Maryam Nasr Mahmoud Hamouda Maryam Nasr Mahmoud Hamouda

Crafting a Strong Thesis Statement for Argumentative Essays
Upper-Intermediate level

Description

I. Lesson Overview The argumentative essay is a core academic skill. This session focuses on the ''heart'' of the essay: the ''Thesis Statement''. Students often struggle to differentiate between a simple opinion and a balanced academic argument. This lesson provides a clear formula to bridge that gap. II. Learning Objectives By the end of this session, students will be able to: 1. Define the components of an Argumentative Thesis. 2. Identify a Counter-argument within a sentence. 3. Draft a balanced thesis statement using the ''While'' Formula.

Materials

Abc Digital Presentation (PowerPoint)
Abc Case Study Prompt: ''Artificial Intelligence in Academic Assignments''
Abc Meeting Chat Box for real-time participation.
Abc Screen Sharing Tool
Abc Backup PDF Version of Slides in case of technical difficulties

Main Aims

  • To enable students to construct a well-structured Thesis Statement for an argumentative essay.

Subsidiary Aims

  • Practicing specific academic transitions like ''While'' and ''However'', and developing the critical thinking skill of identifying a counter-argument.

Procedure

Introduction ( The Hook & The Argumentative Road Map ) (5-7 minutes) • To engage students and activate their prior knowledge about the topic.

I. Poll/Chat Question: ''Is AI a tool for success or cheating?'' Ask students to write their stance. Transition to how we express this ''conflict'' academically. II. The Argumentative Road Map - Introduction: Hook + Thesis Statement (The heart). - Body Paragraphs: Evidence & Support. - The Counter-Argument: Addressing the opposition. - Conclusion: Summary & Final thought.

Core Content (Presentation) (2-3 minutes) • To provide a clear Linguistic Model and explain the structural rules of a thesis.

- The Anatomy of an Argument: Explain the 3 Pillars 1. The Claim: Your main position. 2. The Counter-argument: Acknowledging the opposing view. 3. The Pivot: Using transition words to link them. - Introduce the ''While'' Formula.

Interactive Practice (3-5 minutes) • To provide Scaffolding and ensure students can apply the formula.

The Formula: Introduce the template: ''While critics argue {Opposite View}, the reality is {Your View} because of {Reason 1} and {Reason 2}.'' Apply it to the AI topic.

Conclusion & Wrap up (2-3 minutes) • To allow for Independent Production and assess if the learning objective was met.

Quick Check: Students write a one-sentence thesis for a new topic (e.g., online learning). Quick Recap: A good thesis must be Debatable, Clear, and Balanced.

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