Week 5 · Unit 2 Communication with Family and Friends (B): a story chapter (reference only), research / courage / talent / proposal / determination, a conversation about a misunderstanding, friendly phrases and role-play, an opinion paragraph on staying close, Assessment Corner, Self-Reflection · 3 lessons
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Staying close: an opinion paragraph and check-up
English Preparatory 3 Term 1, Unit 2: pp. 34–40
GoalPlan and write an opinion paragraph of 60 to 80 words with five parts, using the third conditional once, then check what you can do.
New words
opinion · what you think or believe about somethingintroduction · the first sentence, which gives your opinionguilty · sad because you know you did something wrongaccept · to agree to take something, such as an apologylesson learned · what you understand now that you did not know beforeclosing · the last sentence, which finishes the paragraph
Explanation
An opinion paragraph tells the reader what you think and why. Use five parts. 1. Introduction: say your opinion (I believe that …). 2. What happened: tell one real event briefly. 3. Feelings: say how people felt and why. 4. Lesson learned: say what you understand now; a third conditional sentence is perfect here (If I had asked, he would not have been upset). 5. Closing: finish with a short sentence that repeats your opinion. Use time words (last month, in the end) and linking words (because, so, but). Keep to one event, so that the paragraph stays clear. Write 60 to 80 words; if you can, write up to 110. Your book has an opinion paragraph on page 38; yours must be about a different event. After writing, check yourself with the can-do list in the examples.
Part
What it does
Example
Introduction
gives my opinion
I believe that talking early solves problems.
What happened
one real event
My brother and I argued about headphones.
Feelings
how people felt
He felt angry and I felt guilty.
Lesson learned
what I understand now
If I had asked, he would not have been upset.
Closing
a short ending
I now speak up quickly.
Worked examples
I believe that talking early solves most problems. Last month my brother and I argued because I used his headphones without asking. He felt angry and I felt guilty, so we did not speak for two days. If I had asked him first, he would not have been upset. In the end we talked, and he accepted my apology. I learned that a short honest conversation is better than a long silence. That is why I now speak up quickly.
Read the model paragraph. A grown-up can read it aloud first.
Find the parts. The introduction starts with I believe. The feelings are in the sentence with angry and guilty. The lesson learned is the sentence that starts with I learned.
Third conditional in the paragraph: If I had asked him first, he would not have been upset. It shows what the writer did not do, and the result that did not happen.
Check-up in your own words: I can read a text and find its main idea. I can use research, courage and determination in sentences. I can fix a misunderstanding in a calm talk. I can use the third conditional for regrets. I can write an opinion paragraph in five parts.
Class activity
Write your paragraph on one of these opinions: “Friends should talk about problems quickly” or “It is important to keep in touch with family who live far away”. Use the five parts, one third conditional sentence and two linking words. Count your words (60 to 80). Read it to a grown-up and ask which part is the clearest.
Practice
1
Choose the best introduction for an opinion paragraph on keeping in touch. (a) I believe that keeping in touch makes friendships stronger. (b) Yesterday I went to the market. (c) Thank you for reading.
(a). It gives an opinion in the first sentence.
2
Choose: If I had asked for help, I ___ finished on time. (would have / will have / had)
would have. The result part of the third conditional uses would have + participle.
3
Put the parts in order: (a) closing (b) lesson learned (c) introduction (d) feelings (e) what happened
c, e, d, b, a.
4
Complete: She did not say sorry, so I felt ___ . (angry / guilty)
angry. The person who did the wrong thing feels guilty; the other person feels angry.
5
Write one lesson-learned sentence with the third conditional about a time you did not ask for help.
For example: If I had asked for help, I would have finished the work on time.
