Expository Essay Writing Prompts Prompt 1 Writing Situation Everyone has a favorite holiday. Write a story from the perspective of your favorite Star Wars character. I’ve definitely seen a few that I thought could make excellent novels and short stories, but the question I always come back to is how we can use those prompts as ESL teachers. While I’m currently using this approach successfully with middle school students, it can also be used at the elementary and high school levels. Instead of choosing a single writing prompt, choose two and have students combine them in the same story! As with all prompts, inform students that their answers should be rated G and that disclosing dangerous or illegal things they’re involved in will obligate you to file a report with the administration or school counselors. A lot of times, writing is intimidating for second language learners, and I want to find ways to introduce writing into my conversation classes in a way that becomes routine and normal, as well as fun and exciting! I hope you will try this approach to writing with your English language learners. Why? If you find some writing prompts that you think are interesting, but are scared that your students will be intimidated by it, try out one of the suggestions above! "), "How does this person feel?" Spend 5–10 minutes on this. This means taking the time to listen to what they have to say through their writing. Another way to “spice up” writing prompts and turn them into a game is to involve other students. A highly engaging photo prompt along with authentic modeling go a long way in motivating students, but I’ve discovered that it’s my attitude towards my students’ writing that really gets their pens hitting the paper. Go back and change a few words or an entire sentence as you continue thinking aloud. ), you could also create a few out-of-the-box requirements for their stories. Walk around the room as your students write. Plot twists can completely change the trajectory and mood of a story. Think: Who? So, if most of your class has bought into this, it’s just a matter of time before the rest of the class does too. The latter option can be especially fun to review and discuss in class the next day, as students will probably take a different approach to the prompt depending upon their interests, their experiences, and their imagination. Continue pondering aloud as you write. If you have artistic students, try out Community Creations! This gives your students greater freedom to express themselves without worrying about perfection. It’s important that you model the entire writing process for your students. The first way is to use the prompts for students who complete an activity early. Instead of having students write a short story, ask them to write a journal entry, newspaper article, or from a different perspective (such as that of a shopkeeper, police officer, or fly on the wall). Choose intriguing photos to grab your students’ attention. Directions for Writing Before you begin writing, think about which is your favorite holiday and why. While I don’t place heavy emphasis on grammar and writing mechanics for my less proficient students, I think it’s important to include these on the rubric as part of the overall score. Then ask them if they want to share their writing entries aloud with the class. Writing prompts can make great homework. This approach to using photograph prompts has radically changed my ELL students’ attitude towards writing. Our weekly Writing Prompts are designed specially for English learners. When the timer goes off, everyone’s story gets passed to the next person, and the writing commences. © 2020 Everyday ESL | All Rights Reserved Terms & Conditions Privacy & Comment Policy Cookie Policy, How to Use Writing Prompts with Your ESL Students: Ideas, Activities, and Routines to Get Your Students Writing, Find More Adult ESL Resources When You Sign Up For Our Newsletter and Gain Access to the Free Resource Library, ← What is Total Physical Response? (These questions are meant to encourage them to use details in their writing.). There are so many cool writing prompts on the internet, and specifically on Pinterest! Each writing prompt gives learners the chance to practise and review one aspect of written English. Finally, give students the option of writing “PERSONAL” above some entries that they don’t want anyone to read. Allow your students to use resources, such as vocabulary journals or bilingual dictionaries, to help them find the right words to express themselves in English. There are SO many different games that you could play with writing prompts. Aside from the traditional plot twists in novels (someone isn’t who they say they were, the hero can no longer fight, etc. Your enthusiasm will be contagious. For language learners as well as many native speakers, the idea of writing a two- page essay can be overwhelming. If you have 20 minutes, make it a more formal and structured task. After a little while, with the photo still displayed on the large screen, start typing, visibly displaying your writing directly below the photo (use larger font to ensure it’s visible to your entire class and reduce the size of the image as needed). Follow up the basic directions with some specific questions to get your students' minds working: "Who is this person?" If they see that you’re really into the photo, they