Guidance needed for upper level thinkers who are lower level writers (m)

[CynthiaOK]

I'm teaching in our co-op this year. We are using Sonlight 200 history. It is painfully and embarrassingly obvious that these kids cannot write at the high school level :(

I'm trying to do 2 things simultaneously and I'm not sure how to go about it. I would like to teach them basic essay writing simultaneously with teaching them to think through a topic such as slavery (how slavery in the Bible compares to slavery in the British empire). I want them to do research and come to a conclusion.

I think I might be overwhelming them by doing both. But teaching writing using themes that are outside of their reading and discussion seems nonsensical to me. They will still have to write for their history class.

I'm really looking for only a 1 page paper at this point. I'm a bit at a loss as to how much "hand holding" to do. I have sent home handouts about thesis statements, topic sentences, paragraph construction, etc. yet I get papers that do not follow any of these! Obviously the kids aren't reading them or can't figure out how to implement them. I don't have enough time in class to go over all of this (we assumed the kids had a good grasp of basic grammar:confused:) as well as help the kids work through the topic.

I would appreciate any advice you all can give. The high school level is very late to just begin learning the essay, but that's where we are and I need to make the most use of the little time I have. HELP!

[Kimber]

you mentioned. But I find that IEW is excellent for this problem. We've spent the first half of the year working on structure. Last week I went over the super essay and how it is essentially 3-5 paragraph essays linked together with related topics.

I have 1 1/2 hours to teach the class. I usually spend 1 hour every friday writing a paragraph and reworking sentences per the IEW stylistic techniques. From this, they're learning grammar.

Over the next 2 to 3 months, they will each write a 6 page paper about a topic of their choice. Preferably something from their school work. We will work on a thesis statment next week. The following week we will work on the outline and research for the first 5 paragraph paper. I'll give them a week for the outline and research, and a week to write it. Then a week for the bibliography page and a rewrite. We plan to repeat this pattern of 3 weeks for each 5 paragraph paper. Then we'll spend one final week on an introductory paragraph for the entire paper and a final conclusion for the entire paper.

I know this is a lot of time for only 6 pages. However, my best writers have college essays and other research papers to write and don't have a lot of time. The beginning writers (I have various level students) need the hand holding. So I am trying to have everyone succeed.


Hope this helps,

Kimberly :)

[Narrow Gate Academy]

I would try breaking down the first essay into pieces. Start with a general topic (compare or contrast x and y). The first week have them research the similarities or differences. Give them a base number (have at least 5). They should turn in to you the list they made and the resources they used to make it. The next week have them turn their notes into an outline form (paragraph topic and supporting evidence including quotations they plan to use). Then do a rough draft that you edit and make comments on. Then a final draft.