Argumentative Essay - Introduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4,6

Argumentative

What is an essay?

Essay writing 

• Writing Assignment
• Five paragraphs
• Similar to 'betoog'
• Topics will be provided on your test
• 3 per book, PICK ONE

Essay info and reading practice

• On the next slide you will find general info on writing a five-paragraph/argumentative essay
• Some words have been partly covered
• Try to guess which words have been covered
• = Exam practice (gapfill)

What is the purpose of an argumentative essay?

1. to compare and contrast two different or similar things.
2. to convince the reader by using logic and evidence
3. to answer a question through research of the relevant literature
4. to analyze a piece of literature from different angles

"to convince the reader by using logic and evidence"

Where does this evidence come from? 

your own dossier- do research and collect your notes on

theme, background, motif, character development, key moments

bring those to the exam. Hand in your folder for checking 

     The five-paragraph essay

The five-paragraph (argumentative) essay is a format of essay having five paragraphs: one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs with support and development, and one concluding paragraph. Because of this structure, it is also known as a hamburger essay, one-three-one, or a three-tier essay. Writing the essay teaches you to express certain ideas in an organized manner, complete with evidence that supports your claims.

The five-paragraph essay

The five-paragraph (argumentative) essay is a format of essay having five paragraphs: one introductory paragraph, three body paragraphs with support and development, and one concluding paragraph. Because of this structure, it is also known as a hamburger essay, one three one, or a three-tier essay. Writing the essay teaches you to express certain ideas in an organized manner, complete with evidence that supports your claims.

General essay structure

The structure of an essay:

• Introduction;
• 1st paragraph with  1st reason: 

- topic sentence + evidence & explanation + wrap-up;

• 2nd paragraph with 2nd reason

- topic sentence + evidence & explanation + wrap-up;

• 3rd / 4th paragraph etc.
• Conclusion

introduction + thesis statement

Introduction

1. Opening
2. Give an overview of the argument.
3. Close with a thesis statement that reveals the position to be argued.

1. Opening

Begin the introductory paragraph with a broad, general statement about the paper’s topic or even a question. Try to make it interesting and catchy to encourage your reader to want more information. Remember that the first few sentences give the reader the first impression of your essay; it is extremely important that you make a good first impression.

2. Give an overview of the argument.

This part of the introduction bridges the opening statement with the thesis statement. It can contain background information that is relevant to the topic. 

3. Develop a thesis statement

Your thesis statement is the main point of your essay. It is one sentence that states what the essay is about. For example, your thesis statement might be  "The death penalty should be reinstated, because.....(2/3 arguments)......".

* Use the thesis statement as the basic premise to write your entire essay about; 

* Remember that all of the different points lead back to this one main thesis; 

* State your thesis statement in your introductory paragraph;

thesis statement: the rules

• The thesis statement is usually the final sentence of the introduction.
• The thesis statement is an independent sentence. It does not refer to other points or words mentioned earlier in the introduction. By reading this single sentence, your reader should know exactly what you will argue in your essay. 
• The argumentative thesis takes a side of an issue.
• The thesis statement does not have personal emphasis (the use of I or we).
• Is not a question

The thesis statement is an independent sentence. It does not refer to other points or words mentioned earlier in the introduction. By reading this single sentence, your reader should know exactly what you will argue in your essay. 

The thesis statement is an independent sentence. It does not refer to other points or words mentioned earlier in the introduction. 

Correct: Body scanners should be used at all international      airports.

  

 Wrong: Because of this, body scanners should be used at all international airports.

 Wrong: Therefore, body scanners should be used at all international airports.

    

The argumentative thesis takes a side of an issue. It is often expressed with the modal verb should (not)).

For example:

•   Governments should ban further construction of nuclear       power plants.
•    Mobile phones should not be allowed in schools.
  
•    Smoking should be banned in all public places.
  

The thesis statement does not have personal emphasis (the use of I or we).

Correct: Television has no beneficial effect upon a child’s development.

 Wrong: I believe television has no beneficial effect upon a child’s development.

 Wrong: We don’t think television has any beneficial effect upon a child’s development.

Example 1 of an introductory paragraph with thesis statement:

A difficult problem that is facing society today is euthanasia, which is another word for mercy killing. Thousands of people are mortally ill because of an incurable disease. They are kept alive in artificial ways. They have no chance to recover completely, but most legal systems do not allow doctors to end their patients’ lives. Why should all these people suffer if they don’t have to? Fatally ill patients should be given the choice to legally end their lives.

What's the thesis statement in this introductory paragraph?

1. A difficult problem that is facing society today is euthanasia, which is another word for mercy killing.
2. Why should all these people suffer if they don’t have to?
3. Fatally ill patients should be given the choice to legally end their lives.
4. They are kept alive in artificial ways.

Example of an introductory paragraph with thesis statement:

Every day, terminally ill patients suffer horrendously and are begging to die. They are kept alive in artificial ways. They have no chance to recover completely, but most legal systems do not allow doctors to end their patients’ lives. Why should all these people suffer if they don’t have to? Fatally ill patients should be given the choice to legally end their lives.

