V6 _ Reading; Essay writing & assignment

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Today's class

Reading of a few short stories (vocab units 1& 2)

Reading - practice exam VWO 2014- texts 1-4 (+ 6) 

Essay writing

HW next week:

finish essay (typed in Google Drive) + study vocab units 3 & 4

Input -> output

Input = reading/listening 

Output = writing/speaking

You need input first to engender output

Reading & grammar practice

www.examenblad.nl/Talen/Engels/VWO - any year

www.ego4u.com/grammar

Essay (formal) - what is it

An essay is a composition on one single subject, and aims to prove the thesis statement.

In the argumentative essay the aim is to convince the reader (and to prove the thesis statement).

Essay (formal) - Structure

Introduction - general ->example/anecdote/catchy info to narrow = thesis statement in last sentence

Body - paragraphs 2/3/4 -> Point (factual statement) Explain and/or Example (PEE)

Conclusion - paragraph 5 -> summarize your arguments or give your most important argument (don't give new arguments) + prove your thesis

Essay writing

• Use an essay lay-out: intro/3 paragraphs = body /conclusion (= 5 paragraphs)

• Use formal language (not: gonna, wanna, way too much, etc)
  

• Avoid the personal pronouns I/you/we
  

• Use linking words (also, moreover, even though, nonetheless etc.) to connect the paragraphs (= coherence)

• Start each paragraph with a factual statement/point + give an explanation (+ an example) = PEE
  

Sentences 

• Be consistent in the tense (don't switch from present to past; present tense = vivid writing)

• Mind the word order (SVOPT = subject/verb/object/place/time)

• Use synonyms and (a few) sophisticated words

• Delete superfluous and unnecessary words (revise at the end)

• Add information - modifiers - to your sentence to make it interesting for the reader:

adjectives/adverbs/gerunds/participles/appositives

Sentences

Add information - modifiers - to your sentence to make it interesting for the reader: 

• adjectives (i.e. blonde) 
• adverbs (i.e. slowly) 
• gerunds (i.e. Thinking aloud is also known as brainstorming.)
• participles (i.e. Hurt by her words, he gave her the silent treatment; Thinking this could do no harm, he continued to ignore her.)
• Appositives (Harry, a quiet and modest employee, never picked a quarrel with any of his colleagues)

Example:

1. Elvis ate a sandwich
2. The legendary rock 'n roll star Elvis was spotted slowly munching away on a Burger DeLuxe at the local McDonalds.)

Sentences

Add information - modifiers - to your sentence to engage the reader/capture attention: 

• adjectives (i.e. blonde) 
• adverbs (i.e. slowly) 
• gerunds (i.e. Thinking aloud is also known as brainstorming.)
• participles (i.e. Hurt by her words, he gave her the silent treatment; Thinking this could do no harm, he continued to ignore her.)
• Appositives (Harry, a quiet and modest employee, never picked a quarrel with any of his colleagues)

Example:

1. Sarah was a sure fit for prom queen.
2. TASK: expand sentence 1 with information about Sarah (tip: blonde, foreign exchange student, English, always smiling at cheerleading, popular quite quickly)
3. Use all the information in one sentence

Sentences

Add information - modifiers - to your sentence to engage the reader/capture attention: 

• adjectives (i.e. blonde) 
• adverbs (i.e. slowly) 
• gerunds (i.e. Thinking aloud is also known as brainstorming.)
• participles (i.e. Hurt by her words, he gave her the silent treatment; Thinking this could do no harm, he continued to ignore her.)
• Appositives (Harry, a quiet and modest employee, never picked a quarrel with any of his colleagues)

Example:

1. Sarah was a sure fit for prom queen.
2. The blonde girl named Sarah, a foreign exchange student from England, quickly climbed the ladder of popularity, and smiling her way through cheerleading  she was considered a sure fit as prom queen.

Writing task options- 450 words

1) Parents should be punished for the crimes of their teenage children.

2) Parents should not be punished for the crimes of their teenage children

3) Modern media have many advantages.

4) Modern media destroy relationships.

Pick one option & hand in next week

First read more about your topic

Structure your essay first: 

• thesis statement at the end of the introduction
• One topic sentences for each of the 3 middle 3 paragraphs = your 3 arguments -> explain/exemplify in the rest of the paragraph
• Conclusion (repeat & prove thesis)