The OREO strategy helps students organize opinion writing so each paragraph has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. OREO stands for Opinion, Reason, Evidence or Example, and Opinion restated. This cheat sheet gives students a simple memory aid for planning strong opinion paragraphs and essays.
It is especially useful when students need to explain their thinking clearly and support it with details.
Key Facts
- OREO stands for Opinion, Reason, Evidence or Example, and Opinion restated.
- The first O in OREO is the opinion statement, which tells what you believe or think about the topic.
- The R in OREO is the reason, which explains why you believe your opinion is correct.
- The E in OREO is evidence or an example, which gives a fact, detail, quote, or real situation that supports the reason.
- The final O in OREO is the opinion restated, which repeats the main opinion in a fresh way to end the paragraph.
- A strong sentence frame for starting an opinion is I believe ___ because ___.
- A strong sentence frame for giving evidence is For example, ___ shows that ___.
- A strong conclusion sentence should connect back to the opinion without copying the first sentence word for word.
Vocabulary
- Opinion
- An opinion is what a writer thinks, believes, or feels about a topic.
- Reason
- A reason is an explanation that tells why the writer has an opinion.
- Evidence
- Evidence is a fact, detail, quote, or example that supports a reason.
- Example
- An example is a specific situation or detail that helps explain and prove an idea.
- Conclusion
- A conclusion is the ending that wraps up the paragraph and restates the opinion.
- Sentence Frame
- A sentence frame is a starter sentence that helps a writer organize an idea clearly.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Writing only an opinion is wrong because the reader needs reasons and evidence to understand why the opinion makes sense.
- Using weak reasons is wrong because statements like It is fun or It is good do not explain the opinion clearly enough.
- Forgetting evidence is wrong because a reason becomes stronger when it is supported by a fact, detail, or example.
- Repeating the exact same sentence at the end is weak because the final opinion should restate the idea in a fresh way.
- Adding unrelated details is wrong because every reason and example should connect directly to the opinion.
Practice Questions
- 1 Write one OREO paragraph answering this prompt: Should students have extra recess every day?
- 2 Label each part of this paragraph as O, R, E, or O: I believe every classroom should have a reading corner. A quiet reading space helps students focus. For example, students can choose books and read without distractions. That is why a reading corner would make our classroom better.
- 3 Use the frame I believe ___ because ___ to write an opinion sentence about whether homework should be shorter.
- 4 A student writes, Dogs are the best pets. They are nice. Dogs are the best pets. What part of OREO is missing or too weak, and how could the student improve it?
Understanding How to structure opinion writing (OREO) Memory Aid
Opinion writing is more than stating a personal preference. A reader needs to understand your position and see why it makes sense. Start by making your claim specific.
Weak claims are hard to support because they are too broad. Saying that school is good gives a writer few clear directions. Saying that schools should offer more time for recess gives the writer a focused idea to explain.
A focused claim helps you choose useful reasons. It also keeps the paragraph from wandering into unrelated details.
When planning, write the topic in the center of a page. Then list what you think, why you think it, and what information could prove each reason.
Reasons need to be different from evidence. A reason is your own logical point. Evidence is the material that makes that point believable.
For example, a writer might argue for later school start times because tired students struggle to learn. That is a reason. A report about student sleep, an observation from class, or an example of missing the bus could provide support.
The best evidence fits the reason closely. Random facts can sound impressive but do not strengthen an argument if they do not connect to the claim. Students should ask whether each detail helps prove the exact point they are making.
Explanation is often the missing part of a paragraph. Writers sometimes give an example and move straight to the ending. The reader then has to guess why the example matters.
After sharing evidence, explain the link in clear words. A student could say that a later start gives teenagers more time to sleep, which may help them focus during morning lessons. This sentence shows the chain of thinking.
Evidence supports the reason, then the reason supports the opinion. Signal words such as because, this shows, as a result, and therefore can make these links easier for readers to follow. Use them carefully so the writing still sounds natural.
This structure is useful beyond language arts assignments. Students use it when writing a letter to a principal, reviewing a book, asking for a rule change, or speaking during a class discussion. It teaches a fair habit of mind.
Strong opinion writers do not pretend that a feeling alone settles an issue. They give readers something they can check and consider. During revision, read each paragraph slowly.
Check that the claim is clear, each reason matches it, and each example is relevant. Replace repeated words with more precise language.
End by returning to the main point in a new sentence. A conclusion should leave the reader with the writer's strongest idea, not introduce a completely new one.