**Title:** Effective Essay Writing: Structure, Argumentation, and Exam Preparation
**Attendance:**
– No students were mentioned as absent.
**Topics Covered:**
_1. Essay Writing Basics:_
– Review of skills for writing a good argument, topic sentence, and thesis statement.
– Continued discussion on the argumentative essay, focusing on claims, evidence, and reasoning.
– Structure of the argumentative essay was discussed.
– Review of the four types of paragraphs in an essay, with emphasis on the introduction paragraph and the importance of the hook.
_2. Crafting a Strong Introduction:_
– The importance and role of the first sentence in an essay, also known as the “hook”
– Different ways to create an interesting hook, such as using a quotation, stating an interesting fact, or making a statement.
– The structure of an introductory paragraph, including the hook, basic background information, and the thesis statement.
– The importance of the thesis statement and its role in outlining the content of the essay.
_3. Building Effective Body Paragraphs:_
– The structure of body paragraphs, including the topic sentence and supporting details.
– The importance of the topic sentence in a body paragraph and how it should clearly state the main idea.
– The role of supporting details in explaining the topic further.
– The problem with writing the introduction and conclusion first: Students often expend their energy on the introduction and conclusion, leaving them tired when writing the body paragraphs.
_4. Essay Outlining and Time Management:_
– The concept of an essay outline: The outline is a plan for the essay and should be written first. It helps focus ideas and makes writing clearer and easier to understand.
– The importance of time management in writing an essay: A good outline should ideally be completed in 10 minutes or less.
_5. Developing a Clear Position in Essay Writing:_
– Importance of taking a clear position in the essay (yes or no).
– Using opinions in essay writing.
– Formulating topic sentences with two reasons.
– Understanding the concept of a good topic sentence (topic + controlling idea).
_6. Understanding Addiction and Health Risks of Coffee:_
– The effects of caffeine on the heart muscle, including the increase in heart rate and potential damage due to overexertion.
– The addictive properties of coffee, with a focus on how it provides temporary energy boosts, leading to a cycle of consumption.
– The concept of addiction and its relation to continuous coffee consumption despite known health risks.
**Actionable Items:**
_1. Essay Writing Practice:_
– Students to continue practicing their essay writing skills, particularly writing quickly and effectively.
– Students need to work on their essay structure, specifically focusing on the body paragraphs.
– Students need to practice writing outlines for their essays within a set time limit.
_2. Clarification and Reinforcement of Concepts:_
– Clarify the concept of the thesis statement and its role in an essay, as there seemed to be some confusion among the students.
– Reinforce the difference between English and Russian academic writing, specifically the placement of the topic in a paragraph.
– Emphasize that a topic sentence should never be a question but a statement that clearly states the main idea.
– Further explain the role and importance of supporting details in a body paragraph.
– Further clarification on the concept of addiction and how it applies to coffee consumption.
_3. Midterm Exam Preparation:_
– Midterm most likely to take place the week after the fall break, with more details to be sent during the break.
**Homework:**
– Students are to choose between city or countryside as the better place for children to grow up.
– Students must write a short outline for the body paragraphs and the introduction of the essay, focusing on good topic sentences, a good thesis statement, and good supporting details.
– Initially, students are to spend five minutes just writing the topic sentences.