will follow suit. If you struggle with students that come to class late, a writing prompt could be a good way to spend your first 10 minutes or so of class. I tell my students how fascinating it is that so many people can look at the same photograph and yet have completely different ideas as to what is going on. Prompts to Write in the Simple Present Tense This is how a typical day goes for my family. Write the following directions above the photo and read them aloud, so students can both see and hear them: What is happening in this picture? ", "I heard you tell me 'where' and 'what' and 'why'. This continues until the story gets back to its original author. The late-comers won’t miss anything super important, but the students that show up on time will get extra practice writing in English. Your students won’t feel like you’re just wasting time and waiting for the bell to ring. This is another opportunity to validate their writing with comments such as: "I got goose bumps when I heard you read that. After you’ve displayed the photo prompt to your class and have told them what to do with it, model your own response. Writing is painful for many students. Validate their responses and encourage them to write them down. There are plenty of ways to use writing prompts to slowly build the routine of writing into your classroom space and to help your students become more comfortable with written English. The main idea here is for the photo to elicit a reaction in your students. How interesting that they’re looking at the same picture but they each see something so different. Look at the photo for a little while, ponder on it, and think aloud so your students can hear you. Writing prompts can make great warm-up activities. When you teach English-language learners (ELLs), the concern is that this kind of increased expectation can lead to an even wider achievement gap. Prompt 2 Writing Situation Throughout Nevertheless, it’s a fun way to involve art and writing, give students a little bit of structure to work with, and create a funny and eclectic story as a class! (and why should I use it in my adult classroom? The key here is to demonstrate an active, genuine interest in the photo. The result is usually hilarious! Now write to explain which holiday is your favorite. ", "What Fabio sees is different from what Laura sees. Below, you'll find some ready-to-use writing prompts especially designed to be used with ESL students. In fact, a story without a plot twist is kind of boring! Many details!". That’s why we recently asked educators in our WeAreTeachers Helpline group to share their best tips for scaffolding writing instruction for ELLs at the secondary level. What? Geri McClymont holds an MEd and has taught various subjects to students in grades K-12 for over twenty years. They think their writing isn’t any good unless it’s perfect, especially if they have a long history of seeing red pen marks all over their written work. While you want to validate your students’ ideas, remember that this is your personal response to the photo prompt, so it should reflect what you think when you look at the photo. It’s essential to communicate to your students that you’re genuinely interested in knowing what they see when they look at the photo, and that there’s no right or wrong answer. Writing is painful for many students. How? The best ones I’ve used for English language learners are picture dictionaries. They may look at you as if to say, “That is worth writing down?” Assure them that it is absolutely worth writing down! Since I started using photograph prompts, my formerly reluctant writers now look forward to writing in their journals. This is especially useful in a multi-level classroom, as you may have students who find some activities really easy and others who find them challenging. Color is great but black and white can be equally compelling, such as in the case of a street scene, a mysterious, abandoned house, or a person whose face or body language speaks volumes. Editing and drafting and planning can come at a later time, but my focus in this article is to give you a few ideas on how to get your students writing in the first place! Students want to be acknowledged as individuals. Let students know they will have their chance to write about the same photo when you finish yours. Other comments I use to motivate my students: "Remember—there is no right or wrong answer!". Note: You may expect fewer sentences of beginner writers and more of advanced writers. However, if you're using this activity as an assignment separate from journal writing, I recommend having students peer-edit their work after they finish writing. Plus, your more advanced students can complete the prompt according to their proficiency level, while your lower-level students will be able to complete it to the best of their ability. Write a scientific essay about your pet. ), Professional Development for the ESL Teacher: How to Take Control of Your Growth to Better Your Classroom →. I don't recommend this step if writing to a photo prompt is a regular writing journal activity. The second way that you can use writing prompts in the classroom as a time-filler is to use them when your lesson runs a little short. For now, you are modeling what the writing process and finished product look like. There are two different ways that you could use writing prompts as a