one sided opinion essay topics

50 Argumentative Essay Topics

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo. 

• M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
• B.A., History, Armstrong State University

An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and take a position on it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas available to get you started.

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

Students often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. This means that it's best if you have a general interest in your subject, otherwise you might get bored or frustrated while trying to gather information. (You don't need to know everything, though.) Part of what makes this experience rewarding is learning something new.

It's best if you have a general interest in your subject, but the argument you choose doesn't have to be one that you agree with.

The subject you choose may not necessarily be one that you are in full agreement with, either. You may even be asked to write a paper from the opposing point of view. Researching a different viewpoint helps students broaden their perspectives. 

Ideas for Argument Essays

Sometimes, the best ideas are sparked by looking at many different options. Explore this list of possible topics and see if a few pique your interest. Write those down as you come across them, then think about each for a few minutes.

Which would you enjoy researching? Do you have a firm position on a particular subject? Is there a point you would like to make sure to get across? Did the topic give you something new to think about? Can you see why someone else may feel differently?

50 Possible Topics

A number of these topics are rather controversial—that's the point. In an argumentative essay, opinions matter and controversy is based on opinions, which are, hopefully, backed up by facts.   If these topics are a little too controversial or you don't find the right one for you, try browsing through persuasive essay and speech topics  as well.

• Is global climate change  caused by humans?
• Is the death penalty effective?
• Is our election process fair?
• Is torture ever acceptable?
• Should men get paternity leave from work?
• Are school uniforms beneficial?
• Do we have a fair tax system?
• Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
• Is cheating out of control?
• Are we too dependent on computers?
• Should animals be used for research?
• Should cigarette smoking be banned?
• Are cell phones dangerous?
• Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
• Do we have a throwaway society?
• Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
• Should companies market to children?
• Should the government have a say in our diets?
• Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
• Should members of Congress have term limits?
• Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
• Are CEOs paid too much?
• Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
• Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
• Should creationism be taught in public schools?
• Are beauty pageants exploitative ?
• Should English be the official language of the United States?
• Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
• Should the alcohol drinking age be increased or decreased?
• Should everyone be required to recycle?
• Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
• Is it good that same-sex couples are able to marry?
• Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school ?
• Does boredom lead to trouble?
• Should schools be in session year-round ?
• Does religion cause war?
• Should the government provide health care?
• Should abortion be illegal?
• Are girls too mean to each other?
• Is homework harmful or helpful?
• Is the cost of college too high?
• Is college admission too competitive?
• Should euthanasia be illegal?
• Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally ?
• Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
• Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
• Is affirmative action fair?
• Is public prayer okay in schools?
• Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
• Is greater gun control a good idea?
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170 Opinion Essay Topics to Choose in 2023 for Your Writings

• by Lesley V.
• August 16, 2023 November 10, 2023

Whether in high school or college, opinion writing prompts will follow you. This essay type is a must to master:

Teachers will assign oped papers to check your critical thinking skills. They want to ensure you know how to build arguments and prove your point of view. Academic writing skills are also here: Opinion essays have a structure (1) to follow.

In this article, you’ll find a massive list of good opinion essay topics and ideas to consider for your work. All are strong, divided by subject, and with actionable writing tips to get an A+ for your piece.

What Is an Opinion Essay?

Op-ed essays are formal, representing an author’s personal take on a specific subject. They aren’t about college work only. You could see op-ed posts on social media or journalistic articles in newspapers.

In academia, you’ll also need to mention the opposite point of view in opinion essays. The final paragraph before a conclusion should contain counterarguments (for a fuller discussion).

How to Choose Good Opinion Essay Topics

While teachers can assign a topic for op-ed writing, college students often have freedom of choice here. And that’s where a challenge comes in:

How to choose a good opinion essay topic? How to ensure it’s controversial enough to trigger a discussion? Is it possible to know of it gives you enough argumentation and evidence to support your point?

What is a Good Topic for an Opinion Paper?

Good opinion writing topics have 3 specific characteristics:

• They allow you to develop a strong thesis statement (2).
• You can find enough facts to support your point: examples, reliable sources, quotes, etc.
• They have opposite viewpoints . Avoid topics presenting the ultimate truth: There’s nothing to discuss there.

How to Choose Your Perfect Opinion Writing Prompt?

Opinion essay topics are many. Follow these 5 steps when choosing yours:

• Recheck the requirements. How long should your essay be? Do you need to cover a single issue or discuss a few? Depending on the prompt, not all topics may appear to be appropriate.
• Consider the audience. Who’ll read your paper? Do you write for everyone or a specific group? Choose topics that are relevant and interesting to whom you’ll write.
• Remember about your interests, too. Consider issues of your knowledge and passion. Write about something bothering or exciting you: Such opinion essay topics are easier to craft.
• Recheck the essay’s purpose. Will it educate, persuade, or entertain readers? It can help you narrow down the topic choices.
• Do pre-research. Check if you can find enough sources with reliable information on your chosen topic. Will you have evidence to support your point if writing on this?

Opinion Essay Writing Tips: Start With Easy Prompts

When choosing opinion essay topics, remember you’ll need to structure your paper on it. It’s an academic paper, so please follow the format requirements . Also, you’ll need to cover all the questions related to your chosen topic.

The below writing tips will help ensure you’ve chosen a proper op-ed idea for your essay:

• Brainstorm several topics before writing. Which one does meet the prompt’s requirements best?
• Research . Are there other people investigating and discussing your chosen issue? Will you have enough supporting evidence to use throughout the paper?
• Choose a side . What point of view will you support about the topic?
• Develop a strong thesis and think of arguments you’ll use to prove it.
• Remember to mention an opposite viewpoint. What counterarguments do your opponents have? Choose controversial topics, open to discussions.

20 Opinion Topics to Practice Your Writing Skills

Below are 20 elementary topics teachers assign for 5th-grade or for middle school students. They are easy opinion essay topics to practice writing. Also, they are great to consider when you have no idea what to write about in your piece:

Opinion Essay Topics: Choose Yours And Get A+

So, now you have them: 170 topics for opinion writing! Choose yours:

• Consider the prompt requirements and the target audience of your paper.
• Check if you have enough arguments and evidence to state and support a thesis in the paper.
• Choose a topic that interests you but with counterarguments to add to a paper for discussion.

Which opinion essay topics from the list above have you already covered? And which one would you choose for your next paper or article?

References:

• https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/essay-structure
• https://www.vwu.edu/academics/academic-support/learning-center/pdfs/Thesis-Statement.pdf
• https://www.jscc.edu/academics/programs/writing-center/writing-resources/five-paragraph-essay.html

6 thoughts on “170 Opinion Essay Topics to Choose in 2023 for Your Writings”

Wow! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a completely different topic but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Outstanding choice of colors!

Thank you for providing me with these article examples!

Nice blog! I love how it is easy on my eyes and the data are well written. I am wondering how I could be notified whenever a new post has been made. I’ve subscribed to your RSS which must do the trick! Have a nice day!

Your articles are extremely helpful to me. May I ask for more information?

Thank you for providing so many examples! Now I know what to write in my next paper. 🙂

Many thanks for this list! It’s my top struggle – to decide on a topic for my next essay or article. You’ve nailed it! All the best!

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Opinion essay , like other academic papers, requires writers to express their take on a given subject. Many may confuse this essay type with a persuasive paper, which is wrong. As a writer, you are required to take a side and provide an argument that will support your point of view. Since opinion essays are commonly written across different educational levels, it is important to learn about potential research topics. Students often struggle to identify and work on good opinion essay topics. Are you looking for excellent opinion subjects or means to develop one? Continue reading this blog from our professional writing service to learn the definition of an opinion paper and explore different opinion writing topics that you can use in essays.

What Are Opinion Essay Topics?

Opinion papers rank among the commonly issued assignments in learning institutions. So, what is an opinion essay topic? It is a subject that attracts divergent outlooks and ideas from readers and thus enables writers to develop arguments that support a certain take. It is even much easier to write about an opinion topic if it has many differing sentiments. If the title is controversial, a writer can select and build on broad scopes of argumentation available. Unlike when writing a persuasive essay, students do not need to convince readers about a given stand. Although one can draw discussions from different fields – education, healthcare, social media, technology, government, and music, among others – opinion topics share some common characteristics.

Characteristics of Good Opinion Topics

Although people pick subject matters from a wide array of disciplines, good opinion essay topics share some traits. Some of these attributes are discussed below:

• A writer can find supportive evidence from reliable research and sources. A quality opinion topic should have examples, facts, and clear evidence that can be used to support a given standpoint.
• It should have opposite viewpoints. A topic that has different angles is preferred when developing an opinion paper.
• The topic should accommodate development of a strong thesis statement.

How to Choose an Opinion Topic Idea?

There are many subject areas to pick issues from. To select an exceptional opinion essay topic, you need to follow these steps:

• Determine a field that you are passionate about. Your topic should be related to your individual experience, personal skills, or a subject you have researched exhaustively.
• Conduct a brainstorming session to help select and adjust opinions to write about within your preferred discipline.
• Once you create your potential opinion ideas list, conduct research to ascertain viability of all options. A good topic should have evidence, facts, and examples from reliable sources.
• You should have a strong opinion on topics you wish to discuss.

If you follow these steps, you will choose a topic that appeals to your personal interests and can be developed comprehensively with good evidence. Feel free to contact StudyCrumb for expert advice and college essay writing help .

List of the Best Opinion Writing Topics

A student should be able to select good topics for opinion writing. Today, you can find numerous opinion subjects online. You just need a smartphone with access to the internet! Although you can find various opinion essay topics online, you should strive to choose the best titles. Below are sample best opinion topics:

• Is gun control used as a political control tool among Americans?
• Is global warming a true phenomenon?
• Does access to social media content and video negatively affect children’s behaviors?
• Should smartphone usage be accepted in colleges and other higher education institutions?
• Does watching action films promote violence among children?
• Role of music in different age groups.
• Role of government in promoting freedom of speech.
• Should parents learn to use the internet and communicate online?
• Are human beings putting adequate effort toward environmental management?
• What is your take on right to privacy?

Interesting Opinion Essay Topics

You should consider opinion essay topics that would easily capture your target audience’s attention. Lucky for you, there are many different opinion editorials topics to choose from. Examples of such captivating issues include:

• Is an electric car better than a petrol vehicle?
• Impact of World War II on the issue of racism in America.
• Is religion important in school curricula?
• Gender roles in modern society.
• Should the COVID-19 jab be mandatory for all?
• Disparities in services and racial bias in USA's healthcare industry.
• Impact of gender neutrality and fluidity on modern language.
• Are virtual classes better than physical sessions?
• Pop stars influence fashion and present-day societal norms.
• Role of physical exercise in alleviating the obesity pandemic in the United States.
• Impact of vegetarianism on human health.
• Is medical research on human subjects ethical?
• Impact of World War II on gender roles in Europe and America.
• Police brutality and its impact on the fight against racism.
• Ownership of firearms by people improves safety and security of private citizens.

Easy Opinion Paper Topics

Unlike other complex subjects, easy opinion essay topics take writers a shorter period to develop. You also do not need to put too much effort into writing such a paper. Teachers in lower education levels rely on these types of opinion papers topics to train better writing skills. Below is a list of simplest opinion topics that you can use:

• Effect of the Cold War on the relationship between Russia and the USA.
• Role of Presidents from your own perspective.
• Social media platforms do more harm than good.
• The USA is the best country in the world.
• Are men and women treated equally in the USA?
• Are print books better than e-books in this modern era?
• What is your ethical opinion on caged wild animals?
• Impact of exercise and physical education on stress.
• Should children have full access to the internet?
• Virtual learning and its benefits.
• Are social media platforms making people less social?
• Reason why politicians should rely on technology.
• How can you stay healthy during a lockdown?
• Can solar power alleviate climate change?
• Impact of the cancellation culture on public discussions.

