Essay Writing - basics & thesis statement

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Essay writing

VWO 4 English Term 4

Goals

You will learn the rules for writing an essay 

You will learn what makes a good thesis statement

What is an essay?

Essay

Introduction -- thesis statement

Body -- arguments in favour, refute arguments against

Conclusion -- summary, reformulate your thesis statement

To write an essay, you should generally:

1- Novel 2  Free choice - ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY  PREP

2-   Read & Research your book - Google is your best friend

3-  Develop a thesis on 3 topics related to your book

4- Outline your essay                                                                                          5-  Write your essay

6- Edit your writing to check spelling and grammar

Steps 1-3 before test - Steps 4-6 during test

Hamburger model

What is the Hamburger model also known as?

1. Pizza model
2. Taco model
3. Sushi model
4. Sandwich model

Thesis statement

• Must be an arguable statement about which readers could disagree.

• Must be a clear statement of your entire argument, not just a part of it.

• Should NOT include the first or second person (I, we, us, you, etc.)

• Should NOT contain evidence, quotations, or specific examples. This is a statement of argument—that is it. Evidence and specific examples should be saved for the body of the paper

What should a thesis statement not include?

1. A clear statement of the entire argument
2. An arguable statement
3. The first or second person
4. Quotations or specific examples

A good thesis will be: 


• Arguable. “Othello is a tragic play about the downfall of a Moor”  isn’t a thesis—it’s a fact.
  
• Provable through  evidence from the book:  “Othello is a confusing but ultimately very well-written play” is a weak thesis because it offers the writer’s personal opinion about the play. Yes, it’s arguable, but it’s not a claim that can be proven or supported with examples taken from the play itself. 


A good thesis needs to be arguable.

Agree: It encourages critical thinking.

Disagree: It makes writing difficult.

compare and contrast:


While both men plot revenge, Iago is the villain and Othello the tragic hero, because Iago actually enjoys punishing those he thinks have offended him while Othello struggles with his crimes.

Improve these 'thesis statements'

Marvel is better than DC

Farmers are idiots

Literature is useless

While both Marvel and DC make films about superheroes, Marvel films are more successful because the stories are rooted in the real world.

Grammar & Vocab

Linking words

Varied vocabulary  - not just 'very'

No contractions 

Don't keep switching verb tenses

Be objective 

Avoid 'I' sentences

contrast or continuation

Wrap up

Essay --> hamburger 

Thesis statement (the heart of your essay)--> Arguable, reasonable, clear

What are the three key characteristics of a thesis statement in an argumentative essay?

1. Arguable, reasonable, clear
2. Simple, uninteresting, factual
3. Personal, vague, complex
4. Informative, brief, convoluted