Writing an opinion paragraph about someone you admire

VOCABULARY: ADJECTIVES TO DESCRIBE PERSONALITYPositive qualities• hardworking• trustworthy• optimistic• sensitive• sociable• attentive• generous• modest• considerate• imaginative• independent• cheerful• humorous• ambitious

Negative qualities• impatient• moody• indecisive• reserved• lazy• bossy• selfish

Exercise 1: Choose the best adjective to describe the type of the person in each question.

1. My best friend likes telling jokes. He is humorous.2. She likes telling everyone what to do.____________ 3. It is important for my friend to be successful in whatever he/she does. _____________4. She notices my feelings. ______________5. She often gives presents, or pays for lunch or a coffee.______6. She works hard. ______________7. She becomes angry or annoyed if she has to wait for something or someone. ______________8. I can trust my friend with a secret. ______________9. My friend acts shyly when someone compliments her. ______________

bossy

ambitious

considerate/sensitive

generous

hardworking

impatient

reliable/trustworthy

ambitious

10. She can do things alone. She doesn’t need someone to help

her. _______________

11. My friend listens well when I am speaking. _____________

12. She is creative. _____________

13. She keeps her feelings to herself. _____________

14. She thinks the future will be good. _____________

15. She often postpones things she has to do. _____________

16. She is happy one moment and then sad the next. _________

17. She likes to be with people. _____________

18. She often changes her opinion about things. _____________

19. She is usually in a good mood. _________

independent

attentive

imaginative

reserved

optimistic

lazy

moody

sociable

indecisive

cheerful

Exercise 2: Complete these descriptions using the adjectives in the box.

moody impatient mean outgoing ambitious affectionate serious shy charming boring

Quality Example 1. Paul can sometimes be ______________ . When he has to wait for anything, he always looks at his watch.2. Wanda is _____________. One minute she is happy and the next she is sad and doesn’t talk to anyone.3. He is independent and ___________. He loves parties and doing his own things. 4. Simon can be very ____________ at times; he never has anything interesting to say.5. Troy tends to be__________; he counts every last penny and hates spending money on anything.

impatient

moody

outgoing

boring

mean

moody impatient mean outgoing ambitious

affectionate serious shy charming boring

6. Michael is very ___________; he hardly ever laughs and looks unhappy most of the time.

7. Peter is very __________; he often hides in his room if he knows people are coming to the house.

8. He is so __________; he’s good at making people like him.

9. He is very loving and __________ and always shows that he cares about people.

10.Most people are a little ___________because they want to do well in life.

serious

shy

charming

charming

ambitious

Exercise 3: Read the first sentence. Write an example sentence explaining the person’s behavior clearly. Check the example.

Example: My best friend Cem is generous (quality). When he visits us, he brings flowers and gifts for the children.(example)

1. Aliye is energetic. _______________________________________________

2. My best friend Esma is very affectionate.

_______________________________________________ 3. My uncle Rıza is a hard-working person.

_______________________________________________

She never gets tired and is enthusiastic about everything.

She always shows her love to people.

He is always busy at work but he never complains.

4. My aunt Belgin is cheerful. _______________________________________________

5. Aysun is extrovert; ________________________________

6. Emre is talented. ____________________________________

She is always in a good mood and smiles a lot.

She can talk to other people and make friends easily.

He is very good at team sports and he can also dance.

CONJUNCTIONS “AND/BUT/SO/BECAUSE/OR”

AND is used to join or add words together in the sentence.• I have a book, a pen and a pencil in my bag.• Paul and Sarah are at home.• She comes here every day and we have a cup of tea.• They ate and (they) drank.

BECAUSE/AS/SINCE are used to show reason.• I´m taking my umbrella because/as/since it´s raining.• Because/as/since you go to bed late every night, you miss the

service bus every morning.

BECAUSE OF is used to show reason.• Because of the rain, we are not going on a picnic today.• I admire my father because of many reasons.• I am late for the exam because of you! SO is used to show result.• I don´t have money, so I can´t go shopping.• She forgot her password, so she cannot enter the website.• I was tired so I went to sleep.

BUT is used to show opposite or conflicting ideas.• She is small but strong.• It´s raining a lot, but it´s warm.• I want to go on holidays, but I don´t have any money.• She lives in Italy, but she doesn´t speak a word of Italian.• This is a useful rule, but it is difficult to remember.

OR is used to show choice or possibilities as in the sentence.• Do you like tea or coffee?• I don´t like bananas, oranges or apples.• We can go to the cinema or we can stay at home.• He will be here on Monday or Tuesday.

Exercise 4: Complete with “and/but/or/so”• The bus stopped ___________ the man got off.• I have a lot of homework today ________ I can’t come with

you.• Do you want tea _______coffee?• I can’t remember his name ______I know his face from

somewhere. • We stayed at home ______ watched a movie.

and

and

or

so

but

Exercise 5: Complete with “and, but, so, because”.

