It is extremely essential to present a clear position while writing your response to the question statement. It is vital to demonstrate that you have understood the question (essay prompt) correctly. Your response should be consistent throughout the essay and not the combination of random ideas even though they might have a good relevance in the real life. For e.g., if you opt to agree to a statement, your body paragraphs should highlight your arguments on why you agree with the statement. You cannot disagree if the starting has been made with ‘agree’ response.
Another point of concern is when you should state your opinion in the essay and when not. If you read the essay prompt very carefully, it will be understood easily. Still, many students do not stress enough on understanding the essay prompt. So, here in this post, I have made a table which will help you to decide if your opinion is required or not based on tone of essay prompt.
| Question Type | Is an Opinion required? |
| To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? | Yes, you should agree or disagree. You can even equally agree/disagree, although it is not a recommended strategy. Writing on one side is easier. |
| Discuss both views and give your own opinion. | Yes, you need to present your opinion. It may be one of the views or a combination of both. However, your opinion should be written in the conclusion part only. |
| Why is this so? Give reasons for this and solutions? | No, a position is presented on why this is so, the reasons for this issue and solutions to solve the issue. |
| Do the disadvantages of international tourism outweigh the advantages? | Yes, you must clearly say if there are more advantages or more disadvantages. |
| Why is this so? What effect does it have on the individual and the society? | Yes, you must give reasons for the statement and then present the effect it has on 1) the individual and 2) society. |
I hope this table helps you understanding when your opinion is required and when not. If you have any doubt, please let me know in the comment section.