Essay Writing - 2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Welcome! 

Road map

Essay writing 

• Thesis statement and framework

How?

• Planning
• Shaping
• Drafting
• Revising
• Editing/proofreading
• Hand in

Planning

• purpose, audience, tone
• choose your topic that you care about/know about/like
• develop a thesis statement
• think! / gather information

Thesis statement

• clearly stated: what do you intend to discuss and direction your argument will take.  

Thesis statement - examples

Instead of continuing its reliance on fossil fuels, the Netherlands should increase its use of renewable energy. 

A gap year can give students the life experience they need to appreciate the value of higher education and to gain more from it. 

Thesis statement

• direct 
• straightforward
• no abstract language
• no unnecessary details  
• no 'I believe' / 'I hope to show' etc. 

Thesis statement

Swap thesis statements with your neighbour and give each other feedback.

- Grammatically correct?

- Is it clear from the TS what they are going to argue?

Shaping

• Construct your framework

Framework

Introduction with your thesis statement

• anecdote, reason you chose the topic

Body: your actual argument

• one topic per paragraph
• background
• argument in support
• argument in support
• refutation of opposing argument 

conclusion

Framework

Introduction with thesis statement:  40

Body: 

• background: 75
• argument in support: 75
• argument in support: 75
• refutation of opposing argument 75

Conclusion: 40

Total: 380 words 

Shaping

• Construct your framework

Shaping

Swap again with your neighbour and give each other feedback. 

www.student.unsw.edu.au

Next week

Write your rough draft

N.B. Hand in your reading list before 24 February