Opinion Writing — Answer Key
Part A: Multiple Choice
Circle the best answer for each question.
1. Which sentence gives the STRONGEST reason to support the opinion "I think everyone should drink milk"?
A) Milk comes in a carton.
B) Milk is white.
C) Milk has calcium that builds strong bones and teeth.
D) You can buy milk at the store.
A strong reason gives a specific, concrete benefit that the reader can picture and trust. Calcium building bones and teeth is exactly that kind of detailed, evidence-backed support.
2. A student wrote: "I feel that field day is the best day of the year." What should come NEXT in the paragraph?
A) A conclusion that restates the opinion.
B) A reason that explains why field day is the best.
C) A question for the reader.
D) The date of field day.
After stating an opinion, the next job is to back it up so readers know why to believe it. A reason about why field day is the best moves the paragraph forward correctly.
3. Which word is an opinion signal word?
A) seven
B) always
C) believe
D) because
"Believe" tells the reader that what comes next is the writer's personal view, not a fact. Words like think, feel, and believe are classic signals for opinion writing.
4. Read this paragraph ending: "As you can see, there are many reasons why our class should adopt a hamster." What part of the opinion paragraph is this?
A) the introduction
B) a supporting reason
C) a linking word
D) the conclusion
The phrase "As you can see" looks back at the reasons already given and restates the opinion, which is exactly what a conclusion does. It signals the writer is wrapping up the paragraph.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the correct answer on each line.
1. A strong reason explains clearly why someone holds an opinion.
A strong reason gives clear, specific support, while a weak one is vague or just repeats the opinion. The word "strong" is the term writers use for that high-quality kind of reason.
2. The linking phrase "for example" is used to give a specific detail that supports your point.
"For example" is the two-word phrase that points to a specific instance of a bigger idea. Writers use it whenever they want to prove a claim with a clear, concrete sample.
3. The sentence "There are 50 states in the United States" is a fact, not an opinion.
You can prove the number of states by counting them on a map, and the answer is the same for everyone. Anything that can be proven true is called a fact, not an opinion.
4. A good opinion paragraph has an introduction, reasons, and a conclusion.
Reasons sit in the middle of the paragraph between the introduction and the conclusion. They are the supporting body that proves why the writer's opinion makes sense.
5. When you restate your opinion at the end, you should use different words than the opening sentence.
Repeating the same exact wording feels boring and lazy to readers. Picking different words to say the same idea keeps the conclusion fresh and shows the writer's vocabulary.