Good Topics for Opinion Essays

If people select good opinion writing topics, they can express their point of view on such subjects in a better way. One can find deep and extensive topical knowledge on the issue online. A writer can comfortably defend their belief and inclinations with solid, reliable evidence. Common good op ed ideas include:

• Should parents take part in their children’s educational journey?
• What is the overall impact of making marijuana legal?
• How can gender-based violence issues be resolved in America?
• Weaknesses of current US immigration policies.
• Is depression a public health issue in the United States?
• Gender equity policies and affirmative action in US military departments.
• Does social media promote depression among teenagers and young adults?
• Role of government social welfare programs in promoting poverty.
• Anger management and its relationship with gender-based violence.
• Office versus virtual working environment.
• Is there a connection between drug abuse and gender-based violence?
• Will the world ever attain total peace?
• Can genetically modified organisms (GMOs) be a solution to world hunger?
• Are people doing enough to negate climate change effects?
• Is euthanasia ethical and justified?

Opinion Editorial Topics

Senior authors and editors usually have a section in newspapers, magazines, or any other publication, where they express their viewpoints on a given matter. Good op ed topics attract wide audiences and thus can be used to influence readers. Examples of topics for opinion articles are outlined below:

• Is the existing gun control legislation adequate in addressing increased mass shootings in America?
• The future of GMOs and food security.
• Are we winning the war against global warming?
• In your opinion, what should be the minimum marrying age in America?
• Impact of oil spillage on the marine ecosystem.
• Benefits of physical exercise on physiological and mental health.
• Can the human race inhabit Mars successfully?
• Is it viable to replace fossil fuels with alternative clean energy sources in the aviation industry?
• Should doping be accepted in sports?
• Sex education should be taught to children by their parents.

Topics and Ideas for Opinion Writing by Subject

People can choose essay topics from various disciplines. With adequate research, you can list and develop arguments on numerous issues within every subject. There is a wide variety of options, which can ensure that you always discuss issues that interest you. As a writer, you can select a topic from various subjects, including political science, history, public opinion, environmental issues, technology, parenting, education, social media, and psychology, among others. Irrespective of the discipline, opinion writing ideas must be written in a specific format and structure. This section discusses common topics for opinion essays from different disciplines.

Opinion Topics in Political Science

Politics ranks among the most discussed subjects worldwide. Besides, people have diverging and contradicting takes on topics related to political science. Furthermore, since these decisions affect almost everyone, Political Science opinion essay topics attract great interest from the public. Below is a list of opinion topics in this discipline:

• Rule of law and its unbiased application to everyone.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the US electoral system.
• Terrorism as a political tool.
• Immigration policy and its effect on minority families.
• US foreign policies in the Middle Eastern countries.
• Relationship between politics and climate change initiatives.
• How politics affect mainstream media.
• Political conflicts between Israel and Palestine.
• The collision between federal and state legislation.
• Should governments regulate religious practices?
• Should the minimum age for voting be reduced?
• How can governments address corruption problems?
• Capitalism is superior to socialism.
• Strengths and weaknesses of the American system of governance.

>> View more: Topics of Political Science

History Opinion Essay Ideas

Historical events influence our current decisions. It is, therefore, no surprise that many people take a keen interest in History opinion essay topics. Issues related to past wars, civil riots, and political decisions have drawn great debates over the years. Check a list of top 15 essay topics on the subject below:

• Thanksgiving from Native Americans’ historical view.
• United States’ role in World War I.
• Industrial Revolution and its effect on population distribution.
• Contribution of Slavery to current economic and social inequalities in USA.
• The Holocaust and its role in shaping current world politics.
• Abolition of slavery in the United States.
• Did the Election of President Barack Obama influence the issue of racism in America?
• Impact of the 9/11 tragedy on United States foreign policy.
• Importance of the American Civil Rights movement in promoting gender and racism equity in America.
• Was the Vietnam war justified from the American point of view?
• Martin Luther King’s contribution to the fight against racial discrimination.
• How did the 19th Amendment empower women in the 1920s?
• Are history lessons important in present-day school curricula?
• What was the role of the trade union movement in promoting workers’ rights?
• Impact of colonialism on current economic inequalities between countries worldwide.

Public Opinion Essay Topics

Public opinion, as a discipline, encompasses common beliefs, ideas, perspectives, and attitudes shared among many members of the community. Information on public opinion essay topics is often collected through polls. In many cases, the public is concerned with topic opinion related to politics. Take a look at examples outlined below:

• Public transportation systems should be free.
• The public transportation system in New York is inconvenient.
• Should abortion be fully legal?
• The Obamacare program was a disaster.
• Mainstream media is nowadays a tool for propagating political agendas and narratives.
• Should COVID-19 vaccine injection be compulsory?
• Medical and recreational use of marijuana should be legal.
• Should teachers carry firearms in classrooms?
• Social media has increased cyberbullying among youths.
• The US healthcare system is incompetent in dealing with increased mental health and suicide cases.
• Should military qualification test standards be lowered to accommodate women?
• Police departments in America have failed in their community outreach programs.
• Police racism has negatively affected the relationship between law enforcement departments and the public.
• How can the government deal with the increased homelessness problem in American cities?
• The COVID-19 vaccine should be offered free of charge.

Environmental Topics for Opinion Essays

With the fight against climate change growing in momentum, people are increasingly reading op-ed topics related to environmental change and management. This subject attracts controversial viewpoints, which makes it very interesting. You can find an issue that resonates with you from the environmental opinion essay topics below:

• Dangers of large-scale commercial farming to the environment.
• Overfishing should be regulated globally.
• Is global warming a real phenomenon?
• Effect of human activity on flora and fauna.
• Can solar power alleviate the problem of air pollution?
• Effect of mass concrete construction on environment.
• Does excessive consumption of beef have a negative effect on the environment?
• Alternative clean energy solutions can slow down climate change.
• Electric cars are better for the environment compared to petrol engine vehicles.
• Impact of oil spillage on marine and dry-land ecosystems.
• Tree planting is a viable solution for rapid climate change.
• Effect of farm inputs on the environment.
• How can wildfires be prevented?
• Effect of global warming on human health.
• The government should introduce legislation to regulate emissions.

Education Opinion Topics to Write About

The existence and continuous growth of the human race rely on education hugely. It is, therefore, only fair for people to express their opinions on topics on the subject. Some of the common education opinion essay topics are outlined in this section:

• Is distance learning a viable replacement for face-to-face learning in classrooms?
• How does the expensive cost of education affect learners in the United States?
• Student loans in tertiary education negatively affect the economic well-being of students after school.
• How can the government address the issue of mass shootings in schools?
• How soon should sex education be taught in school?
• What is the effect of social media on student learning?
• How can technology improve learning outcomes in schools?
• Should instructors punish learners in schools?
• Educational institutions should introduce healthier meals in their cafeteria.
• Gender equality in education has positively affected economic development.
• Should religious education be incorporated into school curricula?
• What are the effects of social and economic classes on student performance?
• Impact of career choice decisions in school on pay gap between men and women.
• Are private schools better than public schools?
• Disparities in the quality of educational facilities across various ethnic communities in the US.

You can browse special education research topics  and get some new ideas for your opinion essay.

Psychology Opinion Based Questions

The increased cases of mental health issues and suicide have made Psychology opinion essay topics very popular. Today, these opinion essay questions are raised among medical professionals, legislators, and even the general public. Below are the top 15 talking points on this subject:

• What is the impact of physical exercise on mental health?
• Psychological effects of yoga and meditation.
• What are the effects of social media on an individual’s mental health?
• How does an unhealthy work/life balance affect the psychological health of people?
• Effects of violent films on the mental development of children.
• How can the healthcare sector better address increased cases of depression?
• Role of pop stars in shaping the psychological growth and well-being of children.
• How emotional support pets help in improving mental health.
• Should parents regulate children’s access to the internet?
• How can schools better utilize guidance and counseling departments to prevent mass shootings by students?
• How does bullying affect mental health of students?
• How does negative stigma toward autistic students affect their performance in school?
• What teaching methods can be used for students who are mentally disabled?
• Effect of childhood experience on adults.
• Effect of divorce and domestic violence on children’s mental development.

Philosophy Opinion Essay Topics

Human beings have, for the longest time, expressed their opinion on different philosophies. Since society and laws are built on various schools of thought, opinion piece topics on this subject are very common. Below are some of the Philosophy opinion paper ideas:

• Strengths of the utilitarian school of thought.
• Should capital punishment be abolished?
• What are the ethical issues linked to abortion?
• What are the effects of environment and nurture on child development?
• The difference between determinism and freedom.
• Benefits of democracy over absolutism.
• The spread of Confucianism around the world.
• How does a personal fable lead people to commit life-changing mistakes?
• What is the true meaning of happiness?
• Critical evaluation of Puritan culture and beliefs.
• Effect of the “world revolves around me” fallacy on quality of life.
• The theory of deontology and consequentialism in America’s correction system.
• Impact of Confucianism on western culture.
• Does God Exist?
• The discordance between free will and determinism.

Social Media Opinion Article Ideas

In the current age of smartphones and the internet, social media is huge. Almost every person has some level of presence on social media platforms. The effect of social media on people’s daily lives has caused a significant interest in op ed topics on the subject. Some of the common opinion article topics on Social Media are listed below:

• Effect of social media on students’ performance in school.
• How does social media impact the psychological and behavioral growth of children?
• Should parents limit children’s access to social media content?
• How should children be protected from cyberbullying on social media?
• Evolving roles of social media in online marketing.
• Social media is a source of depression among some young adults.
• Has social media normalized hate speech and behaviors?
• How can social media be used in the current education system?
• The role of social media in promoting a sedentary lifestyle.
• How can social media be used to promote environmental management and climate change awareness?
• Effect of social media on face-to-face relationships.
• Impact of social media on group mind and social pressure.
• How can online messaging platforms be used to promote activism and revolution globally?
• Role of social media on cultural exchange across communities.
• Effect of social media on individuals’ self-esteem and confidence.

Culture Opinion Essay Topics

This discipline focuses on language, religion, art, and mentality. Since these aspects vary from one community to another, many opinion essays topics attract a great deal of debate. Common opinion piece ideas include:

• Is present-day culture based on recent decades?
• The internet has revolutionized the music industry and destroyed record companies.
• Changes in cultural stereotypes and social prejudice across various age groups.
• Effect of internet and globalization on traditional fashion styles.
• The replacement of traditional acoustic instruments by computer programs has changed the music culture globally.
• The widespread access to the internet has resulted in the rise of social media stars.
• Stars and popular figures have the potential to influence public opinion.
• Are high divorce rates an indicator of the changing marriage culture in the US?
• Is recreational use of drugs part of modern US culture?
• Will classical music ever grow out of fashion?
• Development of hybrid culture due to intercultural exchange.
• Effect of religion and culture on legislation.
• Should culture be taught in a school setup?
• Role of movies in propagating cultural information.
• Effect of diversity on America’s food culture.

Literature Opinion Essay Topics

People have enjoyed literature throughout human history. It is common to find persons discussing and exploring different interpretations of a given literature opinion paragraph topic. Below are some of the good topics for opinion writing in Literature:

• Do you prefer reading an entire classic book in an e-books format and in hardcopy?
• Why has the reading culture been reduced recently?
• Gender bigotry and prejudice in 17th-century English literature.
• Are books on the verge of elimination due to technological advancement?
• Themes of love and death in Shakespearean literature .
• Does reading result in better spelling skills?
• Difference between Western and Eastern literature.
• Can reading a book help relieve stress?
• What can be done to reclaim the lost Native American literature?
• Challenges of teaching foreign literature.
• Is there a need to limit English literature in institutions of higher education?
• Importance of the internet in facilitating the sharing of literature around the world.
• Classic literature should be made available at no cost.
• How can English language grammar be preserved?

