Essay Step by Step

Essay step by step
In the essay you are expected to give your own opinion on a statement clearly and coherently. 

Your response should be at least 190 words long

and consist of 5 paragraphs.
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Slide 1: Tekstslide
EngelsMiddelbare schoolhavoLeerjaar 4,5

In deze les zitten 37 slides, met interactieve quizzen en tekstslides.

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Essay step by step
In the essay you are expected to give your own opinion on a statement clearly and coherently. 

Your response should be at least 190 words long

and consist of 5 paragraphs.

Slide 1 - Tekstslide

Example
Introduction:Attention grabber + bridge + thesis statement 
Body paragraph 1: Remember: PEE!
Body paragraph 2: Remember: PEE!
Body paragraph 3: Remember: PEE!
Conclusion


Slide 2 - Tekstslide

There are two approaches which can be used to respond to the thesis statement:
1. The one-sided approach
- Introduction
- 3 paragraphs with arguments for (supporting) or against the thesis
- Conclusion



Slide 3 - Tekstslide

Thesis statement
Teenagers should be able to choose if they quit school before the age of 18. Think of arguments in favour 
and against.

Slide 4 - Tekstslide

Teenagers should be able to choose if they quit school before the age of 18.
Arguments in favour

Slide 5 - Woordweb

Teenagers should be able to choose if they quit school before the age of 18.
Arguments against

Slide 6 - Woordweb

Introduction
The introduction functions like a movie preview, to give your audience a taste of what’s to come, without giving away too much detail so that it does not steal any attention from the main body. You want your reader to be interested in what you have to say.

Slide 7 - Tekstslide

Introduction
Attention grabber  
Bridge 
Thesis statement 

Slide 8 - Tekstslide

Attention Grabber
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 personal response; it is extremely important that you make a good first impression.

Slide 9 - Tekstslide

Attention Grabber
You need a good attention grabber to make it interesting and catchy so your reader wants to continue reading.
But how do you come up with a good attention grabber? In general, there are two options:

Slide 10 - Tekstslide

Example of an attention grabber which is made up of a general observation:
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. Fatally ill patients in all countries should be given the choice to legally end their lives. 

Slide 11 - Tekstslide

Example of a shocking attention grabber:
Every day, fatally 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. Fatally ill patients in all countries should be given the choice to legally end their lives.

Slide 12 - Tekstslide

Thesis Statement
This is the last sentence of the introduction.

Remember it is a statement!
And it is NOT preceded by any linking words or used as some sort of conclusion of the introduction.

Slide 13 - Tekstslide

Bridge
The bridge consists of two or three sentences to guide your reader from your attention grabber to the thesis statement without revealing your arguments 

Slide 14 - Tekstslide

Now write the introduction.

Since the personal response should be a minimum of 300 words divided over 5 more or less equally divided paragraphs, the introduction should be around 60 words.

Slide 15 - Tekstslide

  • Swap introductions with a classmate
    and give each other feedback
  • Rewrite your introduction

Slide 16 - Tekstslide

There are two approaches which can be used to respond to the thesis statement:

1. The one-sided approach
 
2. The balanced approach


Slide 17 - Tekstslide

1. The one-sided approach
- Introduction
- 3 paragraphs with arguments for (supporting) or against the           thesis
- Conclusion

Slide 18 - Tekstslide

One-sided approach:
Body paragraph 1, 2 AND 3:
- Point supporting thesis statement
- Evidence
- Example

Slide 19 - Tekstslide

Body Paragraphs
The body paragraphs are the most important paragraphs in your personal response. They contain arguments to convince your reader to agree with you. If you do not offer plausible explanations, you are not likely to convince your reader.

Slide 20 - Tekstslide

POINT
The first sentence of the paragraph contains the POINT you want to make, (either in favour of or against the thesis statement. Starting with the point helps the reader understand what you are going to argue in that paragraph. 

Slide 21 - Tekstslide

POINT
Let’s have a look at an example of a sentence stating the point of a paragraph supporting the thesis statement Helmets should be mandatory for cyclists in the Netherlands.


First of all, a helmet will make sure fewer cyclists are killed or injured in traffic.


Slide 22 - Tekstslide

EVIDENCE
After the point you will present some EVIDENCE

First of all, a helmet will make sure fewer cyclists are killed or injured in traffic. A helmet is made of hard plastic on the outside and a few centimetres of polystyrene on the inside. Together, these layers protect the cyclist’s head in an accident. 

Slide 23 - Tekstslide

Example
First of all, a helmet will make sure fewer cyclists are killed or injured in traffic. A helmet is made of hard plastic on the outside and a few centimeters of polystyrene on the inside. Together, these layers protect the cyclist’s head in an accident. For example, if the cyclist falls off the bike and hits the asphalt, the helmet will break the fall and reduce the risk of serious head injuries. 

Slide 24 - Tekstslide

To help structure your ideas for the reader, you make use of linking words.

First of all, a helmet will make sure fewer cyclists are killed or injured in traffic. A helmet is made of hard plastic on the outside and a few centimetres of polystyrene on the inside. Together, these layers protect the cyclist’s head in an accident. For example, if the cyclist falls off the bike and hits the asphalt, the helmet will break the fall and reduce the risk of serious head injuries. 

Slide 25 - Tekstslide

Another example
The thesis statement is: 

Public transport should be free in the Netherlands.

Slide 26 - Tekstslide

POINT
Most importantly, free public transport will reduce global warming.

Slide 27 - Tekstslide

EVIDENCE
Most importantly, free public transport will reduce global warming. Cars emit great amounts of CO2, which is a gas that is harmful for the environment. It increases the greenhouse effect and therefore contributes to global warming. 

Slide 28 - Tekstslide

Example
Most importantly, free public transport will reduce global warming. Cars emit great amounts of CO2, which is a gas that is harmful for the environment. It increases the greenhouse effect and therefore contributes to global warming. So, if more people take the train or go by bus to work, there will be fewer cars on the road and thus less CO2 and that is better for the environment.

Slide 29 - Tekstslide

Linking words
Most importantly, free public transport will reduce global warming. Cars emit great amounts of CO2, which is a gas that is harmful for the environment. It increases the greenhouse effect and therefore contributes to global warming. So, if more people take the train or go by bus to work, there will be fewer cars on the road and thus less CO2 and that is better for the environment.

Slide 30 - Tekstslide

Before you start writing: 
- you have to make a plan with your arguments, evidence and         examples.

Slide 31 - Tekstslide

  • Now fill in the body paragraphs 
       in the planning scheme. (on paper)
  • Swap with a classmate and give each other feedback 

Slide 32 - Tekstslide

Conclusion
Summarize your three points supporting the thesis statement in other words than you have used in the three body paragraphs.

Slide 33 - Tekstslide

Conclusion:
Summarize both views (for and against thesis statement) and end with your final stance on the thesis statement.

Slide 34 - Tekstslide

  • Now fill in the conclusion
       in the planning scheme. (on paper)
  • Swap with a classmate and give each other feedback 

Slide 35 - Tekstslide

Now write your essay using the  planning scheme.

Slide 36 - Tekstslide

Before you hand your work in to be checked, 
have you:
- Checked your grammar and spelling?
- Used linking words?
- Made your POINT clear at the beginning of each body                       paragraph?
- Checked whether your essay is clear and coherent?
- Write down your name and the number of words you have             used under your essay 

Slide 37 - Tekstslide