TTO - week 49 - essay writing

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Essay writing

Choose one of the following thesis statements 

and write a 450- 500-word essay on this

Use the slides to help you structure your essay

Thesis statements:

1. More women should be hired in management positions

2.Social media should stop using algorithms

3. Parents should not be punished for the crimes of their children

4. Modern media ruin relationships

If you have a brilliant idea to write about, come to me so we can work out a good thesis statement

Task

Swap your essay with a classmate's

Read and comment on each other's work

Use the next 2 slides for this

Essay structure first

Structure your essay first:

intro: thesis statement + what you are going to discuss

paragraph 2: first argument (clear & logical explanation)

paragraph 3: second argument (clear & logical explanation)

paragraph 4: third argument (clear & logical explanation)

Summary: repeat all arguments/most important argument

Your opinion

Are arguments valid and logically explained?

Are all arguments clearly distinguishable/labelled?

Are all arguments in line with/supportive of your thesis?

Check Structure

6-paragraph structure:

Introduction from general to narrow - ending in the thesis statement (last sentence)

Body of 3 paragraphs

One clear argument + explanation per paragraph in paragraphs 2/3/4 (body)

Summary

Brief summing up of all arguments or repeating most important arguments. 

Your opinion: Proving your thesis and driving home the message with an interesting sentence.

Coherence: link your paragraphs logically 

Check language 

Vocabulary:

 use of synonyms, sophisticated vocabulary, formal language, 

No use of contractions (don't/won't etc.)

Spelling: 

correct spelling; punctuation; capital letters (I; personal pronouns, geographical names, start of sentences)

Tenses: correct and consistent

Sentence structure:

word order (SVOPT),  variety in longer and shorter sentences; use of adjectives/adverbs/gerunds (i.e. Speaking English is difficult)/participles (Hurt by his comments, she left)

Example structure 

intro: thesis statement = Modern media ruin relationships

paragraph 2 - social argument: Personal, face to face communication, takes a backseat to computers/smartphones (discuss human touch, intonation, voice, eye contact)

paragraph 3 - moral argument: Media can track people's interests and the feedback loop can amplify viewpoints, causing a sharp division in opinions and beliefs (discuss Covid-19; American politics; conspiracy theories etc.)

paragraph 4 -  economic/work-related argument - Keeping up to date with media is time-consuming and distracting (discuss less output students - student/teacher relationship; less romantic interest - relationship with a partner etc.)

Summary: repeat all arguments/most important argument

Your opinion

Example structure 

intro: thesis statement = Parents should be punished for the crimes of their children

paragraph 2 - financial argument - Victims and society as a whole need to be compensated for juvenile crime, and parents have the financial resources for this.

paragraph 3 - moral argument - Since children's brains are not fully matured until the age of twenty-five, parents need to guide them through childhood and accept responsibility for their offspring's actions.

paragraph 4 -  social argument: Parents need to learn how to raise children into well-balanced human beings and should face their shortcomings in parenthood

Summary: repeat all arguments/most important argument

Your opinion

Example structure 

intro: thesis statement = Parents should not be punished for the crimes of their children

paragraph 2 - social argument: Parents are not solely responsible for their children's upbringing ( discuss: divorced or deceased parents, peers/friends/teachers/media/individualistic society)

paragraph 3 - moral argument: Parents cannot be blamed for children's psychiatric problems that may lead to crime (discuss: a psychiatric problem could be nature's flaw or a result of a person's environment - parents need help instead of punishment)

paragraph 4 -  educational argument:  - By taking responsibility for their mistakes, children learn and develop into mature human beings (discuss: children learn from their mistakes. At the age of 16 they need to be held accountable)

Summary: repeat all arguments/most important argument

Your opinion

Example structure 

intro: thesis statement = The Covid-19 pandemic has polarized society

paragraph 2: The polarization of vaccinated and unvaccinated persons (discuss current heated debates in social media)

paragraph 3: The polarization of blue collar and white collar workers (discuss how blue-collar employees still need to be physically present, whereas white collar workers can stay at home and feel safe)

paragraph 4: The polarization of public health care and the general public (discuss how society has become increasingly demanding of health care, whereas society does not feel responsible for the well-being of healthcare workers)

Summary: repeat all arguments/most important argumen

Your opinion

Example structure 

intro: thesis statement = More women should be hired in management positions

paragraph 2 - social argument: Women are underrepresented in management positions (discuss: ...)

paragraph 3 - moral argument: The equality of men and women should be made visible in the workforce, as an example for children (discuss: ...) 

paragraph 4 - economic argument: The ageing population demands all hands on deck (discuss: ...)

Summary: repeat all arguments/most important argument

Your opinion

Example structure 

intro: thesis statement = Social media should stop using algorithms (explain feedback loop:  the output of the algorithm becomes part of its input. As expected, recommendations similar to the choice that was made are shown)

paragraph 2 -  moral argument: One-sided information amplifies opinions at the expense of other viewpoints (discuss:...)

paragraph 3 - moral argument: One-sided information fuels verbal and physical violence (discuss: ...)

paragraph 4 - moral argument: Social media platforms use algorithms to make profit (discuss: showing more content-related ads will lead to profit from hosting these ads.)

Summary: repeat all arguments/most important argument

Your opinion