V6 - 3: Essay writing "body paragraphs"

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

But first....

...briefly have a look at some thesis statements

Is this a good thesis statement? Explain why (not).

"Although the law states that it is legal to deport asylum seeking children who have lived in the Netherlands for 5 years, it should not be, because those children have built their lives here and there are rules set in place, like the “kinderpardon”, that should prevent this."

Is this a good thesis statement? Explain why (not).

"Opponents find the fact that the Dutch government is planning to deport two children to a country they have never lived in outrageous. The deportation of under aged children is inhuman, and the present Dutch immigration law must be considered as a disgrace."

Create 2 topic sentences (so the first two body paragraphs) to this thesis statement:

"Although the law states that it is legal to deport asylum seeking children who have lived in the Netherlands for 5 years, it should not be, because those children have built their lives here and there are rules set in place, like the “kinderpardon”, that should prevent this."

2 paragraphs complete:

Firstly, asylum seeking children who have lived in the Netherlands for over five years, have built up a life in the Netherlands. There are currently some 400 cases of children that have lived in the Netherlands for 5 years or more, who are going to be deported. (BBC, 2018) Most of those children have never been to their country of origin and do not speak the langue. Also, those children go to school in the Netherlands and have made friends here. It is unethical to send those children to a country they do not know, with people there they do not know and a langue the do not speak.

Secondly, in the Netherlands there is a rule in place, the “kinderpardon”, which prevents that children that are special cases can be send back to their country of origin. A child has lived in the Netherlands for over 5 years, should be one of these special cases and the “kinderpardon” should prevent deportation. A famous case in which the “kinderpardon” should have worked but did not, was with Lily and Howick. Because their mother did not participate in the deportation of her children, Lily and Howick did not qualify for the “kinderpardon”. (Floor Boon, 2018)

BP #3: Refutation

• Show counter argument
• Use this in your own favor to strengthen your statement
• Showing knowledge of the "other side" only makes your own argument stronger.  

Have a look at the first thesis statement again. What would be the counter argument and how can it be used in your own advantage? Create the topic sentence of the third body paragraph.

"Although the law states that it is legal to deport asylum seeking children who have lived in the Netherlands for 5 years, it should not be, because those children have built their lives here and there are rules set in place, like the “kinderpardon”, that should prevent this."

BP 3: complete (refutation)

An argument that is used frequently by politicians and other people who have the opinion that the children should be deported, is that the law states it is legal to send asylum seeking children back to their country of origin if it is safe there. Although it is the law, that does not make it right. Very often are the countries where the children get send back to, are just declared safe or are safe in the general sense of the word, but not for those children. Safety is one of the most important things for children, that

should not be overlooked. Something what frequently happens too, is that those children are send back to their country of origin and have to life in horrible circumstances, like houses that are too small or without a good water supply. It is therefore unethical and inhumane for the children to be deported.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the deportation of children who are seeking asylum and have lived in the Netherlands over five years, should be able to stay here. Those children have built their lives here and should be able to make a claim to the “kinderpardon”. Just because it is legal to send those children back, does not mean that it should happen. To prevent that cases like Nesmr, Howick and Lily never have to happen again, politicians have to think long and hard about what they are doing and make a change in the law.