Teaching a Text The following five lessons focus on: Explicitly teaching the structure and language of the

of the writing task Explicitly teaching the thinking processes involved in writing Immersing students in the required style of writing Modelling and jointly constructing texts Providing independent practice Allowing student reflection on the writing task

The five lesson plan can be utilised and adapted for teaching any writing task. Once students have acquired a skill in writing a text type, they may not require the intensive structure of five lessons.

Basic Structure of the Lessons Teaching the structure of a text through using a writing sample Teaching the language features of a text through using a writing sample Creating a scaffold for text type Brainstorming the set question Planning the writing task Independent writing Self reflection

Key Terms Text Purpose Audience Structure Register Connectives Viewpoint Tense Any material that contains meaning. May be writing, an image, brochure etc. The reason for creating the text. Such as to inform, persuade, entertain etc. Who is the text created for? A teenage audience, a middle aged audience etc. The way the text is organised. For example: introduction, body, conclusion The type of language used, whether it is formal or informal. This will depend on the audience. Words and phrases used to join sentences and to provide logical links between sentences. For example: firstly, finally, however etc. Use of first person (I, we); second person (you); third person (he, she, they, them) The form that the verb takes which tells the time of the action; it can be in the past, present or future

Topic Sentence Usually the first sentence in a paragraph that expresses the main point or idea of that paragraph. Subsequent detail will develop the point in the topic sentence. Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Pronoun A word that is a person, place, thing or idea A word that shows what is happening, often called doing or action verbs A word that adds more information to a noun. For example: the old piano, the blue car, the dirty window A word that adds information to a verb. For example: he spoke slowly A word that takes the place of a noun. For example: she walked home from school

Teaching Students How to Write a Text Type Lesson 1 Structure of the Text Type Cover the structural features of the text type. These features need to be explicitly taught for each text type. For example, a persuasive text usually contains:

Introduction o With a hook to engage the reader o A thesis (central argument) and o A summary of the main points that will be covered in the body. Body - Often contains 3 paragraphs. Each paragraph should consist of: o A topic sentence, showing what the paragraph is about o Evidence and points to support the topic point; usually 2-3 pieces of evidence/points o A wrap up sentence that links back to the thesis (optional) Conclusion Sums up the main arguments from the body. The conclusion reminds the reader of the writers position and finishes with a bang so that the argument is memorable.

Homework Persuasive Text Language Features

The amount of homework needs to be reduced for several reasons. In short, time is limited in many students lives. At the same time, other students Summary are showing alarming levels of obesity due to sedentary lifestyles. Lastly, of family disharmony has increased as a result of stressed parents trying to Reasons get their children to do their homework. Reason 1 Firstly, time is limited. Many students dont arrive home until 6pm. This is because they have chosen to play sports which require a few hours of training each week or they engage in cultural activities, which are often taught after school. After they arrive home, they have to unpack their bags, do other daily jobs, have a shower and eat dinner. By the time they Reason 2 have finished these necessities, it is 8pm. If they have homework, then it is too late to start, and whatever is done may be of poor quality. Wrap up Therefore it is fair to say there is not enough time after school to Sentence complete quality homework.

Thesis

Topic Sentence

On the other hand, many other young people are recording high levels of obesity because of their sedentary lifestyles. Traditional Reason 1 homework is not an activity that is known to raise the heart rate and so does nothing to improve our physical fitness. We are constantly being told to become healthier. Why sit still at night time when students have Reason 2 been sitting still in the classroom all day? This is not good for their health and contributes to the high levels of obesity seen today. Wrap up Topic Sentence Finally, homework places huge amounts of stress on already stressed-out families. In families where both parents are working, the Reason 1 last thing they need is to fight with their children at the end of a stressful day. By reducing the amount of nightly homework, the family home would be a much more relaxed place, as it should be. Reason 2 Topic Sentence In conclusion, homework should be reduced. We must Summary recognise that students time is limited, sedentary work of contributes to the high levels of obesity among Australias youth, and Reasons finally, homework can cause an increase in family disharmony. The wellbeing of students is far more important than excessive amounts of Bang! homework. Thesis

Lesson 2 Language Features of the Text Type Cover the language features of the text type. These features need to be explicitly taught for each text type. For example, a persuasive text usually contains: Personal pronouns you (second person), we (first person) Rhetorical questions do students need to be in the classroom to receive an education? Emotive language teachers suffer from exhaustion Repetition marking, marking, marking! Rule of three students will be hard working, enthusiastic and positive Use of evidence schools in Norway have been following a four day week with amazing results Use of connectives creates cohesion in the arguments firstly, secondly, finally, in conclusion, this shows, this displays High modality terms should, must, needs show the importance of an issue Language of numbers a significant number of teachers report...