1. We aren´t going to the park .............…... it´s raining.2. I didn’t have any money, …..........….. I went to the bank.3. Mary is a funny ………………… cheerful girl.4. She doesn´t like vegetables …………..... fish.5. Henri is worried ………….……… he is late for an important

meeting. 6. She bought vitamins ………..…… forgot to buy aspirin.7. We have a test on Monday, ………….….. I have to study this

weekend.8. I need milk, butter .................... bread.9. There´s snow on the street ………...... it´s not too cold.10. I had to work on Saturday ………….…..I couldn't go to John's

party.11. She studies a lot ............. she never passes the exams.

because

so

and

and

because

but

so

but

so

but

and

1. You´ve got an exam tomorrow, …………….... you must study tonight.

2. I can read …….…………. write well.3. We haven’t got our own TV ……….….. we have got a stereo.4. Tom studied hard ……………. he failed the test.5. Jim is happy …..……..…… he won the race.Exercise 6: Combine the sentences with so-because-because of.1. I’m learning English and Spanish. I love languages.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………...

so

and

but

but

because

I’m learning English and Spanish because I love learning languages.

I love learning languages, so I’m learning English and Spanish.

2. We cancelled the picnic. It started to rain.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………3. Ronaldo didn’t play in the match last night. He had an injury.

………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………

We cancelled the picnic because it started to rain.

It started to rain, so we cancelled the picnic.

We cancelled the picnic because of the rain.

Ronaldo didn’t play in the match last night because of his injury.

Ronaldo didn’t play in the match last night because he had an injury.

Ronaldo had an injury, so he didn’t play in the match last night.

WRITING AN OPINION PARAGRAPH ABOUT SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE

Exercise 7: Read the two paragraphs and answer the questions for each.

I admire my mother because she supports me all the time, teaches me new things and always loves me. (TOPIC SENTENCE) First of all, she is always there for me. (SUPPORTING IDEA 1) Whenever I am in trouble, she helps me and supports me. For example, she helps me with my homework. (JUSTIFICATION) Secondly, she always teaches me new things. (SUPPORTING IDEA 2) We study together and I learn a lot of new things from my mother. (JUSTIFICATION) Lastly, she always loves me. (SUPPORTING IDEA 3) She loves me when I do a great job on something. She loves me when I help my sister and she still loves me when we don’t agree or she gets mad at me. (JUSTIFICATION) I love my mother and I know she loves me, too. (CONCLUDING SENTENCE)• What’s the topic sentence? • How many supporting ideas are there?• Are there any examples for the supporting ideas?• Are there any transition/listing words?

I admire my mother because of many reasons. (TOPIC SENTENCE) First reason is that she is always there for me. (SUPPORTING IDEA 1) Whenever I am in trouble, she helps me and supports me. For example, she helps me with my homework. (JUSTIFICATION) Another reason is that she always teaches me new things. (SUPPORTING IDEA 2) We study together and I learn a lot of new things from my mother. (JUSTIFICATION) My last reason is that she always loves me. (SUPPORTING IDEA 3) She loves me when I do a great job on something. She loves me when I help my sister and she still loves me when we don’t agree or she gets mad at me. (JUSTIFICATION) I love my mother and I know she loves me, too. (CONCLUDING SENTENCE)• What’s the topic sentence? • How many supporting ideas are there?• Are there any examples for the supporting ideas?• Are there any transition/listing words?

TIP FOR WRITERS: Writing Topic Sentences: You can write your topic sentence in two different ways and organize your paragraph accordingly.First Option: I admire my mother because she’s hardworking, patient and caring.I respect my grandfather because he’s a very experienced person and he is still optimistic.Second Option: I admire my mother because of many reasons. I respect my grandfather because of many reasons. If you choose the first option, you should express your first reason with the following listing words: First,/First of all,/To begin with,/To start with,If you choose the second option, you should express your first reason with the following listing words: My first reason is that……………… One reason is that………………………

For the rest of your supporting sentences, you can use any listing words you like.

How do you introduce supporting ideas in a paragraph?When we link similar supporting ideas in a paragraph, we can use the following signal (listing) words/transition words.

First of all, Second/Secondly, Third/Thirdly, First/Firstly, In addition to this, Lastly, To begin with, In addition, Finally, To start with, Moreover, Furthermore, Besides, One reason is that… Second reason is that…. Final reason is that…… My first reason is that…… Another reason is that…… My last reason is that……..

Which words or phrases do you use to justify the supporting idea(s)?

To give reasons, examples or results for our supporting ideas, we can use because/as/since, for example /for instance and so/for that reason.• Madonna is a very talented artist. For instance/for example,

she can sing well, write very popular songs and dance perfectly.

• Many people respect him because/as/since he never gives up.• She is successful and famous but she’s always modest, so/for

that reason, millions of people admire her.

Exercise 8: Write justifications for the given ideas.

• My father always teaches me new things. For instance, .....................................................................................................• My sister is very helpful and loving, so ……………………………………………………………………………………………• Millions of people respect Nelson Mandela since ……………………………………………………………………..• Brad Pitt is a generous actor. For example, …………………………………………………………………………………………..• I love Michael Jackson’s music because …………………………………………………………………………………........

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Compiled&prepared by Writing Coordination

he helps me with my homework and I learn a lot of new things from him.

you can always ask for help from her.

he’s a strong man and never gives up.

he donated millions of dollars to charities around the world.

I always feel peaceful and calm when I listen to him.