Essay Writing 2.0

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 3

Objective

• Students can write a short essay on the ethics of horse riding, using the basic structure of an essay and formulating a thesis statement

Argumentative essay (betoog)

• A piece of writing in which you persuade/convince your audience of a statement.
  
• In order to do so you use several arguments in favor (pros) of your statement.
  
• You also give some counter arguments (cons), but you refute (weerleggen) those, so that they eventually support your statement.
  

Structure

1. Introduction: attention grabber, hook, thesis statement

2. Pro (+ Con refuted)

3. Pro (+ Con refuted)

4. Pro (+ Con refuted)

5. Conclusion 

Thesis Statement

What: the very basis of your essay: what you will be arguing?

Where: At the end of your introduction

How: By formulating a sentence that contains a topic and a claim. 

Topic + claim

High school should be mandatory

Social media has a negative impact on mental health, especially among teenagers

The climate crisis is a global emergency that requires immediate action.

.

Don't

• Argue facts (He is only a child)
• Argue something you cannot prove (These blue socks are the prettiest socks I own)
• Avoid using phrases like "I believe" or "In my opinion."
• 
  

Improve this thesis statement:
"I'm going to talk about dogs in this paper."

Improve this thesis statement:
"Fast food is available in many places."

Improve this thesis statement:
"I think social media is bad for you."

Improve this thesis statement:
"Drinking alcohol can have both positive and negative effects"

And then?

Once you have formulated your thesis statement you can start developing your arguments.

Every argument should get its own paragraph.

That means 3 arguments/body paragraphs

Each argument should be directly linked to the thesis statement.

Example:

Thesis statement: School uniforms should be required in all schools in the Netherlands.

Argument 1: They take away socio-economical differences

Argument 2: They encourage school spirit

Argument 3: They save parents and students money and time

Keeping your essay focused

• For every paragraph / argument, ask yourself: Does this link back to the thesis statement? Is it relevant to prove my point made in the thesis statement.
• No? -> change either  the statement or the argument!
• Within every paragraph, ask yourself: Is what I'm saying here relevant to the topic sentence? Does it explain or illustrate the argument made in the topic sentence?
  No? -> change either the topic sentence or your content 

Goals

• Students can write a short essay on the ethics of horse riding, using the basic structure of an essay and formulating a thesis statement