H5 writing

• Middelbare school

Writing an Essay

An essay is a relatively short piece of writing on a topic. An essay usually deals with your view on a topic. It has a formal lay-out - usually five paragraphs - and formal language. Avoiding personal pronouns (I/you) makes your essay convincing. 

The introduction starts with a general example (or examples), a definition or a description. It ends with the thesis (the topic of your essay). A formal essay (an essay in which you are going to support your thesis with evidence) has a a five-paragraph lay-out: an introduction,  a middle part consisting of 3 paragraphs, and a conclusion. Each paragraph in the middle part contains one argument backed up with examples. An argumentative essay has the same lay-out as a formal essay, but you show  both types of arguments - those in favour and against. Both sides can be balanced or one side could be represented more forcefully.

The conclusion ends with a repetition of your main argument(s) and a repetition of your thesis. For example: "Smoking is a voluntary choice, a habit which not only endangers the health of others but slowly damages your own body. For these reasons our government should...."

Writing an Essay - Assignment

Write a 250-300 word essay on the following thesis: "Discrimination is still prevalent today". 

The introduction and the first two topic sentences have been given (next slide).

Other possible topics for your essay are:

• Providing flexibility at school reduces student stress
  
• Everyone should have one meat-free day in their weekly diet.
  
• Today's teenagers have a harder time than their parents.
  
• Every student should have a gap-year after high school.
  
• Students should have a choice to come to class or study at home
  
• Male students should have more male teachers

You may also use your own topic.

Discrimination is still prevalent today

Intro:

Discrimination is the unfair or prejudicial treatment of people and groups based on characteristics such as race, gender, age or sexual orientation. That is the simple answer, however, explaining why it happens is slightly more complicated.

The human brain naturally distinguishes categories to make sense of the world. For instance, very young children quickly learn the difference between boys and girls. But the values we place on different categories are learned – from our parents, our peers and the observations we make about how the world works. Often, discrimination stems from fear and misunderstanding, which is timeless. This means that discrimination in still prevalent in all societies today.

First of all, people are still discriminated for their race. One example of this are the racial chants during soccer games.

Second of all, the LGBT community is still striving for acceptance of people who love people from the same sex.

Last but not least, ...

In conclusion discrimination appears to be.....

Essay lay-out & examples

In the next slides you will find the lay-out for a formal/argumentative essay as well as two examples.

Words to connect paragraphs and sentence parts

The next slides show you tips to write better sentences. 

No need to remember the technical names, just use the words (conjunctions) to write better sentences.

Linking words to connect paragraphs

To link paragraphs, you use linking words to show the connection. For example, if you sum up arguments (one per paragraph) you may use: 

first of all, second of all, thirdly/last but not least etc..

Alternatively, you could use linking words as: for example, another example, moreover, furthermore, also etc.. They indicate that you add information to your argument.

To show a contrast in arguments (you argue in favour/against/clear up uncertainties), you may use linking words such as: however, even though, although, nonetheless, despite etc.

Two types of conjunctions to connect sentences

To turn your information into a well-flowing sentence, conjunctions are essential. Conjunctions are words that help you orden your information and show the reader what to expect.

Coordinating conjunctions to add extra information (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

A sentence always needs a subject + a verb: He is sleeping. This sentence is a complete sentence, a finished thought (you don't expect more information to be added). This is called a main clause. You can still add information to the  main clauses with conjunctions. If you have two main clauses (finished thoughts) you use a coordinating conjunction: He is sleeping, and his sister is eating breakfast.You could separate the two main clauses into two separate sentences, but it makes your writing choppy if you use short sentences all the time. A coordinating conjunction means that this word connects two main clauses that can also be separated into two sentences.

Two types of conjunctions to connect sentences

Subordinating conjunctions to show the relation between sentence parts (because, even though, if, while unless etc.)

You can also have a subclause, where you expect more information to be added: Because he stayed up late last night,..... 

The word "Because" is a conjunction (a subordinating conjunction -> you expect more information to be added)  that shows the reader that (s)he may expect more information explaining the result of staying of late. A subordination conjunction means that this word connects a subclause (an unfinished thought where you expect more information) to a main clause (a finished thought). A subclause cannot be separated from the main clause.

Coordinating conjunctions to connect two main clauses: to add  extra information to a sentence

Between two main clauses (main clause = subject + verb, expresses a complete thought). Use a comma BEFORE the coordinating conjunction:

F = for

A = and

N = nor

B = but

O = or

Y = yet

S = so

• Nuclear power plants have been around for ages, yet the public safety is often an item of discussion
  
• I am opposed to nuclear power, for it puts the public at risk.
• We could go shopping in Amsterdam, or we could visit the local museum in my city.
  
• Nuclear power plants offer an environmentally-friendly/sustainable source of energy, but at the same time they are rather dangerous.
  

Subordinating conjunctions sentences to connect subclauses to main clauses & show why/when/how/contrast/condition etc.

To add a subclause (does NOT express a complete thought)  to a main clause. 

Subclauses before the main clause -> separated by a comma.

• As long as nuclear power plants strictly adhere to the safety rules, the public health won't be at risk.
  
• Provided that nuclear power plants striclty adhere to the safety rules, the public health won't be at risk.
• As soon as I had learned about the disasters in Japan, I decided to write you.
  
• I decided to write you as soon as I had heard about the disasters

Other tips & tricks for sentence writing

• Use gerunds:
  

He said that he loves to cook and that this is his passion -> Cooking is his passion, his great love.

People said they saw the police that beat up the prisoners -> People said they saw the beating up of the prisoners by the police.

She said that when she wore make-up she felt more confident -> Wearing make-up made her feel more confident.

• Insert information inbetween commas:
  

The man smiled, and walked into the store. He was an old and grey person. -> The man, old and grey, walked into the store.

The woman was happy. She smiled and clapped her hands. -> The woman, smiling and clapping her hands, was happy.

Other tips & tricks for sentence writing

• Use adjectives/adverbs to make your information more interesting:
  

Smoke is unhealthy. It is not good for your lungs. -> Smoke is unhealthy for your clean lungs -> Unhealthy smoke affects clean lungs.

The man was hungry and ate a hamburger -> The hungry man quickly ate his hamburger.

• Use plurals/they/people to avoid "I", "you"
  

I feel that there is still a lot of discrimination today. -> People (may) still experience discrimination today.

You often wonder is this is indeed discrimination . -> They may wonder if this is indeed discrimination.

Who/when/where/why/how

Elvis ate a hamburger

Elvis, a supposedly dead pop star, ate a delicious hamburger.

Elvis,...., ate a delicious hamburger at the Little White Chapel.

Elvis, ..., slowly ate a delicious hamburger as he was cruising down the drive-through of  Little White Chapel.

The vaccine for hiv ...

The latest vaccine for hiv 

According to the Dutch government, the latest vaccine for hiv has a few specific unwanted side effects.

OR

Using the latest vaccine for HIV may lead to .....