Opinion / 103-^ anticipate the reader’s point of view and thereby include the most appropriate
supporting material,
-^ stop short of simply telling the reader to accept the writer’s opinion or take
some action.
Process
Developing an opinion paper calls for an objective examination of all information
available and a careful analysis of your opinion. The following process should help
you plan and develop an effective opinion paper.
STEP 1: Prewriting—Thinking about the Subject
Even though we all have opinions, most of them are probably not well founded.
For instance, we may be quick to express the opinion that heating with wood offers
few advantages to modern households. But what do we really know about heating
with wood? Do we know how to regulate room temperature with wood heat? Do we
know how a house feels that is heated with wood? Or do we have some preconceived
notion that conjures up images of sitting around a potbellied stove, roasting one side
while freezing the other? If so, we are expressing an unfounded opinion.
Thinking about your subject demands that you determine objectively what you
know and what you do not. [See Chapter 1, Prewriting, for additional suggestions.] Is
research necessary? Will your reader have information that you do not? If you make
obvious errors, including errors of omission, you may look ridiculous; your credibil-
ity will suffer.
So, do whatever research is necessary. Know what you are writing about.
STEP 2: Prewriting—Stating the Subject
After careful thought and thorough research, you should be able to express in a single
sentence the opinion you will develop in your paper. Consider the following examples:
Florida is the worst possible winter vacation spot.
Cats understand what we say to them.
Football players make more money than they are worth.As you write your sentence, check that you have a topic really suitable for an
opinion paper. Avoid any subject that can be proved or disproved with statistics,
research, or experimentation. Consider these examples: