Grade by Grade
C. Reading / D. Writing · Reading and Writing in French: Real Texts for Real Readers

Mon opinion: Reading Reviews and Writing an Opinion Paragraph

C1 C2 D1 D2About 45 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can find opinions and reasons in a French review.
  • I can tell the difference between a fact and an opinion.
  • I can give my opinion with je pense que, à mon avis, je trouve que and je préfère.
  • I can give reasons with parce que and link ideas with et, mais, aussi, par contre.
  • I can plan and write an opinion paragraph.

Words to know

une critique
A review: a text that gives an opinion about a book, a movie, a game...
une opinion
What someone thinks or feels. Other people can disagree.
un fait
A fact: something that is true and can be checked.
à mon avis
In my opinion.
je recommande
I recommend.
par contre
On the other hand.

Thumbs up or thumbs down?

Before you choose a book, a movie or a game, you might read what other people think. Those texts are reviews (critiques). A good review does not just say I liked it. It gives reasons.

In Grade 4 you wrote j'aime and je n'aime pas. In Grade 5 you will explain why, and write a whole paragraph to convince your reader.

A reading corner with a beanbag chair, a blanket, a stack of books and a bowl of snacks.
A cozy spot to read a book or watch a movie. Afterward, you can write a review: À mon avis, c'est génial parce que... AI-generated image
Strong likeLikeNot sureDon't likeStrong dislike
J'adore...J'aime... / Je trouve ça bien.C'est correct.Je n'aime pas...Je déteste...
C'est génial !C'est intéressant.C'est un peu long.C'est ennuyant.C'est nul !
From love to dislike. (C'est correct = it's OK; ennuyant = boring, common in Canadian French; ennuyeux in France.)
C'est nul !Je n’aime pas.C'est correct.J'aime.C'est génial !strong dislikestrong like
Opinion words go from strong dislike to strong like. Pick the one that matches how you really feel.

Opinion starters

  • Je pense que... (I think that...) Je pense que le livre est drôle.
  • À mon avis,... (In my opinion,...) À mon avis, c'est le meilleur film.
  • Je trouve que... (I find that...) Je trouve que la fin est triste.
  • Je préfère... (I prefer...) Je préfère le hockey.
  • Je recommande... (I recommend...) Je recommande ce jeu !

Reason and linking words

  • parce que / parce qu' (because)
  • et (and), aussi (also), de plus (what's more)
  • mais (but), par contre (on the other hand)
  • alors (so)

Grammar note: after c'est, use the masculine adjective: La fin ? C'est génial ! But with elle est, agree: La fin ? Elle est géniale.

Worked example

Let's read two reviews

Read two reviews of an imaginary book (made up for this lesson).

Critiques de livres : Le mystère de la tuque perdue

Amira, 10 ans : ★★★★★

J'adore ce livre ! À mon avis, c'est l'histoire la plus drôle de la bibliothèque. Le personnage principal, Félix, est très courageux. J'aime aussi les illustrations parce qu'elles sont colorées. Je recommande ce livre à tous les élèves de cinquième année !

Lucas, 11 ans : ★★★☆☆

Je pense que l'histoire est intéressante, mais elle est un peu longue. J'aime le début parce que le mystère commence tout de suite. Par contre, je trouve la fin ennuyante. Je préfère les livres de science-fiction.

  1. Features of a review: the title of the book, the reviewer's name, a rating (stars), opinions and reasons, often a recommendation.
  2. Amira's opinion: J'adore ce livre ! (5 stars). Reasons: it's the funniest story in the library, Félix is very brave (courageux), the illustrations are colourful. Recommendation: for every Grade 5 student.
  3. Lucas's opinion: mixed (3 stars). Positive: the story is interesting, and he likes the beginning parce que the mystery starts right away. Negative: a bit long; he finds the ending boring (ennuyante: agrees with la fin).
  4. Linking words: Lucas uses mais and par contre to balance good and bad points.
  5. Fact or opinion? Lucas a 11 ans is a fact. La fin est ennuyante is an opinion: Amira might disagree!

Amira loves the book (funny, brave hero, colourful pictures). Lucas thinks it is interesting but long, likes the beginning, finds the end boring, and prefers science fiction.

