H5/A6 - Essay Writing 1 - Structure

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• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 5,6

Essay Writing 1 - Structure

H5 & A6 - Periode A 

Essay Test

- 10 Statements in your reader

- 2 Statements on the test

- Choose 1 statement & write for/against

- 400-500 words

- Right level of English + Right structure 

Example Statements

- "Social media are destroying real-life communication."

- "Climate change is caused by humans and should be solved 
     by humans."

- "The Netherlands should take in as many refugees as 
     possible."
- "Guns should be made legal in the Netherlands, just like in 
     the USA, in order for people to protect themselves." 

Essay Structure

- Title
- Introduction
- Main argument 1
- Main argument 2
- (Main argument 3) 
- Conclusion

Title

- No title = 0 points
- Basic title = 1 point
          -> Repeating the statement or only stating the topic.
          -> "Guns are good." "Guns in the Netherlands." "Guns."
- Exciting / interesting/clever title = 2 points
          -> "The controlling nature of gun control laws."
          -> "Gun control laws are bulletproof."
  

Introduction

- Introducing the topic
- Describing the statement you've chosen 
- A thesis statement: 1 sentence to indicate if you're for or 
   against the statement

 Not: ".... is the statement, I'm in favour." 
 But ..... (see next slide) 

Thesis Statement

- Introduces your point of view that guides the reader 

- It contains your two (or three) main arguments in one sentence, and

   shows the structure of your essay. 
- "The Iraq War was not justified because the sending of the
 troops was based on little evidence (1), merely created a power
 vacuum after disposing of Saddam Hussein (2), and was
 disastrous for innocent Iraqi citizens (3)."

2 Main Arguments

- All focused on one main argument
- Structure for each paragraph:   
        - Introduction + topic sentence (one sentence that shows
           what's the main argument that you're going to make) 
        - Sub-arguments, evidence, examples (TEXAS-model)
        - Conclusion (summing up in differnt words)

Conclusion

- Summary of your arguments (in original words, not copied from your essay)
- Restatement of your point of view 
- Concluding sentence 
- (Try to take it a step further / give some advice / relate your 
    arguments to a bigger picture) 
- The United States should thus think about the  consequences
  of the Iraq War before starting another war in the Middle East.

Practise:

- Essay Writing 1 and let your partner read the essay. Pay attention to: content; construction; (TEXAS structure or HAMBURGER) Language; Brings the message hoem?
- Followed the instructions? 
- We'll practise writing arguments & writing style in the next 
   two lessons, and grammar in the lessons after that.