Every opinion essay has 3 parts:
1. Claim = my opinion, stated clearly. ("I believe that…")
2. Reasons = my WHYs — at least 2 or 3.
3. Evidence = proof from a text. ("According to the article…")
Goal: convince the reader, not entertain them.
Prove It!
Introduction to Opinion & Argumentative Writing · SBA Prep Day 1
📚
Subject
ELA · Writing
⏱️
Duration
~45 min
🎯
Standard
W.5.1 · RI.5.1
📋 Standards & Objectives
📜Standards
W.5.1Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
RI.5.1Quote accurately from a text when explaining what the text says explicitly and when drawing inferences.
🎯SWBAT
- I can explain what opinion/argumentative writing is and how it's different from a narrative.
- I can identify the claim, reasons, and evidence in an opinion piece.
- I can use the SBA strategy: read the question before the passage.
📖 Today's Key Words
Your writer's toolkit for the next 4 weeks
📝Claim
The opinion you are trying to prove. It's the side you pick — the whole essay works to back it up.
"Schools should NOT assign homework every night."
👆 That sentence takes a side → it's a claim.
👆 That sentence takes a side → it's a claim.
"Dogs make the best pets."
👆 Also a claim — it's an opinion you could argue either way.
👆 Also a claim — it's an opinion you could argue either way.
A good claim is a sentence someone could disagree with. "The sky is blue" is NOT a claim — nobody argues with it!
📝Reason
A why — one answer to the question "Why do you believe that?" Strong opinion essays use 2 or 3 reasons.
Claim: Recess should be every day.
Reason 1: Kids focus better after moving.
Reason 2: Friendships grow on the playground.
Reason 1: Kids focus better after moving.
Reason 2: Friendships grow on the playground.
A reason often follows the word because: "Recess helps us learn because our brains need breaks."
📝Evidence
The proof — facts, examples, or quotes (often from a text) that show your reason is true.
"According to the article, students who have recess twice a day score higher on reading tests."
👆 That is evidence — a fact from a text.
👆 That is evidence — a fact from a text.
Sentence starters that signal evidence: "According to the article…" · "The author says…" · "The text states…"
📝Argumentative
A fancier word for opinion writing. An argumentative essay uses logic and evidence to convince the reader you are right.
An argumentative essay isn't about yelling or fighting — it's about thinking clearly and proving your side.
On the SBA, an "opinion" and an "argumentative" prompt are the same kind of task — pick a side and back it up.
📝Convince
To make someone agree with you by giving good reasons and evidence. This is the GOAL of opinion writing.
Narrative writing entertains. Opinion writing convinces. Same letters, totally different jobs.
"Mia wrote a letter to the principal to convince him that 5th graders deserve longer lunches."
🚀 Big Question
Get ready to take a side
Should schools have recess EVERY day?
Think about it for 10 seconds… 🤔
In a minute, you're going to see two kids who feel very differently about this.
🔍 Two Kids, Two Sides
Whose side are you on?
Jayden says YES ✅
"We should have recess every single day! My brain feels like jelly after sitting for two hours. When I come back from recess, I actually remember what the teacher says. Also, recess is where I figured out that Marcus is really funny — we never would have become friends if we stayed in the classroom."
Elena says NO ❌
"Honestly? Sometimes I'd rather skip recess. On cold days nobody wants to go outside, and when it rains we just stand around. Plus, we lose 20 minutes of learning time every single day. If we skipped recess once a week, we'd finish our math unit faster and have more time for projects."
💡 Turn to your partner: which side do you agree with, and WHY?
✨ Here's the Superpower
You probably already picked a side. That's the easy part. The hard part — and the cool part — is this:
Can you PROVE it?
For the next 4 weeks, you're going to learn how to take any side on any question and convince someone you're right — using your brain, not by yelling. That's a real-life superpower grown-ups use every single day.
👨🏫 What IS Opinion Writing?
The big picture
An argumentative (or opinion) essay is a piece of writing where you:
1
Pick a side on a question — like "Should schools have recess every day?"
2
Tell the reader what you think in one clear sentence (your claim).
3
Back it up with reasons and evidence until the reader says, "Okay, I'm convinced."
Big Idea: The goal isn't to be the loudest — it's to be the most convincing.
🔄 Narrative vs. Opinion
Totally different jobs
📖 Narrative
Goal: ENTERTAIN — tell a story.
"I'll never forget the day the rope swing broke. One minute I was flying over the creek, the next I was face-down in the mud. My little brother laughed so hard he fell too."
👆 Characters, setting, plot — that's a STORY.
💥 Opinion
Goal: CONVINCE — win the argument.
"Schools should build more rope swings on playgrounds. Kids need adventurous play to build confidence, and recent studies show that risky play helps children develop problem-solving skills."
👆 Claim + reasons + evidence — that's an ARGUMENT.
