5th grade opinion essay samples

Student Writing Samples | Opinion Writing

Opinion Writing- Grade 5 - Autumn

Read Time 3 mins | Dec 8, 2021 4:49:12 PM | Written by: Toolbox

Informational/Opinion Writing Grade 5 Sample Autumn

Feedback for Improvement

Topic: Autumn - my favorite season Main Reason#1: changes in nature Main Reason #2: animals prepare  Main Reason #3: weather changes

What worked:

• Organization:   This piece includes an introduction, three main reasons and a conclusion. The student clearly understands the organization and author’s purpose of informational/opinion writing.
• Main Ideas: There are three main reasons, however, the nature of the main reasons is overlapping. See the prescriptive lessons below for additional commentary.
• Elaboration: There is some evidence of the detail generating questions. In paragraph two the author writes, “The leaves change slowly to red, orange, and yellow. This gives people the chance to gaze at this beautiful scenery for a little over two months.” There are additional sentences that are descriptive in nature, however they are extraneous from the main reason. In some instances, the descriptive detail does not go on to include “Why is it important?” so it reads like a description for the sake of description.
• Sentence Variety/Word Choice: The student uses interesting sentences. For example, “Therefore autumn offers us a large assortment of positive changes.” Another example, “Thus animals once again are ready for survival!”

Feedback with Prescriptive Lesson:

CHOOSE a Focus Skill: What skill will make the biggest impact for this writer?

Broad Yet Distinct Main Ideas/Reasons:  This piece of writing displayed some overlapping of main reasons. This student would benefit from a deep dive into this skill. When looking at the details that support each main reason, the reader can easily see that there are details that could fit into any one of these main reasons. For example, in the first main reason paragraph the author writes, “Many birds except for crows fly south where it’s a bit warmer in early October.” This detail could easily fit into the paragraph all about how animals prepare. Another example of the overlapping nature of the main reasons is in main reason three where the student writes, “The days get darker and darker as the earth rotates further and further away from the sun.” This detail is really about changes in nature. Because of this overlapping nature, the reader is left to wonder what this piece is really all about. 

All lessons in this section need to be taught with an emphasis on Lesson 3 Pick, List, and Choose. The importance of choosing broad yet distinct main ideas/reasons affects every other part of the writing. Once you’ve established a number of main ideas/reasons through the pick, list, choose process, then it’s imperative that you look at those that could potentially overlap and make sure students choose main ideas/reasons that are distinct from one another. 

• Section 2 Lesson 3: Pick, List, and Choose
• Section 2 Lesson 5: Main Ideas - Don't Overlap Them!
• Section 2 Lesson 6: Main Ideas/Reasons - Broad or Too Narrow?

This student obviously understands the structure of informational/opinion writing but needs direct instruction in choosing main ideas/reasons that are distinct. The fact that there is some powerful word choice, interesting description, and sentence variety is overshadowed by the overlapping nature of the main ideas/reasons.

Recommended Resources

• Empowering Writer's Methodology
• Informational & Opinion Writing Guide for Grade 5

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Opinion writing prompts for grade 5

Opinionated writing practice.

These prompts give students practice in writing opinion essays . The emphasis is on providing reasons and evidence in a structured manner to back up the opinions that you put forward.

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Elementary Assessments

61 Awesome Opinion Writing Prompts for 5th Grade Students

Empower fifth graders to embrace their opinions, preferences, and beliefs using these exciting opinion writing prompts for 5th grade students.

In the process, these opinion writing prompts for 5th grade will activate critical thinking and sharpen writing skills.

Additionally, these fifth grade opinion writing prompts help students to challenge their beliefs, analyze ideas, and possess a growth mindset.

So pencil into your writer’s workshop plans this week a few of these opinion writing prompts for 5th grade students.

Opinion Writing Prompts for 5th Grade Students

Nurture students in sharing their thinking using these opinion writing prompts for 5th grade.

