recesses? Why?
• If you could plan the ultimate weekend, what would it look like and why?
• What is your favourite TV show? Why?
• In your opinion, who is the best actor in the world? Why?
• What sport is your favourite to watch? Why?
• What is the best board game to play with friends? Why?
• Do you think that school sports are important? Why or why not?
• At what age do you feel children should be allowed social media? Why?
• Would you rather sing or dance in front of an audience? Why?
• How do you feel about video games? Explain.

FRIENDS & FAMILY OPINION WRITING TOPICS

Asking students to write about familiar topics is important for developing confidence and there is nothing students know better than their own family and friends. This category is full of opinion writing topics that your students are sure to already have strong thoughts about.

• What is your favourite activity to do with your family and why?
• If you could plan your next family vacation, where would you go and what would you do? Why?
• Would you rather have brothers or sisters? Explain your reasoning.
• Do you think children should receive an allowance? Justify your thinking.
• If you had to do one chore every day until you grow up, which one would you choose? Why?
• Would you rather your friends think of you as funny, kind or smart? Why?
• Should kids have to help around the house? Explain why or why not.
• How many siblings is the perfect number? Why?
• Where would you like to go with your friends: the zoo, the movies or the skatepark? Why?
• What qualities make a really great friend? Describe each quality and explain why it is important.
• What, in your opinion, makes you a good friend? Explain.
• What do you think is the best thing about your family? Why?

SCHOOL FUN OPINION WRITING PROMPTS

The key to a topic being interesting is that it is relevant to students. The school category gives students the chance to tell you how they feel about favourite subjects, homework and more with entertaining topics for opinion paragraphs.

• What is the best subject in school? Why?
• Which subject is the worst? Why?
• Should students receive grades? Why or why not?
• Should teachers give homework? Justify your opinion.
• Do you think college and university should be free? Why or why not?
• Which subject is the most important? Why?
• What is your opinion on school uniforms? Explain your thinking.
• What one book do you think all students should have to read? Why?
• What is one subject you would like to see added at school and why?
• What qualities make a great teacher? Describe each quality and explain why it is important.
• What is your opinion on watching movies at school? Explain your thoughts.
• Do you believe that school sports should be mandatory for all students? Why or why not?

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NATURE & ADVENTURE TOPICS FOR OPINION WRITING

This category will have students thinking about the world around them from serious topics such as environmental issues to fun outdoor activities. Choose from simple preferences between types of environments to really imaginative topics like the animal trait they would most like to have.

• Would you choose beach or mountains? Why?
• What is your favourite outdoor activity? Why?
• Which season is the best? Why?
• What unusual animal do you think would make the best pet and why?
• What is your opinion on global warming?
• Would you rather hike to a waterfall or ancient ruins? Explain your opinion.
• Which animal is the scariest? Why?
• How do you feel about camping and why?
• Would you rather go bungee jumping or swim with sharks? Why?
• What do you think is the most important thing we should do for the environment and why?
• What animal skill or trait would you most like to have and why?
• What is your opinion on zoos? Why?

72 ELEMENTARY OPINION WRITING PROMPTS

Get a FREE printable PDF version of all the opinion writing topics in this post – an instant writers’ workshop activity! Be sure to use a personal email address to make sure it gets to you!

FOOD & DRINK OPINION WRITING PROMPTS

Let students write opinion paragraphs about their favourite, and least favourite, foods and drinks. Some writing topics are fun and others are more philosophical. Many could make for a great verbal debate too!

• What is your favourite snack? Describe it and explain why it is your favourite.
• If you had the choice, what is one food you would never eat again? Why?
• If you could, what food would you happily eat for every meal?
• Do you prefer hot or cold drinks? Why?
• Would you choose vegetables or salad? Explain your decision.
• Invent the perfect dessert. Describe it and explain why it is so great.
• Should people be vegetarians? Why or why not?
• If you had to eat one vegetable every day for the rest of your life, which one would you choose and why?
• Describe your perfect meal and explain why.
• At what age should drinking alcohol be legal? Justify your opinion.
• Is a hot dog a sandwich? Why or why not?
• Does pineapple belong on pizza? Justify your opinion.

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MISCELLANEOUS TOPICS FOR OPINION WRITING

There really is no end to fun opinion writing prompts for elementary grades. Here I’ve created 12 bonus writing prompts that are full of writing ideas from aliens to cellphones.

• Do you think aliens exist? Why or why not?
• What is the hardest job in the world? Explain your thinking.
• At what age do you think people should be able to drive? Justify your opinion.
• Would you rather go to the moon or Mars? Why?
• If you were running the country for a day, what law would you change and why?
• Who would you most love to meet? Why?
• Should kids be allowed cell phones? Why or why not?
• Do you think video games should be considered a sport? Justify your opinion.
• What is your dream job? Why?
• Name a superhero power that you would love to have and explain why.
• If you were entered into a talent show, what would your performance be? Why?
• What day of the week do you feel is the worst? Why?

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Over 170 Prompts to Inspire Writing and Discussion

Here are all of our Student Opinion questions from the 2020-21 school year. Each question is based on a different New York Times article, interactive feature or video.

By The Learning Network

Each school day we publish a new Student Opinion question, and students use these writing prompts to reflect on their experiences and identities and respond to current events unfolding around them. To introduce each question, we provide an excerpt from a related New York Times article or Opinion piece as well as a free link to the original article.

During the 2020-21 school year, we asked 176 questions, and you can find them all below or here as a PDF . The questions are divided into two categories — those that provide opportunities for debate and persuasive writing, and those that lend themselves to creative, personal or reflective writing.

Teachers can use these prompts to help students practice narrative and persuasive writing, start classroom debates and even spark conversation between students around the world via our comments section. For more ideas on how to use our Student Opinion questions, we offer a short tutorial along with a nine-minute video on how one high school English teacher and her students use this feature .

