📚 Detailed Explanation of Choosing Reasons to Support an Opinion
When you are asked to choose reasons to support an opinion, it means you need to explain why you think something is true or important. In Year 6 English, especially following the National Curriculum, this skill is about picking strong and relevant reasons that help make your opinion clear and convincing to others.
🧐 What Does It Mean to Choose Reasons to Support an Opinion?
Choosing reasons means deciding which facts, ideas, or examples best explain why you believe what you do. These reasons are like the building blocks of your argument. If your reasons are strong and connected to your opinion, your writing or speaking will be more persuasive.
For example, if your opinion is “Homework is useful,” you might choose reasons like:
- It helps you remember what you learned in class.
- It gives you practice to improve your skills.
- It prepares you for tests.
💪 Why Select Strong and Relevant Reasons?
Strong reasons make your opinion believable because they are backed up by facts or real examples. Relevant reasons are connected directly to your opinion. If you include reasons that don’t relate to your opinion, your argument may seem confusing or weak.
For instance, if you say “Homework is useful” but your reason is “It gives children less free time,” this reason doesn’t support your opinion because it actually sounds like a negative point.
✅ Tips for Choosing Reasons in Key Stage 2 English
- Think Carefully About Your Opinion: Before choosing reasons, be sure you understand your opinion and what you want to say.
- Use Clear and Specific Reasons: Avoid vague reasons like “because it’s good.” Instead, say exactly why you think it’s good.
- Support Reasons with Examples or Evidence: This could be facts you know, something you have experienced, or something you have read.
- Check Relevance: Make sure each reason clearly relates to your opinion and helps explain it.
- Order Your Reasons: Put your strongest reasons first or last to make the biggest impact.
🎓 Example for Year 6 Students
Opinion: “School uniforms should be compulsory.”
Reasons:
- They create a sense of belonging and equality among students.
- Uniforms save time in the morning because you don’t need to decide what to wear.
- They can help prevent bullying related to clothes.
These reasons all support the opinion clearly and help persuade the reader or listener.
By choosing strong and relevant reasons, you can write or talk about your opinions clearly and confidently, which is an important part of Year 6 English and the National Curriculum for Key Stage 2.
📝 20 Examination-Style Questions with Answers on Choosing Reasons to Support an Opinion
Here are 20 exam-style questions designed for Year 6 students to practise choosing reasons to support an opinion, matching the Key Stage 2 English National Curriculum requirements. Each question includes a clear and detailed answer to help you understand how to support opinions with good reasons.
Question 1
Opinion: Dogs make better pets than cats.
Choose two reasons to support this opinion.
- a) Dogs can be trained to do tricks.
- b) Cats like to sleep a lot.
- c) Dogs can protect you.
- d) Cats are independent.
Answer: a) Dogs can be trained to do tricks.
c) Dogs can protect you.
Explanation: These reasons show positive actions dogs can do, which supports the opinion that they make better pets.
Question 2
Opinion: School uniforms are a good idea.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Uniforms stop bullying about clothes.
- b) Some children like to wear colourful clothes.
- c) Uniforms can be uncomfortable.
Answer: a) Uniforms stop bullying about clothes.
Explanation: This reason shows a benefit of school uniforms that supports the opinion.
Question 3
Opinion: Playing outside is better than playing video games.
Choose the best reason to support this opinion.
- a) Video games are fun.
- b) Playing outside keeps you healthy.
- c) Video games cost money.
Answer: b) Playing outside keeps you healthy.
Explanation: This reason explains a good benefit for playing outside, supporting the opinion.
Question 4
Opinion: Reading books is important.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Books help you learn new words.
- b) Watching TV is entertaining.
- c) Books are heavy to carry.
Answer: a) Books help you learn new words.
Explanation: Learning new words is a clear benefit, supporting the importance of reading books.
Question 5
Opinion: Everyone should recycle.
Choose the best reason to support this opinion.
- a) Recycling helps protect the environment.
- b) Recycling bins are hard to find.
- c) Recycling takes time.
Answer: a) Recycling helps protect the environment.
Explanation: Protecting the environment is an important reason to recycle.
Question 6
Opinion: Homework should be shorter.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Shorter homework helps students have more free time.
- b) Homework is boring.
- c) Teachers give homework every day.
Answer: a) Shorter homework helps students have more free time.
Explanation: More free time is a good reason that supports the opinion for shorter homework.