Task Use the sample persuasive text Homework. Get the students to highlight and label the following persuasive language features in the text: High Modality Terms Connectives Language of quantity/number/degree Emotive Language Personal Pronouns Rhetorical Question

Once highlighting and labelling is completed, discuss as a class the language features and their effect. Note how many times each language feature is used. At this point, the class should be able to create their own scaffold of an exposition text for reference in the next lesson.

Homework Persuasive Text Language Features

The amount of homework needs to be reduced for several reasons. In short, time is limited in many students lives. At the same time, other students are showing alarming levels of obesity due to sedentary lifestyles. Lastly, family disharmony has increased as a result of stressed parents trying to get their children to do their homework. Firstly, time is limited. Many students dont arrive home until 6pm. This is because they have chosen to play sports which require a few hours of training each week or they engage in cultural activities, which are often taught after school. After they arrive home, they have to unpack their bags, do other daily jobs, have a shower and eat dinner. By the time they have finished these necessities, it is 8pm. If they have homework, then it is too late to start, and whatever is done may be of poor quality. Therefore it is fair to say there is not enough time after school to complete quality homework. On the other hand, many other young people are recording high levels of obesity because of their sedentary lifestyles. Traditional homework is not an activity that is known to raise the heart rate and so does nothing to improve our physical fitness. We are constantly being told to become healthier. Why sit still at night time when students have been sitting still in the classroom all day? This is not good for their health and contributes to the high levels of obesity seen today. Finally, homework places huge amounts of stress on already stressed-out families. In families where both parents are working, the last thing they need is to fight with their children at the end of a stressful day. By reducing the amount of nightly homework, the family home would be a much more relaxed place, as it should be. In conclusion, homework should be reduced. We must recognise that students time is limited, sedentary work contributes to the high levels of obesity among Australias youth, and finally, homework can cause an increase in family disharmony. The wellbeing of students is far more important than excessive amounts of homework. High Modality Terms Connectives Language of quantity/number/degree Emotive Language Personal Pronouns Rhetorical Question

Persuasive Writing Scaffold Introduction Hook Thesis Summary of reasons to support thesis

Argument 1 Topic sentence 1st supporting point/evidence 2nd supporting point/evidence Wrap-up sentence

Argument 2 Topic sentence 1st supporting point/evidence 2nd supporting point/evidence Wrap-up sentence

Argument 3 Topic sentence 1st supporting point/evidence 2nd supporting point/evidence Wrap-up sentence

Conclusion Repeat thesis Summary of main reasons Leave with a bang!

Sample Text Homework Persuasive Text

The amount of homework needs to be reduced for several reasons. In short, time is limited in many students lives. At the same time, other students are showing alarming levels of obesity due to sedentary lifestyles. Lastly, family disharmony has increased as a result of stressed parents trying to get their children to do their homework. Firstly, time is limited. Many students dont arrive home until 6pm. This is because they have chosen to play sports which require a few hours of training each week or they engage in cultural activities, which are often taught after school. After they arrive home, they have to unpack their bags, do other daily jobs, have a shower and eat dinner. By the time they have finished these necessities, it is 8pm. If they have homework, then it is too late to start, and whatever is done may be of poor quality. Therefore it is fair to say there is not enough time after school to complete quality homework. On the other hand, many other young people are recording high levels of obesity because of their sedentary lifestyles. Traditional homework is not an activity that is known to raise the heart rate and so does nothing to improve our physical fitness. We are constantly being told to become healthier. Why sit still at night time when students have been sitting still in the classroom all day? This is not good for their health and contributes to the high levels of obesity seen today. Finally, homework places huge amounts of stress on already stressed-out families. In families where both parents are working, the last thing they need is to fight with their children at the end of a stressful day. By reducing the amount of nightly homework, the family home would be a much more relaxed place, as it should be. In conclusion, homework should be reduced. We must recognise that students time is limited, sedentary work contributes to the high levels of obesity among Australias youth, and finally, homework can cause an increase in family disharmony. The wellbeing of students is far more important than excessive amounts of homework.