Questions for Debate and Persuasive Writing

1. Should Athletes Speak Out On Social and Political Issues? 2. Should All Young People Learn How to Invest in the Stock Market? 3. What Are the Greatest Songs of All Time? 4. Should There Be More Gender Options on Identification Documents? 5. Should We End the Practice of Tipping? 6. Should There Be Separate Social Media Apps for Children? 7. Do Marriage Proposals Still Have a Place in Today’s Society? 8. How Do You Feel About Cancel Culture? 9. Should the United States Decriminalize the Possession of Drugs? 10. Does Reality TV Deserve Its Bad Rap? 11. Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished? 12. How Should Parents Support a Student Who Has Fallen Behind in School? 13. When Is It OK to Be a Snitch? 14. Should People Be Required to Show Proof of Vaccination? 15. How Much Have You and Your Community Changed Since George Floyd’s Death? 16. Can Empathy Be Taught? Should Schools Try to Help Us Feel One Another’s Pain? 17. Should Schools or Employers Be Allowed to Tell People How They Should Wear Their Hair? 18. Is Your Generation Doing Its Part to Strengthen Our Democracy? 19. Should Corporations Take Political Stands? 20. Should We Rename Schools Named for Historical Figures With Ties to Racism, Sexism or Slavery? 21. How Should Schools Hold Students Accountable for Hurting Others? 22. What Ideas Do You Have to Improve Your Favorite Sport? 23. Are Presidential Debates Helpful to Voters? Or Should They Be Scrapped? 24. Is the Electoral College a Problem? Does It Need to Be Fixed? 25. Do You Care Who Sits on the Supreme Court? Should We Care? 26. Should Museums Return Looted Artifacts to Their Countries of Origin? 27. Should Schools Provide Free Pads and Tampons? 28. Should Teachers Be Allowed to Wear Political Symbols? 29. Do You Think People Have Gotten Too Relaxed About Covid? 30. Who Do You Think Should Be Person of the Year for 2020? 31. How Should Racial Slurs in Literature Be Handled in the Classroom? 32. Should There Still Be Snow Days? 33. What Are Your Reactions to the Storming of the Capitol by a Pro-Trump Mob? 34. What Do You Think of the Decision by Tech Companies to Block President Trump? 35. If You Were a Member of Congress, Would You Vote to Impeach President Trump? 36. What Would You Do First if You Were the New President? 37. Who Do You Hope Will Win the 2020 Presidential Election? 38. Should Media Literacy Be a Required Course in School? 39. What Are Your Reactions to the Results of Election 2020? Where Do We Go From Here? 40. How Should We Remember the Problematic Actions of the Nation’s Founders? 41. As Coronavirus Cases Surge, How Should Leaders Decide What Stays Open and What Closes? 42. What Is Your Reaction to the Inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? 43. How Worried Should We Be About Screen Time During the Pandemic? 44. Should Schools Be Able to Discipline Students for What They Say on Social Media? 45. What Works of Art, Culture and Technology Flopped in 2020? 46. How Do You Feel About Censored Music? 47. Why Do You Think ‘Drivers License’ Became Such a Smash Hit? 48. Justice Ginsburg Fought for Gender Equality. How Close Are We to Achieving That Goal? 49. How Well Do You Think Our Leaders Have Responded to the Coronavirus Crisis? 50. To What Extent Is the Legacy of Slavery and Racism Still Present in America in 2020? 51. How Should We Reimagine Our Schools So That All Students Receive a Quality Education? 52. How Concerned Do You Think We Should Be About the Integrity of the 2020 Election? 53. What Issues in This Election Season Matter Most to You? 54. Is Summer School a Smart Way to Make Up for Learning Lost This School Year? 55. What Is Your Reaction to the Senate’s Acquittal of Former President Trump? 56. What Is the Worst Toy Ever? 57. How Should We Balance Safety and Urgency in Developing a Covid-19 Vaccine? 58. What Are Your Reactions to Oprah’s Interview With Harry and Meghan? 59. Should the Government Provide a Guaranteed Income for Families With Children? 60. Should There Be More Public Restrooms? 61. Should High School-Age Basketball Players Be Able to Get Paid? 62. Should Team Sports Happen This Year? 63. Who Are the Best Musical Artists of the Past Year? What Are the Best Songs? 64. Should We Cancel Student Debt? 65. How Closely Should Actors’ Identities Reflect the Roles They Play? 66. Should White Writers Translate a Black Author’s Work? 67. Would You Buy an NFT? 68. Should Kids Still Learn to Tell Time? 69. Should All Schools Teach Financial Literacy? 70. What Is Your Reaction to the Verdict in the Derek Chauvin Trial? 71. What Is the Best Way to Stop Abusive Language Online? 72. What Are the Underlying Systems That Hold a Society Together? 73. What Grade Would You Give President Biden on His First 100 Days? 74. Should High Schools Post Their Annual College Lists? 75. Are C.E.O.s Paid Too Much? 76. Should We Rethink Thanksgiving? 77. What Is the Best Way to Get Teenagers Vaccinated? 78. Do You Want Your Parents and Grandparents to Get the New Coronavirus Vaccine? 79. What Is Your Reaction to New Guidelines That Loosen Mask Requirements? 80. Who Should We Honor on Our Money? 81. Is Your School’s Dress Code Outdated? 82. Does Everyone Have a Responsibility to Vote? 83. How Is Your Generation Changing Politics?

Questions for Creative and Personal Writing

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20 Prompts for Opinion Writing That Motivate Kids

When using prompts for opinion writing, students can express themselves and share their beliefs.  This automatically makes them more invested in their writing.  Read on to learn more about opinion writing including mentor texts, ideas, and assessments.  Plus you will find 20 prompts that will be sure to motivate and engage kids!

What is an Opinion Writing?

Opinion writing is used to convince or persuade the reader. The writer states their opinion and gives reasons to support it.  Facts or statistics can be used to provide supporting evidence. 

Examples for Opinion Writing

There are lots of helpful examples for opinion writing.  Below you will find a list of mentor texts for kids.  It’s beneficial to immerse students in the genre before and during a writing unit.  These books model effective writing strategies that can be incorporated into lessons.

Opinion Writing Mentor Text:

• I Love Insects by Lizzy Rockwell
• The Perfect Pet by Margie Palatini 
• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt 
• Hey, Little Ant by Phillip and Hannah Hoose
• Red is Best by Kathy Stinson
• I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff 
• Earrings by Judith Viorst
• The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry

How to Teach Opinion Writing

It’s important for students to form their own opinions and understand their feelings.  So often kids just follow the opinion of someone else whether it be a parent, sibling, or friend.  Now is the time for kids to firmly state their opinion and not waver from it.  

Writers will need to give reasons for their opinion and provide supporting examples.  The number of reasons will depend on the grade level and the student’s abilities.  For first graders, you might require only one reason while third graders may need three reasons.  Decide what works best for your learners and create modifications as needed. 

Opinion Writing Outline

Below you will find an acronym to help students plan their opinion writing. They just need to remember the word OREO. It stands for opinion, reasons, examples, and opinion (restated again). For each reason given, a sentence follows with evidence or an example. This is a more detailed approach to writing a response. It works well for the upper grades or advanced students. Depending on the level, some writers may just be working on providing reasons and will later develop the skill of using supporting examples.

The example below uses one reason with supporting evidence. For each reason, the student should write an example. The acronym might look like OREREO for two reasons or OREREREO for three reasons. A little confusing, but you get the idea.

Example: Do you think teachers should give students homework?

O – In my opinion, students should not have homework.

R – They work so hard all day at school and need a break. 

E – Instead of focusing on more work kids should be able to go outside and play, do a sport, or do other fun activities.  

O – In conclusion, students work all day at school and should not have to do homework.

Sentence Starters

As students write, it may also be helpful to use sentence starters. Teachers can project these on the board, put them on an anchor chart, or print a version for writing notebooks. I also like to do a mini-lesson where I ask the kids what types of sentence starters work well for opinion writing and we create the list together. This process helps them retain the information better and they are more likely to apply it to their own writing.

Ideas for Opinion Writing

There are so many fun and creative ideas for opinion writing.  Kids really get into this writing unit because they feel that their opinion is valued and they are eager to share their knowledge.  It’s really empowering for them!

As an activity, the teacher can present a topic to the class and have students choose a side.  Then kids can debate and state their opinion with reasons.  This is always an exciting way to get the creative juices flowing and it will translate into their writing when they have to support their opinion.

