In this post we are discussing opinion writing and how to move beyond the classic Oreo strategy. While it's a great way to structure student writing, you'll need more when it comes to more depth and variety in their writing.
Why Go Beyond OREO?
The opinion writing Oreo strategy (Opinion, Reason, Example, Opinion restated) is helpful for introducing a structure to opinion writing. It shows students how to supply a reason for their opinion. This is great but if we use this strategy each time we write an opinion piece, all of our students writing starts to feel formulaic.
When we are just using a template to teach writing, then we will be reading writing that lacks voice, originality, and creativity. We want to show students how to write for different purposes and audiences and that's hard to do when using a set template.
Here are some ways we can level up student's opinion writing:
Introduce Different Ways to Support an Opinion
OREO encourages students to provide a reason and an example, but we can teach them that opinions can be supported in many ways. For example:
- Facts or Statistics: If a student thinks recess is the most important part of the day, they could find research or facts about how recess helps kids learn better.
- Comparisons: Teach them to explain how their choice is better than another option. For instance, if they believe cats are better than dogs, they can compare the benefits of each.
- Personal Experience: Encourage them to tell a story that supports their opinion. If their favorite snack is pizza, they can describe a time when eating pizza made a special day even better.
By offering different types of evidence, you’re helping your students think critically about how to back up their opinions.
Emphasize Audience Awareness
Sometimes, students write an opinion piece without thinking about who’s reading it. Encourage them to consider their audience. Ask:
- Who are you writing for?
- Why would your audience care about your opinion?
For example, if they’re writing about why they think video games should be allowed in school, they might write differently for a classmate versus their principal. Teaching students to tailor their tone and evidence to their audience is a great way to deepen their writing.
A great way to teach students to consider their audience is to use RAFT when they start writing. Students simply write RAFT down the top of their page and complete each letter.
R - Role
A - Audience
F - Format
T - Topic
Teach Transitions for Persuasion
Another way to go beyond OREO is to help students use more advanced transitions to connect their ideas. Instead of just saying “because” or “for example,” introduce phrases like:
- “In addition to that...”
- “Another reason is...”
- “Some people might disagree, but…”
These transitions make their writing flow more naturally and help them sound more persuasive. It’s also a great opportunity to teach how to address conflicting opinions, which adds depth to their reasoning.
Encourage Creativity with different products
Opinion writing doesn’t always have to look like a traditional essay. Let your students experiment with different formats, like:
- Writing a letter to convince someone.
- Creating a poster with visuals and captions to support their opinion.
- Crafting a short speech and delivering it to the class.
- Writing a book review
These creative options keep students engaged and show them that opinion writing can take many forms.
Incorporate Mentor Texts
Mentor texts are such a powerful tool. Share opinion pieces written for kids, like book reviews or articles from a children’s magazine.
Read them together and discuss:
- How does the writer state their opinion?
- What kinds of evidence do they use?
- What makes the writing convincing or fun to read?
When students see real-world examples, they’ll start to understand how opinion writing applies outside the classroom—and they might even get inspired!