📓 Write This Down
The 3 parts of every opinion essay
Key Words
Claim
Reasons
Evidence
Notes
🎯 Part 1: The Claim
Your claim is one clear sentence that tells the reader exactly what you think. No mystery, no hiding — just say it.
Sentence starters:
✍️ "I believe that…"
✍️ "In my opinion…"
✍️ "Schools should / should not…"
✍️ "The best ___ is ___ because…"
Test: If someone could reasonably disagree, it's a claim. If no one would argue (like "water is wet"), it's NOT a claim.
💭 Part 2: The Reasons
A reason answers the question "Why?" — as in, "Why do you think that?" Strong opinion essays have 2 or 3 reasons, not just one.
Example:
Claim: 5th graders should be allowed to choose their own seats.
Reason 1: We focus better when we're comfortable.
Reason 2: We learn to work with different friends on our own.
Reason 3: It gives us practice making good choices.
Pro tip: If you only have ONE reason, your argument feels weak. Push yourself to find two or three.
🔎 Part 3: The Evidence
Evidence is proof. It's where you show the reader your reason isn't just your feeling — it's backed up by facts, examples, or quotes from a text.
Sentence starters:
✍️ "According to the article…"
✍️ "The author states that…"
✍️ "The text says, '___.'"
✍️ "For example,…"
On the SBA, evidence almost always comes from the passage you just read. That's why reading carefully MATTERS.
⭐ Model Paragraph
All 3 parts, color-coded
I believe that 5th graders should be allowed to bring water bottles to class. First, drinking water helps us focus and learn better. According to a health article our class read, students who stay hydrated do 15% better on memory tasks. Second, water bottles mean fewer trips to the drinking fountain. The article also mentioned that hallway time adds up to almost 20 minutes of lost learning each week. For these reasons, teachers should let us keep water bottles on our desks.
🟢 Claim
🟡 Reasons
🔵 Evidence
✅ Quick Check
Which of these is a CLAIM? 👇
A) Dogs have four legs.
B) Dogs make the best pets.
C) My dog's name is Biscuit.
👍 Thumbs up if you know it · 🤔 Thinker-face if not sure
B) Dogs make the best pets.
Someone could disagree with B ("No, cats are better!"). A is just a fact. C is just information. Only B takes a side.
💡 SBA Pro Move #1
Read the question BEFORE the passage
🎯 The Strategy
Before you read the passage, read the questions first. That way, you know exactly what you're hunting for.
When you know the question ahead of time, the passage suddenly feels shorter — because your brain can skip past parts that don't matter and zoom in on the parts that do.
🔭 See How It Works
❌ Without the strategy
You read the whole passage, trying to remember everything. Then you see the question: "What is the author's claim?" Now you have to go back and hunt for it. You feel rushed, and you're running out of time.
✅ With the strategy
You see the question FIRST: "What is the author's claim?" Now you know: as you read, you're hunting for ONE sentence — the one that states the author's opinion. Your brain has a target. You find it on the first read. 💥
💭 Think of it like hunting: it's way easier when you know WHAT you're looking for.
🔄 Now Let's Practice
What we just learned:
Every opinion essay has a claim, reasons, and evidence. And on the SBA, we read the question first.
Next up:
Let's try it together on a real passage about homework. 🏠
👥 Guided Practice
Remember: read the question FIRST
🎯 Your mission as you read:
Find the author's claim, their reasons, and any evidence they give. Ready?
Next slide: the passage. 👉
📄 Passage: Should Students Have Homework Every Night?
Homework has been part of school for over a hundred years. Most kids do it. Most teachers assign it. But lately, more and more people are asking a big question: is nightly homework really a good idea?
Schools should not assign homework every night. Students already spend seven hours a day learning, and their brains deserve a break. According to a recent Stanford study, too much homework can cause stress, sleep problems, and even headaches in elementary students.
Many kids also have after-school activities like sports, chores, or helping at home. When homework piles on top of those things, there is not enough time to rest, play, or simply be a kid. The National Education Association reports that students who have at least one homework-free night each week perform better in class, not worse.
Of course, some practice is helpful. But packing a heavy folder every night takes away from family time, sleep, and the joy of learning. For these reasons, teachers should give kids at least a few homework-free nights every week.
📖 Teacher reads it aloud first — then we hunt.
🎯 Step 1: Find the Claim
The claim is the author's opinion — the one sentence that tells us what they think.
Question: Which sentence states the author's claim?
"Schools should not assign homework every night."
How we know: it takes a side. Someone could disagree. It's the author telling us their opinion in one clear sentence — that's the definition of a claim.
💭 Step 2: Find the Reasons
The reasons answer: "Why does the author think that?"
Question: What are the author's reasons for their claim?
Reason 1: Students already spend seven hours a day learning and need a break.
Reason 2: Kids have after-school activities like sports and chores.
Reason 3: Too much homework takes away from family time and sleep.