Another idea is to use prompts for opinion writing. This engages the students and helps them get started. Prompts can be assigned by the teacher or students can choose from a list or choice board. Feel free to use the sentence starters below to generate ideas for writing prompts.

• Would you rather . . . 
• Which is more important . .  
• Do you prefer . . . 
• What is the best . . .
• What is your favorite . . . 
• Should . . .
• Imagine if . . . 

Prompts for Opinion Writing

Opinion writing prompts can be created by the teacher or the students. Sometimes students come up with better prompts than I ever could. Plus kids love knowing that a peer created the prompt they are going to write about. If you’re looking for some ideas, the list below has 20 motivating and engaging prompts for kids! Also, check out this blog post to learn more about narrative writing prompts: 20 Prompts for Narrative Writing That Spark Creativity

20 Motivating and Engaging Prompts:

• If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Give 3 or more reasons why.
• Should students be able to pick their own seats in class?
• Think of a present you really want.  Now convince someone to buy it for you.
• What is the best pet someone can get?
• Would you rather live somewhere that’s extremely hot or cold?
• Which sport is the best?  Give reasons to support your opinion.
• If you could visit any place, what would it be and why?
• Would you rather live on a rural farm or in a busy city?
• Imagine you could be the President for a day.  What would be the most important thing to do first?
• Which is more important?  Being a good speaker or a good listener?
• If the weather is nice, should kids be able to have their classes outside?
• Do you think kids should have more technology time or less?
• If you could see the world through colored glasses, which color would you choose and why?
• Should kids get money for doing chores or should they just do it to help out at home?
• Convince your teacher to get a class pet.  Tell which animal would be the best choice and why.
• Would you rather visit the moon or a planet?  Explain why.
• If there could only be one season, which would you choose?
• Should kids get to choose their own bedtime?
• Would you rather give a present or receive it?
• Imagine you could create the best dessert ever!  What would it be and why?

Opinion Writing Rubrics

After students have completed their writing, teachers are left with the difficult task of assessing it.  Assessments should be accurate and aligned with the Common Core Standards.  They also need to be helpful for the teacher and the students.  

This is when writing rubrics become extremely helpful as formal assessments. They can be used for benchmarks, progress reports, report cards, and conferences. Rubrics may also be shown to students in advance so they know what the expectations are and how they will be assessed.  

Below you will find three types of opinion writing rubrics.  Check out this blog post to learn more about student-friendly, teacher-friendly, and time-saving rubrics: 3 Types of Writing Rubrics for Effective Assessments

Opinion writing has the ability to engage and empower kids.  Students will be able to explain their thinking by giving reasons and examples.  Mentor texts, sentence starters, writing prompts, and rubrics are all helpful to use in the classroom. I know your kids will love writing and sharing their opinion pieces.

Did you grab your Free Writing Prompt Guide yet?  Writing prompts are perfect for morning work, writing time, centers, or as a homework assignment.  It will save you tons of time and energy. So click the link and grab the guide to get started!

Genre Based Prompts

Related Articles:

• 20 Prompts for Narrative Writing That Spark Creativity
• 7 Ways to Introduce Opinion Writing
• Opinion Writing Ideas and Resources
• 3 Easy to Implement Tips to Teach Opinion Writing

Angela Sutton

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Thanks for sharing. These are my favorite type of writing prompts to give to my students to see how creative they can get.

Yes! These kinds of prompts definitely get the creative juices flowing. The students always love to share their opinions with the class. Happy writing!

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The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

Ideas to inspire every young writer!

High school students generally do a lot of writing, learning to use language clearly, concisely, and persuasively. When it’s time to choose an essay topic, though, it’s easy to come up blank. If that’s the case, check out this huge round-up of essay topics for high school. You’ll find choices for every subject and writing style.

• Argumentative Essay Topics
• Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics
• Compare-Contrast Essay Topics
• Descriptive Essay Topics
• Expository and Informative Essay Topics
• Humorous Essay Topics

Literary Essay Topics

• Narrative and Personal Essay Topics
• Personal Essay Topics
• Persuasive Essay Topics

Research Essay Topics

Argumentative essay topics for high school.

When writing an argumentative essay, remember to do the research and lay out the facts clearly. Your goal is not necessarily to persuade someone to agree with you, but to encourage your reader to accept your point of view as valid. Here are some possible argumentative topics to try. ( Here are 100 more compelling argumentative essay topics. )

• The most important challenge our country is currently facing is … (e.g., immigration, gun control, economy)
• The government should provide free internet access for every citizen.
• All drugs should be legalized, regulated, and taxed.
• Vaping is less harmful than smoking tobacco.
• The best country in the world is …
• Parents should be punished for their minor children’s crimes.
• Should all students have the ability to attend college for free?
• Should physical education be part of the standard high school curriculum?

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• Schools should require recommended vaccines for all students, with very limited exceptions.
• Is it acceptable to use animals for experiments and research?
• Does social media do more harm than good?
• Capital punishment does/does not deter crime.
• What one class should all high schools students be required to take and pass in order to graduate?
• Do we really learn anything from history, or does it just repeat itself over and over?
• Are men and women treated equally?

Cause-and-Effect Essay Topics for High School

A cause-and-effect essay is a type of argumentative essay. Your goal is to show how one specific thing directly influences another specific thing. You’ll likely need to do some research to make your point. Here are some ideas for cause-and-effect essays. ( Get a big list of 100 cause-and-effect essay topics here. )

• Humans are causing accelerated climate change.
• Fast-food restaurants have made human health worse over the decades.
• What caused World War II? (Choose any conflict for this one.)
• Describe the effects social media has on young adults.

• How does playing sports affect people?
• What are the effects of loving to read?
• Being an only/oldest/youngest/middle child makes you …
• What effect does violence in movies or video games have on kids?
• Traveling to new places opens people’s minds to new ideas.
• Racism is caused by …

Compare-Contrast Essay Topics for High School

As the name indicates, in compare-and-contrast essays, writers show the similarities and differences between two things. They combine descriptive writing with analysis, making connections and showing dissimilarities. The following ideas work well for compare-contrast essays. ( Find 80+ compare-contrast essay topics for all ages here. )

• Public and private schools
• Capitalism vs. communism
• Monarchy or democracy
• Dogs vs. cats as pets

• Paper books or e-books
• Two political candidates in a current race
• Going to college vs. starting work full-time
• Working your way through college as you go or taking out student loans
• iPhone or Android
• Instagram vs. Twitter (or choose any other two social media platforms)

Descriptive Essay Topics for High School

Bring on the adjectives! Descriptive writing is all about creating a rich picture for the reader. Take readers on a journey to far-off places, help them understand an experience, or introduce them to a new person. Remember: Show, don’t tell. These topics make excellent descriptive essays.

• Who is the funniest person you know?
• What is your happiest memory?
• Tell about the most inspirational person in your life.
• Write about your favorite place.
• When you were little, what was your favorite thing to do?
• Choose a piece of art or music and explain how it makes you feel.
• What is your earliest memory?

