social media. good or bad?
pre-intermediate level
Description
Materials
Main Aims
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By the end of the lesson, students will be able to write a well-organized advantages and disadvantages article about social media using an appropriate layout, linking expressions, and relevant vocabulary.
Subsidiary Aims
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To help students identify the structure of an advantages and disadvantages article. To introduce useful vocabulary and linking expressions for writing. To improve students' writing fluency, organization, and accuracy, and accurate grammar.
Procedure (49-59 minutes)
I will write "Wikipedia" on the board and ask students the following questions: Have you ever used Wikipedia? What do you usually search for on Wikipedia? Do you think Wikipedia is a reliable source of information? Why or why not? Students will discuss the questions in pairs and share their ideas with the class. Then, I will tell them that they are going to read a Wikipedia article about the advantages and disadvantages of social media. I will pre-teach any key vocabulary if necessary.
I will ask ask students to read the article individually and answer the three comprehension questions in Exercise A.(they will have 5 minutes and they will read the questions first) Students first identify the three advantages and two disadvantages of Wikipedia, then decide whether the writer is generally for or against Wikipedia. Students compare their answers in pairs before I check the answers with the whole class and elicits evidence from the text. I ask students to read the article again and look for the ten mistakes related to grammar, vocabulary, punctuation, and spelling. Students work individually first and then compare their corrections in pairs. I will monitor, provide support if needed, and finally check the answers with the whole class, eliciting the correct forms and briefly explaining the reasons for each correction.
I draw students' attention to the model article and elicit its layout by asking them to identify the four paragraphs: the introduction, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion. I highlight how the writer organizes ideas in each paragraph and elicit the purpose of each section. Next, I draw students' attention to the linking words and phrases (e.g., First, Second, Third, On the other hand, For example, Also, To conclude), clarify their meaning and function, and explain how they connect ideas. Students will paraphrase a few sentences from the model text using their own words. This will help them avoid copying directly from the text and prepare them for their own writing. Finally, I ask students to use the same layout and linking expressions as a model when writing their own article about social media.
Before writing, students will decide whether they want to focus mainly on the advantages or the disadvantages of social media. They will briefly plan their ideas and then write their article. I will ask students to write a four-or five-paragraph article about the advantages and disadvantages of social media. I will remind them to follow the same layout as the model article (introduction, advantages, disadvantages, and conclusion) and to use the linking words and expressions we have discussed. I will monitor while they write, providing support and answering questions when necessary without correcting every mistake.
I ask students to exchange their articles and give peer feedback using a simple checklist. Then I will write a selection of common errors from students' writing on the board without naming the students. I will ask students to work in pairs to identify and correct the mistakes. I will check the answers with the whole class, clarify any remaining problems, and encourage students to use the corrections when revising their final draft.
