Understand
About this text typeWhat is opinion writing about a problem or challenge?
An opinion paragraph about a challenge states your view about why something is difficult, explains why it is a challenge, and may offer a solution or give advice.
Purpose. to express your view about a challenge and persuade the reader to take it seriously.
Key features
- Name the challenge clearly and state your opinion about it in the topic sentence.
- Use contrast linkers (although, however, despite) to show different sides of the issue.
- Support your opinion with at least two reasons or examples.
- End with advice, a solution, or a personal recommendation.
Remember — your paragraph has three parts
- Topic sentence. Name the challenge and state your opinion. Use I think / In my opinion, … is one of the biggest challenges…
- Body sentences. Give 2 reasons. Use because / As a result, / For example, / However,
- Concluding sentence. Give advice or a final thought. Use In conclusion, / To sum up,
Study
Grammar & vocabularyVocabulary bank
| Word / phrase | Meaning | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| challenge | something difficult that needs effort and courage to deal with | Time management is a major challenge for university students. |
| overcome | to succeed in dealing with a problem or difficulty | With support and planning, you can overcome most challenges. |
| stress | a feeling of worry, anxiety or mental pressure | Exam season causes a lot of stress for many students. |
| manage | to deal successfully with a difficult situation | It is very hard to manage a busy schedule without good planning. |
| pressure | a feeling of being forced to perform well or succeed | There is enormous pressure on students to achieve high grades. |
| affect | to have an impact on someone or something | Chronic stress can seriously affect your sleep and concentration. |
| solution | a way to fix or resolve a problem | A simple solution is to make a weekly to-do list every Monday. |
| balance | keeping different areas of life at the right level | It is vital to balance study, work, and personal time. |
Grammar because / Although / However / As a result,
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| … because + reason | Many students feel anxious because they have too much work. |
| Although + clause, … | Although the challenge is serious, they can overcome it with planning. |
| … However, … | University life is exciting. However, it can also be extremely stressful. |
| … As a result, … | Students do not sleep enough. As a result, they feel tired in class. |
Useful linking words Notice the example sentences — they show you exactly how to use each word.
| Linking word | When to use it | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|
| because | To explain the reason for something | Many students feel stressed because they have too much work. |
| Although | To show a contrast within one sentence | Although the challenge is serious, they can overcome it with planning. |
| However, | To introduce a contrasting idea in a new sentence | University is exciting. However, it is also very stressful. |
| As a result, | To show the consequence or effect of something | He did not sleep enough. As a result, he was tired all day. |
| In conclusion, | To summarise and end the paragraph | In conclusion, time management is a skill we must all learn. |
Extra practice · Part A Choose the best linking word or phrase for each sentence.
Part B Rewrite each pair of sentences using the linker in brackets. Keep the meaning the same.
Analyse
Sample paragraphRead the paragraph, then use the panel beside it to see how it is built. Click any row to light up that sentence.
The Challenge of Managing Time
In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges for young people today is managing their time well. Students have many competing demands every day — attending classes, completing assignments, preparing for exams, and spending time with friends. As a result, many of them feel constantly tired, stressed, and overwhelmed, which negatively affects both their academic performance and their mental health. For example, I often spend too much time on social media in the evenings, and then I do not have enough time to finish my assignments properly. This makes me feel anxious and unprepared the following morning. Although this challenge is very common, I believe students can solve it with a little organisation and self-discipline. Students can use simple but effective strategies such as making a to-do list at the start of each week, setting clear daily priorities, and limiting phone use during study time. In conclusion, time management is one of the most difficult but most important skills a student can develop, and everyone should try to practise it every single day.
Discussion Talk to your partner.
- What challenge does the writer describe? Do you personally face this challenge?
- What solution does the writer suggest? Do you think it is realistic and useful?
- Find the contrast linker Although in the paragraph. What two ideas does it connect?
Practise
Controlled exercisesExercise 1 Connect the two sentences using the word given. Write the new sentence.
Exercise 2 Read the paragraph. Which sentence does each job?
Peer Pressure
1 I believe that peer pressure is one of the biggest challenges for teenagers today. 2 When young people want to fit in with their friends, they sometimes make decisions that go against their own values. 3 For example, they might stay out too late or ignore their studies in order to seem popular. 4 This can seriously affect their school results and their well-being. 5 However, teenagers who have supportive families and good friends around them are much better able to resist pressure and make their own choices. 6 In conclusion, peer pressure is a serious and very real challenge, but with the right support, young people can learn to stay true to themselves.
Exercise 3 Using the same paragraph above, complete the table.
Write
Your own paragraphWhat is one challenge that young people face today? Write a paragraph of at least 130 words.
One paragraph · three parts · minimum 130 words.
My plan Notes first — then write.
Self-check Tick each box when you are sure.
0 of 5 checked.
My paragraph
Nothing is saved automatically. Copy or save your paragraph before you close this tab — only your own writing is saved, not the exercises.
Vocabulary review — Units 3 & 4
Covers both unitsPart A · Gap fill Complete each sentence with a word from the box. You will not need all the words.
Part B · Word formation Write the correct form of the word in brackets to complete each sentence.