V5B 19-5-2025 45 min

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Welcome! 

You need: laptop, notebook, pen, handout last lesson

Programme

1. Warming up / programme / learning goals (10 mins)

2. Recap essay structure (5 mins)

3. Conclusion & title (20 mins)

4. Assignment (10 mins)

5. Round off together

Learning goal

At the end of this lesson...

 

- I know and can use all essay elements

Important dates:

22 May:        practice essay (mandatory)

12 June:       essay = 8th + 9th hour!

Test week:   oral exam

            Essay

Do you remember?

2 mins to discuss with your neighbour & write down:

- The whole structure of an essay 

   (all elements, white spaces, etc.)

Try to remember without looking into your notebook

After 2 minutes, teacher writes students' info on whiteboard. Then show Word document with essay outline.

A conclusion should....

• refer to the thesis statement (using different words)

• name most beneficial + arguments (keep very short)

• (contain no examples & no new info)

Check the assignment's conclusion on the following sheet. 

Is it correct & complete?

The thesis statement was:

Internet use by teenagers is mostly beneficial 

Assignment conclusion

In conclusion, the benefits of Internet access for young people outweigh the downsides. It is evident that the Internet offers many opportunities for them to improve their social lives as well as their schoolwork. Nevertheless, teenagers’ time online should be monitored in order to prevent negative consequences. 

Many young people wrongly believe that fame brings happiness

Arguments for: 

- fame attracts both positive and negative publicity; celebrities are always aware they can fall from grace and when they do, it can seriously harm their self-respect

- it can be difficult for famous people to know who is a genuine friend and who is not

- the loss of privacy can be stressful

Argument against:

- being famous often comes with a high income, providing the opportunity to lead a luxury life and travel the world

Write a conclusion (work in pairs), no laptop

Write a conclusion, in pairs

Example: 

In conclusion, young people who assume that being a celebrity always leads to well-being should broaden their perspective. Even though the luxury lifestyle associated with stardom is a great benefit, fame can also come with a lack of privacy,  the inability to maintain genuine friendships, and even loss of self-respect. 

> exchange conclusions & check each other's work

Title - always check:

Does your title provide a clue to your thesis statement?

> The title should clearly relate to what your essay is about

Titles: traditional jobs

'Cheese factory'

'Traditional jobs essay'

Milkman?

'The art of hat making'

'Was it light work to be a lamplighter?'

Discuss whether or not these titles are okay

NO:

- repetition of words ('really')

- repetition of meaning

- I/we/you

- can't, don't, he's etc.

- ??????? or !!!!!!!!!!!

- 'in this essay...'

- subheaders

- informal language

- 'and', 'but', 'because' at the start of a 

    sentence

YES:

- synonyms

- passive (at least once! no 'get')

- advanced vocab & grammar

- white spaces between paragraphs

- cannot, do not, he is

- linking words

To do now:

• Check homework (last lesson's handout, key in Teams)

• Check your practice essay from long ago
• Write 3 useful feedback points in your notebook
• Choose 1 part (introduction, a paragraph, conclusion) to rewrite, using what you learned

Pick up your reading notebook please

Well done! You...

- know and can use all essay elements

Thursday: practice essay (mandatory)

Please bring a pen :)

Speaking

Thesis statement, 2 elements:

1. It describes your topic, what your essay will be about.

2. It introduces a specific claim you are making about your topic.

(the two major points/reasons which will support and develop your claim about the topic, will be used in the first two body paragraphs).

Characteristics: a good thesis statement..

- is the main point of your essay

- summarizes the whole essay in one complete sentence

- provides the framework for the rest of the essay

- 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

                 

                The 3 elements

of an essay introduction

TITLE

Introduction

- opening sentence(s) /'hook'

- background info

- thesis statement

Body paragraph 1: 1st argument for

- topic sentence

- 2 explanations/examples/evidence

(- concluding sentence)

Body paragraph 2: 2nd argument for

- topic sentence

- 2 explanations/examples/evidence

(- concluding sentence)

Body paragraph 3: 1 argument against

- topic sentence

- 1 explanation/example/evidence

(- concluding sentence)

Conclusion

- reference to thesis statement

- name most beneficial + arguments

(no examples, no new info)

Video 1:24 - 5:02

Body paragraphs

Each body paragraph has its own miniature introduction, body, and conclusion in the form of sentences:

T:  topic sentence

E:  explanations/ examples/ evidence

(C:  concluding sentence)

Step 1: 

Your paragraph always needs to start with a topic sentence. Your topic sentence should include: the topic and the main point/theme of the paragraph. After the topic sentence, you explain and give examples to prove your argument/support your main point/theme. Then you wrap it all up in 1 sentence

1. Topic sentence

Watching a video: 2:10 mins 

(question after watching: characteristics of a topic sentence)

A topic sentence....

A topic sentence...

1. Indicates what a paragraph is about
2. Is made up of: topic + central point
3. Is short & to-the-point
4. Should expand on the thesis statement
5. Goes at the start of a paragraph
6. Can be used as transition between paragraphs                        (> linking words)

Thesis statement:

Homework should be banned in secondary schools

(2 major points: it takes too much time and is demotivating)

What would be your 2 topic sentences (of the first 2 paragraphs)?

Homework should be banned in secondary schools (it takes too much time and is demotivating)
What are your topic sentences?

Topic sentences: examples

Our school's dress code policy has many negative consequences for girls.

The world population is strongly impacted by a lack of access to water.

Cats are very good pets for various reasons.

Body paragraphs

T:  topic sentence

E:  explanations/ examples/ evidence

C:  concluding sentence

Step 1: 

Your paragraph always needs to start with a topic sentence. Your topic sentence should include: the topic and the main point/theme of the paragraph. After the topic sentence, you explain and give examples to prove your argument/support your main point/theme. Then you wrap it all up in 1 sentence

What is the topic sentence?

What is the 'middle part', i.e. the explanation/example/evidence? 

Are these examples, evidence or explanation?

(1. explanation, 2. evidence)

Body paragraphs

T:  topic sentence

E:  explanations/ examples/ evidence

C:  concluding sentence

last step: you wrap it all up in 1 sentence

Concluding sentence

• The last sentence of the paragraph
• Lets the reader know the paragraph has ended
• Brings the paragraph to a logical conclusion, by:

        - restating/ summarizing the main idea

        - offering a suggestion, opinion or prediction

Read in silence