V6 Essay practice

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• Middelbare school
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• Leerjaar 6

V6 Essay practice

Final touches

What do you want to improve, practise and/or learn as preparation for your SE?

In this LessonUp: Essay foci

Linking words and common mistakes

Argumentation: SExI/PEEL structure, thesis statements and topic sentences

Punctuation and academic language: shared OneDrive

Upping your game: variety and complexity in your language and grammar

What mistakes might often be made in essay writing?

Common mistakes in essay writing - title

Title

• incomplete 
  
• not linked to content 
• Capital letters 

APA Title rules:

• title case - each principle word starts with a capital letter.
  
• succinct and to the point.

Common mistakes in essay writing -Thesis statement

•  incomplete / unclear
• too long
• too vague
• not present

Remember - thesis = topic + opinion. Use should if you find it difficult to write a proper thesis statement. 

Common mistakes in essay writing -fallacies of reasoning

1. popularity (ad popular) - 'everyone knows........'

2. 

Common mistakes in essay writing - paragraphs

• Unclear structure/ arguments (MAKE IT SEXI / PEEL) 
  
• No topic sentence
• closing sentence unrelated to either TS of content of paragraph
• Ending with a long (example) quote.
• 
  

Common mistakes in essay writing -  references. 

• Using reference (quite often these/those/this/that) without (proper) antecedent. 
  
• 
  

Common mistakes in essay writing - style

Informal language: fine in speaking NOT in formal writing.. !!!!

•  kids, stuff, things, really, very
  
• Get-passive -  got robbed, get taken NOOOOOOOOOO
• phrasal verbs!!!
• Contracted forms: don’t – do not 

Common mistakes in essay writing

Stylistic:

• Leaving out info because it is 'understood/implied'. can lead to confusion. 
• ‘You’-constructions (too direct):
  If you make something illegal ->  If something is made illegal 
  

Be specific in choosing your words. If you need to use an amplifier, your chosen word should be strong/interesting. E.g. very important -> vital/essential

Common mistakes in essay writing

Linking words:

• For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, and So, Because 
  

Don’t use these at the start of your sentences. quite often you do not even need them. If you do use cohesive devices and varying linking words:  However, Moreover, Therefore,  
At last, -> Finally, 
At first, -> First of all, / Firstly, / In the first place, 

Common mistakes in essay writing

Punctuation

Please remember to start your sentences with a capital letter and end them with a full stop. Make sure you write full sentences. 

Linking words need special punctuation, e.g.:

Moreover, ...

This happens, for example, when people forget to...

Essay writing: practice

www.abc.net.au

Agree or disagree?
A gaming curfew is a good idea.

1. I agree
2. Nope

Agree or disagree?
The government's gaming limit violates human rights.

1. Yeah!
2. I don't think so?

Agree or disagree?
Parents must control their children's online behaviour by means of screen time.

1. Yep
2. I disagree

Which question was most controversial?

Formulate a controversial thesis statement, based on the topic.

Pathos

Logos

Ethos

A celebrity tells you a new face cream works miracles for them.

Studying helps you get better grades.

Write a body paragraph on this thesis statement:
"Children under 16 should be legally obliged to have screen time to limit their exposure to the Internet"

Improve the following paragraph:
"Yet it is a violation of human rights to censor their access to online resources. You should only as a parent be responsible to educate your children. Media literacy training is a better way then letting the government censor people's online behaviour. Also, it is dangerous to pose a limit on the Internet.