Being an essay

It is possible to live in two cultures, but it is not easy It is possible to live in two cultures, but it is not easy. Write the title of the essay in your “title” space on the planning sheet. Essay question:

What is your opinion about this What is your opinion about this? Can people live in two cultures, or perhaps between two? Talk about it Give them 5 minutes chat Discuss

Is it possible? Thesis statement Can you express your opinion on this question firmly? Write your opinion down in one definite sentence on the exclamation side of your card Be ready to read it out ! Answer, can be yes/no, or yes or no with a rider. They read sentences and group votes on best and all write it in conclusion box. Is it possible? Thesis statement

Brainstorming body paragraphs Make a statement and provide an example to prove that it is possible to live in more than one culture. Write the statement beside the “S” and the evidence beside the “E” on the “bright idea” side of the card but don’t share it at this point. S E Write the statement beside the “S” and the evidence beside the “E” on your “bright idea card but don’t share it at this point. Brainstorming body paragraphs

Sharing ideas Walk around silently and read everyone else’s card This to show the breadth of possible ideas. Sharing ideas

Choose the six best ideas to use as body paragraphs in your essay How will you choose? Prioritise according to the strength of the argument, which seems the most persuasive. Group must decide how to do this. Planning

Reasons for an idea being chosen It shows: A perceptive understanding of the topic Sufficient detail, development and support to help prove it. When the six best are chosen, remove the cards form the others and ask them to wait for instructions. Criteria

Six chosen people - write a paragraph first using your Statement, then your Evidence and finally an Explanation of how these prove the thesis statement S E This is just the basic structure of an essay, we presume students are familiar with each concept. For younger students, it can be divided up into an activity which demonstrates what a statement, evidence and an explanation is. Body paragraphs

You already have the firm statement to be proven written first in the paragraph. Now sum up your main arguments (the six best ideas) after the statement. Choose three of the non body paragraph writers and have them write the conclusion. Conclusion

Make a general statement about the issue of living in two cultures as a lead in for the reader. Finish with the firm statement (already written in the conclusion) that it is/is not possible. Choose the other three non body paragraph writers and have them write the introduction. Introduction

Now make a line holding your cards. What order should you be in. Why Now make a line holding your cards. What order should you be in? Why? Come to an agreement on your order in the line yourselves. Allow them a few minutes to decide. Organisation

Criteria On what basis did you decide? Lead them into articulating the criteria they chose. Teacher can bring them to the idea of strongest argument last, second strongest first, and so on. Criteria

Loudly and clearly and with much conviction read out your part of the essay without a pause between sections. Teacher asks the question as a starter. As a following activity, students would fill out their own planning sheets. Perform your essay

Take a moment to write on your planning sheet what you have learned about structuring an essay. Do you think it will help you to plan in the future? Reflection

This plan can be adapted for any use For teachers This plan can be adapted for any use

Compare/contrast Follow the same procedure through Beginning with a c/c question e.g. Is it better to live completely in the adopted culture or to try to live in both? Firm up an answer Then decide upon a pattern to plan your body paragraphs. It will be one of two: A1,B1,C1 – When each body paragraph concentrates on only one criterion and speaks about it exhaustively, giving the positive, the negative and the balanced view which encompasses both, e.g. The security of keeping to one’s own ways Or A1,A2,A3 B1,B2,B3– When each body paragraph has evidence for perhaps three criteria to be compared, e.g. exploring new foods, attending festivals, and accepting that this is where you actually live.

Compare/contrast Criteria for choosing body paragraphs are the same. When brainstorming body paragraphs it will be necessary to fit the S,E and E into the patterns. If the class is big enough, two versions can be chosen to work through to performance; one from pattern #1 or #2 The conclusion also begins with the thesis statement and reminds the reader of the arguments made. The introduction likewise finishes with the thesis statement N.B. It is fun to have the same intro and conclusion for both patterns and it shows students that either pattern is a real choice. Organisation again is the same but for two sets of people, on for each pattern. Criteria for organisation is the same. Each pattern can then perform their essays and reflect on process and pattern

Expository The process is identical until order of body paragraphs Here, the criteria for order of body paragraphs is sequential and logical, adding to strong argument.

Commentary Can be chronological or thematic depending upon the piece. i.e. poetry lends itself to chronological throughout the piece; although not exclusively. It is fun to have students take a particular element of literary practice i.e. imagery, tone etc. and build a paragraph around it. Decisions on order of body paragraphs are crucial and provoke important discussions about what suits best and what sounds best.

Response to literature Depending upon the question these essays can be c/c, argumentative, or persuasive. Elements of commentary can be used also as students become more familiar with paragraphs written in that form. Building body paragraphs in these essays requires more extensive treatment of quotations and an extra step can be written in before ordering body paragraphs to facilitate this.

Response to literature The extra step would come before the body paragraph slide, would be titled “Steps to a body paragraph”, and would be shaped thus: Write a paragraph using your statement and choose appropriate quotations from the text to support it. Try to introduce the quotation as smoothly into the paragraph as possible and remember to use only those words which best support what your statement is saying. Another step needs adding here: Now choose from the quotation sentences the best/ smoothest ways to introduce quotations Then proceed to finishing the body paragraphs in the usual way.

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