Sports Opinion Paper Topics

Whether you are an athlete or a sports fan, you must have had a heated sports debate at least once. The emotional aspect of sports makes opinionated essay topics on Sports very common. Examples of opinion topic ideas are presented here:

• Nutrition is necessary for athletic success.
• Is bodybuilding a sport?
• Are professional athletes over or underpaid?
• Should psychological and mental health be considered in sports training programs?
• Is doping ethical?
• Should controlled doping be allowed in some sports?
• Is animal sport ethical?
• How vital are sports in school curricula?
• Why do some athletes struggle after retirement?
• Importance of statistics in sports analysis and match preparation.
• How can the gap between male and female sports be reduced?
• Are injuries indicators of an athlete’s level of physical fitness?
• How can you reduce the dangers associated with extreme sports and motorsport?
• Can supplements improve the performance of an athlete?
• How can you incorporate the LGBTQ+ community into sports?

Ideas for Opinion Essay for Students

Teachers often require students to compose opinion essays. These articles train learners to better express their opinion and build their argument skills. Opinion essay topic ideas vary depending on the student’s education level. Since each education level has different learning objectives and outcomes, the complexity and the research levels required to complete such assignments differ. The format for this academic paper does not, however, vary, irrespective of the level. This section explores op-ed ideas for different education levels, particularly high school and college levels. You may also browse our persuasive essay topics  and find some interesting ideas for your writing.

Opinion Essay Topics for High School

Even high school students have personal views! They are perfectly able to prepare essays on opinionated topics. Opinion essay topics for high school can be derived from a variety of disciplines. Below are titles that learners can discuss:

• Is social media negatively affecting social interaction?
• What are the benefits and disadvantages of homework?
• Should parents limit social media usage among high school students?
• Does cheating count as academic misconduct?
• Should gym classes be made mandatory in high school?
• Should students wear uniform attire to school?
• Should the use of mobile phones be allowed in classrooms?
• What are the advantages of group tasks?
• How can bullying be prevented in school?
• Do reading novels and fictional literature improve academic performance?

Opinion Essay Topics for College

The opinion paragraph topics for college students are a little bit more complex compared to articles written by high schoolers. Other than that, opinion essay topics for college level, just like high school, can be drawn from any subject. Below are some examples:

• Are traditional family values under threat in the United States?
• Should the death penalty be considered in capital crime cases?
• How can the government address the existing economic inequality in the United States?
• Should unintentional plagiarism be penalized?
• How can schools reduce depression among college students?
• How does the virtual education model compare with physical classrooms?
• How does social media promote cultural bias?
• Application of technology in college education.
• Is it ethical for students to develop intimate relationships with students?
• The weaknesses of the United States immigration policy.

Bottom Line on Opinion Essay Topics

In sum, you can choose opinion story ideas from various disciplines depending on your interest. With adequate research, anybody can write a good opinion article. This type of essay should follow a specific format. Irrespective of the issue, your paper should have a strong thesis statement. The quality of your essay will also depend on the amount of clear supporting evidence you’ve provided. Also, always remember to mention and talk about opposing points of view.

Our academic writing service is just what you need. Order an essay from experts and forget about stress. Backed by solid experience, our writers compose great essays on any topic.

FAQ About Opinion Essay Topics

1. what are some opinion topics.

Depending on your passion, you can choose opinion topics from your preferred subject. Below are some of the opinion topics:

• Impact of divorce on child development.
• What are the potential solutions for human trafficking?
• How does poor education in low-income communities promote crime?
• Why has the United States not had a female president so far?

3. How to come up with topics for an opinion essay?

To select good topics for opinion essays, you need to know your passion. You are more likely to write a better paper if you have a great interest in topics. Once you have identified your preferred discipline, select a topic you can develop with adequate evidence. You can also have a brainstorming session to come up with topics.

2. What are intriguing opinion essay topics?

You might find opinion essay topics listed below to be interesting:

• What measures can be taken to reverse the climate change process?
• New roles of social media in business operations.
• The role of technology in improving learning outcomes.
• Taming wild animals within a restricted zoo area is unethical.

4. What are some examples of opinion writing topics?

Below are some examples of topics for opinion writing:

• Learning institutions should help parents and guardians in controlling children’s screen time.
• Does racial profiling negatively affect the relationship between police departments and the American public?
• Is America’s middle class getting overwhelmed by the high class?
• Are physical and cyberbullying indications that perpetrators are insecure?

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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331 Opinion Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Opinion essay topics offer expressing personal viewpoints on a variety of issues. Some themes include politics, social norms, environment, technology, culture, and ethics. These topics can deal with controversial subjects, such as gun control or climate change, allowing writers to delve into multiple perspectives and present reasoned arguments. Alternatively, they can revolve around lifestyle choices, like vegetarianism or remote work. Other engaging themes may involve critiquing art or literature or expressing views on societal expectations and norms. In essence, these topics require one to reflect on personal experiences, observations, or research, stimulating thought-provoking conversations and encouraging critical thinking. Despite their diversity, all opinion essay topics offer readers a new insight into the author’s perspective, fostering a deeper understanding of the world.

Top Opinion Essay Topics

• Digital Privacy: A Fundamental Right or a Trade-Off for Security?
• Vegetarianism: Is It a Healthier Lifestyle Choice?
• Exploring Work-Life Balance in the Modern World
• Global Warming: Time for Urgent Action
• Social Media Influence on Teenagers
• Public Funding for the Arts: Essential or Extravagant?
• Examining Capital Punishment: An Ethical Dilemma
• E-Sports Deserves Olympic Recognition
• Paid Parental Leave: A Necessity in Modern Society
• Books vs. E-Books: Battle of the Formats
• Multilingual Education: A Path to Global Citizenship
• Does Homework Enhance Student Learning?
• Animal Testing: Is It Ethically Justifiable?
• Online Learning: A Future of Education
• Genetically Modified Foods: Solution to Global Hunger or a Pandora’s Box?
• Feminism in the 21st Century
• Plastic Bags: Should They Be Banned Globally?
• Privatization of Space Exploration
• Should Voting Be Made Mandatory?
• Automation and Its Effects on Employment

Simple Opinion Essay Topics

• Should Schools Have Uniforms?
• Sports or Arts: Which Is More Important in School?
• Pets in Every Home: A Good Idea?
• Long Summer Holidays: Are They Necessary?
• Handwriting Skills in the Digital Age
• Should Junk Food Be Banned in Schools?
• Public Libraries: Still Relevant?
• Are Video Games Harmful?
• Bicycles vs. Cars for City Travel
• School Start Times: Should They Be Later?
• Using Mobile Phones in Class
• Where Is It Better to Settle: A City or a Village?
• Should Homework Be Abolished?
• Does Money Bring Happiness?
• Recycling at Home: How Important Is It?
• Comparative Analysis of Whom I Would Rather Be Oldest or Youngest Sibling?
• Should Students Grade Their Teachers?
• Paper Books or E-Books: Which Is Better?
• Is Fast Food Really Bad for You?

Interesting Opinion Essay Topics

• Should Privacy or Security Take Precedence Online?
• Rising Popularity of Electric Vehicles
• Effects of Social Media on Personal Relationships
• Mandatory Community Service in High School
• Influence of Celebrity Culture on Young People
• Extraterrestrial Life: Probability and Possibilities
• Animal Testing: Necessary Evil or Avoidable Cruelty?
• Capital Punishment: Ethical Considerations
• Perceived Impact of Reality Television on Society
• Veganism: Lifestyle Choice or Necessary Shift?
• Artificial Intelligence: Boon or Bane?
• Online Class vs. Traditional One: Which is More Effective?
• Keeping Exotic Pets: A Question of Ethics
• Influence of Violent Video Games on Behavior
• Immigration Policies: A Global Perspective
• Climate Change: Is It Already Too Late?
• Space Travel: Should It Be Commercialized?
• Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech: Finding the Balance
• Parenting Styles: Do They Shape a Child’s Future?
• Physical Education in Schools: Luxury or Necessity?

Opinion Essay Topics for High School

• Virtual Learning: A Replacement for Traditional Schooling?
• Are Uniforms Beneficial in Schools?
• Influence of Pop Music on Teenagers
• Ban Junk Food in Schools
• Need for More Diversity in Literature Classes
• Inclusion of Financial Literacy in Curriculum
• Mandatory Participation in Sports: Pros and Cons
• Benefits of Studying a Foreign Language
• Value of Art Education in Schools
• Social Media: Boon or Bane for Teenagers?
• Cyberbullying: Measures for Prevention
• Importance of Volunteering and Community Service
• Online Privacy Concerns for Young People
• Homework: Necessary Practice or Outdated Method?
• Are Standardized Tests an Accurate Measure of Intelligence?
• Inclusion of Mental Health Education in Schools
• Increasing Popularity of eSports in Youth Culture
• Peer Pressure: Understanding Its Influence

Opinion Essay Topics for College Students

• Tuition Fees: An Unnecessary Burden or a Fair Payment for Education?
• Sex Education: A Necessity in College Curriculum
• Ethics of College Athletes’ Compensation
• Influence of Celebrity Culture on Body Image
• Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad
• Legal Drinking Age: Is Lowering a Good Idea?
• Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
• Benefits of Joining a College Fraternity or Sorority
• Sustainability Efforts on College Campuses
• Importance of Internships for College Students
• Rising Popularity of Online Education
• How Technology Affects Learning Efficiency
• Should Universities Be Free?
• Influence of Social Media on Personal Relationships
• Racial and Ethnic Diversity in Colleges
• LGBTQ+ Rights and College Policies
• Bystander Intervention in College Hazing
• Effectiveness of Gap Year Between High School and College
• Inclusion of Life Skills in College Curriculum
• Politics and Activism on College Campuses

Opinion Essay Topics on Environment

• Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged Communities
• Greenwashing: Deception or Effective Marketing?
• Climate Change Policy: A Global Perspective
• Debate on Genetically Modified Crops: A Solution to Food Scarcity?
• Economic Viability of Renewable Energy Sources
• Sustainability in Urban Planning: Myth or Reality?
• Environmental Ethics: Anthropocentrism vs. Biocentrism
• Fracking: Economic Boon or Environmental Disaster?
• Consumerism’s Influence on Waste Production
• Endangered Species Act: Effectiveness and Controversies
• Coral Reef Conservation: Importance and Challenges
• Pros and Cons of Carbon Tax Implementation
• Dilemmas in Forest Management: Logging vs. Conservation
• Global Water Crisis and Potential Solutions
• Nuclear Power: Environmental Savior or Potential Hazard?
• Ecological Footprint: Reflection of Individual Responsibility
• Population Control: Necessary Measure for Sustainability?
• Ocean Acidification and Marine Life
• Advocacy of Green Technology in Industries
• The Resurgence of Wildlife in Urban Areas

Psychology Opinion Essay Topics

• Psychoanalysis: An Outdated Method or Still Relevant?
• Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Depression Treatment
• Bilingualism’s Effect on Cognitive Development
• Violent Video Games and Adolescent Aggression: Is There a Link?
• Meditation as a Mental Health Tool: Hype or Reality?
• Interplay of Genetics and Environment in Personality Development
• Social Media Usage and Its Relation to Self-Esteem
• Psychological Impacts of Body Shaming in Society
• Significance of Emotional Intelligence in Career Success
• Animal-Assisted Therapy: Valid Treatment or Placebo Effect?
• Understanding the Psychological Effects of Poverty
• Long-Term Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adult Life
• Music Therapy’s Role in Mental Health Management
• Cultural Differences in Expressing and Perceiving Emotions
• Mindfulness Practice: A Cure or Overhyped Trend?
• The Dichotomy of Nature vs. Nurture in Shaping Individual Behavior
• Impacts of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Functions
• Is Hypnosis a Genuine Psychological Therapy or Merely Placebo?
• The Effect of Color Psychology on Human Mood and Behavior

