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      Planning and writing the second main paragraph of an essay

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can write the second main paragraph of an essay, including a range of linguistic features.

      Key learning points

      1. Our essay will give one side of an argument, using a logical order and supported by evidence.
      2. Evidence can take many forms, including explanations, facts and statistics.
      3. In the second main paragraph, we will explain how deforestation can drive climate change.
      4. We will include subject-specific vocabulary and a range of linguistic features.
      5. Within a paragraph, the points we make must be in a logical order and connect to one another.

      Keywords

      • Subject-specific vocabulary - vocabulary that relates to a particular subject

      • Evidence - information or facts to show something is true

      • Climate change - a long-term change to global temperatures and weather

      • Linguistic features - the language structures that are used within a text

      Common misconception

      Pupils may struggle to adopt the formal tone required for an essay.

      You may wish to provide a bank of 'essay phrases' like 'contributes to', 'has strengthened' and 'is driven by' to support some pupils.

      Teacher tip

      A slide is left intentionally lined for you to complete shared writing with the class. Ensure this is an interactive process where you are asking for suggestions about how to use linguistic features to connect ideas, considering different options and selecting one.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

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      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which products contribute to deforestation in the Amazon?

      Correct answer: mahogany wood
      Correct answer: beef
      Correct answer: soybeans
      oak wood

      Q2.
      What type of evidence is shown here? 'Large areas of deforested land are used for growing soybeans.'

      statistic
      Correct answer: fact
      expert opinion
      reference to official report

      Q3.
      What type of evidence is shown here? 'A 2006 report stated that soybean farming was contributing to deforestation.'

      explanation
      statistic
      Correct answer: reference to official report
      expert opinion

      Q4.
      What can we do to sound authoritative when writing an essay?

      Correct answer: include lots of evidence to support our argument
      Correct answer: use subject-specific vocabulary
      give our own opinions
      Correct answer: present the argument in a logical order

      Q5.
      Which linguistic feature is used here? 'Because soybeans can be used as cattle feed, they are also widely grown in the area.'

      fronted adverbial of cause
      Correct answer: adverbial complex sentence
      relative complex sentence
      parenthesis in brackets

      Q6.
      Which linguistic features are included here? 'In 2006, a study found that farming soybeans, which are fed to cattle, was also contributing to deforestation.'

      Correct answer: fronted adverbial of time
      Correct answer: relative complex sentence
      fronted adverbial of cause
      adverbial complex sentence

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Put the logical steps of our argument so far in the order that they appear in our essay.

      1 - Deforestation is affecting the Amazon a great deal.
      2 - Deforestation in the Amazon is driven by agriculture and logging.
      3 - Deforestation contributes to climate change.

      Q2.
      Which of the following is the main point of the second main paragraph?

      Deforestation contributes in a small way to climate change.
      Trees are helping to prevent climate change.
      Correct answer: Deforestation contributes in a significant way to climate change.
      We should plant more trees to combat climate change.

      Q3.
      What type of evidence is used here? 'Trees remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, storing it as carbon. This helps to reduce high greenhouse gas levels that drive climate change.'

      statistic
      Correct answer: explanation
      expert opinion
      reference to an official report

      Q4.
      Which linguistic feature is used here? 'Trees remove carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas, from the atmosphere.'

      adverbial complex sentence
      Correct answer: relative complex sentence
      parenthesis in brackets
      non-finite (-ing) complex sentence

      Q5.
      Put these sentences in order to show the cause and effect.

      1 - Human activity has raised greenhouse gas levels.
      2 - As a result of this, the greenhouse effect has been strengthened.
      3 - Consequently, more heat is being trapped in Earth's atmosphere.
      4 - Due to this, global temperatures have risen.

      Q6.
      Which sentence correctly combines these ideas using a non-finite (-ing) clause? 'Deforestation causes 20% of global emissions. It contributes to climate change.'

      Correct answer: Deforestation causes 20% of global emissions, contributing to climate change.
      Deforestation causes 20% of global emissions contributing to climate change.
      Deforestation causes 20% of global emissions, it contributing to climate change.

      To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Planning and writing the second main paragraph of an essay, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...