Essay Writing - 1 070525

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Welcome! 

Lesson focus

At the end of this class you:

• know what 'writing an essay' means
• know what is expected of you when writing an argumentative essay
• know what a thesis statement is and understand its importance. 

Road map

Essay writing 

• what?
• for whom?
• how?

What?

Writing an article for a certain audience with a definite objective.

- reflect 

- inform

- persuade

- evaluate

For whom?

Always consider your audience

and consequently your tone!

Language should be formal!

- use of passive 

- preferably no 'I' statements!

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. 

Topics 

The Use of AI in Art

Phones and Night Life

Create a thesis statement

This is the case because 

...1... 

and

...2...

Thesis statement

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

Today

Pick a topic, gather information and finish your thesis statement!

Ready?

Draft a framework

Lesson focus

At the end of this class you:

• know what 'writing an essay' means
• know what is expected of you when writing an argumentative essay
• know what a thesis statement is and understand its importance. 

Framework

Introduction with your thesis statement

• anecdote, background, reason you chose the topic

Body: your actual argument

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

conclusion

Framework

Introduction with thesis statement:  35

Body: 

• argument in support: 70
• argument in support: 70
• refutation of opposing argument 70

Conclusion: 35

Total: 280 words 

Strands

https://www.nytimes.com/games/strands

Wordle

https://www.nytimes.com/games/wordle/index.html

Squaredle

https://squaredle.app/