Social Media Opinion Ideas

• Social Media as a Modern Public Sphere: Democratic Potential or Echo Chambers?
• Debating the Ethics of Data Privacy in Social Media Platforms
• Influence of Social Media on Political Campaigns and Election Outcomes
• Rethinking Social Media’s Contribution to Social Activism
• Can Social Media Addiction Be Classified as a Genuine Psychological Disorder?
• The Pervasiveness of Fake News in Social Media and Its Implications for Society
• Effectiveness of Social Media Marketing Strategies in Brand Building
• Cyberbullying: A Dark Side of Social Media Usage
• Mental Health Implications of Chronic Social Media Usage
• Social Media: The Link Between Body Image and Eating Disorders
• Social Media and the Evolution of Modern Communication Patterns
• Shift in Journalism: Social Media’s Role in News Dissemination
• The Culture of Influencers: Impact on Consumer Behavior
• Social Media in Education: An Effective Learning Tool or a Distraction?
• Examining the Power Dynamics in Social Media Censorship
• Online Persona: Real Identity vs. Social Media Identity
• Can Social Media Be a Credible Source of Information?
• Implications of Social Media Algorithms on User Behavior and Content
• Understanding the Phenomenon of Social Media FOMO (Fear of Missing Out)
• Sustainable Business Models for Social Media Platforms

Opinion Essay Topics About Nursing

• Nursing and Patient Safety: Strategies to Improve Outcomes
• Is Full Autonomy Possible for Nurse Practitioners in Every State?
• The Influence of Nurses on Health Policy Development
• Balancing Emotional Labor and Compassionate Care in Nursing
• Burnout in Nursing: Investigating Causes and Solutions
• Pediatric Palliative Care: The Crucial Role of Nurses
• Cultural Competence in Nursing: How Vital Is It?
• Ethical Dilemmas Faced by Nurses: A Qualitative Study
• The Significance of Interprofessional Collaboration in Nursing
• Can Technology Be Effectively Integrated Into Nursing Education?
• Critical Thinking in Nursing: Its Importance and Ways to Enhance It
• Is there a Need to Revise Current Nurse Staffing Ratios?
• Nursing Leadership Styles: Impact on Patient Care and Satisfaction
• Health Literacy Promotion: An Unexplored Responsibility of Nurses?
• Home Care Nursing: Opportunities and Challenges
• The Future of Telehealth Nursing: Opportunities and Risks
• Nursing in Disaster Management: Understanding Its Importance
• Bridging the Gap: Nurse Scientists in Clinical Settings
• How Can Nurses Promote Mental Health Awareness and Education?

Opinion Ideas on Education

• Incorporating Critical Thinking Skills Into Curriculum: How Important Is It?
• The Effectiveness of Blended Learning Models in Higher Education
• Inclusive Education Policies: Analyzing Their Implementation and Effectiveness
• Examining the Ethical Implications of Standardized Testing
• Do Traditional Grading Systems Truly Reflect Student Learning?
• Transforming Classroom Environments With Educational Technology
• Bilingual Education: Unraveling Its Effects on Cognitive Development
• Personalized Learning: A Sustainable Solution or Just a Trend?
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Educational Leadership
• How Can Teachers Promote Mental Health Awareness in Schools?
• Educational Policy and Its Effect on Teacher Retention Rates
• Exploring the Benefits and Drawbacks of Online Learning
• Curriculum Design and Its Influence on Student Engagement
• Education for Sustainability: The Need for Integrating It in Schools
• Pedagogical Approaches in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Education
• Digital Literacy in Education: An Unavoidable Necessity?
• Does the Current Education System Adequately Prepare Students for the Future Workforce?

Opinion Essay Topics for History Class

• Deciphering Ancient Egypt: Hieroglyphs and Their Cultural Significance
• Power Dynamics in the French Revolution
• World War II: Unseen Influences on Modern Political Landscapes
• Assessing the Mongol Empire’s Influence on Eurasian History
• Apartheid’s Legacy in Contemporary South African Society
• Did Roman Architecture Influence Modern City Planning?
• Slavery and the Shaping of American Political Institutions
• Renaissance Humanism: Its Influence on Modern Intellectual Thought
• Examination of Feminist Movements in the 20th Century
• Influence of the Industrial Revolution on Modern Economic Systems
• Soviet Union: Evaluating Its Influence on Space Exploration
• Medieval Guilds: Their Influence on Modern Trade Unions
• Cultural Exchange During the Silk Road Era
• Pax Britannica and Globalization: A Historical Perspective
• Debunking the Myth of the ‘Dark Ages’
• Are There Parallels Between the Fall of Rome and Today’s Societies?
• Cold War and Its Effect on International Relations
• Colonialism’s Residual Effects on Modern Developing Nations
• Impact of the Protestant Reformation on European Societies
• Greek Philosophy: Its Contribution to Modern Scientific Methodologies

Literature Opinion Topics

• Contemporary Interpretations of Classical Literature: Are They Necessary?
• Exploring the Influence of Postcolonial Literature on Cultural Identities
• How Does Gender Representation Affect the Reading Experience?
• Is There an Overemphasis on Western Canon in Literature Studies?
• Transformative Nature of Magical Realism in Latin American Literature
• Analyzing the Power Dynamics in Dystopian Literature
• Female Protagonists in Gothic Literature: An Examination of Characterization
• Dissecting the Notion of Heroism in Epic Poetry
• Eco-Criticism: A New Perspective to Interpret Nature in Literature
• How Has Digital Media Influenced Literary Consumption?
• Ethics of Storytelling: A Look at Narratives of Trauma in Contemporary Fiction
• Intersectionality in African American Literature: A Critical Analysis
• The Aesthetics of Food Description in Novels: An Overlooked Tool for Storytelling?
• Depiction of Mental Health in Young Adult Literature: Does It Raise Awareness or Perpetuate Stereotypes?
• Intertextuality in Modern Novels: An Analytical Study
• Shakespearean Tragedies: An Insight Into Human Nature or a Reflection of Elizabethan Society?
• Can Translation Maintain the Aesthetics and Cultural Nuances of a Literary Piece?
• Decoding Symbolism in Surrealist Literature
• Understanding the Politics of Gender and Sexuality in LGBTQ+ Literature

Opinion Essay Topics on Culture

• Decoding the Influence of Popular Culture on Youth Identities
• Rethinking Cultural Appropriation: When Does Appreciation Become Offensive?
• Cultural Globalization: A Threat or Opportunity for Indigenous Cultures?
• Comparative Analysis of Collectivist vs. Individualist Cultures
• How Is Gender Constructed Differently Across Cultures?
• Influence of Technological Advancements on Cultural Shifts
• Cultural Adaptations in Literature: Preserving or Distorting Cultural Heritage?
• Impact of Language Revitalization Movements on Indigenous Cultures
• Cultural Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability
• Exploring the Intersection of Culture and Religion: A Case Study Approach
• Feminism in Non-Western Cultures: How Is It Perceived?
• Cultural Diplomacy: Effective Tool for Conflict Resolution or Soft Power Strategy?
• Preservation of Cultural Heritage Sites: How Essential Is It for Cultural Identity?
• Assessing the Influence of Cultural Stereotypes on Inter-Cultural Communication
• Is the Concept of National Culture Becoming Obsolete in the Globalized World?
• Cultural Symbolism in Visual Art: A Thematic Analysis
• How Do Immigration and Acculturation Affect an Individual’s Cultural Identity?
• Assimilation vs. Multiculturalism: Which Promotes More Inclusive Societies?
• Food Culture: An Insight Into Historical and Socioeconomic Dynamics
• What Does the Rise of Internet Memes Signify for Modern Pop Culture?

Opinion Topics on Sports

• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Anti-Doping Policies in Professional Sports
• Gender Equality in Sports: How Far Have We Come?
• Pros and Cons of Commercialization of Sports
• Fair Play: Myth or Reality in Today’s Competitive Sports?
• How Essential Is Talent Scouting for the Growth of Underrepresented Sports?
• Controversies and Ethical Dilemmas Surrounding Sports Betting
• Performance Enhancing Drugs: Unfair Advantage or a Necessary Evil?
• Does Hosting Major Sports Events Provide Sustainable Economic Growth?
• Inclusion of eSports in Olympic Games: Futuristic Vision or a Mere Fantasy?
• Is There Overemphasis on Physical Conditioning in Youth Sports?
• How Do Sports Influence National Identity Construction?
• Exploitation in College Sports: A Look at NCAA Regulations
• The Rise of Women’s Football: A Shift in Sports Culture?
• Why Are Certain Sports More Popular in Certain Countries?
• Relevance of Traditional Sports in the 21st Century
• Varying Concepts of Sportsmanship Across Different Cultures
• Should Extreme Sports be Included in the Olympic Games?
• How Have Advances in Technology Affected the Authenticity of Sports?
• Analyzing the Representation of Disabled Athletes in Mainstream Sports Media

Economics & Finance Opinion Topics

• Deciphering the Crypto Economy: An Asset or a Liability?
• Does Universal Basic Income Provide an Economic Safety Net?
• Effectiveness of Monetary Policy in Regulating Inflation
• Are Financial Regulations a Hindrance to Economic Growth?
• Relevance of Keynesian Economics in Today’s Economic Structure
• Economic Consequences of Climate Change: What’s the Real Cost?
• Global Financial Inequality: Solutions for a Balanced World Economy
• Challenges in Implementing Green Finance Globally
• Examining the Relationship Between Economic Growth and Income Inequality
• Analyzing the Economic Implications of Brexit
• Can Economic Sanctions Be Justified as Foreign Policy Tools?
• Is the Gig Economy a Progressive Labor Market Change?
• Understanding the Effects of Automated Trading on Financial Markets
• Redefining Prosperity: Is GDP a Comprehensive Measure of Economic Success?
• Economic Impact of Immigration: A Boon or a Bane?
• Future of Cash: How Relevant Are Physical Currencies in the Digital Age?
• How Effective Is Quantitative Easing as an Economic Strategy?
• Ethics in Finance: A Necessity or a Luxury?
• Consequences of Wealth Tax on Economic Stability
• Is Financial Literacy the Key to Reducing Income Inequality?

Technology & Science Opinion Essay Topics

• Cybersecurity in Quantum Computing: Paradigms and Challenges
• Synthetic Biology: Harnessing Nature’s Code for Novel Solutions
• Climate Change Mitigation: Innovative Approaches Using Geoengineering
• Examining AI Bias: Socio-Ethical Implications for Machine Learning Algorithms
• Is Nanotechnology the Future of Medicine?
• Fostering Sustainable Innovation in Biotechnology
• Ethical Considerations of Genetic Engineering in Humans
• Brain-Computer Interfaces: Bridging Neural Pathways and Digital Worlds
• Disruptive Influence of Blockchain on Financial Markets
• Are We Prepared for Artificial General Intelligence?
• Augmented Reality in Education: Reinventing Learning Environments
• Virtual Reality Use in Mental Health Treatments
• Integrating Renewable Energy Sources: Challenges and Prospects
• Dark Matter and Energy: Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe
• Exoplanet Discovery and the Potential for Extraterrestrial Life
• Bioinformatics and Personalized Medicine: A New Frontier
• Can Deep Learning Models Outperform Humans in Creativity?
• Internet of Things (IoT) in Smart Cities: Privacy Concerns
• Advances in Autonomous Vehicle Technology: Safety and Regulation Issues

Opinion Essay Topics on Sustainable Development

• Sustainable Cities: Architectural Innovations and Urban Planning
• Innovative Approaches to Water Management in Agriculture
• Transitional Challenges in Adapting to Circular Economy Models
• Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability: More Than Just Greenwashing?
• Eco-Tourism and Local Economies: Symbiosis or Exploitation?
• Does Organic Farming Offer a Sustainable Solution for Global Food Security?
• Carbon Neutral Technologies: Pathways to a Greener Future
• Green Investment and Sustainable Economic Growth
• Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture: Strategies for the 21st Century
• Is Zero Waste an Achievable or Utopian Goal?
• Rethinking Energy Consumption: Electrification and Decarbonization
• Sustainable Manufacturing Practices: A Comparative Analysis
• Biodiversity Conservation and Its Interplay With Local Communities
• Social Sustainability: Addressing Inequalities in the Global South
• Beyond Recycling: Waste-to-Energy Solutions for the Circular Economy
• Inclusive Growth: Intersection of Sustainability and Social Equity
• Sustainable Supply Chain Management: Challenges and Strategies
• Can Regenerative Agriculture Counteract Climate Change?
• Smart Grids and Renewable Energy Integration: An Exploration
• Green Building Design: Innovative Approaches for Energy Efficiency

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

469 classification essay topics & good ideas, 443 business essay topics & best ideas.

