- How opinion writing grows, grade by grade
- Opinion prompts about school life
- Opinion prompts about home and family
- Opinion prompts about animals and nature
- Opinion prompts about books, films and games
- Bigger opinion questions for older writers
- How to get better opinion writing
- When opinion writing becomes argument
- My advice for opinion writing
- Frequently asked questions
Here are 25 opinion writing prompts, grouped by topic and ready to copy, for children in roughly second to fifth grade. Opinion writing is the elementary-school name for argument: state what you think, give reasons, link them with the right words and finish with a conclusion. In sixth grade the Common Core renames it argument writing and adds evidence from credible sources.
Opinion writing is one of the first kinds of writing children do at school, and it's one of the most useful. It's also the one parents can practise most easily at home, over dinner or in the car, because it starts as conversation. It teaches them that 'because I said so' isn't a reason. The easiest way to get good opinion writing is to ask about something children already have strong feelings on, so most of the prompts below are about school, home, animals and the things they read and watch.
How opinion writing grows, grade by grade
The Common Core describes the same basic task each year but raises the bar on how reasons are linked. It's a handy guide to which words to encourage:
| Grade | Linking words the standard gives as examples |
|---|---|
| 2nd | because, and, also |
| 3rd | because, therefore, since, for example |
| 4th | for instance, in order to, in addition |
| 5th | consequently, specifically |
| 6th onwards | Opinion becomes argument: claims supported with reasons and evidence from credible sources |
So a second grader's 'I like cats because they're soft and also they purr' and a fifth grader's 'Consequently, cats suit busy families' are both doing opinion writing at the right level. Don't rush a younger child to the fancier words; a clear because is worth more than a misused consequently, and the vocabulary grows naturally once the structure is secure.
Opinion prompts about school life
School topics work because every child has an opinion and plenty of examples.
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Should break time be longer? Say what you think and give two reasons.
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What's the best subject at school, and why should everyone enjoy it?
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Should students wear a uniform? Give your opinion and reasons, then finish with a concluding sentence.
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Should there be a class pet? Explain what you think, using because and also.
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Would you rather have homework every night or one bigger project each week? Explain your choice.
Opinion prompts about home and family
These are personal, so children rarely run out of reasons.
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Should children get to choose what's for dinner once a week? Give your reasons.
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Is it better to be the oldest or the youngest in a family? Explain your opinion.
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Should everyone in a family share the chores equally? Say why or why not.
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What's the best way to spend a rainy weekend? Convince your reader.
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Should children be allowed to stay up late on their birthday? Give two reasons.
Opinion prompts about animals and nature
Good for children who love facts, since they can add information to their reasons.
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Which animal would make the best pet for a small flat? Give reasons and an example.
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Should people be allowed to keep wild animals as pets? Explain your view.
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Which season is the best, and why? Use for instance or for example in your answer.
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Should every school have a garden? Give reasons and say what students would learn.
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Are dogs or cats better companions? Pick a side and back it up.
Opinion prompts about books, films and games
Media topics let children practise opinions about texts, which the standards include from second grade.
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What's the best book you've ever read? Persuade a friend to read it.
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Is it better to read the book before seeing the film? Explain what you think.
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Which character from a story would you most like as a friend, and why?
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Should video games be allowed at school during wet play? Give your reasons.
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Which film should your class watch at the end of term? Make your case.
Bigger opinion questions for older writers
For fourth and fifth graders ready to link reasons with words like in addition and consequently.
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Should children have a vote on how their town spends its park space? Explain your opinion with reasons and information.
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Is it more important to be honest or to be kind? Use specific examples.
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Should every child learn to swim at school? Give reasons and use in addition at least once.
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Should towns ban cars from the street outside schools at drop-off time?
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Should children be allowed to design part of their school's playground? Explain your view.
How to get better opinion writing
- Teach the shape: opinion, reason one, reason two, conclusion. Draw it as a hamburger if that helps younger writers.
- Display the linking words for your child's grade from the table above.
- Ask 'can you give me an example?' after every reason.
- Have children argue the opposite side out loud before writing; it sharpens their own reasons.
- Let them read their piece to someone who disagrees and see if they change their mind.
For playful warm-ups before opinion writing, my list of icebreaker questions gets children talking, and my post on essay topics for students has more ideas you can turn into opinion questions.
When opinion writing becomes argument
From sixth grade, the standards stop using the word opinion. Students write arguments that support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence, using credible sources. The habits from these prompts carry straight over: a clear position, reasons that link logically, examples and a conclusion. The new part is evidence, so older elementary children can start practising by adding one fact they've checked to each reason.
My advice for opinion writing
Keep topics close to children's lives, push for a reason every time, and teach the linking words that match their grade. When they can state an opinion, back it with two reasons, add an example and finish strongly, they're ready for the argument writing that comes next.
Frequently asked questions
What is opinion writing?
Elementary-school writing in which children state an opinion on a topic or text, give reasons, link them with appropriate words and finish with a conclusion.
What's the difference between opinion and argument writing?
In the Common Core, opinion writing runs to fifth grade; from sixth grade it becomes argument writing, which adds evidence from credible sources.
What linking words should children use in opinion writing?
The standards give examples by grade: because, and, also in second grade; therefore, since, for example in third; for instance, in order to, in addition in fourth; consequently and specifically in fifth.
How long should an opinion piece be?
Long enough for an opinion, at least two reasons with examples and a concluding sentence.
What's a good opinion writing topic for kids?
Something they care about: school rules, pets, family life, books and films.
