How to Write an Argumentative Essay - Planning

Summary

This video script outlines the process of writing an argumentative essay using a five-paragraph structure, often referred to as a 'hamburger essay.' It emphasizes the importance of analyzing the essay question for clues to effectively plan and organize the essay. The script introduces a spider diagram as a method for brainstorming main points and choosing the strongest arguments to support the writer's opinion, while also addressing an opposing viewpoint. The video aims to guide learners in crafting a concise and compelling argument within a 300-500 word limit.

Takeaways

• 📚 The process involves writing an argumentative essay in five videos, focusing on a five-paragraph structure.
• 🍔 The structure is often referred to as a 'hamburger essay', consisting of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
• 📝 The first step is to analyze the essay question and plan the essay, which is crucial for effective argument progression and good marks.
• 🔍 Look for clues in the essay question to understand what the task requires, such as the need to give reasons and express opinions.
• 📈 The essay should be between 300 to 500 words, balancing the length to meet the examiner's expectations.
• 👍 Write two paragraphs supporting your opinion and one paragraph presenting an opposing argument, as required by the task.
• 🕸️ Use a spider diagram to plan the essay, brainstorming main points for and against the argument, and deciding on your opinion.
• 💡 Decide on your stance on the question (e.g., whether studying history is a good thing) and use this as the basis for your planning.
• 📋 Write topic sentences for each body paragraph that summarize the main idea, followed by more specific information and examples.
• 🤔 Consider potential counterpoints to your opinion and prepare arguments to address these in your essay.
• 📚 Keep the essay simple and well-structured, with clear topic sentences and a logical flow of ideas.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video series?

The main topic of the video series is to teach the process of writing an argumentative essay.

What is the structure of the argumentative essay discussed in the video?

The structure discussed is a five-paragraph essay, also known as a hamburger essay, which includes an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Why is it important to plan an essay before writing?

Planning an essay first ensures that the reader can follow the progression of the argument and helps in achieving good marks for organization and structure in an exam.

What does the term 'hamburger essay' refer to?

The term 'hamburger essay' refers to the five-paragraph structure of an essay, which visually resembles a hamburger with layers.

What are the clues in the essay question that can guide the writing process?

Clues in the essay question include keywords like 'why', which indicates the need to give a reason, and the subject of the essay, such as 'study' and 'history', which are underlined to emphasize their importance.

What is the word count range for the essay mentioned in the script?

The essay should be between 300 to 500 words.

How many arguments supporting the writer's view and how many against should be included in the essay?

The essay should include two body paragraphs supporting the writer's view and one body paragraph presenting an opposing argument.

What method for planning the essay is suggested in the video?

The video suggests using a spider diagram for planning the essay.

What is the purpose of creating a spider diagram when planning an essay?

The spider diagram helps in brainstorming the main points for and against the argument, deciding on the writer's opinion, and selecting the strongest points to support the opinion.

What should be the focus of the body paragraphs in the essay?

The body paragraphs should focus on the main ideas supporting the writer's opinion and an additional point connected to each, followed by an example.

What is the purpose of writing a topic sentence for each body paragraph?

The topic sentence summarizes the whole paragraph in a short, clear sentence, providing a general point that the more specific information in the paragraph will elaborate on.

How should the counterpoint be approached in the essay?

The counterpoint should be imagined as an argument against the writer's opinion, which helps in presenting a balanced view and addressing potential objections.

What advice does the video give for writing the essay?

The video advises to keep it simple, read the question carefully, circle the clues, and always plan the essay including the opinion and topic sentences.

Where can viewers find more information on English courses mentioned in the video?

Viewers can find more information on English courses by visiting the British Council website.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Writing an Argumentative Essay: Structure and Planning

This paragraph introduces the process of writing an argumentative essay, focusing on a five-paragraph structure commonly referred to as a 'hamburger essay.' It emphasizes the importance of planning the essay effectively to ensure a clear progression of arguments and to meet the requirements of an exam setting. The paragraph outlines the need to analyze the essay question for clues, such as the need to provide a reason ('why') and the subject ('study and history'). It also discusses the necessity of presenting both sides of the argument, with two paragraphs supporting the writer's view and one presenting an opposing argument. The method of planning using a spider diagram is introduced, where the writer is encouraged to brainstorm their opinion on the subject and decide on the main points to be made, including examples for each point. The goal is to choose the strongest ideas to support the writer's opinion and to consider potential counterarguments.

05:02

📝 Continuing the Essay Writing Series: Thesis Statement and Paragraphs

The second paragraph serves as a transition, summarizing the previous discussion on essay structure and planning, and introducing the next topic in the video series. It briefly mentions the importance of always planning the essay and ensuring that the opinion and topic sentences are clear. The paragraph also provides a teaser for the upcoming video, which will focus on how to write a thesis statement and develop paragraphs effectively. Additionally, it invites viewers to visit the British Council website for more advice on learning English and information on related courses, highlighting the educational resources available for further learning.

Keywords

💡Argumentative Essay

An argumentative essay is a type of academic writing where the writer takes a position on a debatable topic and supports it with evidence and reasoning. In the video, the focus is on writing an argumentative essay with a specific structure, emphasizing the importance of presenting both sides of an argument to create a balanced and persuasive piece.

💡Five-Paragraph Structure

The five-paragraph structure is a common format for essays, consisting of an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The video script mentions this structure as a standard approach, also referring to it as a 'hamburger essay,' which simplifies the concept for students to understand and follow.

💡Introduction

The introduction in an essay serves to present the topic and provide a thesis statement. In the context of the video, the introduction sets the stage for the argumentative essay, outlining the writer's position and preparing the reader for the points that will be discussed.