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IELTS Opinion Essay – Topics, Structure and Sample Answers

10 min read

Updated On Feb 22, 2024

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IELTS opinion essays mainly focus on agreeing or disagreeing with a particular fact or information. It presents two opposite views and you have to develop your argument supporting one view (strictly one!) You get 40 minutes to complete this task. You have to write at least 250 words on the topic given.

Given below are some examples of IELTS Writing Task 2 opinion essays along with their structure. So, let’s understand how to frame the IELTS opinion essay from the sample answers given in the blog!

What is the IELTS Opinion Essay Format?

If you’re gearing up to tackle the Opinion Essay in IELTS Writing Task 2, know that it’s all about writing your opinion on a specific topic with supporting examples. To make sure your essay ticks off all the criteria of a band 8+ essay, organizing it in the right way is key!

Let’s now look at a proper format to learn the structuring of an IELTS opinion essay.

Introduction:

• Keep it short, usually around 2-3 sentences.
• Introduce the topic and clearly state your opinion.
• Provide a brief overview of the main points you will discuss in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs (Usually 2 paragraphs):

• Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea that supports your opinion.
• Start with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea.
• Provide evidence, examples, and reasoning to support your main idea.
• Aim for coherence and cohesion within each paragraph by using appropriate transition words.
• Make sure to use appropriate vocabulary and grammar while explaining an idea in the body paragraphs.

Conclusion:

• Summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs.
• Restate your opinion, emphasizing its importance or relevance.
• Avoid introducing new ideas in the conclusion.

IELTS Opinion Essay Sample Answers

Given below is an example of an IELTS Writing task 2 opinion essay. Let’s understand how to frame the essay from the ideas we have.

Sample Question 1

In the future, nobody will buy printed newspapers or books because they will be able to read everything they want online without paying. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Given below is a brief outline of what to write in the essay after identifying the essay type.

Opinion Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic of the essay using synonyms for the words used in the topic statement. Clearly state the view on the topic.

Body Paragraph 1

Technological improvements have increased the level of ease and convenience to a point where people can access news and information at the click of a button. This has led to print media becoming outdated.

Body Paragraph 2

The development of news websites and sites that freely distribute information and print media in a digital form has led to a trend of availing such services and content without paying.

Summarize the essay and re-state the opinion on the topic.

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Sample Answer 

Presently, newspapers, books, journals, magazines, etc. are still actively used by a section of the global population. However, with the arrival of news sites and the availability of books, magazines and other forms of media online, totally free of cost, many believe that such forms of media are on their way to becoming outdated. I agree with this statement, and will explain it further with relevant examples in the essay.

It is a well-known fact that in this day and age if an individual wants to read a book or just go over the news of the day, the first step that they take is to search the internet. Devices such as smartphones and tablets have improved the time efficiency of searching for information online to such an extent that a person can access their preferred form of media in the comfort of their homes in a matter of minutes. Consequently, people have started to abandon their preference for print media due to the presence of much more convenient alternatives.

Additionally, the various forms of print media enjoyed by people can often be availed free of charge on several websites. For instance, most news organizations publish their daily news on their official website, which can be accessed by anyone. Also, some numerous sites and databases provide popular books, journals and magazines in a digital form to the public for a nominal subscription fee or sometimes even for free, leading to a majority of readers of such forms of media shifting away from buying hard copies.

Nevertheless, there is still a sizable chunk of the population that enjoys the conventional forms of print media. That being said, with the cost-effective nature of making such information and content available online, organizations will soon completely shift to internet-based services.

In conclusion, I would like to say that people always prefer the more comfortable alternative that is available. Therefore, it can be safely said that in the coming years, there will be a complete shift from traditional print media to online media services and products.

Sample Question 2

Some people say that international sporting events contribute greatly to peace and stability in the world. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Paraphrase the topic sentence using synonyms.

Mention the view on the topic.

Body Paragraphs

International sports tournaments are events where teams and the general public of various countries come together and collectively participate in the event.

Sports events, especially cricket and football help distract the minds of the citizens from the ongoing difficulties in their country and enjoy these events.

Summarize the essay and state the final view.

Sample Answer

Sports has always been a magnificent platform for the finest talents of a country to showcase their skills and represent their nation. At the same time, sports is also one of the few occasions where every citizen of the country unites in support of their favourite teams. It is considered by many that sports are a great approach to maintain stability among countries. This essay will elaborate on the given topic and justify why sports can successfully bring and preserve global peace.

One of the greatest characteristics of any popular sporting event is that supporters of every team involved in the tournament almost always attend the matches that are organized in their cities. Some veteran fans even travel to different parts of the country to witness a match between their favourite teams. These events also unite the populace of a nation as every patriotic individual prays for the success of their national team. For instance, the entire nation wishes for the victory of their national team in the Olympic Games as winning an Olympic Medal is one of the most prestigious honours that can be bestowed upon a country.

It is a well-known fact that the people of a country collectively face several challenges on a day-to-day basis. These issues can be caused by numerous factors and are the typical difficulties that ordinary citizens have to overcome. Sports help people enjoy a few moments of excitement and take a break from the monotony of everyday life.

That being said, sometimes the passion of overenthusiastic sports fans ends up leading to harmful and conflicting situations among communities. Nevertheless, the overall impact of sports on our lives is undoubtedly positive.

Finally, sports are one of the aspects of human life that bind a whole community together. This is enough evidence to understand that sports help maintain peace and stability in a nation.

Ready to grab the latest IELTS writing task 2 question papers of 2024?

Sample Question 3

Our personalities are predetermined as a result of our genes before we are born and there is nothing that can be done to change our character traits. To what extent do you agree?

Paraphrase the topic and mention the view.

Genetics are only a part of the entire list of factors that affect a person’s personality.

One of the most important influences on an individual’s personality is their childhood and upbringing.

Summarize the essay and mention the final view in brief.

Even between small periods of time, there are subtle variabilities in our disposition. Such alterations are quite natural and are a part of a human being’s existence. However, it is often assumed that our personality is entirely dependent on genetics. The following paragraphs will explore the different aspects of personality and justify why genetics are not the only factor influencing our personality.

An individual has countless experiences in their life from childhood to adulthood and finally until death. Every one of these experiences has an impact on a person’s mind, no matter how giant or small. The kind of people present in a person’s immediate surroundings also has a huge influence on their nature and characteristics. Thus, it can be safely surmised that a person’s genes are not the only contributing factor when it comes to personality.

One of the most significant influences on our personality is our childhood experiences and the teachings of our parents. Children are always known to follow in the footsteps of their parents. Thus, if the parents of a child are successful in teaching their children the right values and morals, they are bound to grow into responsible and decent individuals.

It is true that the personality traits of an individual are determined by the features of their parents. Nevertheless, these traits can be altered over the course of many years and different experiences.

In conclusion, genetics affect our personalities in a trivial manner as compared to all the other aspects of our temperament. That being said, our life experiences and learnings are the consequential factors in developing our character.

The Latest IELTS Opinion Essay Topics of 2024

A few IELTS opinion essay topics are listed down below, which you can practice. These opinion essay questions may appear in the actual examination.

• In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live on, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

Many people say that the only way to guarantee a good job is to complete a course in university education. Others claim that it is better to start work after school and gain experience in the world of work. How far do you agree or disagree with the above views?

• Although more and more people read the news on the internet, newspapers will remain the most important source of news for the majority of people. Do you agree or disagree?
• Students in schools and universities learn more from their teachers than through other means such as the Internet, libraries, and TV. To what extent you agree or disagree?
• Nowadays university education is very expensive. Some people say that universities should reduce their fees, especially for the less fortunate students or for those coming from rural areas. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Some people think that governments must insist on preserving the traditional appearance of old buildings undergoing renovation or redevelopment. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement?
• Some people believe that international trade and communication with other countries is a positive trend, while others think it is harmful to nations and they might lose their identities. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.
• Many people believe that schools should teach children to become good citizens and workers rather than independent individuals. To what extent do you agree or disagree? Give your own opinion and relevant examples.

People should follow the customs and traditions when they start to live in a new country. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

• It is impossible to help all people in the world, so governments should only focus on people in their own countries. To what extent do you agree or disagree?
• Prevention is better than cure. Do you agree or disagree that out of the country’s health budget, a large proportion should be diverted from treatment to spending on health education and preventive measures?

Top 3 Common Mistakes of IELTS Opinion Essays

In IELTS opinion essays, it’s easy to make some common mistakes that can lower your band score. Getting aware of them is the key to not committing them knowingly or unknowingly while you prepare!

The top 3 common mistakes to avoid are:

• Not giving a clear opinion.
• Presenting arguments for both sides of the issue.
• Failing to support your opinion with well-defined reasons and examples.

Tips to Answer IELTS Opinion Essay Questions

In the IELTS opinion essays, you need to write your opinion about a topic and back it up with proof and examples. If you use a clear structure and good writing methods, you can improve your chances of doing well!

• Spend 5 minutes on a mind map before writing.
• Stick to one viewpoint throughout the essay.
• Use a single main idea to support the topic in each of the two body paragraphs.
• Express your opinion throughout the essay, not just in the conclusion.
• Keep the introduction short, a maximum of 50 words.
• Ensure each body paragraph explains a main idea within 100 words.
• The conclusion should be shorter than the introduction.
• Write a complete essay following the given structure.
• Aim for a word count of 280 words or less.

Here are the 10 Examples for the Opinion Essay Topics IELTS:

Also check:

• Tips to write introduction in IELTS Writing Task 2
• Tips to write great writing essay
• IELTS Sample essays
• How to get band 8 in IELTS Writing Task 2
• IELTS Writing recent actual test
• IELTS 2024 Study Plan for 1 month (30 Days) / 15 Days / 7 Days

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the structure for writing the introduction for an opinion essay?

Is it mandatory to state my opinion in the introduction? Can I skip it and introduce my opinion in the body paragraphs?

What are the words that I can use to state my opinion?

Can I underline the important sentences, to attract examiner’s attention?

Is it mandatory to write the essay in first person?

Practice IELTS Writing Task 2 based on Essay types

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Nehasri Ravishenbagam

Nehasri Ravishenbagam, a Senior Content Marketing Specialist and a Certified IELTS Trainer of 3 years, crafts her writings in an engaging way with proper SEO practices. She specializes in creating a variety of content for IELTS, CELPIP, TOEFL, and certain immigration-related topics. As a student of literature, she enjoys freelancing for websites and magazines to balance her profession in marketing and her passion for creativity!

Explore other Opinion Essays

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Post your Comments

Purnima Koli

Posted on Oct 5, 2021

In fast-paced global economy, it is imperative to have both knowledge and skill. Ability to learn on the job paves way for more hands-on training than discussing case studies at university. Doing a course can be time taking and can surely burn a hole in our parents’ pockets, the middle class knows it better. Getting straight to business of things, meaning starting to work soon after school is beneficial in many ways.

Working in office gives us professional perspective about how business processes are streamlines, turning creative ideas into tangible projects and most importantly getting paid for the amazing work I put out. I feel it’s great to have my ideas being incorporated as solutions to processual issues. Personal growth due to long years of work experience makes us future-ready for the big dream job. Alternatively, some also start their own business after getting gaining a good reputation for their work.

