Argumentative essay

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Opinion essay

How to

What is the purpose of argumentative/opinion essay?

1. to compare and contrast
2. to share effects / causes
3. to give examples
4. to support opinion using evidence

How to structure your essay

Title

Introduction - make the reader interested ("hook") + background info + thesis statement

Paragraph to support the thesis

Paragraph to argue against the thesis

Conclusion - summarize and conclude

These may be switched  

What is the correct structure of an essay?

1. statement - argument - example - conclusion
2. catching opening - argument - argument - statement
3. catching opening - statement - arguments - conclusion
4. statement - idea - question - opinion

Thesis statement

• A thesis statement is one complete sentence that expresses your position 
• A thesis statement can also be called the 'main point' of an essay

Example thesis statement

Most high-school and even middle-school teachers are in a constant battle with smartphones and other devices for attention in the classroom. Students are finding ways to text, surf the web, and post on social media all while the teacher is instructing. They hide their devices in their lap, a sweatshirt pocket, or even in an open pocket of their backpack. Smartphones should to be forbidden in every classroom.

Introduction - Match

Kids with black eyes. Kids crying themselves to sleep. Kids afraid to go to school these are just some of the things that happen when kids are bullied. 

Millions of kids are bullied every month. They are bullied every month. They are bullied physically and emotionally, and made fun of and intimidated in person, online over phones, and almost everywhere. Not enough is being done. 

Bullying should be punished by a fine or jail time because it is too prevalent, it leaves long-lasting emotional and academic scars, and it can lead to suicide. In addition, fines and jail time will prevent further bullying. 

Hook

Background info

Thesis statement

Plan your line of argumentation

• Pick a side
• List reasons
• Add examples
• Narrow down your thesis

Think about this statement:

Should games be used to spread the news?

Visible line of argumentation: Should we play the news?

The BBC has recently published a game of war, but not a Call of Duty kind of game. The Syrian Journey is about the horrible ordeal the refugees have to undergo to get to a safe haven, Europe. Is it OK though, to make a game about such serious issue? In my opinion it is. We should embrace games as a new medium of exploring serious subject matters.  

First of all, unlike traditional news media, games can give you a better perspective on the subject matter. Because of its interactive features, a newsgame like the Syrian Journey puts you right in the refugees’ shoes. You get to relive their stories and their troubles instead of hearing about them from an old boring anchorman. 

Secondly, newsgames can broaden the audience. It is well-known that younger generations are getting less and less interested in old-fashioned news broadcasts. In the age of technological advances, it is almost impossible to expect youngsters to engage with the news in the same way the older generation do. By making news stories more interactive, teens are more likely to follow the current news. 

To sum up, games should find their way in the broadcasting industry because they bring many advantages. They allow you to feel the news and be in it. They also attract a wider audience. While some still have to get used to it, in future, playing the news could be just as normal as reading the news.

Match the purposes to the paragraphs

Arguments to support the title

Arguments against the title

The writer's own opinion

An introduction to the topic

Title    

Introduction (no opinion!)

Argument(s)

against

Argument(s)

for

Conclusion/Opinion

Useful linking words and phrases:

• To show purpose: to / in order to / so as to / so that
• To list ideas: Firstly/secondly/ finally/ In the first place/Lastly/ In addition/ in conclusion
  
• To contrast ideas: However/ although/ in contrast/ whereas/ but/ nethertheless / in spite of / despite. 

Put the phrases in the correct groups according to their function in an opinion essay.

Giving your own opinion

Structuring and sequencing your ideas

Adding ideas

Contrasting two ideas / examples / statements

Explaining

In my opinion/ view

However, …

I partly / fully agree that …

Although …

In addition to this, …

Firstly / Secondly / Thirdly ...

Moreover, …

Finally …

Consequently …

In conclusion …

Furthermore, …

Another reason why … 

To sum up …

I firmly believe that …

What is more, …

As a result …

I personally feel that …

First / Second of all ...

For or against?

A: 'Going to the cinema is always better

than watching a movie at home.'

B: 'Film stars get paid too much money.'

Sentence A:

For

Sentence A:

Against

Sentence B:

Against

Sentence B:

For

We need to support our local cinemas.

You can stop and start when you want.

No one should get that amount of money.

They make the film companies a lot of money.

You can watch it as many times as you want.

Films always look better on a big screen.