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1. Build\u00a0the Essay\u00a0Around a Central Question<\/h2>\n
Encourage your students to build all their writing around one central question.<\/strong><\/p>\n That central question is the engine of the writing\u2014it should drive everything!<\/p>\n If a word or sentence is not assisting that forward motion toward the explication of that question and its possible answers, then\u00a0it needs to\u00a0be reworded, rephrased or just plain cut out and discarded.<\/p>\n Lean writing is merciless. Focusing on a central question throughout the prewriting, writing and rewriting stages helps develop the critical faculties<\/a> required to discern what to keep\u00a0and what to throw away.<\/p>\n Providing a clear structure for the student to approach essay writing can do a lot to build their confidence. The 5-paragraph essay, or “hamburger” essay,<\/strong> provides that clear structure for ESL writers.<\/p>\n Generally, this structure employs five separate paragraphs for the entire essay. Each paragraph serves a specific purpose, melding together to form a coherent whole:<\/p>\n While students do not need to rigidly follow this format forever, the simple structure outlined above can serve as excellent training wheels for your writers.<\/p>\n Using the 5-paragraph structure as outlined above makes planning clear cut.<\/p>\n Once they have their theses and are planning their paragraphs, share with the students the ridiculously useful acronym<\/strong> P.E.E.<\/strong> This stands for Point, Explanation and Evidence.<\/p>\n Each body paragraph should make a point or argument in favor of the central thesis, followed by an explanation of this point and relevant evidence to back it up.<\/p>\n Students can make note of all their points, explanations and evidence before they start writing them in essay form. This helps take away some of the pressure ESL writers feel when faced with a blank page.<\/p>\n Extol the necessity\u00a0for students\u00a0to constantly refer to their planning.\u00a0The mind-mapping techniques<\/strong> popularized by Tony Buzan<\/a> can be useful at the planning stage and make for easy reference points to ensure focus is maintained throughout the essay.<\/p>\n Having a visual reference such as this can help ensure that your student-writers see each piece of the whole as well as that elusive “bigger picture,” so it becomes a case of seeing the forest and<\/em> the trees!<\/p>\n Just as planning is crucial, so too is research.<\/p>\n Often ideas or connections do not occur until the writing process has begun. This is a good thing! Essay writing is a creative act, so students can have more ideas along the way<\/strong> and work them in as they go.<\/p>\n The key is to always be able to back up these ideas. Students who have done their research on their subject will be much more confident and articulate<\/strong> in expressing their arguments in their writing.<\/p>\n One way you can help students with context and research is to show relevant video content via FluentU<\/a><\/strong>. FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n <\/p> \r\n You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n 2. Use the Traditional 5-paragraph Essay Structure<\/h2>\n
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3. Plan the Essay Carefully Before Writing<\/h2>\n
4. Encourage Research and Rewriting<\/h2>\n
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