In my personal experience my university education looks good on my CV but has not been financially rewarding for I still have to even out my return on investment. I regret joining an elite institution where I felt out of place as I came from a humble upbringing. However, I learnt a lot about living away from home, managing finances, making new friends, living independently, honed my communication skills.

All in all, I feel it is better to join workforce early on than to do a full-fledged university course. This saves time, money and energy from studying on campus which can be channelized to working with a small business which has ample scope to learn on the job. Later, one can switch to bigger companies with the achieved industry experience after a few years of rigorous hands-on training and development.

In the future, it seems more difficult to live on Earth. Some people think more money should be spent on researching another planet to live, such as Mars. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?

The available land for household, industrial and recreational usage is shrinking. We see large scale infrastructure development in India. But for all these activities we need more land on earth itself, not on some other worldly planet, Mars. I would have to disagree that Mars has answers to all our earthly problems. I think it’s more about gaps in planning, policy making and the way we conduct our lives on a day-to-day basis. If we base our routine on sustainable habits, we are already solving more problems than we create. The problems are created on earth so they need solutions on earth itself, I believe.

The problems like polluted resources such as air, water, land, soil have ample ways to be fixed as we read in scientific journals and other informational sources. The popular ‘3 Rs’ such as Recycle, Reuse and Reduce need to be inculcated for us to have clean air, water, soil, land. We need community development along with economic development so the civil society, environment and the development process can go hand-in-hand. Overcrowding in urban areas due to migration for work, education or marriage can be solved by having proper laws. On the other hand, achieving conservation targets for endangered flora and fauna is a vital step towards holistic saving the ecosystem.

Consequently, I strongly believe that having ideas about Mars being an inhabitable place in the future is surely fantastic idea. But It’s a childish way to think of a better world somewhere else than fixing problems at hand. Let’s face it, our survival instincts have made us exploit resources faster than the nature can replenish them. And we see the negative outcomes like sea-level rising, frequent coastal flooding, drastic weather changes, global warming. As a global community of conscious individuals, we need our planet more than it needs us.

Posted on Sep 11, 2021

In a new country one faces multiple challenges to overcome the culture shock. Different people may adopt the new ways of life at different pace. But I do agree that willing to accept and change with the circumstances can ease the burden.

As we know that change is inevitable, we need to get accustomed to the new culture. There’s no harm in getting the best of both worlds, from your country of origin to this new land of surprises. Festivals, celebrations, new people, new places, new things tend to broaden our perspective on life. We come out much stronger by dealing with the new possibilities. Initially, the surrounding might be tough to make sense of, but with time it should get better.

The decision of moving to a new country is yours so you’d be the person who needs to adapt to get the best possible advantage. Human psychology is common but mannerisms might be different. So, one can learn that through social observation, trial and error and asking questions.

To belong at a place, we must take the initiative to learn the traditions and customs of the new country. To feel welcomed, one must socialize with like minded individuals, take part in group activities at workplace or educational institute or even neighborhood social clubs. Try to get out there, find your niche, excel at what you do, travel and get to know people. It’s easy if you are willing.

Otherwise, you’ll end up losing new experiences which enliven our senses. To live more each day, we need to blend with the culture. Traditions tells us stories of the past which we could relate with stories back at our homeland as well. This way it’s going to be much easier to make bonds, live a cheerful life.

Posted on Sep 15, 2021

Okay. Thanks for your reply. The 4 paragraph structure goes for all other types of (Task 2) essays too?

Posted on Sep 13, 2021

Overall band: 6

Follow the 4 paragraph structure so that it is easy for the examiner to mark you for coherence. . For opinion essays, it is better to write one line after your opinionated paragraphs. Just one line that you are aware of the other side.

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An opinion essay

Learn how to write an opinion essay.

Do the preparation task first. Then read the text and tips and do the exercises.

Preparation

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Some people think that some types of criminals should not go to prison. Instead they should do unpaid work in the community. To what extent do you agree?

Owing to the great variety of crimes that can be punishable by prison, some people argue that not all criminals are the same and it would therefore be more appropriate to give certain criminals community service instead. I agree that in some cases, prison may not be the best solution and community service would probably have more benefits.

One justification given for prisons is to keep society safe by removing criminals from the outside world. So the first thing to consider is if someone who has broken the law is a danger to other people. In the case of violent crime, there is an argument to keep the perpetrator away from society. However, burglary or possession of drugs, for example, does not involve violence against other people so the criminal does not present a direct danger to anyone in the community. Keeping these types of criminals in prison is expensive for the taxpayer and does not appear to be an effective punishment as they often commit the same crime again when they come out of prison.

Personally, I also believe punishments should reform people so they do not reoffend. A further reason not to put these people in prison is that they may mix with more dangerous and violent criminals, potentially committing a worse crime when they are released. By keeping them in the community, helping others, they not only learn new skills, but they could also develop more empathy and care towards others. If this occurs, society can only benefit.

Critics of this more rehabilitative approach to crime believe that justice should be harsh in order to deter people from committing similar crimes and that community service could be less likely to have that effect. However, there is very little evidence to suggest that long prison sentences deter criminals.

In conclusion, putting criminals who are not a danger to society in prison is expensive and, in my opinion, ineffective, both as a deterrent and as a form of rehabilitation. Community service for non-violent crimes benefits both society and the offender. That said, it would be useful to have more data to work out whether community service or prison is more likely to stop someone reoffending. I strongly believe that decisions on how best to deal with criminals should be based on evidence of what actually works.

• Introduce your essay by restating the question in your own words.
• If the essay asks you to what extent do you agree?,  make your opinion clear throughout. You can either agree, partially agree or disagree with the statement, explaining and justifying your opinion.
• Introduction
• The first reason why you agree/disagree
• The second reason why you agree/disagree
• The third reason why you agree/disagree (if you have one)
• Use phrases to organise and link your ideas, e.g. Owing to … , One justification for … , The first thing to consider is … , A further reason … , In conclusion ... .
• If you do not have solid evidence for your ideas, use modal verbs such as might , may or could  (e.g. they could  develop more empathy and care ) or other tentative phrases (e.g. it does not appear to be an effective punishment ).
• Conclude by restating your opinion and summarising your two or three main arguments.

Do you agree that community service is better than prison for some crimes?

Language level

Good day Sir/Madam,

I would like to ask about the expression ‘So the first thing is to…’. In academic and formal writing, should I avoid using ‘thing’ or ‘so’ or is it still fine? Thanks a lot for taking your time to read this. Hope to hear from you.

Your sincerely, Kimmie

• Log in or register to post comments

Hi kimmie,

Thanks for your question. In academic and formal writing, there is a general preference for precision over vagueness, so generally speaking it's better to avoid this usage of  so  and  thing  and use more precise and academic terms when they are available (e.g. Therefore, the first factor/issue to consider is ... ).

However, if you search academic writing, you will find writers do use  thing  sometimes, especially in fixed phrases (e.g.  the first thing /   the same thing ) or technical terms ( e.g. the Internet of Things ). Some writers might also use more general terms first before moving onto more precise terms.

(Note: The essay on the page above is in a somewhat formal style but not very formal.)

I hope that helps.

LearnEnglish team

Hi Jonathan

This is immensely valuable for me. Thank you so much for your swift response. Hope you have a nice day.

In my country it is often debated whether community services are better than prison for certain crimes. I think it's pretty obvious that it should be an option for less important faults. However, sometimes it happens that a judge decides to grant this benefit to some type of powerful criminals who cause more significant damage to society than others who do not have the same possibility, such as financial criminals or corrupt government agents. In my opinion, these types of sentences can have a bad impact on people, since they see that these behaviors are not severely punished and are somehow protected by the law. In conclusion, I agree that certain types of crimes should avoid prison, but I believe that before implementing it, the society must agree on which crimes will be able to enjoy this possibility to ensure that justice is fair for all.

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Hello aaron,

We check all comments before publishing them, which is why it's taken some time for your comment to be published.

Normally we delete a comment like this -- and we deleted the other one you made -- but have let this one through so you can see that it works. 

We are a small team, so it can sometimes be several hours before comments are published -- just wanted to tell you for the future.

We look forward to hearing more from you!

All the best, Kirk LearnEnglish team

The subject of how criminals should be punished is complicated, there are a lot of different opinions defending their points of view. There are two main ideas the first is arresting all the offenders, and the second idea is separating those not dangerous to society, and sending them to work in the community. In my opinion, I agree with the second idea, because there are many expenses with the prisons and the prisoners, so if lessen the population in this environment the conditions and the quality could be better than if there were overpopulation, avoiding justice being done right. Furthermore, these people aren't violent and dangerous to others, so with bad company in the prison, they might become bad people too. In this case, it's an awful idea to mix a different kind of person. Therefore, it's an excellent suggestion to oblige these people to do work in society, but with supervision in the right way and strictly.

On account of the differences between several types of crimes, not all criminals should be sent to prison. It is suggested that giving certain offenders community service would be more appropriate than just jailing them.

Honestly, I completely agree that the right way to protect people from harm is to imprison criminals who conduct violent crimes that endanger human physical health. Nevertheless, this penalty may be ineffective with offenders who have administrative guilts or non-violent offenses. Since they often commit the same crime after getting out of prison, this is just a temporary punishment to ensure the security of citizens for a certain period. The nature of the problem is these crimes originate from greed and bad habits which lead to their deviant behaviors but have not yet resulted in such severe consequences that affect human life.

From my perspective, the government would rather reform these types of offenders than deter them as a kind of punishment. It is better to have an alternative that perceptively impacts these people’s awareness which is to make them do community service. Jailing these criminals just increases their hatred and develops antisocial personality. By keeping and controlling them in a community, besides learning new skills, they amend their bad manner as well as develop more empathy and care towards others.

Given these points, the application of punishment should be based on the nature of each specific crime. Prisons should only be used for perpetrators committing directly dangerous crimes to people's lives. Making non-violent criminals do community service is more of a practical way to optimize tax wasted for prisons as well as give them a chance to fix their wrong behaviors.

There are several types of crimes and for each of them, a different sentence is dictated. A paramount question to be considered is whether community servers are more accurate than prisons for some crimes.

To begin with, community servers would help and support criminals through specialized psychologists. Not only would community servers help and support them, but also it would give them jobs to help them give the society back a contribution in return.

In addition, prisons only contribute to worsening the situation owing to the fact that criminals will commit crimes again. The key to excellent behavior is learning. If they learn suitable habits, they will adapt to society and help it.

Furthermore, it is necessary to have empathy with criminals and not judge them because their hate increases when they are condemned in prison. A further reason for this is that hate feeds hate. Nevertheless, some criminals must be in jail due to their danger on the streets. It is difficult to know that a person who kills someone else, is going to change even if he/she receives help from psychologists.

In contrast, most of society believes that all criminals should be in prison. However, prisons must be all comfortable like a hotel in order to bring for the prisoners a place to recover themselves. The reason why they must live in appropriate conditions is due to his mental health. For instance, in Norway, prisons are like hotels because the government considers that criminals need a second chance to live in a community

To conclude, it would be suitable for all criminals to live in accurate prisons in order to recover themselves. Despite the cost that kind of prisons are supposed to take, they are worth paying for them. In my opinion, safety is priceless and is more important than the cost.

There are many things to consider in punishing criminals or law offender, Technically Speaking, Prison sentence varies entirely depending on a Country's legal system.

I partially agree in reinforcing community service to those non violent criminals, whereas harsh punishment for violent criminals who committed felonious crime. This perspective is reflected on my understandings in a community where social injustice is prevalent. In my country misdemeanor crime and felony crime offender are detained in the same prison cell, they only differ in the duration of prison sentence. This is where the serious societal issues of crime rate initially rooted, non violent offenders are mixed up with serious offenders, doing and smuggling drugs all a while in prison.

Further reasons to justify harsh punishment for felonious crime is it can act as deterent for potential criminals, while community service may reinforce less serious offender to reflect on their own actions and give back to the community. Moreover it may help them develop empathy towards others.

