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Many of my students panic when I ask them to write an essay. For some reason, they think that they should be able to sit down and write the perfect essay in one felled swoop. They don’t really understand that writing an essay is a process. Consequently, when it’s time for my students to write an essay, I teach them an essay writing process using a graphic organizer. My lesson on writing an essay may go something like this:

First, I will ask them to complete a chart like the one below, and I tell them that I want them to share what they have written with a partner. I will circulate while the students are doing this and then I will invite students to share some of what they have written.

Thinking, Knowing and Doing

I use the information they share to introduce the writing process. It doesn’t really matter what the kids tell because I can use what they know as a review for my five step writing process and I can use what they don’t know to teach my five step writing process. It’s a win - win situation.

After this, I introduce the Tower graphic organizer- a five step writing process.  Tower Graphic Organizer

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