• What’s the best/worst vacation you’ve ever taken?
• Describe your favorite pet.
• What is the most important item in the world to you?
• Give a tour of your bedroom (or another favorite room in your home).
• Describe yourself to someone who has never met you.
• Lay out your perfect day from start to finish.
• Explain what it’s like to move to a new town or start a new school.
• Tell what it would be like to live on the moon.

Expository and Informative Essay Topics for High School

Expository essays set out clear explanations of a particular topic. You might be defining a word or phrase or explaining how something works. Expository or informative essays are based on facts, and while you might explore different points of view, you won’t necessarily say which one is “better” or “right.” Remember: Expository essays educate the reader. Here are some expository and informative essay topics to explore. ( See 70+ expository and informative essay topics here. )

• What makes a good leader?
• Explain why a given school subject (math, history, science, etc.) is important for students to learn.
• What is the “glass ceiling” and how does it affect society?
• Describe how the internet changed the world.
• What does it mean to be a good teacher?

• Explain how we could colonize the moon or another planet.
• Discuss why mental health is just as important as physical health.
• Describe a healthy lifestyle for a teenager.
• Choose an American president and explain how their time in office affected the country.
• What does “financial responsibility” mean?

Humorous Essay Topics for High School

Humorous essays can take on any form, like narrative, persuasive, or expository. You might employ sarcasm or satire, or simply tell a story about a funny person or event. Even though these essay topics are lighthearted, they still take some skill to tackle well. Give these ideas a try.

• What would happen if cats (or any other animal) ruled the world?
• What do newborn babies wish their parents knew?
• Explain the best ways to be annoying on social media.
• Invent a wacky new sport, explain the rules, and describe a game or match.

• Imagine a discussion between two historic figures from very different times, like Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I.
• Retell a familiar story in tweets or other social media posts.
• Describe present-day Earth from an alien’s point of view.
• Choose a fictional character and explain why they should be the next president.
• Describe a day when kids are in charge of everything, at school and at home.

Literary essays analyze a piece of writing, like a book or a play. In high school, students usually write literary essays about the works they study in class. These literary essay topic ideas focus on books students often read in high school, but many of them can be tweaked to fit other works as well.

• Discuss the portrayal of women in Shakespeare’s Othello .
• Explore the symbolism used in The Scarlet Letter .
• Explain the importance of dreams in Of Mice and Men .
• Compare and contrast the romantic relationships in Pride and Prejudice .

• Dissect the allegory of Animal Farm and its relation to contemporary events.
• Interpret the author’s take on society and class structure in The Great Gatsby .
• Explore the relationship between Hamlet and Ophelia.
• Discuss whether Shakespeare’s portrayal of young love in Romeo and Juliet is accurate.
• Explain the imagery used in Beowulf .

Narrative and Personal Essay Topics for High School

Think of a narrative essay like telling a story. Use some of the same techniques that you would for a descriptive essay, but be sure you have a beginning, middle, and end. A narrative essay doesn’t necessarily need to be personal, but they often are. Take inspiration from these narrative and personal essay topics.

• Describe a performance or sporting event you took part in.
• Explain the process of cooking and eating your favorite meal.
• Write about meeting your best friend for the first time and how your relationship developed.
• Tell about learning to ride a bike or drive a car.
• Describe a time in your life when you’ve been scared.

• Share the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you.
• Tell about a time when you overcame a big challenge.
• Tell the story of how you learned an important life lesson.
• Describe a time when you or someone you know experienced prejudice or oppression.
• Explain a family tradition, how it developed, and its importance today.
• What is your favorite holiday? How does your family celebrate it?
• Retell a familiar story from the point of view of a different character.
• Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision.
• Tell about your proudest moment.

Persuasive Essay Topics for High School

Persuasive essays are similar to argumentative , but they rely less on facts and more on emotion to sway the reader. It’s important to know your audience, so you can anticipate any counterarguments they might make and try to overcome them. Try these topics to persuade someone to come around to your point of view. ( Discover 60 more intriguing persuasive essay topics here. )

• Do you think homework should be required, optional, or not given at all?
• Everyone should be vegetarian or vegan.
• What animal makes the best pet?
• Visit an animal shelter, choose an animal that needs a home, and write an essay persuading someone to adopt that animal.
• Who is the world’s best athlete, present or past?
• Should little kids be allowed to play competitive sports?
• Are professional athletes/musicians/actors overpaid?
• The best music genre is …

• Is democracy the best form of government?
• Is capitalism the best form of economy?
• Students should/should not be able to use their phones during the school day.
• Should schools have dress codes?
• If I could change one school rule, it would be …
• Is year-round school a good idea?

A research essay is a classic high school assignment. These papers require deep research into primary source documents, with lots of supporting facts and evidence that’s properly cited. Research essays can be in any of the styles shown above. Here are some possible topics, across a variety of subjects.

• Which country’s style of government is best for the people who live there?
• Choose a country and analyze its development from founding to present day.
• Describe the causes and effects of a specific war.
• Formulate an ideal economic plan for our country.
• What scientific discovery has had the biggest impact on life today?

• Analyze the way mental health is viewed and treated in this country.
• Explore the ways systemic racism impacts people in all walks of life.
• Defend the importance of teaching music and the arts in public schools.
• Choose one animal from the endangered species list, and propose a realistic plan to protect it.

What are some of your favorite essay topics for high school? Come share your prompts on the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the ultimate guide to student writing contests .

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The Ultimate Guide to Opinion Writing for Students and Teachers

The Importance of Opinion Writing

Encouraging our students to express their personal opinions is an important part of the learning process; healthy even. To do this effectively, it is equally important that we help them acquire the necessary skills to express these opinions in a reasoned and coherent manner when teaching opinion writing.

Writing is one of the best possible vehicles for our students not only to express their opinions but to explore the strength and validity of those opinions.

CONSIDERATIONS BEFORE WRITING AN OPINION ESSAY

For our students to competently express their opinions in writing, they must first understand the specific requirements of the type of question they are answering. Of course, there are many types of questions and fun opinion writing prompts that are geared towards coaxing personal opinions from a student and each will require its own specific tailored response.

It’s clear that personal opinions permeate a wide range of genres and media. We find opinions everywhere from hotel reviews and infomercials to political commentary and newspaper editorials. But, despite the diversity of forms opinion writing can take, we can helpfully identify some general criteria that will assist our students in navigating the challenge of most opinion writing prompts and questions.

Let’s take a look at some of these criteria in more detail.

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OPINION WRITING CRITERIA TO ADDRESS

1. identify the audience: speak clearly.

Writing is about language and language is about communication; students should understand that we do not write in a vacuum. The purpose of an essay, letter, or any other form of writing we care to name, is ultimately to be read.

This means that it is essential that consideration be given to the character of the intended audience. Also, remind students that when they are writing, the reader is not privy to the inner workings of the writer’s mind. They must make their thoughts explicit in their writing and ensure that these thoughts are expressed in a coherent manner.

The student writer should always avoid making the assumption that the reader knows things that are not expressed explicitly in the writing.

2. Take a Stance: Stand Firm

From the very outset, the student should state their position boldly. More than that, they must stand firm in that opinion throughout the entirety of the piece.

