BB Essay Lesson 1: Structure & Content

Essay Writing
Lesson 1: Structure & Content

How to structure an essay?
How to make sure the content is 
relevant?
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Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolvwoLeerjaar 3

This lesson contains 34 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 30 min

Items in this lesson

Essay Writing
Lesson 1: Structure & Content

How to structure an essay?
How to make sure the content is 
relevant?

Slide 1 - Slide

What is an Essay?

Slide 2 - Slide

Slide 3 - Slide

What is an argumentative essay?
A
Betoog
B
Beschouwing
C
Uiteenzetting

Slide 4 - Quiz

Argumentative Essay
Purpose (doel) 
Convince (overtuig)

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

Slide 5 - Slide

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

Slide 6 - Slide

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.

Slide 7 - Slide

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?

Slide 8 - Slide

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

Slide 9 - Open question

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

Slide 10 - Open question

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

Slide 11 - Open question

Topic Sentences
Your argument in one sentence.

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

Slide 12 - Slide

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

Slide 13 - Open question

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

Slide 14 - Open question

Turn this into a topic sentence:
School uniforms: uncomfortable

Slide 15 - Open question

Build-a-Burger

Slide 16 - Slide

timer
2:00
  • 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

Slide 17 - Drag question

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.

Slide 18 - Slide

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.


Slide 19 - Slide

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


Slide 20 - Slide

Are you now ready to start writing your first proper essay?
A
Absolutely!
B
Yes, I think so.
C
Probably.
D
No.

Slide 21 - Quiz

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. 

Slide 22 - Slide

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. 

Slide 23 - Slide

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. 

Slide 24 - Slide

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. 

Slide 25 - Slide

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

-->

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. 

Slide 26 - Slide

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


Slide 27 - Slide

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. 

Slide 28 - Slide

Practice Assignment

Slide 29 - Slide

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.

Slide 30 - Slide

What would be your thesis statement?

Slide 31 - Open question

What would be your three topic sentences?

Slide 32 - Open question

Hand in a picture of the outline.

Slide 33 - Open question

Next Lesson


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

Slide 34 - Slide