An opinion letter is a written document that expresses a personal assessment of a subject . In this type of letter, a person expresses their opinion on politics, society, an event, or any other topic. Its purpose is simply to offer their point of view and share it with the readers of a publication.
The author of an opinion letter may be an individual who wishes to make his or her views known, or a person hired for that purpose.
An opinion letter has the following characteristics :
- Signature and date. Opinion letters are not anonymous; they bear the author’s signature and the date written.
- Argumentation. When expressing a personal opinion, the author must provide arguments to support it.
- Current Events. We discuss a current, and often controversial, topic.
- Subject. There are a wide variety of topics. You can express opinions on various topics that arouse interest, such as politics, economics, culture, etc.
- It can be formal or informal. The author can use different approaches. Sometimes, informality serves to add an ironic touch to the opinion expressed.
Traditionally, the format used has been a letter, which is why it’s called that. These letters are now usually emails sent to newspapers or magazines for publication. This way, readers can learn what another person thinks about a particular issue and compare it with their own personal opinions.
Opinion letter examples
To better illustrate what an opinion letter is, we present three examples on different topics. The first letter is an example for children, the second is about a controversial construction, and the third is about a film award.
Opinion letter for children
In this example, some children are writing an opinion piece to be published in the school newspaper. The topic is about the state of the performance hall.
01/18/2025
Dear Director Méndez:
I’m writing to you about the state of the performance hall. As you know, the school theater group, to which I belong, has to perform in the gymnasium. This led to various incidents, such as a ball hitting one of the actors in the face.
I think the role of culture in schools should be reconsidered and investment should be made in it. Other schools have good facilities, while ours has a performance hall that’s practically dilapidated. The seats are in poor condition, there’s no curtain, and the stairs leading up to the stage are rotten.
Furthermore, this prevents non-theatrical events, such as parties, lectures, or any other events, from being held. I believe, like most students, that using the gymnasium as a space for all activities is not the solution.
Without further ado, I cordially greet you,
Rosa María Robles,
Student at her center.
Opinion letter on a controversial construction
Public works are one of the most controversial topics, not only because of the inconvenience of the work, but also because of the aesthetic value of a new construction. For example, a citizen publishes an opinion piece on the subject.
03/02/2024
The construction of the new music conservatory on Arenal Street, in the city center, is causing a stir among residents. Let it be known that I’m not opposed to its construction: I consider a new conservatory necessary and positive. It gives status to the neighborhood and the city.
But is it necessary to do it this way? I’m not an engineer, and I don’t think you need to be one to confirm that the construction work is a complete mess. On the one hand, streets far from the construction site are being closed, making life difficult for residents. I don’t know the reason, nor does anyone else who asks. Frankly, we don’t see the reason for these closures.
On the other hand, we’ve had almost two years of continuous noise. The initial deadline was a year and a half. Well, we’ve been at it for two now, and it doesn’t seem to end. It’s the same as it was three months ago!
I hope this letter makes those responsible reflect. We, the residents who constantly suffer from construction, are clear about our position.
Feliciano Rodríguez, a resident of the area affected by the works.
Opinion letter on a film award
Film, music, and other arts awards always provoke differing opinions: they rarely reach everyone’s agreement. Therefore, there are different opinions. In this example, a person expresses his or her opinion on a film award using an informal style.
02/14/2023
Yesterday was the 15th National Film Awards ceremony. I have to say I didn’t watch the entire event: it was too long, and, honestly, I’m only interested in one part: the Best Film Award.
And, oh surprise! Who was the winner?… No, don’t answer, it was a rhetorical question. The answer is the same as always: the one we already knew was going to win. Every year it’s the same, over and over again.
Well, in case anyone missed the gala, the winner for Best Picture was What Her Face Said . The one they’ve been cheering and praising ad nauseam. Is it a good movie? In my opinion, yes. Is it the best movie? In my opinion, no.
And I think this because there are better ones. Specifically, in this edition, there were five or six better films. I’ll give the example of Invasion of the Venus Flies , a comedy that parodies B movies. But of course, a comedy is unlikely to win one of these awards. It doesn’t matter that it was the highest-grossing film, or that it has good reviews (it hides a social satire that the Academy members missed): the award should go to a melodrama.
So, new directors, I’m addressing you. If you want to win awards, make melodramas. Be melodramatic and you’ll win.
