New
New
Year 5

Setting out a logical argument in response to an essay title

I can set out a logical argument in response to an essay title.

New
New
Year 5

Setting out a logical argument in response to an essay title

I can set out a logical argument in response to an essay title.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Our essay will give one side of an argument, with a logical argument building to a conclusion that mirrors the title.
  2. Writing is best when we are sure of the ideas we are trying to communicate and how they relate logically to one another.
  3. We can organise a set of ideas into a logical order in order to make our argument most effective.
  4. We also need to organise ideas into paragraphs that build logically on from each other towards the conclusion.

Keywords

  • Essay - a piece of writing that explores arguments about a particular issue

  • Logical argument - one that follows a series of steps that lead clearly towards a conclusion

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

Common misconception

Pupils may notice that you could start off by discussing climate change, instead of deforestation, in this essay.

This is correct - we could come at it from either angle; however, since we are emphasising the Amazon rainforest in particular, it makes sense to start by referring to deforestation first.

Give pupils plenty of time to complete the first task out loud; the more confident they are in saying the argument orally, the easier their planning and writing will be in future lessons. You could support a small group and say the argument around the group, taking turns to say the next point.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

Loading...

6 Questions

Q1.
Which statements about the Amazon rainforest are true?
Correct answer: It rains a lot there.
Correct answer: Some areas of it are still unexplored.
It grew very recently.
Correct answer: It is home to anacondas and jaguars.
Q2.
Which of the following are major drivers of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest?
Correct answer: creating farmland for cattle
Correct answer: logging for wood
Correct answer: creating farmland for growing soybeans
building new cities
Q3.
Which of these products is not linked to deforestation in the Amazon?
leather
Correct answer: corn syrup
beef
soybeans
Q4.
What creates the greenhouse effect?
the sea's reflective surface
Correct answer: greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
oxygen in the atmosphere
deforestation
Q5.
Which of the following are effects of deforestation?
Correct answer: habitat loss for animals and plants
reduced levels of greenhouse gases
Correct answer: increased levels of greenhouse gases
Correct answer: poor soil quality and increased flood and drought risk
Q6.
True or false? The UK has experienced deforestation in the past.
Correct Answer: true, True

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the below are features of an essay?
Correct answer: a logical argument
Correct answer: paragraphs
subheadings
Correct answer: a title
Correct answer: evidence
Q2.
Which is the most likely conclusion of our essay?
Correct answer: We should reduce deforestation to help tackle climate change.
We should reduce car use to help tackle climate change.
We should buy more beef to help tackle climate change.
Q3.
What makes an argument logical?
it has lots of parts
it has lots of details
Correct answer: each step builds on the last
Q4.
Put these questions in a logical order for our essay.
1 - What causes climate change?
2 - How does deforestation worsen climate change?
3 - How would reducing deforestation help tackle climate change?
Q5.
Which of these points might come first in our essay?
It is often done using the 'slash and burn' method.
We can also try to buy fewer products that are linked to deforestation.
Correct answer: Deforestation is when trees are cleared from an area.
Deforestation has been driven by cattle farming.
Q6.
Where might we find the following sentence in our essay? 'If we can reduce deforestation by avoiding buying these products, we can help tackle climate change.'
introduction
paragraph 1
paragraph 2
Correct answer: conclusion

Additional material

Download additional material
We're sorry, but preview is not currently available. Download to see additional material.