In my conclusions punishment should vary on the severity of the crime of the perpetrator, Criminals should be legally convicted and fairness in prosecution of Criminals must be reinforce.

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How to Plan & Write IELTS Opinion Essays

IELTS opinion essays, also known as ‘agree or disagree’ essays, come up frequently in the writing exam. In this lesson, I’m going to show you how to plan and write them step-by-step.

Here’s what we’ll be covering:

• 3 Common mistakes
• Essay structure
• How to plan
• How to write an introduction
• How to write main body paragraphs
• How to write a conclusion

Click the links to see lessons on each of these Task 2 essay writing topics. 

Once you understand the process, practice on past questions. Take your time at first and gradually speed up until you can plan and write an essay of at least 250 words in the 40 minutes allowed in the exam.

The Question

The first part of the question for an IELTS opinion essay will be a statement. You will then be asked to give your own opinion about the statement. Here is some typical wording that might be used:

• What is your opinion?
• Do you agree or disagree?
• To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Want  to watch and listen to this lesson?

Click on this video.

Here's a question from a past test paper.

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.  

Do you agree or disagree?  

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.

Write at least 250 words.

I’ll be using this question to guide you through the process of planning and writing an IELTS opinion essay.

3 Common Mistakes

These three errors are common in IELTS opinion essays.

• Not stating an opinion.
• Giving arguments for both views.
• Not supporting your opinion with clear reasons.

The most common mistake that students make is not giving an opinion. The question will clearly state that you must choose one side of the argument. If you fail to do this, you will get a low score for task achievement.

It doesn’t matter which side of the argument you take or even, that you agree with it. Choose the one you can develop the best argument for.

Make sure that you don’t change your opinion part way through the essay, and don’t give reasons for the opposing view.

Essay Structure

Now let’s look at a simple structure you can use to write opinion essays. It’s not the only possible structure but it’s the one I recommend because it’s easy to learn and will enable you to quickly plan and write a high-level essay.

1)  Introduction

• Paraphrase the question
• Give your opinion
• State two supporting reasons

2)  Main body paragraph 1

• Topic sentence – outline 1st reason for supporting this view
• Explanation – explain this idea
• Example – give an example  or expand the idea

3)  Main body paragraph 2

• Topic sentence – outline 2nd reason for supporting this view
• Example – give an example or expand the idea

4)  Conclusion

• Summarise opinion and key reasons

This structure will give us a well-balanced essay with 4 paragraphs.

We now need some ideas to add into the structure and we’ll have everything we need for our essay.

How To Plan IELTS Opinion Essays

# 1  decide on your opinion.

The question I've chosen to work on is quite straightforward and easy to understand so we don’t need to spend time analysing it. The first task, then, is to decide on our opinion.

Here’s the question again:

A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

Do you agree or disagree?  

For this essay, I’m going to disagree with the statement and argue that job satisfaction is more important than a big salary.

# 2  Generate ideas

The second task is to generate some ideas to write about.

Since I‘m going to argue that job satisfaction is more important than a large salary, I need ideas to support this view.

There are several different ways to think up ideas. I cover them fully on the  IELTS Essay Planning  page.

With this particular question, I immediately thought of a couple of examples of situations where job satisfaction did prove to be more important than a high salary, so I’m going to use the ‘example method’ of generating ideas.

Once you’ve thought of an example or two, ideas to include in your essay should come to you easily.

You might want to try this yourself before reading on for my ideas.

Here are my examples and some ideas they generated.

Both the examples are partly true but I've adapted them to better fit the essay. It's fine to do this as the examiner won't check your facts.

• Uncle Barry – boasted about high salary but hated his job. Nervous breakdown – lost job & can’t work.
• Me – gave up teaching. Now enjoy my work and am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn much less money.
• High-salary jobs are generally more stressful
• Stress leads to ill health, both mental and physical
• 40 hours a week at work – a third of the day
• Money doesn’t bring happiness
• Better quality of life
• Sense of fulfilment
• Less stressed – healthier and happier

I’ve got more ideas here than I need so I’m going to pick two to develop in the essay – one for each of the main body paragraphs.

Idea 1 – High-salary jobs are generally more stressful and can lead to ill health.

Idea 2 – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

We’re almost ready to start writing our IELTS opinion essay but first, we have one other small task to do.

# 3  Vocabulary

In an IELTS essay, it’s important to be able to say the same things in different ways, either by paraphrasing and/or using synonyms. During the planning stage, quickly jot down a few synonyms of key words you could use to save you having to stop and think of the right language while you’re writing.

For example:

satisfaction – fulfilment, achievement, sense of accomplishment, content, sense of well-being

salary – income, wages, pay, earnings

important – significant, valued, has more meaning

job – work, employment, position

With that done, we can focus on the first paragraph of the essay – the introduction.

How To Write an Introduction

A good introduction has a simple 3 part structure:

1)  Paraphrased question

2)  Thesis statement

3)  outline statement.

An introduction should:

• Have 2-3 sentences
• Be 40-60 words long
• Take 5 minutes to write

1)  Paraphrase the question

Start your introduction by paraphrasing the question.

     Question:  A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

                       Do you agree or disagree?  

Paraphrased question:  

It is argued that earning lots of money has more significance to people than being content in their work.

Note that I’ve used some of the synonyms I listed, although it’s fine to repeat one or two words if you need to. Above all, your language must sound natural.

In IELTS opinion essays, the thesis statement is where you state your opinion. For example,

    Thesis statement:  

    This essay totally disagrees with that statement.

That’s all you need to say.

If you decided to agree with the statement, you would write:

'This essay completely agrees with that statement.'

Finally in the introduction, you must outline the two main points (ideas 1 and 2 above) that you’ll cover in the rest of the essay. Do it in one sentence, or you can add them onto the end of the thesis statement if appropriate.

Outl ine statement:  

I believe that people are increasingly concerned about the risk of stress-related ill-health frequently experienced by people in highly paid positions and they care more about feeling fulfilled at work.

So, let’s bring the three elements of our introduction together.

     Introduction

This introduction achieves three important functions:

• It shows the examiner that you understand the question.
• It acts as a guide to the examiner as to what your essay is about.
• It also helps to keep you focused and on track as you write.

The two ideas in your introduction will become your two main body paragraphs.

Main body paragraph 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Main body paragraph 2  – a sense of fulfilment at work

How To Write Main Body Paragraphs

The structure of a good main body paragraph has 3 parts:

• Topic sentence
• Explanation

If you can’t think of an example, you can add further supporting ideas but we already have our two examples so that’s not an issue here.

A common problem when writing main body paragraphs for IELTS opinion essays is having too many ideas. Again, we have already chosen the two ideas we are going to develop, so we are all set to start writing.

You can see how important the planning stage is and how it makes the actual writing of the essay far quicker and easier.

Main Body Paragraph 1

The  topic sentence  summarises the main idea of the paragraph. That’s all it needs to do so it doesn’t have to be complicated.

It plays an important role in ensuring that your ideas flow logically from one to another. It does this by acting as a signpost for what is to come next, that is, what the paragraph will be about.

If you maintain a clear development of ideas throughout your essay, you will get high marks for task achievement and cohesion and coherence.

We’ll now take the idea for our first main body paragraph and create our topic sentence.

Main idea 1  – concerns about the risk of stress-related ill-health

Topic sentence:  

Employees earning a large income are generally under significant mental and emotional pressure to perform well and achieve targets.

Next, we must write an  explanation sentence . This explains to the examiner what we mean. It expands on our first idea.

Explanation sentence: 

This causes many individuals to suffer high levels of stress which can result in both mental and physical health problems.

Finally, we add an  example  to support our main point. I thought of this in the planning stage so I have it ready to use.

If you can’t think of a real example, it’s fine to make one up, as long as it’s believable. The examiner isn’t going to check your facts.

Example sentence:

This happened to my uncle. He used to boast about his huge salary but the boss kept increasing his sales targets and in the end, the stress became too great and he had a nervous breakdown. Now he regrets being driven by the money.

That’s the 3 parts of our first main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

We now follow the same process for our second main body paragraph.

Main Body Paragraph 2

Main idea 2  – Job satisfaction gives a sense of fulfilment.

First, we write the  topic sentence  to summarise the main idea.

Topic sentence:

Having a job that they enjoy doing, and in which they feel valued, is a major concern for most of the modern workforce.

Now for the  explanation sentence  to explain this idea.

Explanation sentence:

A significant number of people are giving up well-paid positions to do jobs which pay less but that they find more enjoyable and less stressful.

Finally, an  example  to support our main point. As before, I thought of this in the planning stage so just need to form it into a couple of sentences.

I am an example of this myself. A year ago I left the teaching profession because the workload had become too great and I am now a gardener. I feel really fulfilled in this work and I am much more relaxed and happy even though I earn far less money.

That’s the 3 parts of our second main body paragraph complete. Here’s the finished paragraph.

Now we need a conclusion and our IELTS opinion essay is done.

How To Write a Conclusion

Conclusions to IELTS opinion essays should do two things:

• Summarise the main points
• State your opinion

This can generally be done in a single sentence.

If you are below the minimum 250 words after you’ve written your conclusion, you can add an additional prediction or recommendation statement.

Our essay currently has 233 words so we’re on target and don’t need this extra sentence but you can learn more about how to write a prediction or recommendation statement for IELTS opinion essays on the Task 2 Conclusions page.

The conclusion is the easiest sentence in the essay to write but one of the most important.

A good conclusion will:

• Neatly end the essay
• Link all your ideas together
• Sum up your argument or opinion
• Answer the question

If you achieve this, you’ll improve your score for both task achievement and cohesion and coherence which together make up 50% of the overall marks. Without a conclusion, you’ll score below band 6 for task achievement.

You can start almost any final paragraph of an IELTS opinion essay with the words:

• In conclusion

        or

• To conclude

Now all you need to do is briefly summarise the main ideas into one sentence.

Here’s a top tip . Go back and read the introduction to the essay because this is also a summary of the essay. It outlines what you are going to write about.

To create a great conclusion, you simply have to paraphrase the introduction. Let’s give it a go.

Introduction:

Here is the same information formed into a conclusion:

That’s it. We’ve completed our essay. Here it is with the 4 paragraphs put together.

    Question:

   A big salary is much more important than job satisfaction.

   Do you agree or disagree?

Finished IELTS opinion essay.

Go through this lesson as many times as you need to in order to fully understand it and put in lots of practice writing IELTS opinion essays from past exam questions. Practice is the only way to improve your skills.

5 More Model IELTS Opinion Essays

This pack contains another step-by-step lesson and  model essay. P lus 4 additional opinion essay questions with model answers.

Carefully created to help you achieve 7+ in your Writing test.

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More help with ielts opinion essays & other task 2 essays.

IELTS Writing Task 2  – T he format, the 5 question types, the 5 step essay writing strategy & sample questions. All the key information you need to know.

The 5 Types of Task 2 Essay   – How to recognise the 5 different types of Task 2 essays. 15 sample questions to study and a simple planning structure for each essay type.

Understanding Task 2 Questions  – How to quickly and easily analyse and understand IELTS Writing Task 2 questions.

How To Plan a Task 2 Essay  – Discover why essay planning is essential & learn a simple 4 step strategy, the 4 part essay structure & 4 methods of generating ideas.

How To Write a Task 2 Introduction  – Find out why a good introduction is essential. Learn how to write one using a simple 3 part strategy & discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

How To Write Task 2 Main Body Paragraphs  – Learn the simple 3 part structure for writing great main body paragraphs and also, 3 common mistakes to avoid. 

How To Write Task 2 Conclusions  – Learn the easy way to write the perfect conclusion for a Task 2 essay. Also discover 4 common mistakes to avoid.

Task 2 Marking Criteria  – Find out how to meet the marking criteria in Task 2. See examples of good and poor answers & learn some common mistakes to avoid.

