lesson plan

Lesson Plan
Oct 13, 2010 English 7

Prewriting Persuasive Essays with MindMeister

Objective: In order to prepare for the state writing test, students will be able to students will be able to select, focus, and develop topics for persuasive five paragraph essay using Mindmeister.

Utah Core Curriculum Standards:
[2.1c] Connect Text to self
[2.2] Write to identify and reflect on feelings
[2.2a] Determine audience and purpose for extended writing

Concepts to be taught: Mindmeister, organization skills, prewriting strategies

Materials needed: computer lab, overhead projector, examples,

Strategies to be used: questioning, visual presentation,

Performing
Announcements:

Continuation from Previous Lesson: This assignment goes with the previous lessons on how to identify the characteristics of a good persuasive essay in several online examples using Diigo.

Lesson Presentation:
A) Getting Started: Go over what students learned from examples of line essays. What elements did they like?
B) Directed learning: Modeling:
1. Use examples of essays to show the thesis, organization, introduction, conclusion, and topic sentences.
2. Discuss audience. Who would read this essay? Is it effective for the audience? Show how the essay would change if it were written for someone else. (teachers, 3rd graders, a golfer, etc.)
Assignment:
A) 1. Have students generate possible topics for persuasive essay. Give them categories to consider: people. Have them think of what groups they belong to: cheerleaders, basketball team, chess club, boy scouts, being a member of a large family. They will try to persuade someone to join the group, or tell them why they like it.
2. Mindmeister: show an example of a mindmeister map. Show the main ideas, and the branching ideas. Then show students how to use it: set up account, create map, add main points, add branches. Give them a task sheet.
3. In the computer lab, have students list their possible topics on Mindmeister. Have them write what they know about each group. They must list at least 3 bullets under each topic.
4. Before drafting students should consider the thesis and audience. Who are they trying to persuade to join? something to change in the school or community,
5. Then have them get into small groups and talk about their lists and see which ideas generate the most interest. Then students should freewrite about one of the topics. Write what they know.

Bringing the Lesson to Conclusion:
A) Remind students of the purpose. If they use these skills writing they will be able to persuade someone else. This will help prepare them for the state writing test.

Evaluation:

Project Idea

In order to teach students how to plan and write a persuasive essay, we will teach them pre-writing strategies and organizational strategies using Mind Mapping. We will target Junior High students who will be taking a State English test with a prompt to write an essay.
For our assignment they will be required to free write about the topic first. Then they will create a visual mind map and connect their ideas. Students may work in groups and give comments on each other’s maps. Then, they will write about the topic again.
Doing so should help students learn how to think about their ideas and connect them together. This will help to create a persuasive essay with good organization.

Does This Work?

http://www.mindmeister.com/maps/show/42155251

This is an experiment using a mindmeister map with a password that only the students have. But I don't think it works.

Stayed tuned for future experiments using mindmeister.

Picnik Picture on Class website

So, I changed the contrast, size and added a lovely 60's effect to my picture. It actually looks really silly, but there are some cool things you can do. It's great because there's no registration.

Technology in the Classroom Friend or Foe?

Yes, technology is great. But sometimes I think teachers get technology happy. Sometimes less is more.

Let me illustrate. So, I have a writing class here at BYU, and the professor has
a text book,
a supplemental reading book,
an Electronic Course Reserve account,
a Blackboard site,
a class blog, and
a class wiki.

I ask why. It is confusing because there are so many different places to get information for the class, and because we have different places to write online.

There should be a simpler way, a place to store readings and to have class chats.