ESL Essay Writing Activities.The Structure of an Essay

Essay Writing

Essay writing is normally not on the top of anyone’s directory of favorite things to do. It can be tough to put applying for grants paper, prove a point, or create a coherent flow of ideas. Essay writing is also more difficult when it needs to be done in a language that isn’t your own personal. As a result, it is vital for English as a second language (ESL) teachers to add numerous examples, activities, and helpful strategies for the essay writing process so students have the ability to navigate through any struggles that may arise. This lesson will provide activities that are several ESL teachers can practice using their students.

The thing that is first will need to do is make sure your ESL students know how an essay must be structured. Generally, it is best to introduce students to the traditional essay structure that is 5-paragraph

• 1st Paragraph: The introduction, which lets readers know very well what the essay shall be about.
• 2nd-4th Paragraphs: The body paragraphs, which provide arguments and evidence to support the main point associated with essay.
• 5th Paragraph: The conclusion, which summarizes the body paragraphs and reiterates the point that is main of essay.

Keeping a visual for this structure will allow students to start to see the whole picture so they really are aware of what they are working towards while writing an essay. It may be very challenging for ESL students to put their thoughts to be able; therefore, it is essential to introduce activities and methods that can help result in the writing process easier.

Essay Writing Activities

The following activities can be properly used into the ESL classroom to greatly help students better understand the essay writing process. Make modifications as needed to best match students’ English and writing ability.

Hamburger Essay Builder

This is often a organizer that is graphic or essential link piece-by-piece project, to assist students better understand the structure of an essay.

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1. Give students an image that is outline of hamburger
2. Provide label sections for each of the hamburger parts (top bun, tomato, lettuce, meat, bottom bun)
3. Have students label each an element of the hamburger to represent each part of the essay (introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion).
4. Provide students with cut outs shaped like each one of the hamburger parts.
5. Have students write the description out for every associated with corresponding essay parts on their buns, lettuce, tomato, and meat.
6. When finished, have students assemble their hamburger that is essay to as reference when they begin writing their first essays.

Free Writing

Utilize this fun activity to have students practice their writing skills because they race from the clock. The item for this activity is to have students focus more about getting words in writing, much less on worrying about punctuation, grammar, and spelling. Make sure they know errors will likely not count. The aim is to write as much as possible in the time limit to allow them to observe how much that amount will increase every time the experience is completed in class.

1. Provide a list of interesting topics students can select from (favorite hobby, childhood memory, future goals, embarrassing story, family tradition).
2. Tell students they will write for a designated amount of time (2-5 minutes dependant on the age/language level) without stopping.
3. When completed, allow students to see their writing aloud, or in pairs, to enable them to enjoy one another’s work.

This can be a great option to help use the pressure away from ESL students as it pertains to writing. Be encouraging while making certain to help keep the experience lighthearted and fun.

Creative Writing Activities

Have students practice their writing skills by incorporating mini writing that is creative into your daily routine. Allowing students to create from many different angles will help them feel much more comfortable utilizing the English language in written form.

• Use writing prompts that will spark students’ interests by having them write about their favorite sport, movie, book, hobby, vacation, or holiday.
• Have students write a sequence piece explaining simple tips to do something they are great at (cooking a meal, scoring a soccer goal, writing a blog post).
• Ask students a viewpoint question; for example: could you rather spend less or spend it on a holiday? Do you might think it is important to complete homework? Have them write their answer out, along with a conclusion for that answer.
• Pose the relevant question, ”What could you do if. ” and add in different scenarios. For instance, ”What could you do in the event that you got lost in a city that is big? What could you do if you won a million dollars?” Have students write their responses down to made within the scenarios.

Help students identify grammar that is common punctuation, and spelling errors, that will have popped up inside their creative writing pieces by having them work in pairs to edit the other person’s work. Emphasizing this important step will help develop your ESL students’ self-editing skills.

Argumentative Essay Debates

To really make the process for writing an argumentative essay easier, hold debates in class to show students simple tips to collect supportive evidence, examples, and details before they begin writing. Make note of brand new vocabulary, concepts, and ideas from the board so students can better comprehend the key pieces to include in this essay style.

1. Divide your class into two groups.
2. Introduce a topic that is debatable students should be able to understand.
3. Write out a couple of questions that are higher-order each group to talk about.
4. Ask the questions aloud; allow the debate begin with moderation and additional questioning that is higher-ordering.
5. Have students take down notes regarding the discussed points that are main examples, support, and oppositions for their side of the argument.

If the debate is complete, go over ways for students to set up these records into a plan so it may then be used to form a powerful argumentative essay.