Opinion writing is not about communicating a series of pros and cons or discussing at length the various related advantages and disadvantages, the place for that is not here. The opinion piece should open with a bold statement of opinion that is clearly expressed, and that opinion should be held unwaveringly and reinforced constantly throughout the text.

As with many other writing genres , employing a hook to grab the reader’s attention is good practice too. This hook can take the form of a quotation, an anecdote, a statistic, or even a joke. Whatever form the hook takes, it should reveal the writer’s take on things too.

To summarize, whatever the topic and however the student opens their opinion piece, they should ensure they express their opinion immediately and coherently. There should be no doubt in the reader’s mind as to where the student-writer stands on the issue.

3. Choose Appropriate Evidence: Back It Up

There is no doubt that subjectivity is an important aspect of opinion writing in general. That does not mean, however, that opinions do not need to be substantiated.

Your students will need to recognize that each and every statement of opinion will need to be supported by appropriate evidence. This will also help students to develop their critical reading skills as they will be able to better recognize when unsubstantiated claims are made by other writers. Opinions backed up with evidence help lead the reader along the writer’s pathways of thought; making the writing more convincing as a whole.

This evidence can take a wide variety of forms, ranging from personal anecdotes and quotations to statistics and references to scientific studies. Students should also always be encouraged to choose evidence that is broadly suited to the subject they are writing about.

4. Draw Conclusions: Wrap It Up

In the well-organized piece of opinion writing, as with many other types of extended writing, the writing should be structured in paragraphs. Paragraphs are essential elements of good writing organization.

Generally speaking, an opening paragraph gives way to body paragraphs. These body paragraphs, or development paragraphs, describe in more detail the ideas laid out in the initial opening paragraph by further exploring, explaining, and providing supporting evidence for each point.

The final concluding paragraph serves to close the circle by restating the central points in a closing endeavor to drive home the writer’s opinion.

5. A Word on Words

Writing is an art form. Attention to detail is important. But, it isn’t only important to look at the big picture things like structure, students should be encouraged to shift their focus from the text level down to the word and sentence levels too. In an opinion piece, strong, forceful verbs should be the order of the day. There is little space for passive forms when engaged in the construction of convincing arguments.

Things should be kept interesting too. Students should vary their sentence structures grammatically and in length. Variety is key.

 As always in writing, editing should be emphasized. The editing process polishes the well-wrought opinion piece by putting the final gloss on the student’s work.

The OREO Opinion Writing Process Explained

As with all genres, there’s a lot to remember here and acronyms are a helpful way to commit these important things to memory. Luckily, few things can be easier to commit to memory than the name of a delicious cookie:

O – Opinion

R – Reasons

E – Evidence or Examples

O – Opinion (restated)

This memorable acronym will help students remember some of the main elements of opinion writing as outlined above. But, sometimes the hardest thing for students to do is to get the writing ball rolling.

Opinionated Sentence Starters

Sentence starters provide students with great ways to kick-start their writing. Reminding students of simple ways of introducing opinion sentences can be helpful. Here are a few for ‘starters’ for starters:

●     In my opinion…

●     I think that…

●     It seems to me that…

●     It appears to me…

●     I feel that…

Once the student-writer has effectively expressed their opinion on a matter, they then will need to provide the reader with the reasons for why they think what they think. In an essay, these reasons will usually be found in the body paragraphs or development paragraphs. Normally, these paragraphs will explore a single reason each.

Some helpful sentence starters for introducing these reasons include:

●     One reason I feel this way is…

●     Evidence to support this can be found in…

●     I believe this to evident in…

Opinion Writing Activities for Students

Students will certainly need practice completing sustained pieces of opinion writing, but some of the most valuable activities to help students evolve their opinion writing abilities barely require a pen to be put to paper.

While the following two activities do not require students to engage in extended pieces of writing, the activities below will assist students in grasping some essential concepts. These activities demonstrate good practice through modelling and also encourage dialogue, discussion, and debate as a means to strengthen opinion writing.

Activity 1: Opinion Writing – What Is It?

This exercise is a good follow-up to introductory work outlining the criteria of opinion writing as described above.

●     Start by passing out copies of a piece of opinion writing you have selected to read with the class. Read the text aloud as the students follow along with their copy. The opinion text chosen can come from a wide range of genres, including advertisements, letters, editorials, essays, articles, or reviews.

●     Assign students a talking partner and instruct students to take five minutes to identify the various criteria employed in the text. Encourage students to mark and annotate their copies of the text accordingly. You may even wish to supply students with a checklist compiled from the criteria mentioned previously in this article.

●     As a whole class, discuss how successfully the text fulfills the criteria. What did the writer do well? What could they have done better? You can record their responses on the whiteboard.

The aim of this exercise is for students to hone their critical faculties while internalizing the criteria. This will reap rewards when the students later engage in their own extended opinion writing.

Activity 2: The Collaborative Case

This activity employs collaboration to help students build a stronger case for their opinion on a divisive issue.

●     First, define the parameters of the exercise by presenting an either/or conundrum to the class. This doesn’t have to be overly controversial in nature, just stated in such a way that it forces the students to take one side or another. This could be stated simply as a choice, e.g. Dogs or cats? City or countryside? Beach or Mountains? Sweet or savory?

●     Students then divide into two groups according to their stated preferences. In their groups, they then discuss and compile as many supporting reasons for their choice as they can come up with. As a group, they will discuss the relative merits of each reason, before agreeing on their top five.

●     The groups then share their reasons in a debate format, using arguments and counter-arguments, leading into an open, free-ranging discussion.

The value of this exercise lies in the collaborative and ‘combative’ natures of the exercises. Just as our physical muscles can grow through resistance, so too can the strength and resilience of our opinions and arguments.

This activity can also be used as a lead-in to opinion writing as it works well as a prewriting preparation exercise. The complexity of the issue to be discussed and debated can easily be modified to suit the abilities of the students too.

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OPINION WRITING VIDEO TUTORIALS

These videos from teaching without frills are an excellent starting point for opinion writing. You can view the entire collection here.

  The Wrap Up

Opinion writing is a higher-level skill that makes many demands on our students. It will challenge them to move beyond parroting the facts and figures they have acquired in their learning to formulate their own thoughts on topics they have learned about in class, or in the wider world beyond the school gates.

It will make demands on their skill as writers too. Our students must learn to mold and mechanically manipulate the language on the page to express their beliefs persuasively and effectively. To do this successfully, they will need ample opportunities to practice their writing craft. Once a firm understanding of the structures involved has been established, the student can become more fluid in their expression. They will add art and flair to their craft. But first, they must build on these firm foundations.

OTHER GREAT ARTICLES RELATED TO OPINION WRITING

Top 5 Persuasive Writing Techniques for Students

5 Top Persuasive Writing Lesson Plans for Students and Teachers

How to Write Perfect Persuasive Essays in 5 Simple Steps

23 Persuasive writing Topics for High School students

How to Write a Winning Debate Speech

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20 Fun Opinion Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

Make your opinion writing lessons more interesting by adding these opinion writing prompts and activities! They're a great way to help your students share their preferences and refine their writing skills at the same time.

