way2go! 7. Coursebook, Schulbuch

96 Unit 06 | The choice is yours In pairs, go through the essay on p. 95 again and comment in the margin where you can find the typical features of the essay: thesis statement, topic sentences, relevant supporting details (evidence, examples, reasons) and conclusion. Look at the essay task on p. 95 again and write an essay arguing that teenagers should be encouraged to keep a pet. See Writing coach, Essay , p. 184. b WRITING 17 M p. 37 Discovering the essay Look at the characteristics of different text types below and highlight the ones which apply to the essay. STRATEGIES 16 a M p. 38 1 Who is most likely to read the text? Who is the text written for? a It is usually written for a broad audience, often published in a (school) magazine. b It is written for a teacher, possibly for a jury, or as part of an exam. 2 Why is it written? What is its function/purpose? a It is written to discuss an issue, to inform the readers, or to convince them of the writer’s opinion. b It is written to engage and entertain the readers, or to persuade them to take action. 3 What should the title be like? a The title should be catchy and should attract a wide audience. b The title should be factual, stating the topic. 4 How should the text be organised? What is the purpose of the first paragraph? a The first paragraph introduces the topic and ends with the thesis statement, which expresses the author’s opinion on the topic. b The first paragraph should pull the readers right in from the beginning by arousing their interest in the topic. 5 How are the bullet points (content points) dealt with? a Each of the following paragraphs has a topic sentence and supporting details including examples and reasons. b Each of the following paragraphs has a heading so that the readers know what the paragraph is about. 6 What should the conclusion (last paragraph) be about? a The concluding paragraph should summarise and paraphrase the author’s opinion. It should not introduce a new argument. b The concluding paragraph should encourage the readers to take action. 7 What register and style are required? a The text can be neutral, semi-formal or informal, the reader is directly addressed by (rhetorical) questions, contractions ( you’ve, it’s … ) are quite common. b The text should be neutral or formal, the reader is not addressed, there are no contractions. Nur zu Prüfzwecken – Eigentum des Verlags öbv