VWO 5 recap structure

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 5

 Writing Class: Thesis statement + arguments

Today

- Language use

- Thesis statement

- structure/ outline

Formal language

Leerdoelen

• Ik kan beschrijven wat een thesis statement is. 
• Ik heb geoefend met het schrijven van een thesis statement. 
• Ik kan de juiste form van een argumentative essay herkennen en peerfeedback geven.

Thesis statement

• A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay. 
• It usually comes near the end of your introduction.
• It should always clearly state the main idea you want to get across. Everything else in your essay should relate back to this idea.

Thesis statement

Very important to remember: a thesis statement is a statement and thus not a question!!!

You will be asked a question in the assignment. For instance 'Has the internet had a positive or negative impact on education?'

How to write a thesis statement? 

Step 1: figure out your answer to the question asked. This will be your temporary thesis statement. 

For instance: The internet has had more of a positive than a negative effect on education.

How to write a thesis statement? 

Step 2: consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you

With this information you will write your essay outline and eventually your body paragraphs. 

How to write a thesis statement? 

Step 3: after having written your entire essay you will re-write your thesis statement and include your arguments in your thesis. 

For instance: The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its many benefits for education: the internet facilitates easier access to information, exposure to different perspectives, and a flexible learning environment for both students and teachers.

Example

'Should the age limit for alcohol use be lowered to 16 in the USA?'

Step 1: The age should be lowered to 16.

Step 2: Arguments: reduce binge drinking, promote responsible drinking, you can drive a car.

Step 3: "Lowering the legal drinking age to 16 could have potential benefits in terms of reducing binge drinking among young adults, promoting responsible drinking behavior, and creating a more consistent legal framework with other age-related laws."

Thesis statement practise

For each of the following questions, try to think of an appropriate thesis statement. Think of the steps: first, answer the question, then consider why you believe this and how you are going to convince other of your viewpoint, then write a complete thesis including reasons why this is your statement. 

Should violent video games be sold to minors?

Do we really have equal rights for men and women?

Should students be able to pick their teachers?

Finished? 

What are the three steps while conducting a proper thesis statement?

Step 1

Figure out your answer to the question asked.

Step 2

Consider why this is your answer and how you will convince your reader to agree with you

Step 3

After having written your entire essay you will re-write your thesis statement and include your arguments in your thesis. 

When to write your topic sentences? 

As said before, the first step is to write your thesis statement. In this process, you ask yourself why this is your point of view and how  you are going to persuade your readers. 

While doing this, you are going to construct an essay outline. 

I. Introduction   

          A. Hook

          B. Background information

          C. Thesis statement

II. Paragraph 1

          A. Topic sentence

          B. Evidence and/or examples

III. Paragraph 2 (same as paragraph 1)

IV. Paragraph 3 (same as paragraph 1) 

V. Conclusion

          A. Summary

          B. Significance

          C. Strong closing sentence 

Checklist body paragraphs

Ask yourself the following questions for each body paragraph: 

• Does the reader need to know this in order to understand or accept my thesis?
  
• Does this give evidence for my thesis?
  
• Does this explain the reasoning behind my thesis?
  
• Does this show something about the consequences or
  importance of my thesis?