Essay Writing Series

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo g, t, mavo, havo
• Leerjaar 2-4

reading & writing

lesson series
2018

Introduction on the story

Lamb to the slaughter by Roald Dahl.

What do you know about Roald Dahl?

What type of the story do you think 'Lamb to the slaughter' by Roald Dahl will be?

Reader Questions

Write down questions that come to mind while we read.
They should be questions you REALLY do not know the answer to.

Reader Questions

Write down questions that come to mind while we read.
They should be questions you REALLY do not know the answer to.

Lesson 1: learning about structure

Goal of today:

I know the basic structure of an essay

Introduction 1/3

The introduction is the first paragraph in your essay, and it should accomplish a few specific goals.

1. Capture the reader's interest.

It's a good idea to start your essay with a really interesting statement, in order to pique the reader's interest.

Avoid starting out with a boring line like this:

"In this essay I will explain why Rosa Parks was an important figure."

Instead, try something with a bit of a surprise factor, like this statement:

"A Michigan museum recently paid $492,000 for an old, dilapidated bus from Montgomery, Alabama."

The second sentence sounds much more interesting, doesn't it? It would encourage most people to keep on reading.

(Your first sentence should be CLICK BAIT!!)

Introduction 2/3

2. Introduce the topic.

The next few sentences should explain your first statement, and prepare the reader for your thesis statement.

"The old yellow bus was reported to be the very one that sparked the civil rights movement, when a young woman named Rosa Parks..."

Introduction 3/3

3. Make a claim or express your opinion in a thesis sentence.

At the end of your introductory paragraph, you will place a powerful thesis statement. Your thesis sentence should make a statement. SAY SOMETHING.

"In refusing to surrender her seat to a white man, Rosa Parks inspired a courageous freedom movement that lives on, even today."

Your instructor (that's me!) will be looking for the specific elements above when reviewing your introductory paragraph, so be sure to review your first paragraph to make sure it meets these three goals.

Body

The body of the essay will include three paragraphs (if this is a five-paragraph essay), each limited to one main idea that supports your thesis. You should state your idea, then back it up with two or three sentences of evidence or examples.

Example of a main idea:

"It took incredible courage for an African American woman to make such a bold stance in 1955 Alabama."
Offer evidence to support this statement:

"This act took place in an era when African Americans could be arrested and face severe retribution for committing the most trivial acts of defiance."

Conclusion

The final paragraph will summarize your main points and round up the story. It should point out your main points, but it should not repeat specific examples.

Once you complete the first draft of your essay, it's a good idea to re-visit the thesis statement in your first paragraph. Read your essay to see if it flows well.

Practise! You will get an essay. 

The different parts of the essay have to be labelled by you. These are:
- the thesis statement
- the topic sentences
- and each main point

What did you learn today?

Do you have any questions left unanswered today?

LESSON 2: write a first draft

what are the different
elements of an essay?

What are the three goals of the introduction?

Goal of today:

I have written
a first draft of an essay!

www.facebook.com

What is the subject of the clip?

What is the message?




Selecteer om teknippen, kopiëren ofte verwijderen




4




Dit wordt getoondin de klassikale leswanneer je op'geef les' klikt.








Dit wordt getoondin de gedeelde les dieleerlingen zelfstandigkunnen doen.







Differentiëer






Differentiëer





Instellingen






















Answer the following questions in your notebook.(Individually)





1. What is the subject of the clip?2. What is the message? Do you agree? Why, or why not?3. What is – you think - the goal the maker had in mind? 4. How did you feel while watching the clip? Do you have any questions about the clip?5. What point do you want to make in your essay6. What is your essay’s thesis statement?













Slide

What is – you think - the goal the maker had in mind?

To prepare for your own essay, answer the following questions in your notebook. (Individually)

1. What is the subject of the clip?

2. What is the message? Do you agree? Why, or why not?
3. What is – you think - the goal the maker had in mind?

4. How did you feel while watching the clip? Do you have any questions about the clip?

5. What point do you want to make in your essay
6. What is your essay’s thesis statement?

Write your own mini-essay

- title

- catching opening
- thesis statement
- main idea + argument/example
- main idea + argument/example
- conclusion

KEEP this draft with you the next few lessons!

What did you learn today?

Lesson 3: write an essay

What comes to mind when you think of superheroes?

What is the correct structure of an essay?

1. statement - argument - example - conclusion
2. catching opening - argument - argument - statement
3. catching opening - statement - arguments - conclusion
4. statement - idea - question - opinion

Exercise!

Write a mini essay about one of the following thesis statements:
- Superhero stories are a great way to teach people about right and wrong
- Superhero stories are a childish waste of time
- Superhero stories glorify violence
- Superhero stories inspire people to fight for justice

Use the following structure:
- Catching opening paragraph
- Thesis statement
- Main idea + argument
- Main idea + argument
- Conclusion
Use at least 12 full sentences.

Hand in your essay

Lesson 4: peer editing

What are steps in a 'writing process'?

What is 'peer editing'?

1. helping yourself
2. eating a pear
3. working together
4. helping each other improve

So what is peer editing?

A peer is someone your own age.

Editing means making suggestions, comments, compliments, and changes to writing.

❖Peer editing means working with someone your own age – usually someone in your class– to help improve, revise, and edit his or her writing.

3 steps

•Step 1 – Compliments

•Step 2 – Suggestions

•Step 3 - Corrections

1) Compliments

Stay positive when you’re giving feedback.
Remember that you are trying to help your peer improve his/her work; you’re not trying to discourage them.

Step 2: suggestions

Making suggestions means giving the author some specificideas about how to make his or her writing better. Remember:
–  Stay positive and be specific!

–  Instead of, “It didn’t make sense,” say, “If you add more details after this sentence, it would be more clear.”

–Instead of, “Your word choice was boring,” say, “Instead of using the word good, maybe you can use the word exceptional.”

Step 3: corrections

Corrections means checking your peer’s paper for:

–Spelling  mistakes

–Grammarmistakes

–Missingpunctuation

–Incomplete or run-on sentences

Exercise: you will get student essays and you will peer edit them

Follow these 3 steps:
1. write down three compliments 
2. write down what can be improved upon

3. make corrections: spelling, grammar, etc.

Rewrite one the essays; work in all the feedback.

Stick to the structure that was given to you:
- catching opening
- thesis statement
- main idea + argument/example
- main idea + argument/ example
- conclusion

Rewrite your own first draft

- Take out your first essay (about the smartphone video)
- Edit your own work
- Rewrite your essay
- Hand in BOTH VERSIONS to your teacher

THE END!

You now know how to write an essay. Well done!