VWO 6 Writing an essay Class 1

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

VWO 6 Writing Class 1

Today

Class work

- repeat basis outline essays

Individually and in groups

- check each other's essays

- rewrite your own essay

Leerdoelen

• Ik weet hoe ik een essay moet schrijven volgens een vaste opzet. 
• Ik weet waar ik op moet letten als ik mijn essay herschrijf.

Outline essay

1. Introduction (with hook, contextualization and thesis statement) 
2. Paragraphs (with topic sentence, examples/sources, and natural links) 
3. Conclusion (with repetition, thesis statement and clincher) 

Thesis statement

Your thesis statement reflects your opinion about a certain topic. 

It is not: 

- a question

- a simple statement as 'I'm going to talk about ...'

A thesis statement does not contain arguments (these can be found in your paragraphs) 

Topic sentence

A topic sentence gives an argument that supports your thesis. 

It is not: 

- a question

- an example

For instance:

thesis statement: Students should be asked to evaluate their teachers twice a year.

topic sentence 1: Students see their teachers every class and know best what goes right and what goes wrong.

topic sentence 2: Students can evaluate their teachers with a different goal in minds than their supervisors.

topic sentence 3: Students are the ones who have to learn from their teachers and have the right to speak up if they gain unsufficient knowledge. 

Hooks and clinchers

Hook: you start off your introduction with a hook that draws in your readers; you want them to keep reading

Clinchers: conclusion sentence; you want your readers to remember your essay so end in way they will remember 

Review each other's work 

You have all written an essay, now you are going to review each other's work.

You do not have to focus on language, i.e. grammar, vocabulary, sentence structure, etc. 

You will have to focus on whether the outline of the essay is correct. 

Review each other's work

Introduction:

• Does the introduction have a clear hook? (Would you consider to keep reading?)
• Does he/she contextualize the thesis?
  (Does the essay writer make clear why he/she is writing this essay or does he/she give information that is necessary to understand the essay?) 
• Do you have a clear thesis statement?
  (not a question, or a statement that doesn't contain an opinion; is the writer's opinion clear after reading the thesis?)

Paragraphs:

• Do the paragraphs contain a topic sentence stating a clear argument?
  (is it really an argument that support the thesis?)
• Do the paragraphs contain enough examples and or sources that support the topic sentence?
  
• Is there a logical and clear link between the paragraphs?
  

Conclusion

• Are the main arguments of the essay repeated? 
• Is the thesis statement restated? 
• Is there a clincher? (Does the essay conclude logically?; Would you remember this essay because of its final sentence?) 

Introduction:

Does the introduction have a clear hook? (Would you consider to keep reading?)

Does he/she contextualize the thesis? (Does the essay writer make clear why he/she is writing this essay or does he/she give information that is necessary to understand the essay?)

Do you have a clear thesis statement? (not a question, or a statement that doesn't contain an opinion; is the writer's opinion clear after reading the thesis?)

Paragraphs:

Do the paragraphs contain a topic sentence stating a clear argument? (is it really an argument that support the thesis?)

Do the paragraphs contain enough examples and or sources that support the topic sentence?

Is there a logical and clear link between the paragraphs?

Conclusion

Are the main arguments of the essay repeated?

Is the thesis statement restated?

Is there a clincher? (Does the essay conclude logically?; Would you remember this essay because of its final sentence?)

What to do? 

1. Switch essays with the person sitting next to you
2. Review his/her introduction 
3. Switch essays with the person sitting in front of you.
4. Review the paragraphs of the essay you know have 
5. Switch essays with the person sitting next to you
6. Review the conclusion of the essay you know have 

What to do? 

• Return the essays to its owners 
• Look at the commentary you've received
• Use this to rewrite your essay 
• Hand in your essay again on Magister

Individually 

Finished?

- Read your English book 

End of the class 

Next class: new essay topic

Homework: finish rewriting your essay and hand in via Magister