What's the thesis statement in this introductory paragraph?

1. Why should all these people suffer if they don’t have to?
2. Fatally ill patients should be given the choice to legally end their lives.
3. Every day, terminally ill patients suffer horrendously and are begging to die.
4. They are kept alive in artificial ways.

Example 3 of an introductory paragraph with thesis statement:

John is 38 years old and he has been suffering from pancreatic cancer for more than 8 months. He has no strength left to eat and is tube fed. He needs pain relief 24/7 and wants only one thing: euthanasia. Most legal systems do not allow doctors to end their patients’ lives. Why should all these people suffer if they don’t have to? Fatally ill patients should be given the choice to legally end their lives.

What's the thesis statement in this introductory paragraph?

1. Fatally ill patients should be given the choice to legally end their lives.
2. Most legal systems do not allow doctors to end their patients’ lives.
3. John is 38 years old and he has been suffering from pancreatic cancer for more than 8 months.
4. He has no strength left to eat and is tube fed.

How can this improve? answer on next slide

Frankenstein was written in 1818 and rewritten in 1831. The book is mostly about how science might go wrong if it develops too far. If scientists play god, it could backfire terribly. The book is also about irrational fear. Just because something looks weird doesn’t mean it is dangerous or evil.

Next slide: a video. You can watch this at home if you want to. 

DO – Pay Attention to Your Introductory Paragraph 

Because this is the first paragraph of your essay it is your opportunity to give the reader the best first impression possible. The introductory paragraph not only gives the reader an idea of what you will talk about but also shows them how you will talk about it. 

Try to introduce by using a "HOOK"

(something a joke, a fact or anything that will grab the reader's attention)

DO NOT – I/My or you/yours

Unless it is a personal narrative, avoid personal pronouns like I, My, or Me. At the same time, try to avoid the use of second singular/plural person such as you and yours.

Try instead to be more general and you will have your reader hooked. 

When you write an essay (betoog), which do you find easier to write?

Introduction and conclusion?

Main body (body paragraphs)

Why start with the introduction then?

> It includes the thesis statement which is step 3 (after deciding on your topic and organizing ideas)

We will provide you with the topic (step 1) and will guide you through the organizing of ideas (step 2) for now

So that's why...

You should write the introduction first

Yes

No

In your introduction use a sentence like: "First I will explain the first argument, then I.."

Yes

No

You can start your introduction with an anecdote

Yes

No

Draw attention with a text like: "This issue has been important since the dawn of mankind"

Yes

No

Different tantalizing introductions

• On the next three slides you see three different ways to start an introduction
• For each slide/introduction write down which method is used to draw the reader's attention: e.g.1= Using a statement 
• Afterwards you will get a multiple choice question that lists the methods (e.g. 1. statement, 2. percentage etc.) 

body

General essay structure

Body of the paragraphs

Body paragraphs: 

• Topic sentence A;   followed by a 
• Supporting sentence B containing evidence and explanation;  followed by a
• Supporting sentence C containing evidence and explanation; etc.

DO – Tie Things Together

The first sentence – the topic sentence - of your body paragraphs needs to have a lot individual pieces to be truly effective. Not only should it open with a transition that signals the change from one idea to the next but also it should (ideally) also have a common thread which ties all of the body paragraphs together. For example, if you used "first" in the first body paragraph then you should use "secondly" in the second or "on the one hand" and "on the other hand" accordingly.

DO NOT – Be Too General

Examples should be relevant to the thesis and so should the explanatory details you provide for them. It can be hard to summarize the full richness of a given example in just a few lines, so make them count. If you are trying to explain why George Washington is a great example of a strong leader, for instance, his childhood adventure with the cherry tree (though interesting in another essay) should probably be skipped over.

conclusion

General essay structure

Conclusion

• Rephrase your thesis statement; use other words
• Do not repeat your thesis statement! 
• summary of the main points;
• a final comment (if appropriate).

DO – Be Powerful

The conclusion paragraph can be a difficult paragraph to write effectively, but as it is your last chance to convince or otherwise impress the reader, it is worth investing some time in. Take this opportunity to restate your thesis statement with confidence. 

Also, find synonyms for the words used in your thesis statement.

DO NOT – Copy the First Paragraph

Do not use the same key words in the conclusion as you did in the introduction, try not to copy whole phrases word for word. Instead, try to use this last paragraph to really show your skills as a writer by being as elegant in your rephrasing as possible.

on the next slide

a first essay one of you wrote that I thought was a really good first try

Look for: the good things, and the things that could be improved upon

This essay is about Pride and Prejudice. The book is set in the 19th century and it is a romantic novel. It’s about a mother who tries to marry her daughters to a man. He needs to meet requirements, such as: he needs to be rich and he needs to have a good status. 