Opinion writing is such a fun part of primary school! It's a great way to learn more about your students' own lives, and the personal nature of the questions can really get their creative juices going. Students are likely to have strong opinions about their preferences and beliefs, which makes it easy for them to express their points of view. Even the most reluctant writers tend to get excited about sharing their own opinions and personal experiences.

Like any writing skill, this takes practice. Students need to learn what opinions are (and what they are not) and how to back up their personal views with evidence or justifications. 

This process takes time, explicit instruction, and lots of practice, but I have a bunch of resources to help!

Best Opinion Writing Prompts for Kids

I've developed a variety of tools to help you simplify your writing lessons and make these topics and skills as easy to learn as possible.

​Persuasive Writing Powerpoint Presentations

First, make sure you start with my Persuasive Writing Slideshow !

It's packed full of information to help teach your students about opinion writing in a deep and meaningful way. It has dozens of questions to spark conversation and learn about your students' opinions regarding various topics, but it also contains activities related to several mentor texts, class surveys, and graphic organisers to organise your persuasive writing.

You might also like to explore some Would You Rather questions with your students- kids LOVE answering these, and they're a great way to get kids thinking about their opinions and explaining their reasoning.

These matching templates make a great consolidation activity or literacy rotation activity.

Persuasive Writing Bundle

For even more resources, take a look at my Persuasive Writing Activities & Resources .  They are all completely printable, so you can incorporate them into your daily lesson plans right away!  There are even more activities related to the mentor texts from the slideshow, including graphic organisers and booklets, to help your students practise their skills in a hands-on way.

Here are just a few of my favourite opinion writing activities and mentor texts.

1. The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

Get the matching activities here . 

2. Don't Let The Pigeon Drive The Bus by Mo Willems

Get the the matching activities here .

3. What Pet Should I Get? by Dr Seuss

Get the matching activities  here .

4. I Wanna Iguana by Karen Kaufman Orloff

Get the matching activities here .

5. A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black

6. Daisy: Eat Your Peas by Kes Gray

Other great mentor texts for opinion writing include:

• Hey, Little Ant by Hannah Hoose - you can find my matching activities here .
• Spoon  by Amy Krouse Rosenthal

These resources are all available on The Hive , our digital teacher platform which is loaded with thousands of evidence-based resources, videos, and materials to help you spend more time teaching and less time searching for the right lesson activities!

Sign up for your free 7 day trial of The Hive today!

Teaching opinion writing in elementary school

It will take years of instruction before students are fully prepared to write opinion essays, but you can set them up for success by teaching these specific concepts. 

State a preference

I like to ask a lot of questions about my students' preferences from the first day of school. Not only does this help them get to know each other, but the sentence starters or questions are usually easy to answer. This is also a great way to build community and also have students learn what their own preferences are.

Take it to the next level and ask students what they would do in specific situations. This is more complex than simply stating a preference, but it's a great way to develop critical thinking skills and learn about each other in a meaningful way.

The best way to get students to share their personal experiences and preferences is through a morning journal. I have 101 Free Writing Prompts for Journal Writing , which is such a great resource!

It has 101 different questions about your students' favourite foods and movies, as well as more inquisitive topics that require them to think a little. There is also a free digital version to make it easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

Opinion Writing Sentence Starters

Use sentence starters to help them share their answers out loud and also in writing. Your writing expectations should vary depending on the grade level. 

Kindergarten : Students are generally only expected to state their opinions out loud or, with support, write them on paper.   

1st and 2nd Grade : Students should be able to state an opinion, offer a reason to support their view, and organise their writing with an introduction and conclusion.   

3rd Grade: Students should be able to write organised opinion pieces with several reasons to support their claim.   

• My favourite _____ is _____.
• I prefer _____  because _____.
• I would rather _____ because _____.
• I believe that _____  is the best because _____.
• I think _____ because _____.

20 Elementary Opinion Writing Topics

Need some opinion essay topics to add to a lesson right away? These are the perfect topics to spark a conversation or writing assignment.

• What is your favourite colour? School subject? Ice cream? Sports team?
• Which animal makes the best pet?
• Do most kids spend too much time on video games?
• If you could meet one famous person, who would it be? Why?
• Should students wear school uniforms?
• Would you rather be a pop star or an actor?
• Do you prefer sour candies or chocolate?
• What's the scariest animal?
• Do you prefer pizza or tacos?
• Is it better to be brave or smart?
• What's the best thing to do for your birthday?
• What type of music is the best?
• Should we have school 5 days per week or 4?
• Should primary school students have access to social media?
• ​At what age should kids get phones?
• Which grade has been your favourite so far? Why?
• Which is better: physical education, music, or visual arts? 
• Where is the best place to live? Why?
• What do you like the most about our school?
• What is your dream job? Why?

Fact vs opinion

One of the first things students need to learn is the difference between facts and opinions. They tend to catch onto this very quickly since facts are usually visual, observable, or verifiable in some way.

For example, "the dog is brown" can be verified by looking at the dog. "Chocolate ice cream is the most delicious ice cream" cannot be verified. That belief is someone's personal opinion, and it may not be true for other people.  

This can become a little confusing at times, since sometimes opinions can feel really true and it's hard to think in shades of grey.

This free fact or opinion sorting activity can help students work through this skill in a hands-on way.

Opinions vs persuasive writing

Although opinions and persuasive writing can look the same, they're not really the same thing.  

Opinions are based on someone's personal beliefs or experiences. They don't have to justify or  explain their answer; they can simply state their favourite book, color, food, hobby, etc. 

Persuasive writing requires you to persuade or convince someone to think or feel a certain way based on your own unique perspective. It generally requires reasoning, logic, and examples to support a point. This is more sophisticated and must be scaffolded appropriately, especially in the early years.

At the beginning of your writing unit, it's best to teach your students that persuasive writing is a special type of writing, like informational or narrative writing. They should follow specific writing criteria to make sure their argument really works! If you have a writing center , make an anchor chart to list the different types of writing you've taught so far to introduce this new skill!  

My Persuasive Writing Activities make this whole process so much easier and accessible. There are dozens of activities that break down these complex skills to make them easy to follow and engaging. 

Ultimately, opinion writing is a powerful way to help students learn about each other and themselves, but it's also an important building block for the higher-level writing they'll be expected to do in the upper grades.

If you can teach your students how to support their arguments and offer reasons or evidence for their claims, they'll have a much easier time writing argumentative essays later on. These baby steps can go a long way! Fortunately, it's a really fun skill to teach, and you'll get a chance to learn so much more about your students at the same time!

Take your opinion writing lessons to the next level

In addition to The Hive's  one-of-a-kind digital visual timetable and growing library of digital learning tools, you'll love our morning routines and daily discussion prompts, including our Would You Rather questions! They're a great way to promote discussion and opinions each day with your students!

Here's a few examples of what you might discuss with your students:

If you’re ready to get started with all of The Hive's innovative learning tools, head over to   The Hive   to start your free trial today!

Opinion and Informational Text Sets: Reading and Writing from One Text Set (+ a Freebie)

This past year I have been wrapping up a project that has been quite the labor of love: Monthly Text Sets. The monthly text sets solve a list of problems I consistently ran into when teaching 4th Grade ELA. But first, what are the monthly text sets? The monthly text sets are a set of nonfiction passages based around one topic. Students use the passages/articles to write in response to reading. The text set includes an opinion or informational writing prompt and reading comprehension questions. This means that you can use ONE set of texts to teach both reading and writing. 

