Slide bài giảng môn Viết 2 Academic Writing 2 unit 4 opinion essays slides

Writing 2Unit 4: Opinion Essays Unit 5: Comparison and Contrast Essays Unit 6: Cause and Effect Essays... INTRODUCTION: Structure INTRODUCTION introduces the issue = telling short story

Writing 2

Unit 4: Opinion Essays

Unit 5: Comparison and Contrast Essays Unit 6: Cause and Effect Essays

WRITING 2

UNIT 4: OPINION ESSAYS

OPINION ESSAYS: Purpose

• To persuade the reader of a point of view on a controversial issue

OPINION ESSAYS:

Three-paragraph Format

• Introduction

1 paragraph

• Body

1 paragraph

• Conclusion

1 paragraph

INTRODUCTION: Structure

INTRODUCTION

introduces the issue = telling

short story/asking

question/giving surprising fact

to attract reader’s interest

HOOK

gives more details : why the

issue is important

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

presents writer’s point of

view

THESIS STATEMENT

INTRODUCTION: Example (Savage

& Mayer, 2006)

Last week, I noticed that my son had a bad cold I took him

to the pediatrician, and she told me he had an infection Then

she gave me a prescription for antibiotics After two days, my

son was happy and healthy thanks to this important medicine

(hook: telling a short story) Every day doctors prescribe antibiotics to

help thousands of patients around the world fight infections

(background information: explaining why antibiotics are important) I do not like

to think about what might happen if we did not have antibiotics

(thesis statement: supporting the use of antibiotics).

BODY PARAGRAPH: Structure

Refutation

points out weaknesses in counter-argument & shows strengths of writer’s argument

Co un ter ar gum en t describes opposing opinion

Fo llo win

g s ent enc es

support topic sentence = reasons; facts; examples; explanations

Top

ic se nte nce

conveys main idea that supports 1 point of view in thesis statement

BODY PARAGRAPH: Example (Savage & Mayer,

2006)

Antibiotics are one of the greatest medical inventions in human history for several reasons (topic sentence) First, infections are frequent Almost everyone

has experienced an ear infection or a sinus infection These common illnesses

cause pain and discomfort to millions of people around the world every year In addition, infections can be life-threatening For example, sepsis, a dangerous

infection of the blood, is responsible for one out of every one hundred

hospitalizations The victims are usually very young, old, or weak Another

reason why antibiotics are important is that they stop an infection from

spreading to others Infectious diseases can quickly travel from person to person

if they are not treated right away Antibiotics are the most effective way to

control the spread of these serious illnesses Recently, many people have argued that doctors prescribe antibiotics too often and that the bacteria that cause

infections are becoming stronger as a result (counter-argument) This may be true; however, this evidence does not mean that antibiotics are not important It

simply shows that we must learn to use them wisely (refutation).

CONCLUSION: Structure

• Conclusion = writer’s opinion + warning/prediction/advice

CONCLUSION: Example (Savage & Mayer, 2006)

Infections can attack anyone at any time They can also

attack entire populations While many infections create minor

discomfort and suffering, some are quite dangerous (summary of

reasons) Antibiotics are the most effective way to treat

infections (thesis restatement) Without antibiotics, many more

people would get seriously ill, and others would die (a warning).

OPINION ESSAYS: Writing task

Write a three-paragraph essay to show your opinions on the following comment:

“Attendance at college classes should be optional.”

STEP 1: Brainstorming ideas

Agree Opinion Disagree

“Attendance at college classes should be

optional.”

STEP 2: Outlining

Hook:

_

_

Background information:

_

_

Thesis statement:

_

_

Topic sentence:

_

Examples/reasons:

_

_

Counter-argument:

_

_

Refutation:

_

_

Summary and comment: _ _ _

STEP 3: Writing the first draft

STEP 4: Editing your writing

Editor’s Checklist Put a check ( ) in the box as appropriate.

 1 Does your essay have three paragraphs?

 2 Does your introduction include a hook and a thesis statement?

 3 Does your body paragraph have a topic sentence?

 4 Does your body paragraph give reasons that support the topic sentence?

 5 Does your body paragraph give a counter-argument and refutation?

 6 Did you use quantity expressions to avoid overgeneralizations?

 7 Did you use connectors to show support or opposition between ideas?

STEP 4: Editing your writing

Peer Editor’s Checklist Put a check ( ) in the box as appropriate.

 1 Does the essay have three paragraphs?

 2 Does the introduction include a hook to attract the reader’s interest along with background information?

 3 Does the introduction include a thesis statement that clearly states the writer’s opinion?

 4 Does the body paragraph have a topic sentence?

 5 Does the body paragraph give reasons that support the topic sentence?

 6 Does the body paragraph give a counter-argument and refutation?

 7 Did the writer use quantity expressions to avoid overgeneralizations?

 8 Did the writer use connectors to show support or opposition between ideas?

THE END

Reference

Savage, A., & Mayer, P (2006) Effective academic writing 2: The short

essay New York, NY: Oxford University Press.