1. In your opinion, should distance learning be the primary way to learn with in-person school only an option?

2. Do you think it’s important for individuals to learn a second language? Why or why not?

3. Pretend that the school has to cut one program. Should it keep art or music class? Share your opinion.

4. In your opinion, what’s the best board game? What makes you think so?

5. What is your opinion about school extending into the summer? For or against? Share your opinion.

6. Are school uniforms beneficial to student learning? Share your thoughts.

7. In your opinion, is it better to be too hot or too cold? Explain your thinking.

8. What place, in your opinion, is the best vacation destination to visit? What makes you think so?

9. If the government decided to ban all sports with the exception of one, which sport should remain and why?

10. What is your opinion about traditional books versus audiobooks? Which is better for learning?

11. In your opinion, should virtual learning be offered to all students from now on? Or do you believe that every student should be learning in a classroom at school. Why?

12. Do you prefer to sit-in on parent-teacher conferences? Share your opinion.

13. Is it wise to mandate all fifth graders to write their assignments in cursive? Why or why not?

14. Should standardized tests be required in schools? Why or why not?

15. Which do you prefer: tap or bottled water? Explain why one is the better choice.

16. Should shoppers be required to bring their own grocery bags?

17. Is it better to be really smart or very kind? Explain your opinion.

18. How do you feel about families growing and raising their own food? What’s your opinion about doing this?

19. Are there really any good reasons to give homework every day? Share your opinion.

20. In your opinion, should the school day be shorter? Why or why not?

21. Do you believe that fifth graders are responsible enough to use cell phones during class time? Why or why not?

22. What are your thoughts on smoking? Should it be illegal? Why or why not?

23. Should schools have an A, B, C, D, or F grading system or simply Pass/Fail? Share your thoughts.

24. Do you feel that everyone should donate money to a charity at least once a year? Why or why not?

25. What makes a good friend?

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26. In your opinion, should sports be segregated by gender? Why or why not?

27. What are the pros and cons of being a young child versus a teenager?

28. Should children be allowed to watch scary or violent movies? Why or why not?

29. Which school subject, in your opinion, will be most useful to you when you grow up? Why?

30. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge of being a boy or a girl?

31. Which Disney movie is the most entertaining? Why do you think so?

32. Who has the harder job: your teacher or the principal? Why do you think this?

33. Which specials’ class do you prefer and why?

34. What is one gift that you believe anybody would be happy to receive?

35. Should homework be given to students who are performing exceptionally well in fifth grade? Why or why not?

36. Is it possible that one’s opinion can change over time? If so, how do opinions change?

37. In your opinion, is college a necessary next step after graduating from high school?

38. What type of pets are best for children who are allergic to fur?

39. Do you feel that homework actually helps you learn more or is it just another frustrating task?

40. How does responding to opinion writing prompts for 5th grade improve writing skills?

41. Is family more important than friendships? Why or why not?

42. What role do you think robots will play in the future?

43. What is one technological advancement that you think the world would be better without and why?

44. In your opinion, what are 10 places in the world that you think everyone should visit? Why do you choose these places?

45. Is it fair to keep animals caged in zoos? Why do you feel the way you do?

46. What is the most interesting book you have ever read, and what made it so?

47. Do you think owners should be able to bring their pets to restaurants? Why or why not?

48. Convince the principal to give your class first place in a holiday door-decorating contest.

49. Do you prefer the book or movie version of a story? Why?

50. Should individuals stay away from people who are negative all the time? Why or why not?

51. Is it always necessary to tell someone the truth even if you know doing so will hurt the person’s feelings? Explain your thinking.

52. Would you rather be the star athlete or the student with the highest grades? Explain.

53. What are some things about your school that need to change?

54. If your school was going to invite a famous person to give a presentation to students, who should be invited and why?

55. What makes your favorite sports team better than others?

56. In your opinion, should sports in schools have winners and losers, or should every student receive a participation award?

57. Should recess be extended on Fridays? Why or why not?

58. What type of activities would make classroom lessons more engaging?

59. Should the school day be shorter? Why or why not?

60. Should households be required to recycle? Why or why not?

61. In your opinion, what’s the best way to study for a test?

Final Thoughts: Opinion Writing Prompts for 5th Grade

Now you have a quality collection of opinion writing prompts for 5th grade to use for various writing activities.

Download lined paper to use with opinion writing prompts for 5th grade .

See narrative writing prompts for 5th grade .