Essay Development and Argumentation Techniques

This video tutorial guides students through developing an argumentative essay by linking claims, reasons, and evidence. It introduces a text-based question about Edna St. Vincent Millay's use of the sonnet form and outlines five steps for essay writing: close reading, assignment, generating and planning, drafting and revising, and editing and publishing. The lesson focuses on the draft and revise stage, emphasizing the use of outlines and transitions to improve essay flow. Techniques for connecting ideas and enhancing the essay's coherence are demonstrated, culminating in a complete body paragraph.

What is the primary focus of developing an essay as introduced in the lesson?

• Linking claims, reasons, and evidence

• Writing a conclusion

• Editing grammar

• Choosing a topic

Which step is NOT part of the argumentative essay process?

• Draft and revise

• Assignment stage

• Close reading and analysis

• Finalizing the topic

What is the final step in the essay development process?

• Generate and plan

• Draft and revise

• Close reading and analysis

• Edit and publish

What is the first step in developing your essay according to the lesson?

• Adding evidence

• Rewriting your outline

• Writing the introduction

• Editing the draft

What is the purpose of adding connecting words and phrases?

• To add more evidence

• To make the essay longer

• To enhance the flow and clarity of the argument

• To confuse the reader

Which transition word is suggested for introducing examples?

• However

• Similarly

• For example

• Therefore

In the example paragraph, what does the speaker do that breaks tradition?

• She reads a book

• She follows the norm

• She leaves her husband

• She writes a letter

What should be added to improve the flow of a paragraph?

• Longer sentences

• Additional evidence and transition sentences

• More claims

• Complex vocabulary

What is the significance of the epiphany in Malay's sonnet?

• It is irrelevant to the poem

• It is a startling plot twist

• It is a contradiction of previous ideas

• It follows the traditional placement

What should you do if your paragraph starts to feel like a list of evidence?

• Add more evidence

• Add transition sentences

• Remove some evidence

• Start a new paragraph