English

Opinion Essay Instructions

Assignment:

For this essay, you will choose a controversial issue and write an opinion piece/op-ed. I

am giving you considerable leeway in choosing a topic. The options literally are endless!

You may choose any topic that interests you. However, I strongly discourage you from

choosing overused and/or highly emotional topics, such as gun control, abortion rights,

climate change, the death penalty, undocumented immigrants, or marijuana

legalization, mask mandates, and COVID vaccinations. Be creative! Choose an issue

that you feel passionate about. I welcome your ideas. Because issues involve multiple

perspectives, students must consider a wide range of opinions and address any

counterarguments.

You are not required to use secondary sources, although you may use them sparingly if

you feel that they will support your discussion. However, don’t allow sources to take

over your essay. This is not a report or a research paper. Instead, you will present your

own opinion in a logical, thorough, well-organized, and coherent manner.

General Guidelines:

The purpose of this essay is to develop an articulate, persuasive argument about an

issue of social, political, environmental, scientific, or historical significance. Remember,

this essay is not a report. In other words, you will not inform the reader about your

topic. Instead, you will present an opinion and support that opinion with evidence and

examples. You might also choose to address a problem and propose a solution. Your

job is to convince the reader that your opinion is right.

You are not limited to the topics below. However, I do want to provide a few example

topics to help you get started. You may use them as a “jumping off point” for your own

essay, or you may choose to write about an issue that is not included in the list.

• police brutality

• student debt

• homeschooling

• organic foods

• animal rights

• the obesity crisis

• vegetarianism/veganism

• monetary compensation for college athletes

• electronic cigarette safety and regulation

• rent control

• rural broadband

• economic inequality, homelessness, and poverty

• teaching evolution in schools

• mental illness

• fake news

• domestic violence

• DNA testing

• gender discrimination

• distance learning

• addiction

Requirements:

• The essay’s assigned length is 1,000−1,200 words.

• You must adhere to the formatting guidelines set forth in most recent edition of The

MLA Handbook. Be sure that all margins measure 1 inch and that you use the Times

New Roman 12-point font. You should also follow MLA formatting guidelines

regarding the page heading, running header, page numbering, etc.

• You are not required to use secondary sources for this essay. However, if you

choose to use secondary sources, you must properly cite them, both in the text of

the essay and on the Works Cited page.