La chronique d'opinion — the opinion column: An opinion column (une chronique d'opinion / une tribune) is a short, personal text that defends a point of view on a current issue.
Key features
- It is written for a newspaper, magazine or blog.
- It is part of Unit 2, Text Types (les types de textes).
- Unlike a news article, which reports facts neutrally, a column takes a side and tries to persuade the reader.
An opinion column IS…
- un texte court et personnel pour défendre un avis
- écrit à la 1re personne (**je pense**, **à mon avis**)
- persuasif : il cherche à convaincre le lecteur
- coiffé d'un titre accrocheur, souvent une question
An opinion column is NOT…
- une actualité neutre à la 3e personne
- une lettre ou un courriel à une personne
- un salut **Salut !** ni une signature **Cordialement**
- une simple liste de faits sans avis
Spot it in Paper 1: If the task says Écris une chronique d'opinion / une tribune pour le journal de ton lycée, the examiner is testing Criterion C (conceptual understanding).
The conventions they want
- a headline
- a clear stance stated early
- persuasive devices
- a forceful conclusion
Real tasks where it was an option
- Organise a beach clean-up (May 2021)
- Your neighbourhood lacks trees (Nov 2023)
- Rising homelessness in your town (May 2025)
- National holidays: fun and educational? (May 2026)
Conventions the examiner checks
- Titre fort + signature
- A clear stance from the first line, arguments, examples
- Questions rhétoriques et chute percutante
Traps that cost Criterion C
- No clear opinion
- A neutral report instead of a column
- No headline
No opinion, no Criterion C: A column with no clear opinion reads like a news report and loses Criterion C.
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Be persuasive and personal: The register of a column is engaged and persuasive: you make your opinion felt on every line.
How to sound like a column
- Write in the first person (je pense, à mon avis, je suis convaincu(e)).
- You may ask the reader a rhetorical question.
- You may acknowledge the other side (Certes…, cependant…).
- Use strong evaluative words.
- Never slip into a neutral news tone.
- Never write Salut ! or Cordialement.
| Avoid (wrong tone) | Use instead (column tone) |
|---|---|
| Une réunion a eu lieu hier. (neutral news) | À mon avis, il est temps que cela change. (a stance) |
| Salut les amis ! (email greeting) | Faut-il vraiment continuer ainsi ? (rhetorical hook) |
| Cordialement, Léa (sign-off) | Je suis convaincu que l'avenir est entre nos mains. |
| On peut dire que c'est discutable. (no stance) | Il me semble évident que… (a clear opinion) |
What gives a column its tone
- La 1re personne et un verbe d'opinion — À mon avis… / Je pense que… (a first-person opinion verb)
- Une question rhétorique — Avons-nous vraiment le choix ? (a rhetorical question)
- Reconnaître l'autre avis — Certes…, cependant… (acknowledging the other side)
- Un mot évaluatif fort — un véritable scandale / une chance unique (a strong evaluative word)
Take a side and hold it: Pick your stance at the start and defend it all the way through. Sitting on the fence (d'un côté… de l'autre… with no decision) or slipping into a neutral news tone is the most common Criterion C error on an opinion column.
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Five moving parts: A strong column has a clear shape. Learn these five parts and you'll never forget the headline, the stance or the forceful close — exactly what Criterion C rewards.
Opinion column — 5 parts
1
Le titre (headline)
A short, catchy headline, often a question. Un parc plutôt qu'un centre commercial ?
2
La thèse (your stance)
State your opinion clearly from the first line. À mon avis, la réponse est non.
3
Les arguments (body)
One or two developed reasons, each with an example. Connectors link them: d'abord… ensuite…
4
L'objection (the other side)
Acknowledge the opposite view, then answer it. Certes…, cependant…
5
La conclusion forte (forceful close)
Restate your stance with conviction. Pour toutes ces raisons, je suis convaincu que… — no sign-off.
Titre → Thèse (ta position) → Arguments → Objection → Conclusion forte
Plan before you write: Jot the five parts down first (titre / thèse / 1–2 arguments / objection / conclusion). Acknowledging the other side and answering it makes your argument stronger — that lifts Criterion B (message).
See it in action: Here is a short model opinion column. Read it once for the general idea — tap Voir la traduction if you get stuck — then read the callouts that point out each feature.
Un parc plutôt qu'un centre commercial ? (1/2): Faut-il vraiment un autre centre commercial ? À mon avis, la réponse est non. Il me semble évident qu'un parc ferait bien plus pour notre quartier qu'une nouvelle galerie de magasins : de l'air pur, un espace pour les enfants, un lieu où se retrouver.
Un parc plutôt qu'un centre commercial ? (2/2)
Certes, ceux qui défendent le centre commercial ont raison sur un point : il créerait des emplois. Cependant, ces emplois ne valent pas la perte du dernier terrain vert qui nous reste. Pour toutes ces raisons, je suis convaincu que l'heure est venue de choisir le parc.
- Le titre
- Un parc plutôt qu'un centre commercial ? — a short question headline that frames the debate and hooks the reader.
- La thèse
- À mon avis, la réponse est non. — a clear first-person stance from the very first lines; no neutral report.
- Les arguments
- Il me semble évident qu'un parc ferait bien plus… — a developed reason (clean air, space for children) backs the stance.
- L'objection
- Certes…, cependant… — the writer admits the other side (jobs) and then answers it, which strengthens the argument.
- La conclusion forte
- Pour toutes ces raisons, je suis convaincu… — restates the stance with conviction; no Cordialement.
IB-style task — name the feature
Une question, étape par étape
- The line — Certes, ceux qui défendent le centre commercial ont raison sur un point… Quelle est sa fonction dans la chronique ?
- Look at what it does. It admits the opposite view (jobs), then Cependant answers it — that's the objection (l'objection / la concession).
- The answer — C'est l'objection : l'auteur reconnaît l'autre avis (Certes…) pour mieux le réfuter (Cependant…). Cela rend l'argumentation plus convaincante.
Borrow the moves, not the words: Reuse the moves of this model in your own column — a question headline, a À mon avis,… stance, a Certes…, cependant… objection, a je suis convaincu(e) que… close — but with your own topic and wording. That is exactly what the examiner wants to see.
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A toolkit for each part: Keep a handful of ready-made phrases for each part of a column. Slotting them in saves time in the exam and keeps the persuasive register right — straight Criterion A and C marks.
- À mon avis, / Selon moi,…
- In my opinion, / In my view,…
- Je pense que / Je suis convaincu(e) que…
- I think that / I am convinced that…
- Il me semble évident que…
- It seems obvious to me that…
- Il est grand temps de…
- It is high time to…
- Avons-nous vraiment le choix ?
- Do we really have a choice? (rhetorical question)
- Certes…, cependant / pourtant…
- Admittedly…, however / yet… (concession)
- Il faut absolument…
- We absolutely must…
- C'est un véritable scandale / une chance unique.
- It is a real scandal / a unique chance. (strong evaluation)
- Pour toutes ces raisons,…
- For all these reasons,…
- En définitive, je reste convaincu(e) que…
- Ultimately, I remain convinced that…
- L'heure est venue d'agir.
- The time has come to act. (call to action)
One opinion phrase + one rhetorical device: Every column should reuse an opinion phrase (À mon avis,…), a rhetorical device (a question or Certes…, cependant…) and a forceful close (Pour toutes ces raisons,…). Together they show the column conventions and lift your Criterion A and C marks.