Opinion
Essays

Opinion writing asks students to take a clear, defensible position on a subject and support it with reasoning and evidence. It appears across disciplines — English composition, history, political science, business, and professional studies — precisely because the ability to form and articulate a considered judgment is a foundational academic skill. What makes opinion-driven writing intellectually demanding is the requirement to move beyond personal preference and engage seriously with competing perspectives, contextual facts, and the implications of one's own claims.

The papers archived under this topic reflect a wide range of approaches and subject matter. Some take an explicitly evaluative stance, such as ranking historical figures or assessing the significance of events like the Russian Civil War. Others embed opinion within analytical frameworks, examining organizational change, strategic implications of incidents like the BP Deepwater Horizon accident, or labor law cases such as International Union UAW v Johnson Controls Inc. Still others blend personal reflection with professional or civic argument, as in essays on the meaning of military service or responses to historical documents like Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson.

A strong opinion essay begins with a thesis that is specific and arguable rather than broadly descriptive. Evidence carries the most weight when it is concrete — drawn from primary sources, documented cases, or credible data — and directly tied to the central claim. Writers should ensure their reasoning addresses counterarguments rather than ignoring them, since acknowledging opposing views strengthens rather than weakens a position. The most common pitfall is confusing a topic with a thesis: identifying an issue is only the starting point, and the essay must commit to a clear judgment about it.