OSSLT Writing an Opinion Piece 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which structure is MOST effective for organizing an OSSLT opinion piece?
- Conclusion, body paragraphs, introduction
- Introduction with thesis, supporting body paragraphs, conclusion (Correct answer)
- Evidence first, then the opinion statement at the end
- Alternating opinion and counterargument in every paragraph
Correct answer: Introduction with thesis, supporting body paragraphs, conclusion
A clear introduction with thesis, developed body paragraphs, and a conclusion is the standard and most effective structure.
Question 2: A student writes three body paragraphs, each starting with 'Another reason is…' What weakness does this show?
- The paragraphs are too long
- The student is using too many reasons
- The transitions are repetitive and lack variety (Correct answer)
- The student has not used enough evidence
Correct answer: The transitions are repetitive and lack variety
Repeating the same transitional phrase makes writing monotonous; varied transitions improve flow and scoring.
Question 3: When the OSSLT prompt says 'write to persuade,' the writer's PRIMARY goal is to:
- Entertain the reader with an interesting story
- Inform the reader about both sides of an issue equally
- Convince the reader to agree with a particular point of view (Correct answer)
- Describe a personal experience related to the topic
Correct answer: Convince the reader to agree with a particular point of view
Persuasive writing aims to influence the reader's beliefs or actions toward the writer's stated position.
Question 4: A student acknowledges the opposing view and then explains why their position is still stronger. This technique is called:
- Circular reasoning
- Addressing a counterargument (Correct answer)
- Anecdotal evidence
- Logical fallacy
Correct answer: Addressing a counterargument
Addressing a counterargument strengthens your opinion piece by showing you have considered other perspectives.
Question 5: Which of the following is an example of a WEAK argument in an opinion piece?
- 'Research from Health Canada indicates that daily exercise improves student concentration by 20%.'
- 'Everyone knows that homework is bad, so schools should ban it.' (Correct answer)
- 'Studies conducted in three Ontario school boards showed that extended recess reduced behavioural incidents.'
- 'According to the Ontario Ministry of Education, literacy rates improve with sustained reading programs.'
Correct answer: 'Everyone knows that homework is bad, so schools should ban it.'
'Everyone knows' is a logical fallacy (bandwagon/appeal to common belief) and does not constitute real evidence.
Question 6: In an OSSLT opinion piece, what does a high score for 'ideas' typically reflect?
- Perfect spelling and grammar throughout
- A clear position supported by relevant and developed reasons (Correct answer)
- The longest piece of writing submitted
- The use of the most persuasive vocabulary
Correct answer: A clear position supported by relevant and developed reasons
The 'ideas' score rewards a clear, focused opinion supported by well-developed and relevant arguments.
Question 7: Which revision BEST improves this sentence: 'Cellphones are bad and students shouldn't have them at school'?
- 'Cellphones are very bad and students really shouldn't have them at school.'
- 'The presence of cellphones in classrooms disrupts learning and should therefore be restricted during instructional time.' (Correct answer)
- 'Cellphones are bad, students shouldn't have them, and that's a fact.'
- 'I think cellphones are bad and shouldn't be at school because they're distracting.'
Correct answer: 'The presence of cellphones in classrooms disrupts learning and should therefore be restricted during instructional time.'
The revised sentence uses formal language, specifies the problem (disrupts learning), and provides reasoning.
OSSLT Writing an Opinion Piece 3
Which structure is MOST effective for organizing an OSSLT opinion piece?