Writing formal essays that build an argument
A strong essay is like a court case: you make a claim and then back it up, point by point, with evidence.
Part of your national curriculum
- Writing: Write formal and academic essays as well as personal and creative writing, summarising and organising material, and supporting ideas and arguments with any necessary factual detail
Lesson overview
What you'll learn in this lesson
Write formal and academic essays as well as personal and creative writing, summarising and organising material, and supporting ideas and arguments with any necessary factual detail
Key learning points
- • Organising material
- • Supporting with detail
- • Balancing personal and formal writing
This lesson at a glance
- 28 minutes
- 14 parts to scroll through
- 3 quick checks
- Marked quiz at the end
- Gentle pace: short sittings with pauses
Words to know
Scroll down — the lesson carries on below
Watch & discover
Part 1 of 14
Watch first
Writing formal essays that build an argument
An English teaching video on this topic from Jeddle. Watch it, then scroll down for the lesson.
In a nutshell
Write formal and academic essays as well as personal and creative writing, summarising and organising material, and supporting ideas and arguments with any necessary factual detail
Learning cycle
Part 2 of 14
Learning cycle 1 of 2
Part 1 · Organising material
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 3 of 14
Learn
Organising material
A formal essay on 'Is social media good for teenagers?' needs a clear structure: introduction stating your view, paragraphs for each main point, and a conclusion. Group similar ideas together rather than jumping between topics.
Explore the idea
Part 4 of 14
Learn
Supporting with detail
Don't just claim 'social media harms sleep' — add factual detail: studies link screen use before bed to reduced sleep quality. Specific evidence makes an argument convincing rather than just an opinion.
Quick check
Part 5 of 14
Quick check
What should a formal essay's paragraphs do?
Reset break
Part 6 of 14
Pause
That's sitting 1 of 2 done
Stretch, get a drink, look out of the window. There is no timer and nothing is counting down — your place is saved, so you can come back in five minutes or tomorrow.
Quick check
Part 7 of 14
Quick check
Why add factual detail to an argument?
Learning cycle
Part 8 of 14
Learning cycle 2 of 2
Part 2 · Balancing personal and formal writing
A short piece of teaching, then a check to make sure it has landed.
Explore the idea
Part 9 of 14
Learn
Balancing personal and formal writing
Academic essays use formal, impersonal language ('It could be argued that...'), while personal or creative writing can use 'I' and vivid imagery. Knowing which mode you're in shapes your whole approach to a task.
Quick check
Part 10 of 14
Quick check
Which phrase suits formal academic writing?
Challenge round
Part 11 of 14
Game · Sort it
Which of these are true?
Drag each card into the right column. Tap a card first if dragging is fiddly.
True
Not true
Challenge round
Part 12 of 14
Game · Fill the gaps
Finish the sentences
Choose the word that belongs in each gap.
A ____ essay on 'Is social media good for teenagers?' needs a clear structure: introduction stating your view, paragraphs for each main point, and a conclusion.
____ essays use formal, impersonal language ('It could be argued that...'), while personal or creative writing can use 'I' and vivid imagery.
Mastery quiz
Part 13 of 14
Marked quiz
End of lesson quiz: Writing formal essays that build an argument
3 questions, marked with the reasoning shown. No timer.
1. What should a formal essay's paragraphs do?
2. Why add factual detail to an argument?
3. Which phrase suits formal academic writing?
Lesson round-up
Part 14 of 14
Lesson round-up
Ready when you are
Quiz score
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Points this lesson
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Best run
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Luna: 0 out of 3 on the practice checks. Only if you feel up to it — one more?
Ask LunaDo the work
Your written work for this lesson
This is the part you'd do in your book at school. Pick the pieces below, write here or on paper, and photograph anything you draw or work out.
The last bus
The bus shelter smelled of wet coats. Mira pressed her timetable flat against the glass, as though staring at the numbers might make the 9:42 appear. Rain tapped the roof in small, impatient fingers. Somewhere behind her, a shop shutter came down with a sound like a full stop.
She had been brave all day. She had been brave in the corridor, brave at lunch, brave when the register reached her name and nobody looked up. Being brave, she decided, was mostly a matter of keeping your face still.
Headlights swung around the corner and lit the puddles gold. Mira picked up her bag. Tomorrow she would say something. Tonight she would simply go home.
Original extract written for Good Learning Co.
Reading questions
- Find two words or phrases that show how Mira is feeling, and explain what each one suggests.
- How does the writer use the weather and the sounds to build the mood? Use a short quotation.
- Write the next paragraph in the same style, keeping the writer's short sentences at the moments that matter.
Reading response
ReadingRead the extract again, then write about how the writer makes you feel that way. Use a short quotation and explain your choice of words.
2 paragraphs (PEE)
Extended writing
WritingWrite your piece in full, then redraft the opening so it hooks the reader.
250–350 words
Reading log
ReadingNote the book, the pages you read and one thing you noticed about the writing.
20 minutes' reading
Saved as you type.
Part 1 of 14 · Watch & discover
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Write formal and academic essays as well as personal and creative writing, summarising and organising material, and supporting ideas and arguments with any necessary factual detail