What does each monthly text set include? 

• 2 – 3 Nonfiction Passages based around one topic
• Comprehension Questions aligned to standards
• Writing Prompt for Opinion or Informational Text-based writing in response to reading
• Graphic Organizer for Students
• Teacher Model Graphic Organizer
• Teacher Model Essay
• Differentiated for Grades 3-5

Reading Comprehension

Each text set includes 2 – 3 passages/articles (texts). They are nonfiction topics and the texts are differentiated for grades 3-5. The 4th and 5th grade articles sometimes remain the same, but the questions are different for each grade level. The questions follow the type of questions students might see on a state test such as the Florida State Assessment, and are aligned to the Common Core State Standards. Even if your state doesn’t exactly follow common core standards and they have their own, the questions are based on skills as well such as main idea, text structure, cause and effect, etc. 

You can see examples of the question types below. Each grade level is included. I kept it this way so that even if you teach another grade level, you can differentiate for your students if needed. Don’t forget to grab this  free shark text set before you go! Click here or on any of the images. 

3rd Grade Reading Comprehension

4th Grade Reading Comprehension

5th Grade Reading Comprehension

You will also get a link that gives you access to the Standards Alignment Google Sheet. This way you can keep track of which standards each text set is covering. If you wanted to cover a specific skill, you have an easy way to track and access which standards are covered in which text set. 

The writing portion includes a prompt in which students will write using both texts to respond. The prompt for this text set is an informational writing prompt:

Write an essay in which you explain the importance of sharks in the ocean ecosystem. 

If you are familiar with my writing units, then you know that boxes and bullets are the standard around here. I have a lot of thoughts about that, but the gist is that they are so simple and provide a consistent structure for your students. Each text set includes a boxes and bullets graphic organizer for students and a teacher example to model or guide your students. Depending on where you are in your writing instruction, you can also have students do this in their notebook.

Writing paper is also included for a final published piece. Depending on how long you have and/or if you are in test-prep mode, you may choose to have students write a rough draft on notebook paper or in their writing notebook and then write a final copy on the publishing paper. Then, display in your classroom or hallway for the world to see all of your students’ amazing writing! 

The plan and example essay includes 2-3 body paragraphs. So your students will be writing 4 – 5 paragraph essays. Depending on which you prefer to have your students write, you’ll just add/remove a body paragraph.

• Paragraph 1: Introduction
• Paragraph 2: Body Paragraph 1
• Paragraph 3: Body Paragraph 2
• Paragraph 4: Conclusion

There is also an editable teacher plan and essay available as a PowerPoint and Google doc so that you can edit and adapt the essay to your needs.

You might also use a Google Doc/PowerPoint to write the essay with your students and use the example as a guide. 

What are the topics for each month? 

One of my favorite parts about these text sets is that they have a monthly theme. HOWEVER, most topics can be used at any point in the year. Some topics are month-specific such as “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day” in January and “The Benefits of Bees” in April (it mentions Earth Day), but you can definitely fit these into to your current curriculum. And I have to tell you that even though all 12 months have been released, we’re still creating these each month. 

• January:   MLK Day (Opinion Writing Prompt)  → Read the blog post here.
• February: Equality in Education: Mary McLeod Bethune and Thurgood Marshall (Informational Writing Prompt)
• March: Ants: Perk or Pest? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• April: The Benefits of Bees (Informational Writing Prompt)
• May: Save the Sea Turtles (Informational Writing Prompt)
• June: Shark Shenanigans (Informational Writing Prompt) Grab this one for FREE here or at the end of this post.
• July:  Hurricanes (Informational Writing Prompt)
• August: Video Games: Helpful or Harmful? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• September: Homework: Helpful or Harmful? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• October: Bats: Benefit or Bother? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• November: Paid to Play: Should College Athletes be Paid? (Opinion Writing Prompt)
• December: Polar Bear Problems (Informational Writing Prompt)

WHY use monthly text sets? 

Let’s talk about WHY you might want to use text sets in your classroom. While teaching 4th grade in a self-contained classroom, I consistently felt like we were giving our students too many texts to grapple with. At any point in time, we juggled some (and sometimes ALL ) of the following texts: 

• Read Aloud (chapter book)
• Read Aloud (picture book)
• Writing Mentor Text (picture book)
• Reading Text Sets (passages as part of a center or independent practice)
• Guided Reading Text (small groups)
• Shared Reading Text (textbook used in whole groups or small groups)

        (This is  JUST  for Reading)

• Writing Text Sets for test prep or writing in response to reading (In 4th and 5th Grade, this was ALLLLL the time.)
• Science Textbook
• Social Studies Text

When you list it out like that, it’s a LOT of texts. And they all serve a purpose. And they’re all important.  But we continuously ran into problems. 

❌We couldn’t fit them all in. (Shocking, right?)

❌We felt behind or overwhelmed because we were trying to do too much and unable to get in #allthethings.

❌Science and social studies were not getting the time they deserved. And honestly, I don’t think the future of our world can afford to not make science and social studies a priority.

The bottom line is we were trying to use TOO. MANY. TEXTS. One big issue that I began to see is that we treated the texts that we were using for writing as if we didn’t have to actually read them. As if we didn’t have to read them closely, dissect, analyze, and synthesize to produce a clear and concise essay with a controlling idea, supporting details, voice, etc. And, of course, in a way that did not copy the text. You and I both know that’s a lot to ask of a 4th grader (or 3rd grader or 5th grader or quite frankly – an adult.)

There had to be a better way.  So I decided to ELIMINATE or INTEGRATE.

✅Eliminate  the texts that we didn’t  need to use, that didn’t support other content area standards or that didn’t offer high-engaging content or just weren’t the best quality of texts in the first place. If my students weren’t interested in it and it didn’t align to other content area standards – I needed to find better texts. 

✅ Integrate  Science and Social Studies into our ELA curriculum.

How do the monthly text sets fit into this? 

Each monthly text set can be used for both Reading and Writing. The topic of each text set is either high-engaging or supports Social Studies/Science standards. It may not directly align with science or social studies standards, but topics support those areas. For example, many of the animal topics discuss life cycles and roles in the ecosystem.  

HOW do I teach writing using the text sets? 

If you’re looking for more support in  teaching writing, then you may be interested in the complete writing units . Both the  informational and opinion writing unit include daily lesson plans, PowerPoints that help you navigate writing workshop. 

Are you ready to try the monthly text sets?

If you’re ready to give the monthly text sets a try in your classroom, you can grab the Sharks Text Set freebie by clicking on the button below.

Just click here or on the image below to snag them.

60 Fun Opinion Writing Prompts for Elementary Students

Are you searching for a fun and effective way to engage your elementary students in opinion writing? Look no further! In this blog post, we’ve compiled a list of 60 opinion writing prompts specifically designed for elementary students. These prompts will not only encourage your students to express their opinions but also help them develop their critical thinking and persuasive writing skills.

