Writing
Upper-intermediate level
Description
Materials
Main Aims
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By the end of the lesson, students will have practised writing a short narrative about a frightening experience, using past tenses, sequencers, and feelings vocabulary.
Subsidiary Aims
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To analyse a model text for layout and language features (paragraph structure, past tenses, sequencing). To practise controlled grammar and vocabulary (Past Simple / Past Continuous + adjectives for feelings). To provide peer-check and feedback practice using a checklist.
Procedure (26-38 minutes)
Show 2–3 pictures (storm, roller coaster, spider). Show the picture of a scared person. Ask: What’s happening? How does the person feel? What are some things that makes you scare? Do you know a synonym of scared? Elicit the word "frightened" Explain that today we will write about a frightened experience.
1.Layout Show text about the Grand Canyon. Layout analysis. How many paragraphs? (4) Read the sample text (1 minute) and choose which paragraph correspond with each description. Do the first one with them. Answers: 1. introduction, 2. details, 3. ending story 4.reflection. 2. Language Analysis Highlight 10 verbs in past tense (Past Simple / Past Continuous). Color green. Highlight 5 sequencers (First, Then, Suddenly, Finally). Color yellow. Identify vocabulary of feelings. (terrified, nervous, relieved). Color blue. CCQs Are we talking in the past, present or future? Past. What tenses can we use? Simple past, past progressive, past perfect Which tense do we use to give events of the story in chronological order? Simple past Which tense do we use to set the scene at the beginning of the story? Past progressive Which tense do we use to talk about how much or how many we had done of something? Past perfect Gap-fill task. Ok, now is your turn.
1. Writing preparation. Give instructions: You will write about a frightening experience. First, I will give you 3 minutes so you can complete your diagram with the ideas of the experience you will talk about. Give students 3 minutes to complete the diagram. 2. Introduce check list. Here is a checklist of what your writing needs to have. Using the clue words your wrote in the diagram, you will need to write a short text with 4 paragraphs that includes past tenses, sequencers and feelings vocabulary) You have 10 minutes. There is a clock that you will see in the shared screen to help you finish on time. Divide your time wisely. After this 10 minutes, you will interchange your writing with a partner, so be sure to finish on time. It doesn't have to be perfect. Don't worry! Checklist: 4 paragraphs Past tenses (simple past, past progressive, past perfect) Sequencers (First, then, next...) Feelings vocabulary (afraid, scared, alarmed...) 3. Writing. Ss write their frightened experience.
Peer-check Give instructions. You will be with a classmate in a breakout room. You will have 2 minutes to check together one of the stories. Then other 2 minutes to check together the other story. Try to identify some mistakes together. Give students 5 minutes to check their classmates writing and try to identify mistakes together. DEC Highlight 1–2 strong examples from Ss’ writing. Show 2–3 common errors (past tense, sequencers, layout) → elicit corrections from class. Quick reflection: “Which checklist item was easiest? Which was hardest?”
