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Opinions With Linking Words

A 40-minute Grade 2 lesson on writing an opinion piece with reasons joined by because, and and also.

Opinions With Linking Words is a free 40-minute Grade 2 English lesson plan for Common Core standard W.2.1 — write an opinion with reasons, joined by linking words, and a conclusion. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the meaning, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.

Grade:
Grade 2
Length:
40 minutes
Standard:
W.2.1

Grade 2 · Writing

W.2.1

Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.

Objective

Students will be able to write an opinion paragraph that introduces the topic, states an opinion, gives two reasons joined with because, and or also, and ends with a concluding sentence.

Students are successful when they can

  • Opens by naming the topic and stating an opinion: "I think every class should have a pet."
  • Gives two reasons, each a real reason rather than a repeat of the opinion.
  • Joins reasons with "because," "and" or "also."
  • Ends with a concluding sentence that restates the opinion: "That is why..."

What you need

  • Model paragraph "Every Class Needs a Pet" on chart paper (in the Teach section)
  • Linking word cards: because, and, also, another reason, that is why
  • Four colored pencils for color-coding the parts
  • The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan

The lesson

Warm-up — thumbs and reasons

5 min
  1. Ask: "Is pizza the best lunch?" Thumbs up or down. Ask one child for their opinion. Expect "Yes!"
  2. Ask: "Why?" Push for a reason: "Because it is warm and you can share it."
  3. Write the child's words with "because" circled: "Pizza is the best lunch because you can share it." Say that an opinion without a reason is just a thumb.
“An opinion is what you think. A reason is why you think it. The word "because" joins them together.”

Teach — the opinion sandwich

13 min
  1. Show the model paragraph: "Every Class Needs a Pet. Lots of schools do not have class pets. I think every class should have one. First, a pet teaches us to be responsible, because we have to feed it and clean its cage. Also, a pet makes the classroom calm and happy. That is why I think every class needs a pet."
  2. Color-code with the class. Green: the topic and opinion ("I think every class should have one"). Blue: reason one. Blue again: reason two. Green again: the conclusion.
  3. Circle the linking words: because, Also, That is why. Ask what each one does: "because" gives a reason, "also" adds another, "that is why" wraps up.
  4. Show a weak reason: "I think we should have a pet because pets are good." Ask: "Is that a reason, or the opinion again?" Fish for "it just says the same thing." A reason must tell us something new.
  5. Model writing a new opener live on the topic "Should lunch break be longer?": "Our lunch break is only thirty minutes. I think it should be longer." Ask the class for two reasons, choose the best two, and write them with "because" and "also."
  6. Finish with the class: "That is why I think lunch should be longer."
“Top bread: tell me what you think. Filling: two reasons, joined with because and also. Bottom bread: say it again to finish.”

Guided practice — build the filling

12 min
  1. Give pairs the topic "Should children be allowed to bring toys to school?" and a four-box planning strip: opinion, reason 1, reason 2, conclusion.
  2. Pairs fill the boxes in words, not sentences, e.g. "Yes / share at recess / learn to look after things / that is why."
  3. Then they turn the boxes into sentences using at least two linking word cards.
  4. Share two paragraphs. The class checks: is each reason new? Is there a linking word? Does the last sentence finish the piece?
“Check each reason: does it tell me something new, or just say "I like it" again?”

Independent practice

8 min
  1. Students complete the printable. One sheet gives an opinion question to write about with a checklist (introduce, opinion, two reasons, linking word, conclusion); the other asks them to finish sentences with the right linking word, such as because, also, but or so.
  2. Remind them to check off the checklist after writing, not before.

Close

2 min
  1. One child reads their paragraph aloud. The class names the opinion and the two reasons.

What goes wrong, and why

Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.

Gives the opinion as the reason: "I think pets are good because I like pets."

Why: To a seven-year-old, liking something IS the reason; they have not yet separated feeling from the cause of the feeling.

Fix: Ask "What is it about pets that you like?" until a new fact appears: "They are soft" or "they help us learn." Write that as the reason.

Lists reasons with no linking words: "Pets are fun. Pets are calm. I like pets."

Why: Each sentence is correct on its own, and they do not see that the reader needs to be told these are reasons for one opinion.

Fix: Hand them the linking word cards and ask them to glue two sentences together aloud: "Pets are fun, and also they make us calm."

Stops after the reasons with no conclusion, or ends with "The end."

Why: Stories end with "The end," and they carry that habit over; the idea of restating an opinion is new.

Fix: Give the frame "That is why I think ___." and point to the sandwich: without the bottom bread, the filling falls out.

If they are not there yet

  • Provide a frame: "I think ___. One reason is ___ because ___. Also, ___. That is why ___."
  • Let the child say their reasons aloud to an adult before writing them.
  • Limit to one reason and a conclusion, then add the second reason on another day.

If they finish early

  • Add a third reason with "Another reason is..." and order the reasons from strongest to weakest, explaining the order.
  • Write a sentence that answers someone who disagrees: "Some people think pets are messy, but..."
  • Write two short paragraphs on one topic, one for each side, then say which one is more convincing and why.

Exit ticket

Finish this opinion with two reasons and a conclusion: "I think we should have a class garden..."

What to look for: Two different reasons joined by because/also, then "That is why...". Reasons that repeat the opinion ("because gardens are good"): needs the "what is it about it?" question. Reasons but no linking word or conclusion: structure needs the sandwich again.

Printable practice for W.2.1

Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.

Questions about Opinions With Linking Words

How long does the Opinions With Linking Words lesson take?

40 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 5 min, teach 13 min, guided practice 12 min, independent practice 8 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.

Which standard does Opinions With Linking Words teach?

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.2.1 — W.2.1, Writing for Grade 2: “Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.” In plain terms, write an opinion with reasons, joined by linking words, and a conclusion.

What do I need to teach this lesson?

Model paragraph "Every Class Needs a Pet" on chart paper (in the Teach section), linking word cards: because, and, also, another reason, that is why, four colored pencils for color-coding the parts and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.

What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?

Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: gives the opinion as the reason: "I think pets are good because I like pets."; lists reasons with no linking words: "Pets are fun. Pets are calm. I like pets." and stops after the reasons with no conclusion, or ends with "The end.". The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.

How do I know whether the lesson worked?

The exit ticket asks: “Finish this opinion with two reasons and a conclusion: "I think we should have a class garden...".” Two different reasons joined by because/also, then "That is why...". Reasons that repeat the opinion ("because gardens are good"): needs the "what is it about it?" question. Reasons but no linking word or conclusion: structure needs the sandwich again. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.

Is there a worksheet to go with Opinions With Linking Words?

Yes — 1 printable W.2.1 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.

Is Opinions With Linking Words free to use?

Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on October 8, 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.

Last reviewed 2026-10-08. Aligned to W.2.1 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.