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Ignition Learning — Activity Sheet

Formal writing: a structured essay

Languages · Year 11

Name: ______________________Date: ____________

Write a structured essay (200-300 words) in your target language on a topic you have an opinion about, using a clear introduction, body paragraphs each making one point, and a conclusion — the same essay structure you'd use in English, now built using your target language's grammar and vocabulary. This is more demanding than a simple paragraph: you need to plan your argument's structure, use appropriate linking words to connect ideas (like "however", "therefore", "in addition" in your target language), and maintain a consistent, more formal register throughout.

Example

An essay arguing that schools should start later might use a target-language equivalent of "firstly" to introduce the first point (about sleep and adolescent health), "secondly" for the next, and a phrase like "in conclusion" to signal the final paragraph — the connecting language itself, not just the vocabulary about the topic, is what makes an essay read as a genuinely structured argument rather than a list of disconnected sentences.

Key terms

Linking word:
A word or phrase (like "however" or "therefore") that connects ideas within a piece of writing.
Formal register:
A more formal, structured style of language appropriate for essay writing.

This topic is self-directed and doesn't have quiz questions.