an argument that follows a series of steps that lead clearly towards a conclusion

language structures that are used within a text in order to connect ideas together

the effect created by choosing serious, factual language

information or facts to show something is true

the outcome of a series of ideas or the end-point of a piece of reasoning

Writing the second half of an essay

English

Understanding the structure, features and purpose of an essay

Researching the polar regions and their importance

Researching the threats to the polar regions

Preparing to write an essay

Writing the first half of an essay

Making a speech about the effects of climate change on the polar regions

In this unit, pupils learn techniques to develop the strength of their argument throughout an essay. In 'Ancient Islamic Civilisation: Essay Writing', pupils will learn to further finesse the skills of persuasive and credible essay writing.

In 'The Empire Windrush: Essay Writing', pupils learnt to base an essay on research around the Windrush Generation and their experiences of arriving and staying in Britain. In this unit, pupils will learn techniques to develop the strength of their argument throughout an essay.

In this unit, pupils learn about how climate change is affecting the polar regions. They organise their knowledge into a clear essay structure with an introduction, paragraphs and a conclusion. They then write an essay that outlines how climate change is negatively impacting the polar regions.

Polar regions: essay writing

Climate change is caused by oil drilling.

Climate change is causing polar ice to melt. 

Polar ice melting is a bad thing for the planet. 

Which of the below are claims that we have made in our essay? 

polar temperatures have increased by three degrees

Arctic ice has decreased in thickness by 40%

less heat is reflected back out to space, causing temperatures to rise

Match each claim to the evidence that supports it. 

What linguistic features have been used here? 'As a consequence of this, the ice at the poles is melting: the Arctic Ocean, which would normally be frozen all year, could be ice-free relatively soon.'

Match each linguistic feature to its purpose. 

Which word could complete the following sentence? 'The Paris Agreement (signed in 2015) commits governments to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions; __________, more needs to be done.'

Which of these features will we likely **not** use in an essay?

Antarctica's interior is a desert: it receives almost no rainfall. 

The middle of Antarctica is a desert: it's super dry!

There's basically no rain in the middle of Antarctica so it's sort of a desert.

Which sentence uses an appropriately formal tone for our essay?

Which paragraphs of our essay are likely to include evidence to support our arguments?

Which types of evidence are used in the following sentence? 'NASA say that 268 billion tons of Arctic sea ice have melted since 2022.'

What linguistic features are included here? 'Furthermore, huge quantities of carbon are stored in the permafrost (frozen ground); as a result, it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect.'

Which word could fill in the gap in the following sentence to create the most formal tone? 'Antarctica __________ six months of near-darkness each year.'

Starter Quiz

Which of these features will we likely not use in an essay?