Because I Said So! Learning to Give Reasons
If you tell your friend "pizza is the best food," they might say "why?" What do you say next? If your answer is just "because it is!" — that's not a very strong reason. But if you say "because it has cheese, bread, AND sauce all in one bite," now you've given a real reason. That one little word, BECAUSE, is one of the most powerful words a speaker can use.
What You'll Learn
- Why an opinion needs a reason to be convincing - How to use the word "because" to explain your thinking - The difference between an opinion and a reason - How to give more than one reason for an opinion
An Opinion Needs a Reason
An opinion is something you think or feel, like "dogs are the best pet" or "recess should be longer." But an opinion all by itself doesn't tell anyone WHY you think that way. A reason is the part that explains your opinion — and it almost always follows the word "because." Opinion: "Winter is my favorite season." Reason: "Because I love building snowmen and drinking hot cocoa." See how much more convincing that is? Now your friend understands your thinking, not just your feeling.
Practice Turning Opinions Into Because-Statements
Try this pattern every time you share your opinion: "I think ___, because ___." For example: "I think cats make great pets, because they are quiet and clean themselves." Or: "I think our class should get a class pet, because it would teach everyone responsibility." The stronger your reason, the more people will listen to your opinion — even if they don't agree with you yet!
Great speakers often give TWO reasons instead of just one. "I think we should read more books, because it grows our imagination AND it helps us learn new words."
Which sentence gives a REASON for an opinion?
When you explain WHY you think something, grown-up debaters call that giving 'evidence' or 'support' for your opinion. You're already learning a real debate skill!
What word most often connects an opinion to its reason?
My Favorite, Because...
Pick your favorite animal, food, or game. Say your opinion out loud using the pattern 'I think ___ is the best ___, because ___ and ___' (use TWO reasons). Then share it with a family member or classmate and ask them to guess your two reasons back to you before you tell them.
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