Essay writing lessons 1 + 2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Essay writing 4H Lesson 1

Reality Television

Formal and informal language

Overall Learning aim: 

At the end of the lesson series, you will be able to write two body paragraphs of an opinion essay in a formal style on the topic of reality television shows using between 75-100 words.

Overall Success criteria 

SC 1 : You can use five words related to reality television shows from the list provided to describe your opinion about reality TV shows. 

SC 2 : You can use formal language based on the list of informal versus formal language provided to give your opinion about reality TV shows in two body paragraphs of an opinion essay and include relevant information and arguments.

SC 3: You can structure your ideas in a cohesive way in two body paragraphs of an opinion essay using between 75-100 words.

Today's Learning aim: 

(WALT: What are we learning today)

At the end of the lesson, you can use formal language to write your opinion on reality television shows and and can formulate one argument for and one argument against reality television shows using between 75-100 words.

Success criteria 

(WILF: What I am looking for)

SC 1 : You can categorize formal and informal language and label 9 sets of 4-5 formal and informal words/phrases based on the lists provided.

SC 2 : You can use five words related to reality television shows from the list provided to give your opinion on reality television shows using between 25-30 words.

SC 3: You can underpin your opinion on reality television shows by writing one argument for and one argument against reality television shows using between 50-70 words.

Warm-up: What TYPE of reality television do you know?

Types of reality television

• Documentary-style—watching people do their daily personal and professional activities
• Elimination/Game shows—Participants compete to win a prize, sometimes while living     together. 
• Dating-based competition—A person chooses one person to date out of a group of suitors. 
• Job search—Contestants compete to see who is the best at a certain skill. 
• Self-improvement/make-over—A person or group of people try to improve themselves or  their lives. 
• Home renovation
• Hidden cameras—A hidden camera records random people in a staged situation. The situations are often meant to confuse, amuse or scare the person. 

                                        

Informal versus formal language

What is formal language and why use this in an opinion essay?

Informal language

Formal language

say sorry

go up

blow up

find out

bring about

postpone, delay

fabricate

represent

discover

omit

put off

make up

stand for

find out

leave out

apologise

increase

explode

discover

cause

Anyways

Plus/Also

But

So

I think

In a nutshell

Anyway,

All right

Nevertheless

Moreover/ Furthermore

However

Therefore/Thus

In my opinion,

To summarize,

Notwithstanding

Acceptable

Informal language

Formal language

lots of/ a lot of

tons of, heaps of

totally

really, very

children

negative

positive

considerable

correct

kids

bad

good

really big

right

much, many

large quantities of, a number of

completely, strongly

definitely

wrong

smart

cheap

loaded

incorrect

intelligent

inexpensive

rich

Informal language

Formal language

point out

get in touch with

It’s about

need to

consider

tolerate

appear

demonstrate, illustrate

retain

think about

put up

seem

show

keep

indicate

contact

It concerns, It’s in regards to

required

free

get on someone’s nerves

show up

let

fill in

release

bother

arrive

permit

substitute, inform

What is your opinion on reality television?

1. Reality television is good entertainment

2. Reality television is a waste of time

Please write your opinion using five words from the vocabulary list and using between 25-30 words. 

You can start with one of the following sentences:

1. In my opinion…
2. From my perspective…
   
3. Personally, I believe…
   
4. It seems to me that…
   
5. As far as I’m concerned…
6. It’s my belief that… 
   

Arguments

(Reasons)

Underpin your opinion

For reality television shows

Against reality television shows

There are lots of different types of reality shows.

Some competitions are very difficult or dangerous.

People on reality shows have fun experiences and meet new people.

They can discover talented people.

They are fun to watch.

The winners win great prizes.

Reality shows are always the same.

Reality TV is not an easy way to become famous.

Some people on reality shows behave badly.

Use arguments to underpin your opinion

• WHAT: Use your opinion from before and add:

                      - one argument for reality television shows and 
                      - one argument against reality television shows. 

                    Use between 50-70 words and include a word count.

• HOW: Use the vocabulary list and formal language list provided.
• HELP: Wordlists => Classmate => Teacher
• WHEN: You have 8 minutes
• RESULT: Peer feedback

Peer feedback time

In pairs: please check your peer's work and provide feedback using the feedback list provided

Exit ticket

What did you learn in today's class?

I can create reasons to support my opinion?

