Exploring a topic through various genres - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Exploring a topic through various genres

The Write SequenceSlide2

Gloria Munson

Grammar/Writing Coordinator

English Language Institute

University of Texas at Arlington

g

munson@uta.eduSlide3

Do you agree or disagree?

L2 writers are different from L1 writers

L2 writers already understand the academic expectations of universities in the U.S.

L2 writers need to be made aware how to write academic papers (

Leki

, 1995)Slide4

Write a 5,000 word

research paper

Include a working

bibliography

You must cite and document your sources in mla

Imagine

this is your assignmentSlide5

Did you understand to do research?

Did you merely the requirements?

Did you really your drafts for the final project?

Did you the teachers corrections?

how

follow

r

evise

copy

OR

OR

Your first research paperSlide6

Write down three topics

you’d like to researchSlide7

Should

certain kinds of ads be banned in the interest of health/morality/annoyance – alcohol, cigarettes, prescription meds, etc

…?

Should the government use invasive pat-downs and body scans to ensure passenger safety or are there better methods

?

U.S. companies that move factories to undeveloped nations barely pay employees enough to live on. Is it unethical to pay cheap wages or are companies doing those workers a favor?Choose a research project

from the list belowSlide8

Write down three topics that you either have experience with or have a need to learn aboutSlide9

Write down three memorable events in your life that include the one or all of the topics you just wrote down.

A decision that changed you

A time when an adult did something unexpected during your childhood

An action that seemed threatening or dangerous

An unpredictable event that changed your lifeSlide10

Why are the events significant?

When did each one happen?

How did each one change your life?

What is the topic of this event (topic—not main idea)?

Goal: generate cohesiveness and trust among classmates. Practice natural vocabulary about the topic.

Share storiesSlide11

What is it and what does it do?

How do you do it?

Sequenced writing projectSlide12

The sequenced writing project is a series of written assignments on a single topic in order to allow students to develop expertise in a subject and to write with ease and confidence.

(

Leki

, 1998)

What is it? What does it do?Slide13

Same topic, different genreSlide14
Slide15

The Sequenced Writing Project

Leki

,

Ilona. (1991-1992). Building expertise through sequenced writing assignments.

TESOL Journal

, 1(2), 19-23.develop expertise in research, revision and critical thinking

practice

a variety of writing skills and gain experience with academic forms of

writing

become

better writers and authorities on a specific

topic

feel empowered

Students…Slide16

Are your connected to your ?

Why not?

Which one would you

rather write about?

research ideas

memorable eventsSlide17

Which topics would you prefer to write about?

A. Research topic from a list

B. Research project you feel a personal connection with

Why?Slide18

experience

c

hoice

background knowledge

Because…..you can write fromSlide19

How do you do it?Slide20

Choose a topic

Take a look at your three personal events that changed your life and are related to a topic that interests you. Share with others in a group.

For example, I really like to ride my bike.

Terrible accident while riding my bike

I rode my bike alone through SE Asia

I attended Arlington City Council meetings in an attempt to support city funding for bike lanesStep 1:Slide21

The topic is your choice. However, you must select a topic that meets three requirements.

You

must feel very interested in the topic and want to learn more about it, since you will spend

several weeks writing about

the same subject You must already have had some personal experience with the topic you will write about. This must be a topic that will allow you to do all four parts (Personal narrative, Interview Report, Summary Response Analysis, Argument). Slide22

Topics Ideas used by Other Students

Obesity: student had gained 30 pounds since arriving in the United States.

Traveling alone: unusual for her Asian culture, student preferred traveling alone.

Technology creating social isolation: student’s marriage nearly failed due to his obsession with playing games on a smart phone.Slide23

I

n each case the student had already had some personal experience with the subject of their project before they wrote about it.

Students should choose carefully. They will write about the same topic in four different genres. Slide24

Which topic could be written in all four genres?Slide25

In the sequenced writing project, you may write on any topic you wish

All

four papers will address the topic that you select. For example

, I am a long-distance cyclist. I wrote a

narrative

essay involving an accident that occurred on my longest ride (140 miles). It changed my life. I interviewed a cyclist who attempted to ride across America in 11 days. He was featured in the award winning movie Bicycle Dreams. I wrote a profile essay about him.In my summary analysis paper, I analyzed the elements of a chapter from

Catfish and Mandala

(autobiography of a Vietnamese American who cycled alone through Vietnam.

