Purpose: To introduce students to a new writing task/genre, and, after they’ve completed the task, encourage students to reflect on their experiences in a meaningful way with a real audience.
Materials: Computer Lab
Procedure:
1. Assign for homework a chapter of your text book covering the genre that students will be asked to compose in next. Require some type of annotation.
2. In the computer lab, divide students into groups of two.
3. Ask students to prepare, in groups, a one-page document of tips for students in next semester's class to use when they compose this particular assignment. Assign specific sections to students based on current topics of discussion or struggle. For instance, you might ask students to write sections on methods of pre-writing, use of sensory language, and integrating narrative and analysis for an autobiographical narrative with an analysis. Allow students to choose at least two of their own sections or subheadings, and provide an example from previous classes or one that you write to guide them.
4. After the students have written the major paper, return to the computer lab, and ask groups of students to revise their essays based on what they learned during the process of writing the paper. Ask them to add one to two sections that encourage reflections like common challenges, things to avoid, or warnings.
Differentiation:
Instead of having students write a “tips” document, ask them to write a document in the genre that they are trying to learn. For instance, they might write a personal narrative about their experiences with personal narratives or an informative essay on informative essays.
Publication:
Publish the students' documents on BB or a blog so that students in the following semesters can use them as reference materials for the major essays and this project.
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