4V - topic sentences

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Today:

First half: Topic sentences and PEEL paragraphs 

Second half: Campaign speeches 

- if you are listed in the audience you will stay in Teams. 

- if you are not in the audience this week, then you will complete a reading assignment on itslearning. 

topic sentence

Quotes / statistics / examples

Conclusion

explanation of the evidence

Evidence 

Point

Explanation

Link

Evidence 

Explanation

Point 

Link

Firstly

Topic sentence

An example of this is..

This shows..

The reason for this is...

As a result...

A good illustration of this is..

In conclusion

We can therefore see...

Where do you put the topic sentence?

1. At the end of your introduction
2. At the end of your body paragraphs
3. At the start of your body paragraphs
4. In the conclusion

What is the main purpose of a topic sentence?

1. It has no purpose
2. To give the reader an idea of what the paragraph is about
3. To confuse the reader

What should the topic sentence always be linked to?

1. The title of your essay
2. The conclusion
3. The thesis statement
4. It doesn't have to be linked to anything

Take out your thesis statement again

Which three ideas are you going to use to support your opinion?

Write these three ideas down below your thesis statement

These three ideas will be the main topics of your body paragraphs.

Look at the example on the next slide to see how this could be done.

Example: : Global Warming is a serious threat

Thesis statement: Government funding must be utilized to protect the environment from the
negative effects of global warming because it effects our economy (1), it will have a devastating effect on sea level rise  (2) and  it will cause more storms and weather extremes  in the near future (3). 

Topic sentence one: First of all, the effect of global warming will  have an extremely negative impact on our economy.

Topic sentence two: Secondly, the melting of the polar icecaps causes a major sea level rise which is a dangerous  for our country.

Topic sentence three: What is more, weather extremes cause a lot of damage...

Now make a topic sentence for each of your supporting ideas.

These sentences should include the topic and a clear link to the thesis statement.

Next up: essay writing tips 

Linking Words

- Shows how your arguments / paragraphs are connected
- "Moreover, On the contrary, Nevertheless, Additionally"
- Check the list in your reader, also for other useful phrases

- Concluding: "Finally, All in all, On the whole, In conclusion, ..."
- Etc. 

Do:

- Do: add as many linking words as possibe; moreover, however, in addition, furthermore, firstly, secondly.

(see page 10 of reader in itslearning for more)

- Do not: use swear words or informal words - (stupid, bullshit, shitty etc!)

Vocabulary

- Think about words with similar meanings, even for simple
    words: "he says" > claims, argues, believes, states

- Think of alternatives in Dutch and translate those to English
   (so use your dictionary):
   boos > woedend, kwaad, gefrustreerd, vol haat, ...
   angry > furious, pissed off (not suitable for an essay!), frustrated, resentful, ...

Common Grammar Mistakes

- Their (their house), They're (they are), There (there is no water)
- We're (we are), where (where were you?)
- Than (= vergelijkingen, bigger than), then (= toen/daarna)
- Witch (= heks), which (= welke), wich (= x)

- Noun vs. Verb: Effect (= een effect), affect (= beïnvloeden)
- Plural: child/children    "New York and London are (not is)"

To do:

Audience members stay here!: Tjark, Philip, Susan, Leon, Jens, Rosalie, Bram, Lucia, Milan, Alexander, Joost, Lieke, Ilse, Sjoerd & Bo. 

Rest of the class: Complete reading activity on itslearning / socrative.