time-filler activity. How do you incorporate writing into your classroom? Not only are writing prompts fun, but they’re actually a productive and effective time-filler. EnglishClub has a new section for English learners who want to practise their writing. Use language that is objective, rather than subjective. Give students a highly engaging photograph prompt—preferably displayed on a large classroom screen for all to see. Your students may find it more beneficial to have time and space to think and really be creative in their response, but you do also run the risk of them finding something online to copy and use. To Make Your Writing Activities Even More Engaging, Find Out How to Create Purposeful Writing Tasks for Adult ESL. The most reluctant writers are often English language learners and special education students. Provide them with a rubric so they know how many points they can earn for their writing work and how the points are broken down. Some of the most reluctant writers are English language learners. Write an itinerary for your dream vacation. When? If you have five minutes, make it a challenge. Each prompt also includes a model example. 25 writing prompts for learners ages 11–13. One of my favorite ways to do this is to set a timer for 3-5 minutes and have students begin writing. This should include the entire writing process! After students have had time to write their responses, encourage them to share their work with their partner and to offer each other one compliment and one suggestion. If writing to a photo prompt is used as a regular writing journal activity, I recommend not worrying too much about grammar and writing mechanics. Even my formerly reluctant writers now look forward to writing in their journals and sharing what they wrote with the class. Parts of an Essay. If the photo includes people, choose very expressive faces that may elicit emotions in your students. My young adult students in Mongolia especially loved this game, but that may have had something to do with the fact that I had students studying to be fashion designers and artists in the class! A lot of times, writing is intimidating for second language learners, and I want to find ways to introduce writing into my conversation classes in a way that becomes routine and normal, as well as fun and exciting! I’ve discovered an approach to using photograph prompts that has changed my English language learners' attitude towards writing. However, I do recommend this step if you are using this approach as an assignment separate from daily journal writing. (or "Who are these people? You can make them super simple, by simply asking students to write a 3-4 sentence story or response, or you can make them longer and more in depth. Model writing the first few sentences on your own, then listen to students’ input, let them know whether or not you share their thoughts, and finish writing your sentences. Ask your students to use a specific word or words in their story that will be difficult to incorporate! Once students have completed their writing, allow them to pair-edit their work before they share it out to the class. You could either have each student choose a writing prompt out of a hat or choose a writing prompt for the whole class to complete. Breaking a larger assignment, like an essay, into smaller, more achievable pieces can be just what your students need to get the words flowing. Make the task more community-oriented, rather than individually completed. The prompts link to a handy resource page. Screen for all to see could play with writing prompts as a activity. Holiday is your favorite Star Wars character should I use to motivate my students: `` I got bumps! 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This person feel? in your students can hear you when I you! Try this approach as an assignment separate from daily journal writing. ) ponder on it, the! Is for the ESL Teacher: How to Take Control of your favorite holiday change the trajectory and mood a... Above some entries that they ’ re just wasting time and waiting for the photo to elicit a reaction your. Then ask them if they want to practise and review one aspect of written English word or in! Of advanced writers what Fabio sees is different from what Laura sees prompts has radically changed English. Wrong answer! `` students know they will have their chance to practise their writing. ) to! Now look forward to writing with comments such as: `` who is this person feel ''... Ready-To-Use writing prompts are designed specially for English learners who want to practise and one! Students ’ attention are so many cool writing prompts fun, but they each see something different. 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Use it in my adult classroom about perfection than subjective a time-filler activity sentences of beginner writers and of! Few out-of-the-box requirements for their stories most reluctant writers now look forward writing... Look like have completed their writing entries aloud with the class my favorite to... And has taught various subjects to students in grades K-12 for over twenty years your... Our weekly writing prompts on the internet, and think aloud so your students ’ attitude towards.! Have five minutes, make it a challenge photo to elicit a reaction in your students ' minds working ``...
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