The 5 Task 2 Essay Types:

Step-by-step instructions on how to plan & write high-level essays. Model answers & common mistakes to avoid.

   Opinion Essays

   Discussion Essays

  Problem Solution Essays

  Advantages & Disadvantages Essays

  Double Question Essays

Other Related Pages

IELTS Writing Test  – Understand the format & marking criteria, know what skills are assessed & learn the difference between the Academic & General writing tests.

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IELTS Discussion Essays [Discuss Both Views/Sides]

Posted by David S. Wills | Jun 14, 2021 | IELTS Tips , Writing | 3

In this lesson, I’m going to explain what an IELTS discussion essay is and how you can write a good one. I will talk about structure and content, as well as looking briefly at discussion essay thesis statements, which many people find tricky. I’ve also written a sample essay, which you can find at the bottom of this page.

What is a Discussion Essay?

As the name suggests, a discussion essay is an essay that discusses things! More specifically, it is a type of IELTS writing task 2 essay that requires you to look at two different points of view . You can easily recognise these essays by the following phrase:

Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Sometimes it is phrased a little differently. It might say:

Discuss both sides and give your opinion

Discuss both points view and give your opinion

The important thing is that these all mean the same. When you see any of these, you know that you need to write a discussion essay. Importantly, this instruction tells you that you need to do two things:

• Discuss both views (there will have been 2 views mentioned in the previous sentence(s))
• Give your opinion (i.e. state which view you agree with)

If you failed to do either of these things, you would not have satisfied the basic criteria for Task Achievement .

Example Discussion Essay Questions

Here is a list of 5 discussion essay questions either from the IELTS exam, reportedly from the IELTS exam, or from reputable publications that have copied the IELTS question style. (Not that you absolutely should avoid fake IELTS questions when practising.)

Some people say that parents should encourage their children to take part in organised group activities in their free time. Others say that is important for children to learn how to occupy themselves on their own. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

Some people prefer to spend their lives doing the same things and avoiding change. Others, however, think that change is always a good thing. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people feel that manufacturers and supermarkets have the responsibility to reduce the amount of packaging of goods. Others argue that customers should avoid buying goods with a lot of packaging. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that higher education should be funded by the government. Others, however, argue that it is the responsibility of individuals to fund their higher education. Discuss both views and give your opinion.

Some people believe that it is important for children to attend extra classes outside school, while others believe that they should be allowed to play after school. Discuss both views and give your own opinion.

You can see in these questions that there is a similar pattern. In each case, the question phrase (“Discuss both views and give your own opinion”) is the same and in the previous sentence or sentences, there are two opposing views. This, then, makes “discuss both views” questions a sort of opinion essay .

How to Answer IELTS Discussion Questions

First of all, it is important when answering any IELTS task 2 question that you read the question carefully so that you understand it, then provide an answer that directly responds to the question, following its instructions carefully.

As discussed above, you are required to do two things: 1) Discuss both views, and 2) Give your own opinion. You absolutely must do both of those. It doesn’t really matter what your opinion is or whether you give equal weighting to both sides of the argument. Instead, you must cover both sides and also give some sort of opinion. (It is important, though, according to the marking rubric , that you are consistent in your opinion.)

Your answer of course should be structured carefully so as to present your ideas in a thoroughly logical way that is easy for your reader to interpret. I almost always use a four-paragraph structure in my essays, but some people prefer to use five paragraphs in this sort of essay. The difference would look like this:

You might be wondering why I have given my opinion in the body of the five-paragraph essay but not in the four-paragraph essay. Well, actually I would give my opinion in the body of both. However, my opinion would be more subtly woven into the text of the four-paragraph essay. I personally find this to be a better method, but it is equally possible that you could write an amazing five-paragraph essay. That issue is discussed further in this video:

Discussion Essay Thesis Statement

In academic writing, a thesis statement (sometimes called an essay outline ) is the part of the essay where you insert your opinion. It typically comes at the end of the introduction and guides the reader by explaining your opinion on the issues that have been introduced.

But do you really need to provide one in such a short essay? Well, a 2018 study into successful IELTS essays concluded that thesis statements were “obligatory” – i.e. you absolutely do need one. In fact, that study found that thesis statements appeared in 100% of successful IELTS discussion essays! Therefore, we can conclude they are very important.

Because a discussion essay will tell you to “Discuss both views and give your opinion,” you must introduce the two views and then give your opinion in the introduction. Here is an example:

Introductory paragraph:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair.

My first sentence clearly introduces two different ideas:

• Children should do extra classes
• Children should not do extra classes

Note how I have successfully used synonyms to avoid repeating anything from the question. I have also framed the issue in a new way so that I am not just paraphrasing. (You can learn why paraphrasing is not always helpful here .)

My second sentence is the thesis statement. In this sentence, I outline what the essay will do (“look at both perspectives”) and then give my opinion (“it is unfair”). This is a simple but effective thesis statement.

Thesis Statement Advice

Your IELTS discussion essay thesis statement should do two things:

• Tell the reader what the essay will do
• Present your opinion

Because this is a formal essay, it is best not to be too personal. Instead of saying “I will…” or “I think…” it is better to say “This essay will…” Here are some simple templates that you can follow most of the time:

• This essay will look at both sides and then argue that…
• This essay will discuss both views but ultimately side with…

Just make sure to avoid being overly vague. You are required to give your opinion consistently throughout the essay, so don’t say “This essay will look at both sides and then give my opinion .” It is not really the best approach because the examiner wants to see that you can be consistent in presenting an opinion. That is clearly stated in the marking rubric. For band 7, it says:

• presents a clear position throughout the response

It could be concluded, then, that your opinion is not clear from the start and so you have not done enough to warrant a band 7 for Task Achievement.

Body Paragraphs

As I mentioned above, there are really two main approaches you could take to the body paragraphs:

• Discuss one view per paragraph and incorporate your opinion into each.
• Discuss one view per paragraph and then have another for your opinion.

I suppose there is also a third option:

• Compare and contrast the two viewpoints in each paragraph.

This last one may be a little harder to do successfully without jeopardising your score for Task Achievement or Coherence and Cohesion , but advanced candidates may find it useful.

Remember that there is no single perfect formula for an IELTS essay. That’s not how languages work and that’s not how IELTS works. Different people could come up with different ways to present a successful essay. The most common essay structures are mere guidelines for particularly useful methods of approaching an essay.

Does a Discussion Essay Have to be Balanced?

Because the question says “Discuss both views,” it is quite logical to think that you must provide some degree of balance, but you certainly don’t need to give equal weighting to both sides. Remember that you are also going to give your opinion, so if you come down strongly on one side of the issue, it might be odd to give equal attention to both.

If you do feel very strongly about one side, you might want to present your discussion of the other side as quite negative. However, IELTS is a thinking exam as well as an English exam and an intelligent person can always look at both sides of an issue and explain – at the very least – why someone might believe a thing that is different to his own view. This seems quite important, but there is nothing explicitly mentioned in the marking rubric.

I would suggest that if you think a two-sided issue is basically one-sided (i.e. you strongly disagree with the other view), you should still write one or two sentences about why people believe that and then devote the rest of your essay to disputing their view.

Another approach is to write BP1 as a very short paragraph that explains why people might think one thing, but then have BP2 as a very long paragraph that debunks the opposing view and then explains why the other is correct.

(You can read more about IELTS essays and balance here .)

Sample Answer

Here is my full sample answer to the above question about whether or not children should be made to do extracurricular activities:

In some parts of the world, children are forced to go to cram schools and other facilities of extracurricular learning, but many people believe that this is unfair and that they should be allowed to enjoy their free time instead. This essay will look at both perspectives and then conclude that it is indeed unfair. In countries like South Korea, most children are made to go to an array of cram schools outside of regular school hours. Their parents do this in order to give their child a better future because it helps the child to learn more and thus gives them the academic advantages needed to apply to the best universities or jobs in future. These schools often provide children with an advantage over their peers because they improve their foreign language or math skills more quickly, and thus the children who do not attend these schools might have comparatively poor grades. However, whilst this attitude may result in better academic performance, it is certainly not good for the mental health of these children. It is no coincidence that places like South Korea have the highest rates of suicide among their young populations. The fact is that children are not equipped to spend fourteen or sixteen hours per day in classrooms, memorising facts and figures. In a sense, it is a form of child abuse. Children should be allowed to go home and spend time with friends and family to build social skills. They should be allowed to occupy themselves in order to become more creative and learn how to understand their own mind instead of being trained to repeat what they are told. In conclusion, it is understandable that some parents want their children to go to extra classes, but this is damaging to children and they should be given the freedom to play and socialise outside of regular school hours.

In BP1, I have looked at the topic of cram schools (ie the side of the argument in favour of extra lessons). I explored why parents might want their kids to do this and show the supposed benefits. Note that I never embraced any of these benefits. I was careful to use language that distanced these ideas from my own opinion, which was the opposite, so I said “Their parents do this in order to…”

In BP2, I looked at the opposite side. I was careful to make sure that my first sentence linked to the previous paragraph, highlighting that the benefits are quite minor compared to the drawbacks. All of my sentences here justify my position, which is that it is cruel to force these extra lessons on children.

My conclusion ties all of this together. The first clause references BP1 and the second summarises the main argument in BP2.

You can find two more sample essays here:

• A discussion essay about sports facilities
• A discussion essay about sports abilities

About The Author

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.

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It is sometimes debatable whether asking children to get extra education after school or letting them play that is actually beneficial for them. Even though both viewpoints have benefits and drawbacks but I believe ,in the childhood age, children have to take rough and discipline education after school to be succeed in the future.

To begin with, many educational experts believe that playing is one of the essential aspects that have to be gotten by children to grow and happy. By using the playing approach, children can have a good mental and psychic health. Besides, letting children play after school can also support them to increase their emotional stimuli and get a positive social interaction. With this way, experts believe children can grow as a better adult in the future and have a freedom to get a better life in the upcoming times.

However, I completely contra with the first idea because I believe childhood is a better time to train children about academic or other skills that benefits them in the future. Based on scientific journal that I read, the ability of children in learning new things are more spectacular compared to adults. A lot of artists, scientist, and even football player who currently becoming a superstar in this era is a string of process that is began since their in the childhood. For instance, nowadays, I am working in the field of election supervision, it because since in my childhood my father love to force me learning about social and political issues by getting additional class. Thus, making children to get extra class after school is an appropriate preference if parents desire to see their son getting a good future.

To conclude, based on experts children have to get a freedom to play after schools but in my viewpoint it will be more advantages if they utilize the playing time with joining additional class after school.

VERY GOOD MR DIRWAN But actually you mixed both of the ideas , you need to take one side for this sort of essay writting, as it is mentioned in the above instruction. By the way WELL DONE . love from Pakistan to my sweet brother.

I have not checked in here for some time because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are really great quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend. ??

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How the Key Bridge Collapsed in Baltimore: Maps and Photos

By Weiyi Cai ,  Agnes Chang ,  Lauren Leatherby ,  Lazaro Gamio ,  Leanne Abraham and Scott Reinhard

On Tuesday, a major bridge in Baltimore collapsed into the water seconds after it was struck by a cargo ship, sending vehicles on the bridge into the river below. The ship lost power and issued a mayday call shortly before it hit the bridge.

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Where impact occurred

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The ship hit the bridge at 1:28 a.m.

Where impact

Source: Spire Global

The New York Times; satellite image by Google Earth

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Timestamps are from StreamTime Live video.

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The Francis Scott Key Bridge was opened in 1977 and carried more than 12.4 million vehicles last year. The bridge was one of the three major ways to cross the Patapsco River and formed part of Baltimore’s beltway.

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Gov. Wes Moore declared a state of emergency for Maryland and said that his office was in close communication with Pete Buttigieg, the U.S. transportation secretary. The White House issued a statement saying that President Biden had been briefed on the collapse.

Erin Schaff/The New York Times

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