Question 7
Opinion: We should have more school trips.
Choose two reasons to support this opinion.
- a) School trips make learning fun.
- b) School trips cost money.
- c) Trips help you learn about new places.
- d) School trips take time away from lessons.
Answer: a) School trips make learning fun.
c) Trips help you learn about new places.
Explanation: Both reasons show positive effects of school trips.
Question 8
Opinion: Everyone should learn to swim.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Swimming can save lives.
- b) Swimming pools are cold.
- c) Swimming takes practice.
Answer: a) Swimming can save lives.
Explanation: This is a strong positive reason supporting learning to swim.
Question 9
Opinion: People should use less plastic.
Choose the best reason to support this opinion.
- a) Plastic can harm animals.
- b) Plastic lasts a long time.
- c) Plastic is useful.
Answer: a) Plastic can harm animals.
Explanation: Protecting animals is a good reason to reduce plastic use.
Question 10
Opinion: It’s better to travel by bike than by car.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Bikes help you exercise.
- b) Cars are faster.
- c) Bikes cost money.
Answer: a) Bikes help you exercise.
Explanation: Exercise is a health benefit supporting bike travel.
Question 11
Opinion: Every school should have a garden.
Choose two reasons to support this opinion.
- a) Gardens teach students about plants.
- b) Gardening takes time and effort.
- c) Gardens provide a calm place to relax.
- d) Gardens need watering.
Answer: a) Gardens teach students about plants.
c) Gardens provide a calm place to relax.
Explanation: Both reasons show educational and wellbeing benefits.
Question 12
Opinion: Watching TV every day is not good.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Watching TV can stop you from being active.
- b) TV shows are fun.
- c) TV helps you learn news.
Answer: a) Watching TV can stop you from being active.
Explanation: Lack of activity is a negative effect supporting the opinion.
Question 13
Opinion: Eating breakfast is important.
Choose the best reason to support this opinion.
- a) Breakfast gives you energy for the day.
- b) Breakfast takes time to prepare.
- c) Some people don’t like breakfast.
Answer: a) Breakfast gives you energy for the day.
Explanation: This reason explains why breakfast is important.
Question 14
Opinion: It’s better to use public transport than to drive.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Buses help reduce pollution.
- b) Cars are more comfortable.
- c) Public transport can be crowded.
Answer: a) Buses help reduce pollution.
Explanation: Reducing pollution supports using public transport.
Question 15
Opinion: Reading fiction books is better than non-fiction.
Choose the best reason to support this opinion.
- a) Fiction books spark your imagination.
- b) Non-fiction books have facts.
- c) Fiction books can be long.
Answer: a) Fiction books spark your imagination.
Explanation: Sparking imagination supports fiction reading.
Question 16
Opinion: Children should have less screen time.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Too much screen time can harm your eyes.
- b) Screens are fun to use.
- c) Screen time helps with learning.
Answer: a) Too much screen time can harm your eyes.
Explanation: This shows why less screen time is better.
Question 17
Opinion: Sports days should happen every term.
Choose two reasons to support this opinion.
- a) Sports days help students stay fit.
- b) Some students don’t like sports.
- c) Sports days are fun for everyone.
- d) Sports days take time from lessons.
Answer: a) Sports days help students stay fit.
c) Sports days are fun for everyone.
Explanation: Both reasons support more frequent sports days.
Question 18
Opinion: Homework should include more creative tasks.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Creative tasks help you think in new ways.
- b) Creative tasks are harder to do.
- c) Some students don’t like creative work.
Answer: a) Creative tasks help you think in new ways.
Explanation: This reason supports why creative homework is good.
Question 19
Opinion: School lunches should be healthier.
Choose the best reason to support this opinion.
- a) Healthy lunches help students concentrate better.
- b) Healthy foods can be expensive.
- c) Some students prefer sweet snacks.
Answer: a) Healthy lunches help students concentrate better.
Explanation: Better concentration is a good reason for healthy lunches.
Question 20
Opinion: Computers should be used more in school.
Which reason supports this opinion?
- a) Computers help with research and learning new skills.
- b) Computers can break down.
- c) Not everyone knows how to use a computer.
Answer: a) Computers help with research and learning new skills.
Explanation: This reason shows the benefit of using computers in school.
These questions and answers help you understand how to choose clear and strong reasons to support opinions, just like in your Year 6 English assessments. Remember to always look for reasons that explain why the opinion is true or important!
