Mission: post your opinion on a forum
Writing an opinion with a clear structure, arguments, a counter-argument and connectors. Say what you think, and prove it.
FrenchB1 · Exam levelAbout 7 min: 4 reading, 3 practiceUpdated
- Organise an opinion text: question, your view, arguments with examples, a counter-argument, a conclusion
- Use connectors to move from one idea to the next
- Give your view with à mon avis, selon moi, je suis pour / contre
- Write at least 160 words, as the DELF B1 asks
B1 exam skills: lesson 1 of 5
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Level Level B1 (around the DELF B1 exam). Real French: a post on a local news forum or discussion page.
What it is
Your mission: the town council of Tours wants to ban cars from the town centre, and the local news site has opened a forum. You are Camille Perrin, a resident. Write a post of 170 to 200 words that says what you think, gives reasons with examples, admits the other side has a point, and ends with a conclusion.
The DELF B1 writing paper lasts 45 minutes and asks for one text of at least 160 words. That is long enough that you need a plan, not just a list of thoughts. A shape that works:
| Part | Useful French |
|---|---|
| 1. Introduce the question | La mairie propose d'interdire… On me demande si… |
| 2. Your view | À mon avis… Selon moi… Je suis pour / contre… |
| 3. Arguments with examples | D'abord… Ensuite… Enfin… Par exemple… |
| 4. A counter-argument | Certes… mais… Il est vrai que… cependant… |
| 5. Conclusion | En conclusion… Pour terminer… Bref… |
Connectors are the glue. Each one tells the reader what comes next:
| Connector | Job |
|---|---|
| d'abord, ensuite, enfin | order your arguments |
| par exemple, ainsi | introduce an example |
| car, parce que | give a reason |
| donc, c'est pourquoi | give a result |
| mais, pourtant, cependant | contrast |
| certes… mais… | admit a point, then answer it |
| en conclusion, bref | close |
More detail: how to reach 160 words
Count your plan, not your sentences. Five parts of about 35 to 40 words each reach 170 to 200 words without padding. Each argument needs two things: the idea (L'air serait plus propre) and an example or detail (Dans ma rue, il y a des embouteillages tous les matins). The example is where most of your words come from, and it is also what makes your opinion convincing.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
You want to admit the other side has a point before you answer it. Which connector pair does that?
- Those close the text
- Those put arguments in order
Show answer
Certes… mais…. Certes … mais … grants a point and then answers it.
Why it matters
Giving an opinion and defending it is something you do every day: in a meeting, in a message to the neighbours, in a comment under an article. A reader trusts an opinion that has reasons and examples, and that shows you have thought about the other side. It is also exactly what a text of 160 words or more needs: a structure that carries you from the first line to the last.
Worked example
Camille's forum post (our own example):
Bonjour à tous,
La mairie propose d'interdire les voitures dans le centre-ville. Pour ma part, je suis tout à fait favorable à cette idée. Voici pourquoi.
D'abord, l'air serait plus propre. Dans la rue où j'habite, il y a des embouteillages tous les matins, et mon fils, qui a six ans, tousse souvent. Ensuite, le centre deviendrait plus agréable : on pourrait se promener, s'asseoir en terrasse et laisser les enfants jouer sans danger. Enfin, les commerçants y gagneraient, car les piétons s'arrêtent plus facilement devant les vitrines. À Strasbourg, par exemple, les rues sans voitures sont pleines de monde le samedi.
Certes, certains disent que les personnes âgées auront du mal à venir en ville. C'est vrai, mais on peut prévoir des navettes électriques et quelques places réservées. De plus, il suffit d'améliorer d'abord les bus et les pistes cyclables.
En conclusion, je pense que cette mesure est bonne pour la santé, pour les commerces et pour la qualité de vie, à condition de bien organiser les transports en commun. Et vous, qu'en pensez-vous ?
Camille
175 words, counting the greeting and the sign-off (the two punctuation marks that stand alone, the colon and the question mark, are not counted). It has an introduction, a view, three arguments with examples, a counter-argument that gets an answer, and a conclusion that ends with a question to the readers.
Real French: pour ma part and selon moi are standard ways to give your view, and Et vous, qu'en pensez-vous ? is a natural way to end a post on a forum.
Common mistake
Using the wrong preposition for your view: wrong: dans mon avis and wrong: en mon avis are not French. Say à mon avis (or selon moi, d'après moi). In the same way, it is je suis d'accord avec quelqu'un, never wrong: d'accord à.
And giving only opinions with no support: C'est une bonne idée, c'est très bien, j'aime ça. That is a view repeated three times, not three arguments. Each argument needs its own reason and an example.
