1. After talking about the difference between expository and literary essays yesterday, and talking about the distinguishing features of a level 1 essay vs level 3 and so on, we looked at some student examples of expository essays. When I helped score the provincial essay assessments a few years ago, I gathered several examples of student work. I used the document camera today to show them what a level one looks like, what a level two looks like, and so on… I was especially pleased that after reading a paragraph together they were able to pick out some of the errors or suggest improvements. (Amy, you were doing a great job of that!)
2. Once their attention span ran out for that task, I reviewed with them the chart formula for creating the content of a body paragraph for a literary essay. Then we created an essay topic, “the theme of Weakness or insecurity in individuals”, and filled in all the information needed for the first body paragraph. Then, before the bell went, I challenged them with the task of completing one row of the same on their own before they could leave. They got right to it, partially because the bell was going to go but they couldn’t leave until it was finished, but they (mostly) were on the right track, which I was glad to see!

Note: Michael kept repeating “This is bush!” I believe he must have been refering to this…. Click here.