The Spanish ArmadaL/O: How do we write a good essay?

C/W 23/09/15

Leadership Tactics

Why did the Spanish

Armada fail?

LuckWeaponry

Why did the Spanish Armada fail?

• Introduction• Leadership (Most

important reason first)• Tactics• Weaponry• Luck• Conclusion

First sentence = topic sentence

Use the words of the question to write the first sentence of each paragraph. You must also answer the question.

The most important reason the Armada failed was because the English had better leadership than the Spanish.

Why did the Spanish Armada fail?

First sentence = topic sentence

Use the words of the question to write the first sentence of each paragraph. You must also answer the question.

• Tactics• Weaponry • Luck

Why did the Spanish Armada fail?

Now try writing your own first sentence for the other three paragraphs

Writing a paragraph – Evidence for your point

Point: One of the reasons the Spanish Armada failed was because the English had better leadership than the Spanish. Evidence and explanation: - This is shown by the fact the English had experienced leaders in Sir Francis Drake and Lord Howard. In contrast, Duke of Medina Sidonia, the Spanish leader, was chosen because of his social status and not his skill. This gave the English a clear advantage because their enemy did not really know what he was doing. - ? - ? - ?

Writing a paragraph – Evidence for your point

One of the reasons the Spanish Armada failed was because the English had better leadership than the Spanish. This is shown by the fact the English had experienced leaders in Sir Francis Drake and Lord Howard. In contrast, Duke of Medina Sidonia, the Spanish leader, was chosen because of his social status and not his skill. This gave the English a clear advantage because their enemy did not really know what he was doing. Moreover, when Medina Sidonia had a chance to attack the trapped English fleet at Plymouth Harbour, he instead sailed past. As a result, he missed an opportunity to easily defeat the English fleet. Furthermore, Sir Francis Drake proved how good a leader he was when he sailed the English fleet close to the Spanish fleet during the Battle of Graveline. As a consequence of this daring attack the Armada was badly damaged and effectively defeated.

Now we have to link our paragraph back to the question – to make sure it is being answered!

Therefore, the most important reason the Spanish Armada was defeated was because the English had better leadership than the Spanish.

Why did the Armada fail?

One of the reasons the Spanish Armada failed was because the English had better leadership than the Spanish. This is shown by the fact the English had experienced leaders in Sir Francis Drake and Lord Howard. In contrast, Duke of Medina Sidonia, the Spanish leader, was chosen because of his social status and not his skill. This gave the English a clear advantage because their enemy did not really know what he was doing. Moreover, when Medina Sidonia had a chance to attack the trapped English fleet at Plymouth Harbour, he instead sailed past. As a result, he missed an opportunity to easily defeat the English fleet. Furthermore, Sir Francis Drake proved how good a leader he was when he sailed the English fleet close to the Spanish fleet during the Battle of Graveline. As a consequence of this daring attack the Armada was badly damaged and effectively defeated. Therefore, the most important reason the Spanish Armada was defeated was because the English had better leadership than the Spanish.

Why did the Armada fail? (Finding the evidence)

• Tactics• Weaponry • Luck

Find four pieces of evidence for each (names / dates / numbers etc.)

Point: (Remember what we did at the start!) Furthermore…

Evidence and explanation: This is shown when… this shows thatAlso…as a result…Moreover…as a consequence

Link back to the question: Therefore, another reason why the Armada failed was because…

Why did the Armada fail? (Write a paragraph)

H/W: Due next Wednesday (NOT FRIDAY!)

• A completed essay answering the question: Why did the Spanish Armada fail?

• On Friday I will go through introductions and conclusions, and answer any questions you don’t understand. I strongly recommend you wait until the weekend to write your essay.

L/O: How do we write a good introduction and conclusion?

Planning the Essay 25/09/15 1588

Slight Change of Plans

• For homework, you will write a detailed plan and write the essay next lesson (Wednesday)

• This is so it is fair for everyone

• You only need to write an introduction, conclusion, and three main paragraphs

Structure

• Introduction

• Leadership• Tactics• Weaponry• Luck

• Conclusion

Pick 3 of these 4

What is an essay?

• An essay = an argument

• Your introduction should say what your argument is going to be

• e.g. ‘I will argue that the most important reason why the Armada failed is because of leadership’

An example introduction

In 1588, Philip II of Spain sent an Armada to conquer England. It was the greatest fleet of ships ever assembled and yet it was defeated by the much smaller English navy.

An example introduction In 1588, Philip II of Spain sent an Armada to conquer England. It was the greatest fleet of ships ever assembled and yet it was defeated by the much smaller English navy. I will argue that the most important reason the Armada failed was because the English had better leadership. There are also other reasons, however, such as tactics and weaponry, which I will also look at in this essay.

A Conclusion

• A conclusion repeats your argument and explains your judgement

‘To conclude, as I have shown leadership was clearly the most important reason why the Spanish Armada failed. Other factors were important. However, without good leadership the English would not have had better tactics. Furthermore, the Spanish had more ships and more sailors. This disadvantage could only be overcome by the excellent leadership of Sir Francis Drake and Lord Howard. This is why leadership is the most important reason.

Draft your introduction and conclusion

Introduction

• A little bit of background• The factor you think is

the most important (e.g. tactics)

• The other factors you are going to mention (e.g. leadership, weaponry)

Conclusion

• Repeat your main argument / judgement

• Explain why your most important reason was more important than other reasons

Weaponry

• Spanish had 130 ships• English had only 55 (much

smaller) ships• The English cannons were more

accurate and could be fired more frequently than Spanish cannons (only once an hour)

• The Spanish had more sailors and more cannons on each ship

• English ships were fast and agile, which meant they could outmanoeuvre the Spanish ships

Luck

• The wind and tide trapped the English in Plymouth Harbour, making them very vulnerable to attack

• After the Battle of Graveline, the wind blew the Armada north around Scotland and Ireland. The majority of the sailors starved, died of disease, or were killed by the Scots or Irish

Connectives for using in a paragraph (to add more evidence, for instance)

• Furthermore• Moreover• Also• In addition• On the other hand…

e.g. ‘…not really know what he was doing. Moreover, when Medina Sidonia had a chance to attack the trapped English fleet at Plymouth Harbour, he instead sailed past. As a result, he missed an opportunity to easily defeat the English fleet.’

Connectives for using to begin paragraph

• A second reason• Secondly• Thirdly• Finally

e.g. ‘Secondly, the English also had better tactics than the Spanish, which is another reason the Armada failed.’

H/W – Write a detailed plan for your Spanish Armada essay no longer than one side of A4

• Title: ‘Plan: Why did the Spanish Armada fail?’

• You will be allowed your plan when writing your essay

• More guidance on www.gcshistory.wordpress.com