Essay Writing 13th

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Test week: essay writing (3)

• Write a persuasive text (400-450 words).
• Give your opinion on a controversial topic.
• 100 minutes in total.

The purpose of the text is to convince the reader that your point of view is the right point of view.

What do you know about essay writing?

All about your test

• Final product: a five-paragraph essay of 400-450 words
• Provided: dictionaries
• Duration: 100 minutes
• Preparation: research material and rubric on Moodle

• You are allowed a note with 5 to 6 sentences: a quote, some research, etc. that you want to use in your essay.

Five Paragraph Essay

1st paragraph introduction including a thesis statement

2nd paragraph 1st supportive argument

3rd paragraph 2nd supportive argument

4th paragraph 3rd contra argument (address criticism)

5th paragraph conclusion

B

O

D

Y

All paragraphs should be approximately equal in length.

1st paragraph: introduction

Hook Start with a personal observation or state something you saw or read.

You are allowed to use ”I” as the point of view only in the beginning of the 1st paragraph. Halfway the 1st paragraph start using “we”, “people” or “society” to gain a larger perspective.

 

Statement State what the argument is which you are going to support with your evidence.

A statement is not a question!

Writing a thesis statement

Use one of these questions as a starting point for writing a thesis statement. Use the scheme below to help you structure.

• How much plastic do you use in a day?
• Should 16-year-olds be allowed to vote?
• Where do you see income equality?

Writing a thesis statement

“Data Heat Islands” Add New Burden to Black America

Systemic inequalities create a multi-layered 

crisis that weighs heavy on Black Americans.

Burden on Black American communities throughout history.

Choose three 

connections in society (criminal justice/ economics/environment/ etc.)

= claim + direction

• American Civil War
• 13th Amendment to Constitution
• Jim Crow laws
• Civil Rights Movement (1964 Civil Rights act, Voting act)
• War on Drugs (cocaine vs crack)
• Mass incarceration (ALEC)
• Prison Industrial Complex ('for profit' prison)
• Black Lives Matter

Weak thesis statement

1. Does Chat GPT have benefits in a fourth year classroom?
2. I think drinking too much alcohol is bad for your health.

Strong thesis statement

1. Using Chat GPT in class allows teenagers an early advantage in technological and scientific education.
2. Excessive alcohol consumption adversely affects your health and may contribute to developing diseases, and weight gain.

2nd, 3rd, 4th paragraph: the body

Each paragraph provides an argument for your thesis and looks like  P.I.E.

• Point: This is the first sentence of the paragraph. It introduces the main idea of this paragraph.
• Illustration: This should consist of 2-3 sentences that provide evidence or explanations to support the topic sentence.
• Explanation: This summarizes the paragraph and provides a transition to the next topic paragraph.

The third argument could anticipate a counterargument.

Point

• First, Chat GPT can act as a helpful assistant for both students and teachers.

Illustration

• It can quickly answer students' questions, explain difficult topics, and give more examples to help them understand better. 

Explanation

• This instant help keeps students interested and encourages them to ask more questions and learn actively.

Language

• Use linking words to go from one paragraph to the next.
• Words like: firstly, secondly, also, furthermore, besides, although, moreover, etc. 
• Click here for more examples.

• Please use synonyms if you see that you have been using the same word over and over again. You are awarded points for style.

Test week: essay writing (3)

• Write a persuasive text (400-450 words).
• Give your opinion on a controversial topic.
• 100 minutes in total.

The purpose of the text is to convince the reader that your point of view is the right point of view.

Students shouting at African American student Elizabeth Eckford, as she tries to pass through the lines of National Guardsmen in an effort to gain entrance to Little Rock's (Ark.) Central High School.

The photograph was taken in 1957. 

The young black woman is Elizabeth Eckford. She was one of nine black students who set out to attend Little Rock Central High School in Little Rock, Ark. 

The Supreme Court had ruled in 1954 that segregated schools were unconstitutional.

The Little Rock Nine, as they came to be called, were attempting to

do what the law said was their right: to attend a school that had, until then, educated only white students.

pro- and anti segregation protests, 1954.

Preparation for essay writing

• Watch documentary '13th'.
•  Do research before you start writing. Gather as much information to build solid arguments. Use Moodle as a starting point.

• You are allowed to use a paper with five to six sentences with a quote, some facts, notes on 13th to the test.

Create a timeline with the terms

below. Also add names or other 

connections you can make.

• American Civil War
• 13th Amendment to Constitution
• Reconstruction
• Jim Crow laws
• Civil Rights Movement (1964 Civil Rights act, Voting act)
• War on Drugs (cocaine vs crack)
• Mass incarceration
• Prison Industrial Complex (prison for profit)
• Black Lives Matter

• The war on drugs (Nixon-Reagan)
• Mandatory sentencing / three strikes and you're out / truth in sentencing
• 1994 crime bill (Clinton)
•  ALEC: Stand your ground / Corrections Corporation of America (private prisons, probation, parole) / Prison Industrial Complex
• rich and wealthy vs poor and innocent
• Lose right to vote (citizenship)

Research these protest songs 

1. Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
2. Various Artists and Performances - We Shall Overcome
3. Nina Simone - Mississipi Goddamn
4. Public Enemy - Fight the Power
5. Kendrick Lamar - Alright

Protest Songs

• Provide background and a brief description of the song.
• How does this song relate to the different eras discussed in 13th?
• What themes from 13th appear in the lyrics? 
• What events does this music pertain to? How (if so) did it play an active role in such events?

Extra:

• Are there any related songs that deal with the same subject matter? How are they the same or different? 

Test week: essay writing (3)

• Write a persuasive text (400-450 words).
• Give your opinion on a controversial topic.
• 100 minutes in total.

The purpose of the text is to convince the reader that your point of view is the right point of view.

Today

• Five years since George Floyd

• Come up with a thesis statement
• Start writing a practise essay

Reading + Listening

• Who was George Floyd?

Today

• Finish your practice essay
• Hand in on Moodle at the end of class

Preparation for essay writing

• Watch documentary '13th'.
• Do research before you start writing. Gather as much information to build solid arguments. Use Moodle as a starting point.

• You are allowed to bring a paper with 5 to 6 sentences with a quote, some facts, notes, etc. to the test.

Question

When you think about what's changed as a result of what happened to George Floyd, what comes to mind, and do you think those changes persist?

Thesis statement

George Floyd's legacy is very much wrapped up in the battle between progress and retrogression in systemic racism.

• Trump's push to reshape the DOJ's civil rights division sparks mass exodus of attorneys
• States are voting to eradicate slavery under any terms, but what about prison work?
• Colorado banned forced prison labor 5 years ago. Prisoners say it's still happening