Lesson Plan #5 - Writing

Narrative: students come from various different backgrounds and speak different languages. They have a variety of educational levels in their native language.

Rationale: students will need to learn how to revise their piece of writing by adding, removing, substituting, and moving words or phrases. Students need to know how to access reading materials in their community and library is one of ways to access books or any other useful materials for free. Students need to know how to fill out different kinds of application forms: for example, citizenship application, library card application, job application, etc.

Goal: students will be able to write an essay or paragraphs using some vocabulary words or phrases they have learned from previous classes. Students will be able to fill out paperwork.

Objectives:

-       Students will be able to write a paragraph about their ESL class.

-       Students will be able to add details to their writing and read it to their classmates.

-       Students will be able to remove unnecessary or repetitive information from their piece of writing.

-       Students will be able to move words/phrases/sentences in their writing.

-       Students will be able to substitute words/phrases/sentences in their writing.

Materials: sample paragraphs, job application form, library card application form

Procedure:

1.     Introduction (15 minutes): students read Claudio’s &Chul’s stories from the last class. Students practice revising both stories by adding, moving, removing, and substituting words, phrases, or sentences.

2.     Pre-teach vocabulary words (15 minutes): add, remove, move, substitute (pre-teach ARMS with a sample sentence or a paragraph).

3.     Activity (20 minutes):

-       Students practice writing a short paragraph about their summer vacation.

-       Students add four things to what they write and take turns reading their new piece to a partner.

-       Students remove two things from what they write and take turns reading their new piece to a partner.

-       Students move three things from what they write and take turns reading their new piece to a partner.

-       Students substitute three words/phrases/sentences and take turns reading their new piece to their partner.

4.     Post-activity (20 minutes): students are given a library card application form and teacher guides them to fill out the application in a proper way.

5.     Midterm/test (45 minutes)

Evaluation:

-       Teacher monitors as students write their own story.

-       Teacher assesses students’ ability to add details to their piece of writing.

-       Teacher monitors as students remove words/sentences/phrases from their writing.

-       Teacher evaluates students’ ability to move words/phrases/sentences in their writing.

-       Teacher monitors students’ ability to substitute different words/phrases in their writing.

-       Teacher assesses students’ ability to fill out application forms.

Sample paragraphs (pre-teach ARMS)

Claudio’s Story

Hello, my name's Claudio. I'm from Italy and I'm a student. I'm twenty-five years old and I'm single (REMOVE). I live in an apartment with my parents (ADD). I go to university five days a week. I like going to the disco on Saturdays. I don't like playing sports (SUBSTITUTE). I have one sister and one brother, Maria and Antonio (MOVE).

Chul’s Story

Hi, my name's Chul and I come from Korea. I'm a businessman and I work in Seoul (MOVE). I'm married and have two children, Min-Jee - a girl, and Dak-Ho a boy (REMOVE). I like in a small house in the suburbs (ADD). I take the subway to work from Monday to Friday (SUBSTITUTE). I like playing golf in my free time. I don't like singing karaoke!