[V5] P3: Essay - The Introduction and thesis + arguments

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

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Today

An argumentative essay

Part 1: The introduction & thesis

Part 2: The arguments

The introduction

Your essay should start with an introductory paragraph, the introduction. The introduction grabs the reader’s attention and explains what your essay will be about. 

There are several ways to build an introduction. 

A hook

You can think of the hook as a fishing hook for your essay; it’s something that grabs a reader and reels them in. The hook for your essay could be any interesting sentence that captures attention and keeps the reader reading. 

The hook often appears in the very first sentence. 

Examples of a hook:

• a quotation
  
• an interesting fact (a statistic, for example, showing that you know what you’re talking about). 
  
• a definition of an important term
  
• an assertion that a problem exists
  
• a glance at a different view from your own: While some people believe peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are too simple, they are versatile sandwiches that you can easily turn into a gourmet meal.
• an interesting question (but not informal! --> tricky!)

Your introduction should end with

the thesis statement [=stelling]

A thesis statement explains your point of view and mentions your main arguments. 

Make sure that your thesis statement is convincing [=overtuigend]; state your claim in firm words, don’t make it look like you are unsure of your own position. 

Tips:

1. Your thesis statement should be one or two sentences maximum.
2. Your thesis statement should clearly present the main idea of your essay and make some kind of assertion.
   
3. The thesis statement should be broad enough that you have enough to say about it, but not so broad that you can't be detailed.
   
4. The thesis statement should be the final sentence of your introductory paragraph. 
   

Task #1

Decide whether the sentence you see is a good thesis statement or not.

Is this a thesis statement?
I want to tell you about the many defects in the administration’s proposals for restructuring the Social Security program.

1. Yes
2. No

Is this a thesis statement?
Schools should not have been opened during the Corona pandemic to avoid spreading of the virus.

1. Yes
2. No

Is this a thesis statement?
Al Capone, the Chicago gang leader, was nicknamed ‘Scarface’.

1. Yes
2. No

Is this a thesis statement?
University education should be free for all students because it should be available to all people, also those who cannot afford it otherwise.

1. Yes
2. No

Task #2

Pick the topic and thesis statement (or come up with one yourself) that you are going to use to build your first essay throughout the next three lessons. 

Make sure to grab the reader’s attention and to end your introduction with your thesis statement. 

Part 2

The body paragraphs

The body paragraphs

Every argument that you are going to discuss will have its own body paragraph: 1 argument = 1 paragraph.

You leave a blank line between every body paragraph. You explain your argument and back it up with reasons and evidence.

Lay-out for the body paragraphs

Thesis

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are the best sandwiches because they are healthy (1), children will eat them without complaining (2) and they can easily be turned into a gourmet meal (3).

The 3 reasons that are given in the thesis statement will each have their own body paragraph. 

Paragraph 1 will be about how healthy peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are

paragraph 2 will describe how children will eat them without complaining 

the 3rd paragraph is about turning a peanut butter and jelly sandwich into a gourmet meal. 

Example of a body paragraph

Every restaurant should add a healthy peanut butter and jelly sandwich to their menu, especially when they often serve children. Children usually choose unhealthy, fried foods but that is because there is no alternative that they like. Adding even a simple version of a peanut butter sandwich to any menu will allow children to eat something healthy without them complaining that they do not like the food. 

(Add research: quotes, statistics, information)

The hamburger model

• The first sentence of your body paragraph should be the idea that you want to develop within that same paragraph --> the topic sentence. 
  
• Use it as a guide in writing your following sentences. 
  
• Avoid drifting away from your topic sentence, stick to the point. Make sure that you write only what needs to be written. 
  
• Avoid cluttering your sentences with unnecessary words and phrases and skip any irrelevant information. 
• The supporting sentences provide examples and/or evidence and provide specific information. 
• The conclusion sentence reinforces the claim made in the topic sentence.
  

Task #1

Useful words --> Transition words, a.k.a. linking words

Transition words - words like 'however' and 'in conclusion' - help you add a nice flow to your essay. They can link your paragraphs together

Fill in the blanks with one of the following options: personally, however, for example, besides this, first of all, on the other hand, at the moment, especially. 

Living in a small town has a number of advantages. _____ there is no pollution, the air is fresh and you can even grow your own vegetables. _____ there is peace and quiet, and less stress than in a big city. _____, there are several problems to take into consideration too, _____ if you have a family. If the town is too small and far from other cities, it might be hard to find health care and good schools. 

The city has its good points too. _____, there are more job opportunities, better schools and lots of entertainment in the city. _____, the bad points outnumber the good ones when you think in terms of the quality of life you have, in terms of your physical and mental health. _____, I think I would prefer to live in a nice little town on a beach, but that will have to wait until I retire. _____, I have an office job and a promising career ahead of me.

Fill in the blanks with one of the following options: personally, however, for example, besides this, first of all, on the other hand, at the moment, especially. 

Living in a small town has a number of advantages. First of all there is no pollution, the air is fresh and you can even grow your own vegetables. Besides this there is peace and quiet, and less stress than in a big city. On the other hand, there are several problems to take into consideration too, especially if you have a family. If the town is too small and far from other cities, it might be hard to find health care and good schools. 

The city has its good points too. For example, there are more job opportunities, better schools and lots of entertainment in the city. However, the bad points outnumber the good ones when you think in terms of the quality of life you have, in terms of your physical and mental health. Personally, I think I would prefer to live in a nice little town on a beach, but that will have to wait until I retire. At the moment, I have an office job and a promising career ahead of me.

Task #2

Take the topic + thesis statement you picked in part 1 and write the following:

- Introduction + three-point-thesis statement

- Three body paragraphs, one per argument

Finish the two tasks above for next lesson. 

We then continue with the conclusion.

If you have any questions and/or comments after today's lesson, please leave them here!

Living in a small town has a number of advantages. _____ there is no pollution, the air is fresh and you can even grow your own vegetables. _____ there is peace and quiet, and less stress than in a big city. _____, there are several problems to take into consideration too, _____ if you have a family. If the town is too small and far from other cities, it might be hard to find health care and good schools. 

The city has its good points too. _____, there are more job opportunities, better schools and lots of entertainment in the city. _____, the bad points outnumber the good ones when you think in terms of the quality of life you have, in terms of your physical and mental health. _____, I think I would prefer to live in a nice little town on a beach, but that will have to wait until I retire. _____, I have an office job and a promising career ahead of me.

personally

however

for example

besides this

first of all

on the other hand

at the moment

especially