V5B 8-5-2025 45 min

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Welcome! 

You need: laptop, notebook, pen

How did it go?

Who.... spoke English during the holiday?

Who.... finished their book?

2 mins to exchange with your neighbour:

1. What were your speaking goals & activities?
2. Do you think your speaking skills have improved? Why (not)?
3. What can you do today to work on your goals?
4. What can you do the next 14 days?

Programme

1. Evaluation / programme / learning goals (10 mins)

2. Speaking exercise (10 mins)

3. Recap essay structure + thesis statement (20 minutes)

4. Round off together (5 mins)

Learning goals

At the end of this lesson...

 

- I will have practised my speaking skills

- I will have refreshed my knowledge of an essay structure

- I will know what makes a good thesis statement and be able to define one

How to... interrupt someone politely?

How to... interrupt someone politely?

• I’m so sorry to interrupt, but….
  
• May I ask a question?
  
• That’s so interesting, could you tell me more about…
  
• Do you mind if I ask one question?
  
• I’m terribly sorry for the interruption but I have a quick question
  
• I don’t mean to be rude but may I interrupt quickly?
  

Questions to follow up the interruption:

Who did you go to the cinema with?

What was it like to….

At what time did this happen?

How did you like ….

Why did you….

Where was it and how did you get there?

Make a note: who, what, why, where, how

Preparation (1 min), no talking

• Grab your notebook and a pen
• On your own, make a list about all the things you did during the holiday 
• As many things as possible (you will need them!)
• Any type of activity is fine! As long as you can talk about it

2 minutes each

Remember your speaking goals :)

NB: you have to listen, follow-up questions should make sense

How to... interrupt someone... politely?

• I’m so sorry to interrupt, but….
  
• May I ask a question?
  
• That’s so interesting, could you tell me more about…
  
• Do you mind if I ask one question?
  
• I’m terribly sorry for the interruption but I have a quick question
  
• I don’t mean to be rude but may I interrupt quickly?
  

            Essay

What do you remember?

Essay structure: the elements & what they should contain

1. Think (on your own, in silence)
2. Pair (compare notes)
3. Share (with the class)

Share: teacher writes on whiteboard, using the students' info to make a complete structure:

Title

Introduction

- opening sentence(s)

- thesis statement

Paragraph 1: pros

- topic sentence

- argument(s)

- example(s)

- wrap-up

Paragraph 2: cons

- topic sentence

- argument(s)

- example(s)

- wrap-up

Conclusion

- reference to thesis statement

- short summary

- name most benificial + arguments

(no examples)

(no new information)

The coming weeks, we will address alle these elements and practise 

Today: thesis statement

Watch the video and find out about 

3 characteristics 

of a good thesis statement

A good thesis statement:

-

-

-

A good thesis statement:

- is the main point of your essay

- summarizes the whole essay in one complete sentence

- consists out of: topic + claim + major points /reasons (2)

Take notes please!

Example (1):

Attending a community college makes sense since the cost is low and the quality of instruction is high.

TOPIC                             CLAIM                      MAJOR POINTS/REASONS

Example (2):

Cell phone use while driving should be banned, for it is unsafe not only for drivers but also for other people in nearby vehicles.

TOPIC                             CLAIM                      MAJOR POINTS/REASONS

A good thesis statement also:

- is arguable: it expresses an opinion or idea, not just a fact

- is neither too broad nor too narrow

- uses specific language

- is NOT a question

- provides the framework for the rest of the essay

Is this a good thesis statement? Why (not)?

Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso are considered two of the greatest artists of the twentieth century as they were at the forefront of innovations in painting styles and techniques.

Is this a good thesis statement? NO

Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso are considered two of the greatest artists of the twentieth century as they were at the forefront of innovations in painting styles and techniques.  > Statement of fact

Alternative:

Henri Matisse was superior to Pablo Picasso because of Matisse's ability to shift between realism and abstraction. > Arguable

Is this a good thesis statement? Why (not)?

Negative things have resulted from religion being taught in schools.

Is this a good thesis statement? NO

Negative things have resulted from religion being taught in schools. > Too vague

Alternative:

Religion as part of the school curriculum should be avoided because a person's religious beliefs are personal and require individual commitment. > Specific language + major points

Is this a good thesis statement? Why (not)?

Drug use is a serious problem in today's world.

Is this a good thesis statement? NO

Drug use is a serious problem in today's world. 

> Everyone will probably agree, so not arguable. Also: too broad and too vague ('in today's world').

Alternative?

Is this a good thesis statement? NO

Drug use is a serious problem in today's world. 

> Everyone will probably agree, so not arguable. Also: too broad and too vague ('in today's world').

Alternative?

Drug use negatively affects the lives of Dutch university students on an emotional, social and financial level.

Make a thesis statement about

Homework

- it should contain 2 major points

- use your notes

- in pairs, 2 minutes

Your thesis statement
about homework:

Possible answer:

Homework should be banned in secondary schools since it takes too much time and is demotivating.

(Topic + claim + 2 major points /reasons)

Well done! You...

- have practised your speaking skills

- have refreshed your knowledge of an essay structure

- know what makes a good thesis statement and are able to define one

Homework: check Magister before next lesson (BOOK)

Make sure you bring today's notes

Formal writing in a nutshell

• Formal language → more 'expensive' wording
• No contractions → can’t = cannot / won’t = will not
• Do not use questions
  
• In an essay → do not use ‘I’ or 'we'
  
• Use linking words
  
• Focus on lay-out: Empty line between each paragraph

Make more formal:

Study the language (left: informal right: formal)

Also very useful for CITO texts