Lesson 1 4H Essay - Unit 5 / lesson 1

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Lesson 2

6 March 2025

Lesson 1

3 March 2025

Agenda Period 3

This is what we will be working on in period 3:

• Essay writing + Test
• Letter of Complaint
• Recap unit 4 
• Finish unit 5 
• Reading Tears of the Tiger

Testing in Period 3

1. Summative Test Essay planned for Thursday, 6 March (2nd lesson)

2. Period 3 Test includes: (28 March - 4 April)

• Grammar - Unit 4 and 5 - all lessons
• Writing a letter of complaint
• Texts and Vocab from Unit 4: lesson 1, 2 & 3 and Unit 5: lesson 1 & 2

Lesson Goals

• I can write a timed practise essay 
• I can use AI to improve my writing
• I can use the English tenses correctly in sentences
• I can analyze and interpret a text in detail, identifying key themes, arguments, and textual evidence to support my understanding.

Formative test

• Write an essay with 5 paragraphs (introduction, 3 x PEE, conclusion)
• Use one of these topics (1-3)
• Compare your essay with the checklist
• Complete your essay within 45 minutes

Tips for Writing a Successful Essay

1. Understand the Question – Make sure you clearly understand what the essay is asking before you begin.

2. Plan Before Writing – Use a mind map or outline to organize your ideas before you start writing.

3. Write a Clear Thesis Statement – This should be a strong, focused sentence that clearly states your argument.

Tips for Writing a Successful Essay

4. Use PEE (Point, Evidence, Explanation) for Body Paragraphs – Make a point, support it with evidence, and explain its relevance.

5. Stay Structured – Follow the standard essay structure: Introduction, Body Paragraphs, and Conclusion.

6. Use Formal Language – Avoid contractions (🚫 don’t → ✅ do not) and casual expressions. 🚫 wanna, 🚫 gonna, 🚫 kinda

Tips for Writing a Successful Essay

7. Proofread Your Work – Check for grammar mistakes, sentence structure, and clarity.

8. Use the writing syllabus and the writing checklist

9. The word 'I' is always written with a capital letter

10. Capital letter at the start of the sentence and a fullstop at the end

Sentence Starters for Each Section

Introduction

1. General Statement (hook): "In today’s society, [topic] is a widely debated issue."
2. Background Information: "[Topic] has been discussed for many years due to its impact on [who/what it affects]."
3. Thesis Statement: "This essay argues that [main argument]."

Thesis Statement Examples

• "While homework reinforces learning, too much of it negatively affects students' well-being."
• "Social media can both connect and isolate people, making its impact complex."
• "Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, requiring immediate global action."

Sentence Starters for Each Section

Body Paragraphs (PEE: Point, Evidence, Explanation)

1. Point: "One reason why [topic] is important is that..."
2. Evidence: "Research indicates that..." / "For example, a study by [name] found that..."
3. Explanation: "This demonstrates that..." / "As a result,..."

For Adding a New Point:

• Firstly, homework helps reinforce what students learn in the classroom...... Secondly, ...... Thirdly, ........ Finally, ......
• In addition, homework allows for individualized learning.
• Moreover, homework teaches students valuable life skills such as responsibility and time management.

For Introducing a Counterpoint:

• On the other hand, excessive homework can lead to burnout and stress.
• However, too much homework may negatively impact students’ well-being.
• Despite its benefits, homework can also reduce time for extracurricular activities.

For Offering a Solution or Compromise:

• Instead of eliminating homework entirely, a better approach would be to assign meaningful, manageable tasks.
• A more balanced solution would be to implement homework limits to prevent students from being overwhelmed.
• One possible alternative is to incorporate homework into the school day with study periods.

Sentence Starters for Each Section

Conclusion

1. Restate Thesis: "In conclusion, it is clear that [paraphrase thesis statement]."
2. Summarize Key Points: "The evidence has shown that..."
3. Final Thought: "Ultimately, a balanced approach is necessary to ensure..."

For Concluding:

• In conclusion, while homework has educational benefits, excessive amounts can be harmful.
• To sum up, a balanced approach to homework is necessary for students’ well-being.
• Ultimately, teachers should prioritize quality over quantity when assigning homework.

Word Order (wie doet wat waar wanneer)

Unlike Dutch, where word order can be more flexible, English follows a strict SVO (Subject-Verb-Object) structure:

✅ English: I (S=wie) eat (V=doet) an apple (O=wat) at work (waar) everyday (wanneer).

🚫 Incorrect: I an apple eat.

✅ Dutch: Ik (S=wie) eet (V=doet) elke dag (wanneer) een appel (O=wat) op het werk (waar).

✍️ Tip: "In English, the verb (action) always comes right after the subject in statements."

a) Questions

In Dutch, questions often use inversion (verb before subject), just like in English:

✅ English: Do you like pizza?

✅ Dutch: Hou jij van pizza?

However, Dutch sometimes allows subject-verb order in casual speech (Jij houdt van pizza? 🚫 You like pizza?), which is 🚫 incorrect in English.

✍️ Tip: "English questions need an auxiliary verb (do/does/did) for most sentences."

b) Time, Manner, Place (TMP)

Dutch follows Time-Manner-Place, but English follows Place-Manner-Time:

✅ Dutch: Ik ga morgen met de trein naar Amsterdam.

✅ English: I am going to Amsterdam by train tomorrow.

✍️ Tip: "In English, place comes before time."

c) Negation ("niet" vs. "not")

Dutch places "niet" in different positions, but in English, "not" comes after the auxiliary verb:

✅ Dutch: Ik ben niet moe.

✅ English: I am not tired.

✍️ Tip: "Always use 'do not' (or 'does not'/'did not') for negation in English, except with 'to be' verbs (am not, is not, are not, was not, were not)."

In-class work - Unit 5 - Lesson 1

Reading (text 1 Kilimanjaro & text 2 Gary's Blog) - Ex. 1-8 on p. 236 - 239

Vocab - Ex. 9 on p. 239

Grammar (tenses) - Ex. 10 & 11 on p. 240

(Not finished - this is homework)

Answers 

Unit 5 - Chapter 1 

Check your work for:

Reading (text 1 Kilimanjaro & text 2 Gary's Blog) - Ex. 1-8 on p. 236 - 239

Reading (text 1 Kilimanjaro & text 2 Gary's Blog) - Ex. 1-8 on p. 236 - 239

 Answers 

Unit 5 - Chapter 1 

Check your work for:

Vocab - Ex. 9 on p. 239

Vocab - Ex. 9 on p. 239

Answers 

Unit 5 - Chapter 1 

Check your work for:

Grammar (tenses) - Ex. 10 & 11 on p. 240

Grammar (tenses) - Ex. 10 & 11 on p. 240

Homework

Prepare for the Summative Essay test

Study your irregular verbs 

Study Grammar U5, L1 - 1-9 on p.62-69

Study Vocab U5, L1 - p. 288 - 289

Read your book