Writing Workshop Notes: Criteria : Focus and Detail and Organization

In my writing workshop this summer, I focused on teaching my students two criteria in writing the essay namely, Focus and Detail and Organization. My approach for this module is a Reading into Writing Approach where in my students and I are reading essays and articles with an awareness of the different text structures. We are learning five structures: process/step by step; cause and effect; problem-solution; chronological order; and compare and contrast. 

A knowledge of these text structures enable stduents to uderstand the text and the author's purpose a litte better. It is also a learning experience in analysis and critical thinking especially when questions and inquiry are integrated when reading the texts. Constant exposure and regular practice in identifying the text structures is a strategy in reading comprehension which flows into writing.

Our output this week is an outline + text structures in the form of graphic organizers. Combining my students' prior knowledge on the traditional framework of an essay, Introduction; Body; Closure/Generalization, with their new knowledge of text structures, they were able to focus on a specific topic, provide details for the topic and develop, expand or extend the body of the essay using  graphic organizers. Also, my students have access and experiences on the topics of their choice. Content is not a challenge but documention and referencing are needed skills as well.

As always, I first model the process and guide my students in wiritng their own. Here is what I modeled and demonstrated for my students during one of the sessions.

Topic: Jhope’s New Single MORE

I. Beginning/Introduction – 2 paragraphs – 300 words

• Jhope’s new single, More, dropped last July 1, 2022 causing a stir among casual fans and listeners, intriguing and exciting ARMYs along the way.

• Supporting sentences for this claim and observation

• Jhope is known to ARMYs as the ray of light in BTS. He is the sunshine of the group whom Suga endearingly calls vitamins at one interview.

• Jhope’s first mixtape, Hope World is a burst of colors that reflect his cheerful and positive personality.

• More is the complete opposite, as many fans and reactors on YT have expressed.

II. Middle / Body – 3 paragraphs – 500 - 800 words

• Compare and Contrast: Hope World and More

• Discuss Jhope’s message in More based on the lyrics of the song (step  by step)

• -> Slected lyrics from 1st stanza / chorus or break /2nd stanza

III. Ending/Closure/Generalization – 1 paragraph – 150 words

• The new single More is darker in tone and theme but its message is similar and familiar to Jhope’s art, style and aesthetic.