essay writing 1

• Engels
• Speciaal Onderwijs
• Leerroute 4

ESSAY WRITING

Example essay

Read the essay and underline anything you notice.

A good thesis statement is: 

• Arguable. “The tell tale heart is a tragic story about the murder of an old man”  is not a thesis—it’s a fact.
  
• Provable through  evidence from the book:  “The Cask of Amontillado is a dark but ultimately very well-written story” is a weak thesis because it offers the writer’s personal opinion about the story. Yes, it’s arguable, but it’s not a claim that can be proven or supported with examples taken from the story itself. 

TS writing rules

1. Must be an arguable statement about which readers of the story could disagree.
2. Must be a clear statement of your entire argument, not just a part of it.
   
3. Should NOT include the first or second person (I, we, us, you, etc.)
4. Should NOT contain evidence, quotations, or specific examples. 
5. Should be 1-2 sentences long, and should appear at the end or near the end of the introduction.
   

Good or bad TS?

Cat Noir is ugly.

Good or bad TS?

I think Andrew Tate is a sexist.

Good or bad TS?

Andrew Tate is a sexist.

Good or bad TS?

 Fatbikes are for braindead monkeys and if you own one you should drive it off a cliff.

Good or bad TS?

Fatbikes are for braindead monkeys.

Good or bad TS?

Fatbikes should be illegal.

Good or bad TS?

Fat babies should be forced to do fitness because then they'll get healthy and that's good for the economy.

Good or bad TS?

Fat babies should be forced to do fitness.

Good or bad TS?

Fat baby fitness has a positive effect on the economy.

Good or bad TS?

Ice Breaker is an appropriate book for toddlers.

Compare

You can write a comparative essay in which you compare elements of all/some stories

"The murders in both stories are a sign of the narrator's insanity"

Contrast

You can write a contrasting essay in which you highlight contrast in the stories/poem. 

"As opposed to the stories, the murder in the poem was not commited by the narrator"

Homework

Think of 3 possible thesis statements, comparing the tell tale heart and the cask of amontillado.

Bring them to class next lesson.