A. Not very well

B. Pretty well

C. Absolutely

Which of the following words or phrases are formal language?

1. need to, but, tons of, really big
2. cheap, blow up, basically, anyways
3. increase, illustrate, therefore, strongly
4. wrong, find out, totally, kids

Essay writing Lesson 2

Reality Television

Structure

Today's Learning aim: 

(WALT: What are we learning today)

At the end of the lesson, you can structure your ideas in a cohesive way by composing two body paragraphs of an opinion essay about reality television using between 75-100 words.

Success criteria 

(WILF: What I am looking for)

SC 1: You can use at least five different linking words/phrases from the list provided to correctly order your opinion on reality television.

SC 2: You can apply the OREO structure of an opinion essay in your body paragraphs.

SC 3: You can self-assess your own learning by creating a writing plan/mind map in order to structure your ideas before writing an opinion essay.

Warm-up: reading 

Please read the article from the New Your Times:

"Does Reality TV Deserve Its Bad Rap?"

You can use the provided wordlist to look up difficult words.

After reading take some notes to describe your opinion on reality television

Match the words and phrases that have the same meaning

In addition

First of all, ...

Nowadays, ....

In fact, ...

I believe that, ...

In conclusion, ...

I disagree that, ...

Today

Firstly, ....

Also, ....

I think that, ....

I don't think that, ....

Actually, ...

To sum up, ...

Rewrite the sentences using the linking word or phrase in brackets

1. Reality shows are all the same but many people still watch them. (however)

2. We can discover talented people on reality TV and we can vote for the ones we like the most. (furthermore)

3. One positive thing about reality TV is that it shows normal people. (one advantage of)

4. My first point is that reality TV is fun to watch. (firstly)

5. Also, you can learn many new things. (in addition,)

6. The opposite argument is that reality TV might set a bad example for young children. (on the other hand)

Check your writing: rewriting sentences 

Linking words

1. Reality shows are all the same. However, many people still watch them.

2. We can discover talented people on reality TV. Furthermore, we can vote for the ones we like the most.

OR and, furthermore, we can vote for the ones we like the most.

3. One advantage of reality TV is that it shows normal people.

4. Firstly, reality TV is fun to watch.

5. In addition, you can learn many new things.

6. On the other hand, reality TV might set a bad example for young children

The OREO structure

How to structure your body paragraphs

OREO stands for

1. Opinion, Reason, Example, Omit
2. Objectify, Reason, Evidence, Opinion
3. Opinion, Report, Example, Obvious
4. Opinion, Reason, Example, Opinion

Writing plan/Mind map

Plan ahead and self-assess your writing

Steps on how to plan your essay

1. Underline the key points in the task (topic, notes and audience)

2. Main parts: 

     - Introduction (ends with a thesis statement or a thesis question)

     - Three body paragraphs for each note (include PEE)

     - Conclusion (summary, in different words + state your opinion)

3. Add reasons and examples for each point so you don't forget what to write about

Step 2: Make paragraphs

1. Introduction

2. argument 1: add explanation and example

3. argument 2: add explanation and example

4. argument 3: add explanation and example

5. Conclusion

Writing task

Aspects of reality television shows: 

1. Entertainment for viewers
   
2. Influence on young people
   
3. Effect on participants

WHAT:     Write two body paragraphs for your teacher discussing two of the aspects in your notes using between 75-100 words. 

HOW:       Ask which two aspects your classmate will write about and what reasons they have to support their opinion. 

                   Ask questions and give tips.

HELP:      Checklist => Classmate => Teacher

TIME:    You have 15 minutes

RESULT: Peer feedback + hand in on Teams

DONE:     Think of a new concept for a reality television show and write about this. 

                  Challenge: the best idea will give you another OREO cookie 

Peer feedback time

Using the feedback list: please check your peer's work and provide feedback. Amend your work and hand this in on Teams.

Exit ticket

What did you learn in today's class?

I can use linking words and the OREO model to structure my paragraphs in an essay

Not really

Getting there

Absolutely!

What do you still need help with?

Online sources used in this LessonUp

• https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/04/learning/does-reality-tv-deserve-its-bad-rap.html
• https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/writing/b1-writing/against-essay
• https://youtu.be/_AG6js-KheQ
• https://teacherphill.com/fce-how-to-write-an-essay/
• https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_television