OPINION ESSAY
Sample essay 1
Some people believe zoos, where wild animals are kept in a man-made environment, should no longer exist in
the modern world. Do you agree or disagree?
Zoos, or zoological parks, are places where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to
view. However, in recent years, there has been growing concern about the welfare of zoo animals and
whether or not zoos should stay open remains a highly controversial issue. I am strongly convinced that zoos
should be abolished for a number of reasons.
First of all, zoos should not continue to exist in the modern world because animals’ physical and
mental health can be severely affected by captivity. It cannot be denied that even the best artificial
environments cannot fully resemble the space, diversity, and freedom that animals have in their natural
habitats. As a result, such deprivation can cause many zoo animals to become stressed or mentally ill. For
instance, some zoo-housed chimpanzees show serious mental health problems and aggressive behavior, while
many elephants are reported to suffer foot problems.
Furthermore, zoos should no longer be open because there are many cases in which animals are
mistreated. It is sometimes the case that zoos sell animals, especially exotic ones to individuals with the
financial means to add to their own private collections. An example of this is the fact that many healthy tigers
in many UK zoos were killed and their skins were traded to taxidermists who would sell the stuffed animals on
to wealthy collectors. Besides, as animals in captivity may struggle to adapt to their new environment, many
zoos resort to drugging animals in order to keep them docile and settled for the pleasure of the viewing public.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that zoos should be abolished because they are cruel and
unnecessary institutions. Thus, governments should invest money in organizations which work to preserve
habitats and non-profit sanctuaries which rescue and care for animals but do not sell, breed, or exhibit them.
Animals should not be confined in zoos but live their lives freely in the wild where they truly belong.
Agree Disagree
1. Introduction
- Paraphrase the prompt
- Thesis statement (state whether you agree or not)
2. Body paragraph 1
- Topic sentence: State 1st reason why you agree - Topic sentence: State 1st reason why you disagree
- Supporting ideas - Supporting ideas
3. Body paragraph 2
- Topic sentence: State 2nd reason why you agree - Topic sentence: State 2nd reason why you disagree
- Supporting ideas - Supporting ideas
4. Conclusion
- Restate your opinion
- Summarize main ideas
- Provide suggestion/ recommendation (optional)
Sample essay 2
Some people believe zoos, where wild animals are kept in a man-made environment, should no longer exist in
the modern world. Do you agree or disagree?
Zoos, or zoological parks, are places where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to
view. However, in recent years, there has been growing concern about the welfare of zoo animals and
whether or not zoos should stay open remains a highly controversial issue. I am strongly convinced that zoos
should be abolished for a number of reasons.
There are a number of reasons why zoos should not continue to exist in the modern world. The first
reason is that animals’ physical and mental health can be severely affected by captivity. For instance, some
zoo-housed chimpanzees show serious mental health problems and aggressive behavior, while many
elephants are reported to suffer foot problems. Furthermore, there are many cases in which animals are
mistreated. An example of this is the fact that many healthy tigers in many UK zoos were killed and their skins
were traded to taxidermists who would sell the stuffed animals on to wealthy collectors. Another reason is
zoos’ lack of commitment to conservation. In fact, the majority of reintroduction programs are established by
government wildlife agencies and not by zoos.
Proponents of zoos claim that zoos offer valuable educational benefits. They argue that zoos provide
the opportunity for people to see and learn about wild animals and that this will inspire them to contribute to
their preservation. However, most visitors to zoos were more interested in entertainment than in educating
themselves. In addition, because animals are kept in captivity, people will not be able to observe their natural
behaviors. Thus, even if people do wish to be educated, zoos cannot provide a genuine learning experience. In
short, the claim that people need zoos for education is entirely without merit.
In conclusion, I am of the opinion that zoos should be abolished because they are cruel and
unnecessary institutions. Thus, governments should invest money in organizations which work to preserve
habitats and non-profit sanctuaries which rescue and care for animals but do not sell, breed, or exhibit them.
Animals should not be confined in zoos but live their lives freely in the wild where they truly belong.
Agree Disagree
1. Introduction
- Paraphrase the prompt
- Thesis statement (state whether you agree or not)
2. Body paragraph 1
- Topic sentence: State agreement - Topic sentence: State disagreement
- Supporting sentences: 2 reasons why you agree - Supporting sentences: 2 reasons why you disagree
3. Body paragraph 2
- Topic sentence: State disagreement - Topic sentence: State agreement
(counterargument) (counterargument)
- Supporting sentences: - Supporting sentences
+ 1 reason why people disagree + 1 reason why people agree
+ Counter argument/ refutation + Counter argument/ refutation
4. Conclusion
- Restate your opinion
- Summarize main ideas
- Provide suggestion/ recommendation
