Planning and writing the introduction to an essay

English

Identifying the features of an essay

Researching deforestation in the Amazon rainforest

Setting out a logical argument in response to an essay title

Planning and writing the first main paragraph of an essay

Planning and writing the second main paragraph of an essay

Planning and writing the conclusion of an essay

In this unit, writers convey information in an objective, unbiased way. In the next unit, writers will convey information in a more subjective manner. 

In 'The Titanic: Journalistic Report Writing', pupils developed their understanding of writing to inform the audience in the context of a journalistic report. In 'The Amazon Rainforest: Essay Writing', pupils will develop their understanding of writing to inform their reader and apply this in the context of an essay.

In this unit, pupils write their first formal essay of the primary curriculum. In it, pupils write about deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest with facts derived from research presented in clear paragraphs. The essay question given calls for pupils to write their essay as a single line of argument.

The Amazon Rainforest: essay writing

Which of the following are features of our introduction? 

Which of the following are forms of evidence we can include? 

an explanation of how it contributes to climate change

some description of the Amazon rainforest

evidence about deforestation in the Amazon

Which points did we include in our introduction? 

Which of the following are helpful to do before we write? 

Which linguistic feature has been used here? '20% of the rainforest (an area four times the size of the UK) has already been lost.'

Which linguistic feature is used here? 'Deforestation, which is the removal of trees from an area, is often completed using the 'slash and burn' method.'

Which of the following would we **not** find in an essay? 

Put the paragraphs of our essay in order. 

Which words are antonyms (opposites) of 'logical'?

20% of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down. 

Deforestation in the Amazon has been driven by the need for farmland. 

Deforestation adds carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, worsening climate change. 

If we reduced deforestation, we could help tackle climate change. 

Put these points in a logical order for our essay. 

Where in our essay might you find the following point? 'Deforestation is the clearing of trees from an area of land.'

The Amazon has suffered lots of deforestation. 

When trees are cut down, they release carbon dioxide. 

If fewer trees were cut down, less carbon dioxide would be released. 

Put these statements in order to complete our logical argument. 

Planning and writing the introduction to an essay

Lesson outcome