How to teach opinion writing in French immersion in 5 steps

Opinion writing is a crucial skill that empowers students to express their thoughts, beliefs, and perspectives effectively. But let’s face it: teaching writing in French can be difficult. When teaching writing, we have to consider spelling, grammar, punctuation, vocabulary and sentence structure, especially when teaching in another language. It can be overwhelming to think of all of the steps that must go into planning a writing unit. But what if I told you that it doesn’t have to be so complicated? What if I told you that you can make a writing unit fun and even incorporate other strands of French such as reading and speaking?

In this blog post, I am going to give you the 5 simple steps that you can use to introduce and effectively teach an opinion writing unit in your French Immersion classroom.

1. Introduce Opinion Writing:

One of the first steps is to introduce the concept of opinion writing to your class. Answer the question, “What is opinion writing?” and show them a few examples (books, videos or writing samples) that have a strong opinion on a given topic. Based on the examples we watch and the discussions that we have as a class, I like to come up with a definition that our class develops together, in student-friendly language.

During this introductory period, I also like to introduce students to key vocabulary that we notice is common in many textual examples. I make a note of this either on chart paper, on a word wall, or provide students with a vocabulary list to reference. Whichever way you decide, it is important that students are exposed to common vocabulary so they can use it in their texts in the future.

Next, consider also providing students with a question that will naturally develop an opinion. For example, “Should school continue during the summer?”, Should all students wear uniform?”, “Does pineapple belong on pizza?” these are simple questions that can elicit a strong response from your students, which will immediately grab your student’s interest and encourage them to want to learn more about how to answer this question.

Lastly, before we get into learning about the structure of an opinionated text, I like to remind my students that during this unit, students will have differing opinions. This is a good thing. Imagine if all people had the same opinion on everything. That would make for a boring world! I like to remind my students that differing opinions are essential, and just because your classmate does not have the same opinion as you, doesn’t mean that you can no longer be friends or that the end of the world is near. It’s important to listen to different opinions with respect and sometimes agree to disagree. We must allow everyone the space and opportunity to express their thoughts.

2. Teach Students the Structure of an opinion text

To scaffold their learning, teach students the essential structure of an opinion writing text. Break down the parts of the texts into separate lessons, including a compelling introduction, well-organized body paragraphs, and a strong conclusion. Provide clear examples throughout each lesson and model the process, making sure that students grasp the fundamentals.

One activity that I like to do while teaching each part of the opinion text is to show students good and bad examples of how they are written and allow them to choose which example they think is the best. This is also a great way to review those tricky ideas such as punctuation, capitalization and spelling.

For example, when teaching an introduction, I will write out three examples. One example may be completely wrong. It will have spelling and grammatical errors and not follow the typical format of an opinion text. The next example may have a few small errors, maybe some words in the wrong order and lastly, the final example is well written and free of errors, following the correct structure of an opinion text. Then, I will break my students up into groups and have them discuss which is the best example and why. Allowing students to explain why is crucial. It’s also important to explain to students that while each example may have some correct parts, there is a response that has the most correct aspects in it. This fosters great discussion and shows me that my students understand what makes a particular part of the text – in this case, the introduction – well-written and successful.

If you are looking for other correct examples of opinion writing texts without having to write them all yourself, check out my opinion writing reading comprehension texts below. This is a great way to also get a reading mark during this unit!

Are your students having diffculty with their reading comprehension? Check out this post here about how to improve your students’ reading comprehension skills! When teaching the body of the text, I like to introduce the “OREO” method to students. This assists them with writing a detailed body paragraph. This method allows students to formulate their opinion, provide reasons to support their opinion, and provide examples of those reasons. Introducing this to students has allowed their writing to become significantly stronger.

Using the vocabulary list that we talked about in step one, I will also allow students to discuss which vocabulary words would work best for each part of the text. For example, I may ask, “Which words can we find in the introduction of an opinion text? What about in the conclusion? Why?”

This allows students to think critically and apply their learning while also learning and incorporating new vocabulary.

Once students have learned about the structure of an opinion text, and before they can begin writing their own, students must understand the importance of this text and how they can apply this to their world.

3. Make Connections to the Real World

To underscore the importance of opinion writing, connect the lessons to real-world scenarios. This can be done throughout your lessons, and continued afterwards. Discuss how expressing opinions is prevalent in everyday life, from making choices in consumerism to participating in civic engagement. Highlighting relevance motivates students and emphasizes the practical applications of their writing skills. One way that I like to do this is through a debate.

Once students have learned the necessary vocabulary and the etiquette around expressing opinions, you can organize a debate in your classroom! This was always a highlight of this unit when I taught it. I first provide the topic. It could be a simple questions such as “should the school make recess ten minutes longer?” I then like to split the class into two or four teams, depending on the amount of students. One side is “for” and one is “against” (assigned by me). I then give students a period to plan their arguments and rebuttals. Next, I provide them with cutesy nametags that show whether they are for or against the argument. I also make notes and mark students on their speaking, collaboration, arguments and effort. Students not only get to work with their peers and speak French, but they have a great time implementing what they have learned in a real-life scenario that they can relate to.

By linking opinion writing to real-world scenarios, students not only grasp the practical applications of expressing their thoughts but also understand the impact their opinions can have on the world around them.

This connection bridges the gap between the classroom and the outside world, making the learning experience more engaging and relatable. French immersion students, already navigating a bilingual environment, benefit from understanding how expressing opinions in both languages is a powerful tool. They learn that their perspectives matter, fostering a sense of agency and responsibility.

4. Give students choice

Now that students have learned how and why to write an opinion text, it is their turn to write their own! Foster enthusiasm by allowing students to choose their argument or topic. I like to provide a list of ideas and allow students to choose one. But, depending on the age and writing ability of your students, you can also allow them to choose their own topic completely.  By giving them autonomy, you tap into their interests and passions, making the writing experience more enjoyable and meaningful. Encourage brainstorming sessions, helping students identify arguments that resonate with them personally. Here are a just a few examples of topics that students may be interested in:

• Are video games harmful or helpful?
• Should everyone have a pet?
• Should uniforms be mandatory in schools?
• Should junk food be banned in schools?
• Which is better for storytelling? Books or movies?
• Should students be allowed to have cellphones in school?
• Should students have homework every night?

5. Revise, Edit, and Publish

Once students have written their opinion text, the final steps involve refining their work. Guide students through the revision and editing process, emphasizing clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness. Go over the success criteria with students. Review what makes their text strong. Encourage peer reviews to cultivate a collaborative learning environment. Once revisions are complete, celebrate their accomplishments by providing opportunities for publication, whether it be in a class booklet, on a bulletin board, or through a digital platform.

Incorporating opinion writing into your long range plan can be both enlightening and empowering for students. By following these five steps, you can guide your students through a journey of self-expression, critical thinking, and effective communication. Remember, each step contributes to the overall growth of young writers, equipping them with skills that extend far beyond the classroom! Good luck.

If you like these simple steps of planning an opinion writing unit, but don’t want to plan out each lesson, you’ve come to the right place! Check out this complete French Opinion Writing Unit, perfect for Junior French Immersion teachers with 10+ days of lessons planned for you: