Module 03 —An Article With a Clear Opinion
Writing Part 2 (article) · modals for opinion · paragraph planning
PET parts in this lesson · mixed-skill spiral
Why this lesson now? Second pass at Writing 2 article, this time planned and timed.
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Get ready · 01
5 minGet talking
Tell your partner one opinion and one fact about smartphones. Which was easier to say confidently?
'Schools should ban mobile phones.' Do you agree? Give one reason.
What makes a magazine article different from a formal essay? Think about tone and headings.
Grammar for the Exam · 02
8–10 minModals for opinion: should, ought to, might (PET Writing Part 2 article)
Use 'should/shouldn't' for strong opinions, 'might' for softer suggestions, and 'ought to' as a formal alternative to 'should'.
In a PET Writing Part 2 article, you often need to give a clear personal opinion and back it up with reasons. Modal verbs are one of the clearest ways to do this. 'Should' and 'shouldn't' express strong opinions about what is right or wrong; 'ought to' is a slightly more formal way of saying the same thing; 'might' softens a suggestion when you're less certain. Using a mix of these, rather than repeating 'I think' every sentence, makes your article sound more natural and varied, which examiners reward.
→ In my opinion, schools should offer more sports clubs after lessons.
→ Parents ought to talk to their children about screen time rather than simply banning phones.
→ We might consider a compromise, such as allowing phones only at lunchtime.
Question 1.Which modal expresses the strongest opinion?
Question 2.'Parents ____ to explain their reasons, not just say no.' (formal alternative to should)
Question 3.Which sentence gives a softer, less certain suggestion?
Question 4.'In my opinion, students ____ have more say in school decisions.'
Question 5.Which is correct?
Quick check 1.In a PET article, is it good style to repeat 'I think' every sentence?
Exam Vocabulary · 03
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
used to introduce a personal view
Start a sentence about homework with 'In my opinion...'
used to give your own individual opinion
Use 'personally' to give your view on school uniforms.
a way of introducing an opinion less directly
Use this phrase to give your opinion about social media.
after considering everything, overall
Use 'on balance' to sum up your opinion on a topic of your choice.
an increasing amount of (people, things)
Complete: 'A growing number of teenagers...'
to make someone believe something
What would convince you to try a new hobby?
to give a short conclusion
Use 'to sum up' to finish an opinion about your favourite subject.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Activation · Personalise · Recycle
Practise using article-opinion vocabulary before planning your own article.
Ask your partner
- Personally, what's your opinion of school trips?
- What's a clear benefit of doing sport at school?
- What would convince your school to add a new club?
"On balance, I think homework is..."on balance
Do you think a growing number of students prefer online learning to classroom learning? Why?
Give your answer + one reason.
Write 40 words giving your opinion on whether homework should be reduced, using all three phrases.
Pronunciation for Speaking · 04
3–4 minStress in opinion phrases
Stress the key opinion word: 'in my OPinion', 'PERsonally', 'on BALance'.
- • In my opinion, it's a great idea.
- • Personally, I disagree.
- • On balance, I'd say it's worth it.
- • To sum up, changes are needed.
Reading Skills · 05
8–10 minReading Part 3 — should teenagers have part-time jobs?
A growing number of teenagers in many countries now take on part-time jobs while still at school, and opinion on whether this is a good idea remains divided.
Supporters argue that a part-time job teaches responsibility in a way that school simply cannot. Handling money, turning up on time, and dealing with difficult customers all build skills that, in my view, are just as valuable as anything learned in a classroom. There's also a clear benefit for confidence: teenagers who earn their own money often report feeling more independent and capable.
However, critics point out that schoolwork should always come first, and a demanding part-time job can leave little time or energy for homework and revision. Some teachers I've spoken to say they can immediately tell which students are working too many hours, because their grades begin to slip and they seem constantly tired in lessons.
On balance, it seems to me that part-time work can be beneficial, but only in moderation. A few hours a week, at a job the student can manage alongside school, is very different from a job that takes over their life. Parents and schools ought to work together to make sure young people don't take on more than they can handle. To sum up, the key isn't whether teenagers should work, but how much.
Question 1.What does the writer say is happening with teenage part-time jobs?
Question 2.According to supporters, what does a part-time job teach that school cannot?
Question 3.What do critics say should always come first?
Question 4.How can teachers tell a student is working too many hours, according to the text?
Question 5.What is the writer's overall conclusion?
Listening Skills · 06
8–10 minListening — planning an opinion article together
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Noah:So, we need to plan our article about part-time jobs for teenagers. What's your opening idea?
Grace:I was thinking we start with the fact that a growing number of students are working now.
Noah:Good idea. Then in the next paragraph we can give the arguments for it — like responsibility and confidence.
Grace:Right, and personally, I think we should mention the clear benefit of earning your own money too.
Noah:Agreed. Then a paragraph on the downsides — tiredness, grades slipping, less time for homework.
Grace:Exactly. And we ought to include a quote or example, like a teacher noticing tired students.
Noah:For the conclusion, on balance I think we should say a little work is fine, but not too much.
Grace:I agree. Let's finish with 'to sum up, it's about balance, not banning jobs completely.'
Noah:Perfect. Should we use 'should' or 'might' for the main opinion sentence?
Grace:I'd say 'should' — it's a clear opinion article, so we need to sound confident.
Question 1.What topic is the article about?
Question 2.What does Grace suggest starting the article with?
Question 3.What downside do they plan to mention?
Question 4.What do they plan to include as evidence?
Question 5.What is their planned conclusion?
Question 6.Which modal do they decide to use for the main opinion sentence?
Exam Strategy · 07
5 minWriting Part 2 — article with a clear opinion
Plan: introduce topic + opinion → reasons/examples → balanced view → clear conclusion.
Task
You write an article for a magazine or website expressing and supporting your opinion on a given topic, usually 100 words.
Example
Opening: 'A growing number of teenagers now have part-time jobs.' Middle: reasons for and against. Conclusion: 'To sum up, a little work can be positive, but schoolwork should always come first.'
Writing Task · 08
5 minPut it in writing
Q1.Give a phrase meaning 'after considering everything', starting with 'On...'
Q2.Give the formal alternative to 'should', starting with 'ought...'
Write an article (about 100 words) for your school website giving your opinion on the question: 'Should students be allowed to use phones during breaktime?' Use at least two modals for opinion and a clear opening, middle and conclusion.
Your writing draft
0 words SavedShow model answer & examiner comment
A growing number of schools are debating whether students should use phones at breaktime. Personally, I think a limited amount should be allowed. Phones let students contact parents and relax between lessons, which is a clear benefit. However, some students spend the whole break staring at screens instead of talking to friends, which seems a shame. On balance, schools ought to allow phones for short periods, but encourage other activities too. To sum up, a sensible balance works better than a total ban.
Examiner comment
| 5 | All content points covered; consistent style; range of structures; minor errors only. |
| 3 | Content mostly covered; mostly suitable style; some range; errors don't stop the reader understanding. |
| 1 | Limited content; intrusive errors; very basic structures; under-length. |
Speaking Task · 09
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
In pairs, discuss your opinion on the article topic before writing, using opinion modals and phrases.
Examiner
"Now, talk together about whether students should be allowed phones during breaktime."
Talk together about
Should students be allowed to use phones during breaktime?
Share opinions, agree and disagree — you do not have to talk only about yourself.
Ideas you could discuss
- The benefits of staying connected
- The downsides of screen time
- A possible compromise
Round off the discussion
Together, agree on one sentence that could open a balanced article on this topic.
Useful discussion language
Useful phrases
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Use these if the writing planning finishes early. ~14 min total
Homework · 10
Take-homeTake it home
Self-study — everything you need is included below. All four skills are covered so you keep the spiral going between lessons; pick the order that suits you.
Plan and write a 100-word article giving your opinion on a topic of your choice, using the paragraph structure from this lesson.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Topic choices
Structure reminder
Complete the gap-fill sentences with opinion vocabulary, then write one original sentence for each.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Gaps
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Listening recycle: read the Noah and Grace planning script aloud twice, then answer the quiz questions from memory.
Your response
0 words SavedMaterials included
Questions
Attempt the task first, then check your answers.
Recap · 11
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- Plan your Writing Part 2 article: opening (topic + opinion), middle (reasons + balance), conclusion (sum up).
- Use modals for opinion: 'should/shouldn't' for strong views, 'ought to' as a formal alternative, 'might' for softer suggestions.
- Vary your opinion language: 'in my opinion', 'personally', 'on balance', 'to sum up' — don't repeat 'I think' every sentence.
- A balanced article that considers both sides, then reaches a clear conclusion, scores better than a one-sided rant.