My

fourth

paper

argued

whether drivers who kill or injure cyclists should suffer the same consequences as they would when they kill or injure other drivers or passengers of cars.Slide26

Portion of Timeline….

Date due

Assignment

Details

Tuesday

January 23Topic

Approval by Gloria must be given

Wednesday

January

24

Outline narrative essay

Use appropriate format including thesis statement and complete topic sentences.

Thursday

January

25Rough draft narrative essayComments will be given for on-time assignments.Thursday February 1Final copy narrative essay due.

Outside writing grade given.Tuesday February 6Outline interview essay Use appropriate format including thesis statement and complete topic sentences.

Thursday February 8Rough draft interview essay due.Comments will be given for on-time assignments.

Thursday February 15Final copy interview essayOutside writing grade given.Slide27

(in class) Free-write on chosen topic

Step 2: Slide28

Students complete an outline for the first assignment

Check for

Thesis statement: Main idea and viewpoint

Clear organization

Topic sentences

SupportDetailStep 3:Slide29

Write the rough draft

Assign appropriate reading from text book

Step 4:Slide30

After writing:

peer response activity

Topic—what is the story about?

What does it reveal about the author?  

What do you think is important about this story to the author? Does that come across?

First event:

Second event

Third eventDetails:1. 2. 3.

  Details:1. 2. 3.

 Details:1. 2. 3. 

ê

Topic: What is the story about?

What does it reveal about the author?

What do you think is important to the author? Does that come across in the narrative?

Do you understand what happened in this story? Yes No

What was your favorite part?

Step 5:Slide31

(WARNING: students should not check

grammar or spelling errors)

Peer editingSlide32

Check to make sure the students completed their assignments and answer any questions

Students write final drafts

Teacher provides comments

Students write final paper and turn it in for a grade

Step 6:

Step 7:

Step 8:

Step 9:Slide33

Students

on what they wrote

Although written informally, the reflection

paper should be as organized as any other type of formal essay. Include an

Introduction

, describe your expectations before you began writing. The body explain the conclusions you have come to and why, basing your conclusions in concrete details from your reading and experience. End the paper with a conclusion that sums up what you learned or obtained from the writing experience.

After

Each essay:

reflectSlide34

Reflection essay: Introduction

I

feel that the narrative essay is the hardest one to write compared to other types of essays. Usually, the narrative essay includes personal experience and viewpoint, so transferring personal thoughts to a formal essay is not easy. As I wrote about living with a pet, I held a stereotype. However, throughout my

writing experience

, I learned from that particular story.

Through the writing experience, I realized my essay should have various descriptive words, organization, academic language, and many revisions.Slide35

Reflection Essay: body

If

I

were a reader and I had to read an

article without enough

detailed descriptive words, I might struggle with understanding the material. As same as this process, I have to have responsible for giving an interesting story to readers. When I look back at my essay, I realized that I did not satisfy this process. That was because I did not try hard enough. Next essay, I will.Slide36

Reflection at the end of the projectSlide37

Self-reflection graphic organizer

Comprehension

Past:

I saw/remembered/felt/thought that…….

Describe your expectations before you began working on the sequenced writing project (four essays: narrative, interview, summary/analysis and argument).

Recalling the first week of class when the sequenced writing project was announced, or before you began writing.

And knowledge

Present:

I see/ realize/know/recognize that….

Look at the final project. What

are your feelings now?Slide38

Self-reflection graphic organizer

Reflection (analysis/synthesis)

I have come to understand that. . .

OR

I understand that my experiences have. .

Write a conclusion that sums up what you learned or obtained from the writing experience.

Application/Evaluation

So that as I move forward in my life. . .

I will / do / can. . .

Discuss what you learned or obtained from the writing experience and how it will affect your future writing tasks.Slide39

Steps for each genre

(change #1 to suit)

Choose topics and share stories with classmates

Free-write on chosen topic

Complete an outline

1st rough draftPeer response activityTeacher checks students work/answers questionsStudents write final draftsTeacher gives commentsStudents write final papers and turn them inStudents write reflection essay