The opinion column: An opinion column (la columna de opinión) is a short, personal piece for a newspaper, magazine or blog in which you defend your own point of view on a topical issue. In Paper 1 you choose it when the task tells you to give and argue your opinion for readers. It's part of Unit 2: Text Types, so the marks come from getting its conventions and register right (Criterion C) — a clear stance and a persuasive voice — not just the topic.
- la columna de opinión
- the opinion column / op-ed
- el titular
- the headline / title
- la tesis
- the stance / main claim you defend
- el argumento
- the argument that supports your view
- la pregunta retórica
- the rhetorical question (asked for effect)
- el tono persuasivo
- a persuasive, opinionated tone
Spot it in the task: The task asks for your opinion. "Escribe una columna de opinión…", "Da tu punto de vista…", "Defiende tu postura sobre…" → an opinion column → first-person and persuasive. If it said "Informa de lo ocurrido" you'd switch to a news report (objective, third person — a different text type). Always read what the task asks you to do first.
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Be persuasive and personal: Write in the first person with a confident, persuasive voice: take a clear stance and defend it. Use rhetorical devices — rhetorical questions, emphasis, strong evaluative adjectives — to win the reader over. Consistency matters — a wishy-washy or purely neutral piece reads like a report, breaks the register and costs you Criterion C.
Opinion column — do this
- En mi opinión, no cabe duda de que…
- ¿De verdad creemos que…?
- Es evidente que… / Estoy convencido/a de que…
Neutral report — avoid here
- Según las autoridades, ocurrió ayer.
- Los datos muestran un aumento del 5%.
- No se ofrecieron más detalles.
Stay consistent: Pick a clear stance and a first-person persuasive voice, and keep them from the headline to the conclusion. Your verbs (creo, defiendo), evaluative adjectives and rhetorical questions all have to back that one position.
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The five parts: Every opinion column follows the same shape. Hit all five parts and you've covered the conventions the examiner is looking for.
Opinion column — 5 parts
1
Title
A catchy headline that hints at your view, often a question. «¿Deberían prohibirse los móviles en las aulas?»
2
Opening stance
State your opinion clearly in the first lines. «En mi opinión, el problema no es el móvil…»
3
Main argument
Defend your view with one or two strong reasons — the heart of the column. «Es evidente que… pero también…»
4
Rhetorical question / other side
Engage the reader and acknowledge the counterview to look fair. «¿De verdad creemos que…? Tienen razón en que…, sin embargo…»
5
Opinionated conclusion
Restate your stance forcefully and close with a memorable line. «En conclusión, creo firmemente que…»
Title → Stance → Argument → Question/Counterpoint → Conclusion
Don't skip the frame: Students lose easy Criterion C marks by forgetting the title or by never stating a clear stance. A column without a position is just a report — make your opinion obvious from the first line.
A model, part by part: Here's a complete opinion column built from the five parts above. Read it once for the argument, then tap Ver traducción to check the English or 🔊 to hear it.
Modelo: las 5 partes en acción
La columna escrita, parte por parte
- ¿Deberían prohibirse los móviles en las aulas?
- En mi opinión, el debate está mal planteado: el problema no es el móvil, sino el uso que hacemos de él.
- Es evidente que un teléfono mal gestionado distrae, pero también es una herramienta extraordinaria para aprender, investigar y crear. Prohibirlo sin más sería renunciar a todo su potencial.
- ¿De verdad creemos que la solución pasa por prohibir en vez de educar? Quienes defienden la prohibición tienen razón en una cosa: hace falta orden. Sin embargo, ese orden se enseña, no se impone.
- En conclusión, creo firmemente que la respuesta no es prohibir, sino enseñar a usar bien la tecnología. Eduquemos en el uso responsable y el móvil dejará de ser un enemigo.
Por qué puntúa — why it scores: This short column earns marks on all three Paper 1 criteria — here's how:
A — Language /12
- Persuasive, accurate language; first person throughout
- Contrast connectors: «pero», «sin embargo», «en conclusión»
- Correct verbs (creo, sería, eduquemos)
B — Message /12
- Clear stance, defended with a real argument
- Ideas developed (distraction vs potential, ban vs educate)
C — Conceptual /6
- Column conventions: catchy title + clear thesis
- Persuasive devices: rhetorical question, counterpoint
- Consistent first-person, opinionated voice
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A toolkit you can reuse: Learn a few ready-made phrases for each part. They make your column sound persuasive and save time in the exam. Tap 🔊 to hear them.
Para dar tu opinión (stating your view)
- En mi opinión, … — In my opinion, …
- No cabe duda de que… — There is no doubt that…
- Estoy convencido/a de que… — I am convinced that…
Para persuadir (rhetorical devices)
- ¿De verdad creemos que…? — Do we really believe that…?
- Es evidente que… — It is obvious that…
- Sin embargo, … / Por el contrario, … — However, … / On the contrary, …
Para concluir (closings)
- En conclusión, creo firmemente que… — In conclusion, I firmly believe that…
- Por todo ello, … — For all these reasons, …
- Ha llegado el momento de… — The time has come to…
Use one from each: One phrase to state your view, one or two persuasive devices in the body, and one strong closer is plenty — and instantly makes the piece feel like a real opinion column.