ENGL E101F Week 5 Session 1

Structure of an essay

Introduction:

General statements

Thesis statements

Body:

Topic/ concluding sentence

Support

Conclusion:

Restate the key ideas

Final comment

An opinion essay

First part of the introduction: briefly explain the issue

Thesis statement: state your opinion. May also briefly mention the opposite opinion

Support your opinion with reasons. A different reason in each body paragraph

Support each reason with detail such as quotations, statistics, and examples

Supporting detail

Examples

Quotations

Statistics

Quotations

Quotations are often used in academic writing as supporting sentences

Examples:

John Kennedy in his inauguration speech said, 'Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.

Or

According to John Kennedy, people should ask what they can do for their country instead of asking what their country can do for them.

Statistics

Statistics, like quotations, are an excellent kind of supporting detail.

Example:

Suppose you want to prove that talking on a cell phone while driving is dangerous. You could go online or to a library and find statistics about the number of traffic accidents that happen when people use cell phones while driving.

Statistics show that accidents often happen when people use cell phones while driving.

Statistical data prove that accidents often happen when people use cell phones while driving.

Introduction

Briefly explain the issue i.e. the biting incident

Read the article and Suarez's facebook messages

The article

Introduction

Suarez's facebook messages

Thesis statement

• Your view on the biting incident

• Your response if you were Chiellini

You support your opinion with reasons in the body.

Body

You support your opinion with reasons in the body.

Support each reason in each paragraph with:

quotations e.g. from famous people in the football world

Examples:

Conclusion

Restate the key ideas

Final comments

Activity 4

Why do people commit suicide?

Important suicide risk factors

3. previous suicide attempts

2. unemployment

1. Age

4. alcohol dependence

5. organized plan

Activity 4

6. illnesses

7. lack of social support

8. family history

9. financial difficulties

10. coexisting personality disorders

11. impulsiveness, aggression or violent behaviour

Activity 6

Foxconn: Foxconn Technology Group

A contract manufacturer producing

• electronic components, computer chips, etc

Activity 6

Its clients include:

American, Japanese and Canadian electronics and information technology companies e.g.

• Apple Inc., Dell, HP, Nokia, Sony, etc

Activity 6

In 2010, 18 workers attempted suicide in the Shenzhen campus

14 died

Why?

Activity 6

Watch and answer the questions

Activity 6

1. What comparison is used to describe the way Foxconn is run? Do you think the analogy is appropriate?

A military operation

Activity 6

2. What is the major problem identified with the Foxconn operation?

The major problem is the feeling of isolation and alienation among the workers.

Activity 6

3. The report mentions that there is a lot of resentment among the workers. What does this mean? Where do you think the resentment comes from?

'Resentment' here refers to the feeling of displeasure or even anger towards Foxconn and towards the society at large.

Activity 6

3. The report mentions that there is a lot of resentment among the workers. What does this mean? Where do you think the resentment comes from? (Contd.)

The resentment may come from widening gap between the poor and the rich and therefore the feeling of helplessness and uselessness despite the rapid economic growth.

Activity 6

4. The report names two measures the company has taken to prevent more suicides. What are they? What do analysts say about these measures?

a. bringing in mental health professionals

b. the setting up of a safety net.

Analysts called these 'window dressing', suggesting that they are merely decorative and do not address the root of the problem.

Activity 6

5. What have the big name clients of Foxconn done in response to the suicides?

They said they are deeply concerned about the suicides and have issued statements expressing sorrow for the victims.