💡Body Paragraphs

Body paragraphs are the core of an argumentative essay, where the writer presents the main points supporting their argument. The script specifies that there should be three body paragraphs, two for supporting the writer's view and one for presenting an opposing argument, which is crucial for a balanced discussion.

💡Conclusion

A conclusion in an essay summarizes the main points and reinforces the writer's argument. The video emphasizes the importance of a conclusion to wrap up the essay effectively, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

💡Question Analysis

Question analysis involves breaking down the essay prompt to understand the requirements and expectations. The video script highlights the need to analyze the question to identify keywords and clues that guide the essay's content and structure.

💡Clues

Clues in the context of essay writing refer to specific words or phrases in the prompt that indicate what the essay should cover. The script uses the example of 'why' and 'study history' as clues that direct the writer to provide reasons and discuss the subject of history.

💡Planning

Planning is a crucial step in essay writing that helps organize thoughts and ensure a logical flow of arguments. The video script discusses different planning methods, such as a spider diagram, and emphasizes the importance of planning to achieve a well-structured essay.

💡Spider Diagram

A spider diagram is a visual planning tool used to brainstorm ideas and organize them around a central theme. In the video, it is suggested as a method for planning the essay, allowing the writer to explore various points for and against the argument before deciding on the main points to include.

💡Opposing Argument

An opposing argument is a counterpoint presented in an argumentative essay to acknowledge alternative viewpoints. The video script instructs writers to include one paragraph presenting an opposing argument to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic and to strengthen their own argument through contrast.

💡Topic Sentence

A topic sentence is the first sentence of a body paragraph that states the main idea of that paragraph. The video script advises writers to create clear topic sentences that summarize the general point of each body paragraph, providing a roadmap for the reader.

Highlights

Introduction to the process of writing an argumentative essay in five short videos.

Explanation of the five-paragraph structure commonly used in essays.

Mention of alternative six-paragraph structure also used today.

Term 'hamburger essay' introduced to describe the essay structure.

Importance of planning the essay for effective argument progression and good marks.

Guidance on finding clues in the essay question to understand task requirements.

Emphasis on including both sides of an argument in the essay structure.

Instructions on creating a plan using a spider diagram for essay structure.

Advice on considering personal opinion and main points for the essay's brainstorm.

Selection of the two strongest ideas to support the writer's opinion.

Method for choosing additional points and examples to support main ideas.

Writing topic sentences that summarize the main ideas of each body paragraph.

Ensuring topic sentences are related to the essay question and writer's opinion.

Identifying a counterpoint to the writer's opinion for the opposing argument paragraph.

Summary of the video's content on layout, question analysis, and planning.

Advice on keeping the essay simple and structured.

Information on where to find more advice for learning English and details on courses.

Teaser for the next video in the series about writing thesis statements and paragraphs.

Transcripts

we are going to learn the process of

writing an argumentative essay in five

short videos we normally use a five

paragraph structure common in other

types of essay with two arguments

supporting our view and one against this

is not the only way to write an essay

six paragraphs are also often used today

we will use five which is also known as

a hamburger essay this is made up of an

introduction three body paragraphs and a

conclusion let's start at the beginning

in this section we're going to analyze

the question and plan our essay

effectively it's important to plan your

essay first this ensures your reader can

follow the progression of your argument

in an exam it will also mean you get

good marks for organization and

structure look for clues in the essay

question this will tell you what the

task requires find these and they will

help you answer it effectively the main

clues we can get from the texts are why

indicates that you need to give a reason

this is your purpose the keyword study

and history tell us a subject we are

writing about why study and history

should be underlined this is asking your

opinion so it requires your voice write

an essay of 300 to 500 words this shows

how many words you need to write

remember the examiner doesn't want to

read too much or too little we have to

give both sides of the argument in this

essay so that means we will write two

paragraphs supporting our opinion or and

and one paragraph presenting an opposing

argument

now we've analyzed the question we need

to do a plan we're going to write a five

paragraph essay consisting of an

introduction three body paragraphs two

explaining our opinion or stand and the

other the opposing argument and a

conclusion now we know our basic

structure we need to choose a method to

plan our essay there are several

different ways to do this such as a

spider diagram a positive and negative

table a flowchart today we're going to

use a spider diagram next consider what

the main points you want to make are

decide on your opinion or stand about

the question first you need to ask

yourself these questions and note down

your answers do you enjoy studying

history why or why not do you think that

there is any value in studying it why

why not this is the basis for your

brainstorm next consider the main points

you want to make decide your opinion

about the question is studying history a

good or bad thing to answer this essay

question we have decided that it is a

good thing put your question in a circle

in the center of the page then write as

many ideas as you can for and against

the argument decide which points are

positive and negative choose the two

strongest ideas to support your opinion

you will need to think of an additional

point connected to each followed by an

example so choose the point you have the

most to write about these will be your

main ideas for body paragraphs 1 & 2 now

write a topic sentence for each one this

should summarize the whole paragraph in

a short clear sentence

it will be a general point the sentences

that follow will give more specific

information about that point check that

they are related to the question and

your opinion yes they are now imagine

someone is arguing against your opinion

what would they say this is your

counterpoint now you have the main ideas

for each of your body paragraphs in this

video we have looked at layout question

analysis and planning don't forget to

keep it simple write a five paragraph

essay read the question and circle the

clues they will help you give a correct

answer always plan your essay your

opinion and your topic sentences for

more advice visitors are to learn

English teams and for more information

on our courses visit us at the British

Council website our next video in the

series is about how to write your thesis

statement and paragraphs