🔎 Step 3: Find the Evidence
The evidence is the proof — look for quotes, facts, or studies.
Question: What evidence does the author use?
Evidence 1: "According to a recent Stanford study, too much homework can cause stress, sleep problems, and even headaches in elementary students."
Evidence 2: "The National Education Association reports that students who have at least one homework-free night each week perform better in class, not worse."
Notice how BOTH pieces of evidence come from a source — that's what makes it proof, not just an opinion.
🌟 SBA Spotlight
A real test-style question
This is the real deal.
The next question is the kind you'll see on the SBA. Take your time. Use the strategy: read the question first, then look back at the passage.
📝 SBA Question
Multiple choice — pick the BEST answer
Which sentence from the passage BEST states the author's claim?
A) "Homework has been part of school for over a hundred years."
B) "Students already spend seven hours a day learning."
C) "Schools should not assign homework every night."
D) "Many kids have after-school activities."
✅ Answer: C
"Schools should not assign homework every night." → This is the ONLY sentence that takes a side. It tells us exactly what the author thinks.
🕵️ Eliminating the Wrong Answers
Why the other choices are distractors
❌A — Background info
"Homework has been part of school for over a hundred years."
This tells us about the history of homework. It's background — not an opinion. The author doesn't take a side here.
❌B — A reason
"Students already spend seven hours a day learning."
This is actually one of the author's reasons! But a reason is NOT the claim — the claim is the big opinion that the reason supports.
❌D — A detail
"Many kids have after-school activities."
This is just a fact/detail that helps build a reason. It's not the author's opinion — it's a piece of supporting information.
✅C — THE CLAIM
"Schools should not assign homework every night."
This sentence takes a SIDE. It's the author's opinion — the one sentence the whole essay is trying to prove. 💥
💬 Turn & Talk
🤔Discuss with a partner — 60 seconds
Look back at the homework passage. Do you AGREE with the author's claim, or do you disagree? Why?
Sentence starters:
"I agree with the author because…"
"I disagree with the author because…"
🔍 Your Turn
Build your own claim
The Question:
What is the BEST season of the year, and why?
Your mission:
- Write ONE claim sentence. Start with "I believe…" or "The best season is…"
- Write TWO reasons that back up your claim.
- Keep it short — you only need 3 sentences total.
⭐ Model: What It Should Look Like
Example response (not about seasons!)
I believe that fall is the best season of the year.
First, fall has the best weather — it's cool enough to run around without getting sweaty.
Second, fall is when football season starts, which makes Saturdays feel like a holiday.
👆 Three sentences. One claim, two reasons. That's a complete opinion paragraph.
✏️ Short Constructed Response
SBA-style — 2 to 3 sentences
📋 Prompt
Using details from the homework passage, explain the author's main argument and ONE reason they give to support it. Write 2–3 sentences.
- Start by restating the author's claim in your own words.
- Give ONE reason the author uses to back it up.
- If you can, add a tiny bit of evidence from the text.
⚖️ Strong vs. Weak Response
What does "good" look like?
😐 Weak Response
"The author thinks homework is bad. Kids don't like homework."
❌ No specific claim ("bad" is vague).
❌ No reason from the text — just a feeling.
❌ No evidence.
💪 Strong Response
"The author argues that schools should not give homework every night. One reason is that students already spend seven hours learning at school, and their brains need a break. The author even points to a Stanford study that links too much homework to stress and sleep problems."
✅ Clear claim, specific reason, evidence from the text.
📝 Today's Superpowers
Today you learned:
✅ Opinion writing's job is to convince, not entertain.
✅ Every opinion essay has 3 parts: claim, reasons, evidence.
✅ On the SBA, read the QUESTION first — then hunt for the answer.
✅ You can already spot a claim and separate it from reasons and details. 🔥
🔮 Tomorrow
What's coming next
Day 2: Reading Multiple Sources
Tomorrow you'll read TWO different articles on the same topic. Your job? Figure out what each author claims and decide whose evidence is stronger.
This is exactly what the SBA Writing test asks you to do — and you're already on your way.
🎫 Exit Ticket
Show what you know — 4 questions!
1️⃣Identify
Which is a CLAIM?
A) Ice melts at 32°F.
B) Summer is the best season.
C) My birthday is in July.
B — it takes a side. A is a fact, C is information.
2️⃣Vocab
What's the difference between a REASON and EVIDENCE?
A reason is YOUR "why." Evidence is the PROOF (a fact, quote, or example from a text).
3️⃣Apply
Write ONE claim sentence about whether 5th graders should have phones at school.
"I believe that 5th graders should not be allowed to use phones during school hours."
(Any sentence that takes a side works!)
4️⃣🔄 Spiral Review
Narrative writing is writing that tells a _______.
From our last writing unit!
story
Narrative = story. Opinion = argument. Same writer, different jobs.