Week 41-1+2 Essay Structure + Debate

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Today

• Short introduction on essay structure
• Example essay
• Feedback on writing assignments (some examples)
• Opportunity to adapt

Goal:

• You know which elements are represented in an opininion essay
• You know how to structure an opinion essay
• You know what is meant by thesis statement 

Essay structure...

Introduction

• what is the topic?
• what is my opinion > thesis statement: I agree / disagree

First paragraph

• argument 1 to support your opinion
• topic sentence 1, followed by examples/explanation: Firstly, .....

Second paragraph

• argument 2 to support your opinion
  
• topic sentence 2, followed by examples/explanation: Secondly, .....

Conclusion

• short summary of the previous (and you're allowed to add an afterthought)

Example essay

Do you agree or disagree? Why?

Example Essay

What's the thesis statement?

What's the first topic sentence? Examples/explanation?

What's the second topic sentence? Examples/explanation?

An example from class

Compliments for your written work!

I've been browsing through your work and have picked some examples.

An introduction

Very nice introduction to the topic. Nitpick: some people choose to live because ....

Thesis statement: is not a question. And you should make your position clear right at the beginning.

An introduction and paragraph

Well structured thesis statement and first parapraph. 

But: introduction somewhat unclear. "The video was about". What video? Your reader doesn't know it.

A conclusion

Thesis statement: add for several reasons.

Reason 1: structure ok but rephrase it. Your point 1 = endurance

point 2 = loneliness, just the two of you together 

Conclusion: very nice wrap up: repeating arguments and rephrasing them.

Compare and rewrite

• now rewrite your essay using the new information
• feel free to consult with classmate (or me) if you're not sure about changes to make
• hand in again :-)

Hot-air Balloon debate

• choose a celebrity (don't share his or her name)
• write on a sheet of paper: why can't the world do without this celebrity? (so make sure your celebrity is an important, indispensible one!)

Hot-air Balloon debate - Round 1

Link to tool

• Imagine: You are a celebrity. 
• It's a lovely day. The five of you are taking a ride in a hot-air balloon. Something's about to go horribly wrong: you are too heavy and you are about to crash into a church. 
• In order to save all of you: two must exit the balloon (and fall to a certain death)

Round 1

One minute

• Give a one-minute speech
• Present your arguments why you should stay

• After the presentations, the audience votes who stays and who goes 

Round 2

You thought you were out of the woods... well, you aren't.

• There's three left
• But only one can stay
• Give a short presentation and explain why the other two celebrities should leave the balloon
• Again, the audience decides

BBC Game

Play this game.

What do you think of it?

• Should games like these be used to communicate news?
• Why? Why not? Write down your arguments on a sheet of paper
• Discuss in groups (3-4) whose arguments are best