Just for fun

What if your cat wrote a review of your homework?

★★★★★ À mon avis, ce cahier est le meilleur lit de la maison. Il est chaud et confortable. Je recommande ! (In my opinion, this notebook is the best bed in the house.)

Worked example

Let's plan and write an opinion paragraph

Topic: Quelle est la meilleure saison ? (What is the best season?) Plan with the O-R-R-C plan: Opinion, Raison 1, Raison 2, Conclusion.

  1. Opinion: À mon avis, l'hiver est la meilleure saison.
  2. Raison 1: J'adore l'hiver parce que je peux faire du ski. (je peux = I can)
  3. Raison 2: De plus, j'aime faire des bonshommes de neige avec mes amis. (plural: des bonshommes de neige)
  4. Other side (optional): Par contre, il fait très froid !
  5. Conclusion: Alors, pour moi, l'hiver est génial !

À mon avis, l'hiver est la meilleure saison. J'adore l'hiver parce que je peux faire du ski. De plus, j'aime faire des bonshommes de neige avec mes amis. Par contre, il fait très froid ! Alors, pour moi, l'hiver est génial !

OOpinionÀ mon avis, l’hiver est la meilleure saison.RRaison 1J’adore l’hiver parce que je peux faire du ski.RRaison 2De plus, j’aime faire des bonshommes de neige.CConclusionAlors, pour moi, l’hiver est génial !
The O-R-R-C plan: an opinion, two reasons (with parce que and de plus), and a conclusion.
Hands-on activity

Family review board

You need: paper, pencil crayons, and a book, movie, game or snack your family knows.

  1. Each person gives the item a star rating from 1 to 5.
  2. Write your review in French: the title, your rating, an opinion starter, 2 reasons with parce que, and a recommendation (Je recommande... / Je ne recommande pas...).
  3. Interview a family member in English and write their review in French using il or elle: Ma sœur pense que le film est drôle parce que...
  4. Post the reviews on a "review board" (the fridge works!) and compare: who agrees? Who disagrees?

Your turn

1

What does À mon avis mean?

2

How many stars does Amira give the book?

3

Give one reason Amira likes the book.

4

What does Lucas not like?

5

Fact or opinion? Le livre a des illustrations.

6

Fact or opinion? Le livre est génial.

7

Complete with a reason: J'aime l'été parce que...

More practice: warm-up

1

What does parce que mean?

2

What does Je déteste mean?

3

What does mais mean?

4

What is une critique?

5

What kind of books does Lucas prefer?

More practice: on your own

1

Write I think that the movie is funny. (le film, drôle)

2

Join with mais: J'aime le soccer. Je n'aime pas courir.

3

Why does Lucas write ennuyante and not ennuyant?

4

Choose: La neige ? C'est ___ ! (génial or géniale)

5

Is Lucas's review positive, negative or mixed? Use 2 details.

Challenge

1

Write a 4-sentence review of a book or movie you know: opinion, 2 reasons, recommendation.

2

Rewrite Amira's review as a report using elle: start with Amira adore ce livre. Write 3 sentences.

3

Lucas and Amira disagree. Write 2 sentences: one that agrees with Amira and one that agrees with Lucas, with reasons. (Je suis d'accord avec... = I agree with...)

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

Which is an opinion?

2.

J'aime ce jeu ___ il est rapide.

3.

What does par contre do in a review?

4.

Which sentence is correct?

5.

What does a star rating show in a review?

6.

What is the O-R-R-C plan?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: The curriculum asks Grade 5 students to understand French texts using reading strategies (C1) and to identify the purpose and features of text forms such as reviews (C2); to write for different purposes, including giving and supporting opinions (D1); and to plan, draft and revise their work (D2). The book reviewed in this lesson is imaginary, made up for teaching.

Common difficulties:

  • Opinions with no reasons. Ask "Pourquoi ?" after every opinion.
  • parce que il. Remind: parce qu'il, parce qu'elle.
  • C'est géniale. After c'est, the adjective stays masculine.
  • Translating word by word. Encourage using the starters from the table.

Canadian French used: ennuyant (boring; ennuyeux in France), C'est correct (it's OK).

At home: At supper, ask everyone for a one-sentence French review of the meal: À mon avis, c'est délicieux parce que...