BB Essay Lesson 1: Structure & Content

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• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Essay Writing

Lesson 1: Structure & Content

How to structure an essay?

How to make sure the content is 

relevant?

What is an Essay?

What is an argumentative essay?

1. Betoog
2. Beschouwing
3. Uiteenzetting

Argumentative Essay

Purpose (doel) 

= 

Convince (overtuig)

Je hebt een stelling (thesis) waarvan je anderen probeert te overtuigen met goede argumenten. 

Example Topics

Students must wear uniforms

All cars should be painted yellow

Homework should be banned

School should be four days a week

Video games should be banned

University should be free

Parents should be held legally responsible for the actions of their minor children

Thesis Statement

One sentence that expresses the main idea of your essay.

It is not a fact, it should be debatable.

Fact: Abortion is legal in The Netherlands

Thesis Statement: Abortion should become illegal in The Netherlands.

Create a Thesis (Practice)

Topic: School Uniforms?

1) Are you for or against wearing school uniforms? Decide on your opinion.

Ask yourself these questions as the basis for your brainstorm:

- Would you want to wear a school Uniform? Why/why not?

- Why might schools choose to have a school uniform?

What are some of the cons (nadelen) of wearing a school uniform?

What are some of the pros (voordelen) of wearing a school uniform?

What would be your thesis statement for this topic (school uniforms)?

Topic Sentences

Your argument in one sentence.

Example: Having to wear school uniforms does not allow students to find their own style.

Turn this into a topic sentence:
School uniforms: equality.

Turn this into a topic sentence:
School uniforms: rich & poor.

Turn this into a topic sentence:
School uniforms: uncomfortable

Build-a-Burger

• Decide on your topic

• Organize your ideas

• Write the body paragraphs

• Write the introduction

• Add the finishing touches

• Write the conclusion

• Write your thesis statement

Introduction

Main goal: Introducing the topic and grabbing the interest of the reader.

TIPS FOR WRITING THE INTRODUCTION

1. It needs to include a thesis statement.

2. It should introduce the topic.

3. It has to provide an overview of the paper.

Second, Third, & Fourth Paragraph

Main goal: Providing details, such as facts, quotes, examples & statistics.

TIPS FOR WRITING THE INTRODUCTION

1. Each paragraph needs a topic sentence.

2. The rest of the paragraph gives examples and evidence.

Conclusion

Main goal: Concluding the essay

TIPS FOR WRITING THE INTRODUCTION

1. Restate (herhaal) your thesis statement in different words.

2. Explain how each body paragraph supports the thesis statement.

DO NOT give new information in the conclusion

Are you now ready to start writing your first proper essay?

1. Absolutely!
2. Yes, I think so.
3. Probably.
4. No.

Never start without an outline

You might now know a lot about the structure and what needs to be in your essay.

However...

Even if you know all that you don't just want to pick a topic and start writing. No matter how good your English is, that will always result in a messy essay with your thoughts and arguments all over the place. 

What is an outline? 

It's the best hack you'll ever learn for writing an essay. If you create an outline, you've basically already written your essay. 

See that thing to the left here? If you can replace the a. b. and c. with an actual sentence. You've created an outline. 

For example 

Introduction

a. It is inhumane, a violation of human rights, and a practice that should have never made it into the modern age. The death penalty has been abolished in many countries, but even now people are still punished with death for their crimes. 

b. The death penalty should be abolished. 

For example 

Body - Paragraph 1

a. The death penalty is expensive.

b. All the costs associated with someone on death row are much higher than giving someone a life sentence. Costs of appeal, court cases, special prison (cells), etc.

c. It is better to abolish the death penalty if it only ends up costing the tax payers more in the end. 

With this outline, I can very easily write my first paragraph. 

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I just need to add some statistics, but I already have my first and final sentence and a clear idea of the examples I want to use. 

So don't just fill in some key-words, make full sentences!

Body - Paragraph 1

a. The death penalty is expensive.

b. All the costs associated with someone on death row are much higher than giving someone a life sentence. Costs of appeal, court cases, special prison (cells), etc.

c. It is better to abolish the death penalty if it only ends up costing the tax payers more in the end. 

What's the point?

Clearer sentences/ overall story 

Better grammar

You can just copy and paste the main points & only have to add examples 

Avoiding repetition or overlap in arguments

Avoid talking about different arguments in the same body paragraph

Take it seriously

If you find yourself having trouble filling in the outline that might mean that:

- You've chosen a topic that is too broad or narrow.

- You haven't got enough (unique) arguments.

-  You have too many arguments (so pick your best ones only). 

If you can't fill in the outline, then you're not ready to write your essay. 

Practice Assignment

Steps

1) Find a partner. Probably the person sitting next to you. 

2) Pick one of the two topics from the second writing practice assignment. 

- Maatschappelijke Stage

- Onderwijs moet anders

3) Start by writing an outline (check the previous slides if you need some help). 

4) Divide the tasks and start writing your essay.

What would be your thesis statement?

What would be your three topic sentences?

Hand in a picture of the outline.

Next Lesson

Next lesson: We'll look at the language you need to use when writing an essay and some common mistakes students make.