Quick check
Tap an answer to check it.
How do you say "in my opinion"?
- Not used in French
- Not used in French
Show answer
À mon avis. à mon avis, selon moi, d'après moi.
Key terms
- à mon avis / selon moi
- in my opinion
- pour ma part
- for my part
- je suis pour / contre
- I am for / against
- être d'accord avec
- to agree with
- d'abord, ensuite, enfin
- first, then, finally
- par exemple
- for example
- certes… mais…
- admittedly… but…
- en conclusion
- in conclusion
- un argument, un contre-argument
- an argument, a counter-argument
Practise the key terms
Tap a card to turn it over. 9 cards.
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| à mon avis / selon moi | in my opinion |
| pour ma part | for my part |
| je suis pour / contre | I am for / against |
| être d'accord avec | to agree with |
| d'abord, ensuite, enfin | first, then, finally |
| par exemple | for example |
| certes… mais… | admittedly… but… |
| en conclusion | in conclusion |
| un argument, un contre-argument | an argument, a counter-argument |
Practice
Sort it
Which part of the post is it?
D'abord, l'air serait plus propre.
a reason for your viewShow answer
Argument. a reason for your view
À Strasbourg, par exemple, les rues sans voitures sont pleines de monde.
a real case that supports itShow answer
Example. a real case that supports it
Certes, les personnes âgées auront du mal à venir en ville.
a point for the other sideShow answer
Counter-argument. a point for the other side
Enfin, les commerçants y gagneraient.
a reason for your viewShow answer
Argument. a reason for your view
Dans ma rue, il y a des embouteillages tous les matins.
a detail from real lifeShow answer
Example. a detail from real life
Quick quiz
Tap an answer to check it.
How many words must the DELF B1 writing text have, at least?
- That is the A2 minimum
- Below the B1 minimum
Show answer
160. Official format: 45 minutes, one text of at least 160 words.
Which connector introduces your conclusion?
- That introduces an example
- That introduces a contrast
Show answer
En conclusion. en conclusion, pour terminer, bref close the text.
You write: « La voiture est pratique, mais elle pollue. » Which connector expresses the contrast?
- donc gives a result, not a contrast
- car gives a reason
Show answer
mais. mais, pourtant and cependant contrast two ideas.
Build the sentence
Build a sentence that admits a point and answers it. (Start with the admission.)
Show answer
Certes, la voiture est pratique, mais elle pollue beaucoup.. Certes + the point, then mais + your answer.
Practise speaking
Studyfern has no voice tools of its own. To practise out loud, copy this prompt into a voice-capable AI assistant and talk with it.
Mission role-play. You are Léa, a French friend who reads my forum posts, at level B1 (we are practising writing out loud). Speak naturally but clearly, using tu. Ask me one question at a time. First, give me a local question to take a view on (for example, banning cars from a town centre). I will "write" my post by saying it part by part: introduction, my view, two or three arguments with examples, a counter-argument, and a conclusion. After each part, tell me in English if there is a mistake (connectors, à mon avis, agreement) and let me try again. When I have covered all five parts, tell me roughly how many words my post would have and, if it reaches 160, say « Mission accomplie ! » and give me one tip. Keep every reply under 3 sentences.
Listen too. Listen to native speakers before and after: see the free listening and shadowing links.
Good to know. AI feedback on pronunciation is hit and miss, so check yourself against native recordings. Many assistants turn your speech into text first, so a vowel or liaison you got wrong may be silently “heard” as the right word. Don't share personal details: use a made-up name and town.
New to this? Read Practising speaking with an AI.
In short
- DELF B1 writing: 45 minutes, one text of at least 160 words.
- Shape: introduce the question, your view, two or three arguments with examples, a counter-argument, a conclusion.
- Give your view with à mon avis, selon moi, pour ma part, je suis pour / contre.
- Connectors carry the reader: d'abord, ensuite, enfin, par exemple, certes… mais…, en conclusion.
- Every argument needs an example; that is how you reach the word count.
Mastery check
Answer without looking back. Score 80% or more and the lesson is marked done. Your result is kept only in this browser.
Check yourself
Answer in your head first, then open the answer. Nothing is saved.
Which connector pair admits a point and then answers it?
Show answer
Certes… mais…
What is the minimum number of words in the DELF B1 writing text?
Show answer
160.
What does each argument need besides the idea?
Show answer
An example or a detail from real life.
Further reading
- France Éducation international, DELF B1: the official exam format and sample papers.
- RFI, Journal en français facile: read how news items present a view and its opposite.
Finished? Mark it done to fill in your leaf on the French map.