This was really important in the 19th century. Men needed a wife to make sons, to keep the family name alive. And as a woman/man you wanted to marry someone who isn’t below your class, because it could ruin your status. If you marry someone with titles you don’t have, you get the titles your husband/wife has which increases your status. Women needed to marry when they were young, but men could wait much longer until they found the perfect wife. Women could only achieve economic stability and autonomy by marrying someone, because women weren’t allowed to work, but they needed to take care of the children. Because they weren’t allowed to work, they couldn’t earn their own money. This made marrying even more important for women. 

It was really important for men and women in the 19th century to marry someone who had a good status and a better status than you. This is so important because it could change your life in a better way. Being rich, being in the same class or a class higher and having good manners are all examples of requirements you would set for your future husband or wife.

how to go about it

The order to write your essay

• First: thesis statement
• Start outlining the body of your essay: PEE (Point - Evidence - Examples). Only then start writing.
• Write the introduction of your essay: Thesis Statement is final sentence of introduction
• Write the conclusion: Rephrase your Thesis Statement
• Choose a catchy title: no question

• Decide on your topic

• Organize your ideas

• Write the body paragraphs

• Write the introduction

• Add the finishing touches

• Write the conclusion

• Write your thesis statement

essay outline

- use the one I put on Classroom

next slides: a checklist. Sorry about the yellow, I took the slides from another LessonUp lesson and I can't change that :(

Tips for writing:

• Do not use 'I' or 'you' (neutral tone)
• Avoid contracting words (don't)
• Be sparing with punctuation marks like exclamation mark, question mark, series of dots
• Do not repeat the same word, use synonyms
• Remember everything from your grammar classes, e.g. irregular verbs, tenses, word order, adjectives, adverbs

• Use complete sentences, including a subject, verb, and complements (objects, adverbials, etc.)
• Do not use informal language
• Do not start sentences with for, and, but, or, yet, so, because , etc.

on the next slides

some random things I didn't throw away. feel free to browse around in them and see if there is anything useful in there

Introduction: 1

With recent studies showing that, on average, dog owners live up to 24% longer than those without canine companions, there's no doubt that a dog can have a range of physical and mental health benefits for its owner. These include a more active lifestyle, a social network of other pet owners, companionship, and a sense of purpose.

Introduction 2

Global climate change is a crisis that affects everyone, rich and poor, young and old. From rising ocean levels to increased temperature extremes, the world is changing for everyone. How will your life be different in the coming years?

Introduction 3

When I got home from school that day, my grandmother greeted me with a plate of cookies and a worried expression. I hadn't received the scholarship I needed to go to ballet camp, and we'd need to find another way to earn the money. That's when I started my business giving dance lessons to preschoolers, and it's taught me a lot about how to solve problems on my own.

Which methods (hooks) were used to draw the reader's attention in the introductions?

1. 1. Anecdote, 2. Opinion, 3. Question
2. 1. Surprising fact, 2. Question, 3. Anecdote
3. 1. Surprising fact, 2. Anecdote, 3. Opinion
4. 1. Surprising fact, 2. Opinion, 3. Anecdote

Hook 1. Use a surprising fact

You can capture the reader's attention with a surprising fact or statement. Then, state your thesis clearly and briefly: 

With recent studies showing that, on average, dog owners live up to 24% longer than those without canine companions, there's no doubt that a dog can have a range of physical and mental health benefits for its owner. These include...

Hook 2. Pose a Question

 

Another way to engage your reader in your essay introduction is to ask a rhetorical question. Choose carefully: 

Global climate change is a crisis that affects everyone, rich and poor, young and old. From rising ocean levels to increased temperature extremes, the world is changing for everyone. How will your life be different in the coming years?

Hook 3. Start with an Anecdote

A short anecdote is a good way to start a personal essay, especially if it fits with your overall theme. 

When I got home from school that day, my grandmother greeted me with a plate of cookies and a worried expression. I hadn't received the scholarship I needed to go to ballet camp, and we'd need to find another way to earn the money. That's why...

Introduction consists of three parts:

"Working part-time as a cashier at the Piggly Wiggly has given me a great opportunity to observe human behavior. Sometimes I think of the shoppers as white rats in a lab experiment, and the aisles as a maze designed by a psychologist. Most of the rats—customers, I mean—follow a routine pattern, strolling up and down the aisles, checking through my chute, and then escaping through the exit hatch. But not everyone is so dependable. My research has revealed three distinct types of abnormal customer: the amnesiac, the super shopper, and the dawdler."

3 parts in introduction

1. Hook (surprising fact, question, anecdote)

2. Transitional phrases

3. Thesis statement

Before explaining the thesis statement..

• Statement: Today's teenagers have a harder time than their parents..
  

1. Think of three reasons why this is the case and write them down! 

> You need this after the clip (take notes while watching)

Create your thesis statement & intro

1. Create a thesis statement by using 'your reasons':

>> Todays teenagers have a harder time than their parents, because reason 1, reason 2 and reason 3

2. Now write your introduction: 

A. Start with a hook

B. Create a few transitional phrases 

C. End with your thesis statement