Essay Writing 2.0

Objective
  • Students can write a short essay on the ethics of horse riding, using the basic structure of an essay and formulating a thesis statement
1 / 16
next
Slide 1: Slide
EngelsMBOStudiejaar 3

This lesson contains 16 slides, with interactive quizzes and text slides.

time-iconLesson duration is: 45 min

Items in this lesson

Objective
  • Students can write a short essay on the ethics of horse riding, using the basic structure of an essay and formulating a thesis statement

Slide 1 - Slide

Argumentative essay (betoog)
  • A piece of writing in which you persuade/convince your audience of a statement.
  • In order to do so you use several arguments in favor (pros) of your statement.
  • You also give some counter arguments (cons), but you refute (weerleggen) those, so that they eventually support your statement.

Slide 2 - Slide

Slide 3 - Slide

Structure
1. Introduction: attention grabber, hook, thesis statement
2. Pro (+ Con refuted)
3. Pro (+ Con refuted)
4. Pro (+ Con refuted)
5. Conclusion 


Slide 4 - Slide

Thesis Statement
What: the very basis of your essay: what you will be arguing?
Where: At the end of your introduction
How: By formulating a sentence that contains a topic and a claim

Slide 5 - Slide

Topic + claim
High school should be mandatory
Social media has a negative impact on mental health, especially among teenagers
The climate crisis is a global emergency that requires immediate action.

.

Slide 6 - Slide

Don't
  • Argue facts (He is only a child)
  • Argue something you cannot prove (These blue socks are the prettiest socks I own)
  • Avoid using phrases like "I believe" or "In my opinion."

Slide 7 - Slide

Improve this thesis statement:
"I'm going to talk about dogs in this paper."

Slide 8 - Open question

Improve this thesis statement:
"Fast food is available in many places."

Slide 9 - Open question

Improve this thesis statement:
"I think social media is bad for you."

Slide 10 - Open question

Improve this thesis statement:
"Drinking alcohol can have both positive and negative effects"

Slide 11 - Open question

Slide 12 - Slide

And then?
Once you have formulated your thesis statement you can start developing your arguments.
Every argument should get its own paragraph.

That means 3 arguments/body paragraphs
Each argument should be directly linked to the thesis statement.

Slide 13 - Slide

Example:
Thesis statement: School uniforms should be required in all schools in the Netherlands.
Argument 1: They take away socio-economical differences
Argument 2: They encourage school spirit
Argument 3: They save parents and students money and time

Slide 14 - Slide

Keeping your essay focused
  • For every paragraph / argument, ask yourself: Does this link back to the thesis statement? Is it relevant to prove my point made in the thesis statement.
  • No? -> change either  the statement or the argument!
  • Within every paragraph, ask yourself: Is what I'm saying here relevant to the topic sentence? Does it explain or illustrate the argument made in the topic sentence?
    No? -> change either the topic sentence or your content 

Slide 15 - Slide

Goals
  • Students can write a short essay on the ethics of horse riding, using the basic structure of an essay and formulating a thesis statement

Slide 16 - Slide