From topics like “Should our class have a pet?” to “Who is the greatest superhero of all time?” these prompts cover a wide range of subjects that are sure to get your students’ creative juices flowing. Whether they’re discussing their favorite hobbies, sharing their opinions on homework, or debating the merits of technology, these prompts provide endless opportunities for your students to express themselves and engage in writing thoughtful opinion pieces.

The importance of opinion writing in elementary

Opinion writing plays a crucial role in elementary education, providing an excellent way for students to develop their voice and express unique perspectives. Engaging in opinion writing helps students think critically, form logical arguments, and support opinions with good reasons and evidence. This skill is not only essential for academic success but also for their future personal and professional endeavors.

Benefits of using writing prompts for opinion writing

Using writing prompts for opinion writing offers numerous advantages. Firstly, it provides students with a starting point and direction for their writing. With a prompt in hand, students can focus on organizing their thoughts and crafting a well-structured piece. Additionally, writing prompts spark creativity and imagination, allowing students to explore various topics and viewpoints. By using this ready supply of opinion writing prompts, your students will be exposed to a diverse range of subjects, expanding their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

Below is a compilation of creative and interesting opinion writing prompts, perfect for elementary students. These prompts aim to spark your students’ imagination and get them excited to communicate their thoughts!

1st grade opinion writing prompts

• Pets:  In your opinion, do you believe cats or dogs make better pets? Explain.
• Food:  If you had to write about your favorite food, what would you say and why?
• Best Friend:  Who is your best friend, and what makes them special? Explain.
• Best Season:  What’s your favorite season, and why do you like it?
• Homework:  Do you think homework is good for kids? Explain your thoughts.
• Uniforms:  Should we wear uniforms to school or our own clothes? Share your ideas.
• Favorite Book:  Write about your favorite book and why you love it.
• Place:  What do you think is a great place to visit, and why?
• Color:  Which is your favorite color, and why do you like it?
• Game:  What is your favorite game to play, and why?
• Favorite Thing:  What is your favorite thing to play with, and why?
• Animal:  What do you think the most interesting animal is, and why?

Young students love sharing about their lives and experiences, and these opinion writing prompts are perfect to give them the outlet to do so. Our comprehensive 1st grade opinion writing unit makes it easy for you to take it to the next level and teach them the foundational skills they need to become strong writers.

2nd grade opinion writing prompts

• Best Superhero:  Who do you think is the best superhero, and why?
• Favorite Movie:  Write about your favorite movie and why other kids should watch it.
• Best Food:  What do you think is the best food, and why?
• Favorite Animal:  Share why your favorite animal is the best one in the world.
• Dream Vacation:  If you could go on vacation anywhere in the world, where would you go, and what would you do there?
• School Pets:  Should our school have a class pet? Explain why or why not.
• Favorite Holiday:  Which holiday is your favorite, and what makes it special to you?
• Ice Cream:  Which ice cream flavor is the best, and why?
• Best Place:  What’s the best place you’ve ever visited, and why did you love it?
• Best Dessert:  Express your opinion on the best dessert and why it tops your list.
• Social Studies:  What is one particular topic in social studies that is interesting to you, and why?
• Best Thing:  What is the best thing you have ever received for your birthday, and why?

These ideas will get their pencils moving, and our comprehensive 2nd grade opinion writing unit provides everything a teacher needs to teach what comes next.

3rd grade opinion writing prompts

• Favorite Adventure:  Describe an exciting day out you had and explain why it was so much fun.
• Dream Invention:  If you could invent anything, what would it be, and how would it make the world a better place?
• Book Review:  Write a book review of your favorite book, recommending it to others and sharing what you loved about it.
• Best School Subject:  Which school subject do you enjoy the most, and why is it your favorite?
• Space Travel:  What is your opinion on the idea of space travel becoming more common in the future? Explain.
• Protecting the Environment:  Why is it important to take care of our environment, and what can kids do to help?
• The Power of Friendship:  What qualities make someone a good friend in your eyes?
• Weekend:  In your opinion, what’s the best way to spend a lazy weekend afternoon?
• Fictional Adventure:  If you could step into a storybook, which story would you choose and why?
• Learning New Skills:  Share a skill you’d love to learn, like playing a musical instrument or a sport, and explain why you’re interested in it.
• Homework Assignment:  Do you think having a homework assignment every night is a good practice for elementary students? Explain why or why not.
• School Year:  Do you think the school year should be shorter or longer than it currently is? Explain.

Get your students hooked on writing with these prompts, and keep them engaged and learning new skills with our 3rd grade opinion writing unit , designed to simplify your teaching prep.

4th grade opinion writing prompts

• Helping Others:  Why is it important to help people in need, and what are some ways you can make a positive difference in your community?
• School Subjects:  Which school subject do you find the most challenging, and how do you overcome challenges in that subject?
• Dream Career:  What career do you dream to have when you grow up, and what steps will you take to achieve your goal?
• School Rules:  What new school rule should we incorporate, and why?
• Travel:  What country would you like to visit, and what would you do there?
• Uniforms:  Do you think school uniforms are a good idea or a restriction on personal expression?
• Community Clean-Up:  Write a letter to our local government persuading them to organize a community clean-up day to make our town a cleaner and more beautiful place.
• Playground:  Write a letter to our principal explaining what new playground equipment you would like to have and how it would benefit our school.
• The Power of Friendship:  What qualities make someone a great friend in your eyes?
• Physical Education:  Do you think physical education is an essential part of school? Why or why not?
• Board Game:  What is your favorite board game, and why?
• Screen Time:  What do you think is a great way for students to balance screen time and outdoor activities in their daily routine, and why do you believe it’s important?

Fourth graders are growing in their ability to think critically and communicate effectively – support their learning by implementing our 4th grade opinion writing unit , thoughtfully designed to be easy for the teacher and fun for the students.

5th grade opinion writing prompts

• Video Games:  What’s your point of view on playing video games after finishing homework?
• Favorite Season:  Persuade your readers why your favorite season is the best, describing the unique activities that make it special.
• Technology Use:  Debate whether or not students should be allowed to use Chat GPT or other AI programs to help write their essays.
• Holiday:  Share which holiday is your favorite, and how the school could celebrate it.
• Social Media:  Share your thoughts on the impact of social media on friendships.
• Students in the Community:  How can students your age become involved in our town? How would it benefit both you and our community?
• Homework:  Do you think students in our school should have more or less homework? Explain.
• Sport:  What do you think is the best sport, and why?
• Virtual Learning:  Share your experience with virtual learning and its challenges or benefits.
• Controversial Topic:  Pick a controversial topic and express your opinion on it.
• Foreign Language:  If you could learn any foreign language, which one would it be and why?
• Sports Teams:  Do you think elementary schools should have competitive sports teams? Why or why not?

Set your 5th graders up for success with our comprehensive 5th grade opinion writing unit . It’s the perfect resource to elevate their skills and boost their confidence as they venture into more formal writing pieces.

Conclusion 

Opinion writing is a crucial skill for elementary students. These creative prompts provide a structured starting point, making the opinion writing process engaging and boosting student confidence.

By igniting the spark of self-expression, students will develop essential skills for both academics and real-world success! 

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A Free and Simple 2nd Grade Writing Rubric

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