Writing an Opinion Paragraph in Zoom Classes

by Esma Senel | 14 Jul 2021

This lesson plan introduces how to write an opinion paragraph in a well-known virtual platform, Zoom classes. It demonstrates the effective use of breakout rooms and Mentimeter during online writing instruction.

Resource Type: Lesson Plan

Audience: Adult, University

Audience Language Proficiency: Intermediate

Duration: 60 mins

Materials And Technology:

Zoom class, Mentimeter

Objective:

To describe themselves in a creative way
To analyze the parts of a paragraph
To identify main ideas and supporting details
To give examples, facts, and reasons to support ideas
To restate the main idea in the conclusion
To write a topic sentence with a controlling idea
To practice supporting details and examples
To restate the main idea
To express an idea about a given topic
To state an opinion and develop counterarguments

Outcome:

Students will be able to:
• differentiate topic and controlling idea in a sentence
• write a topic sentence with a controlling idea
• produce topic sentences for the given paragraphs
• produce supporting sentences for the given topic sentence
• write a concluding sentence to restate the topic sentence

Procedure: This lesson plan embodies the presentation, practice and prıduct approach that helps students engage actively in the learning process in online writing instruction. It starts with a warm-up session that requires the use of Mentimeter to help students describe themselves in a creative way. In the presentation process, the teacher shows an interesting PowerPoint that draws learners attention to make connections between OREO and opinion paragraph. Following this, students are given a worksheet to practice what they have learnt from OREO process. Finally, students work in small groups and discuss relevant questions about the topics they have covered.

Differentiation: Students who need more help and attention can be paired or work in groups together in breakout rooms. Teachers can assign them into the same classrooms to give more detailed instruction.

References:

Ward, C., & Gramer, M. (2019). Q: skills for success. Oxford University Press.

Hstripling. (2015, 19 August). OREO writing process for opinion paragraphs. Tes. https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/oreo-writing-process-for-opinion-paragraphs-7234539

http://en.univ-batna2.dz/sites/default/files/ang/files/exercises_on_paragraph_writing.pdf

https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/5d39a1459b6df5001c0729ce/test-1-writing-2-msthao-hvu

Supporting Files:
Writing An Opinion Paragraph In Zoom Classes.pdf

TESOL Interest Section: Adult Education, English as a Foreign Language, Higher Education, Materials Writers