If you teach upper elementary or middle school writing, then you know it is a chore to get students to organize their thoughts and stay on-topic in their essays. The problem often compounds as you transition from 5-paragraph essays to opinion writing to informational writing and beyond.
Over the years I have used different strategies to teach essay writing. From model paragraphs to detailed prompts and group peer reviews I was often left disappointed in the disorganized arguments and off-topic filler my students would submit as their finished essay. They would confuse the goals of each type of writing and carry many of the same bad habits over from one unit to the other.
Ultimately I decided to create my own writing units. Each one covers a different type of writing, but the process is the same across each unit. This consistency helps students recognize the fundamentals that apply to all essays while also highlighting the key differences in the purpose and process of each type.
Here is an overview of the essay writing framework I use for my students. All of the lesson plans and activities can be found in my Writing Rules Resource on TPT.
Daily Lesson Plans
Each writing unit follows a similar format for introducing the concept, identifying the purpose of this type of writing, and following through with the draft, edit, and submission process. The only thing that changes is the type of writing we cover. Again, this consistency helps students better identify the goals of each unit.
CCSS Standards and I Can Statements
I teach in a standards-based state that tests students on their understanding and ability to demonstrate each writing style. Identifying our learning goal is my favorite way to jump into a lesson because it offers clarity on what we will accomplish over the next few days. One way to do this is by sharing a simple “I can” statement to kick things off.
Writing Goals and Vocabulary
Before the research and brainstorm process, we need to understand the key differentiators of our writing style. I like to define and compare writing vocabulary for each unit to highlight the differences between two similar types of writing.
Brainstorm Activities
In my experience, you won't get very far by giving students a blank page to brainstorm their points for an essay. You need to provide a structured approach that guides their thinking and aligns their ideas to match the goal of each assignment. I use a custom brainstorm template that matches the rubric requirements of each writing assignment.
Rubrics and Peer Editing
Peer reviews are an important part of the writing process. Students not only learn from the feedback, but they also get to read through a different perspective of the same assignment. Yes, it does require some coaching to maximize the effectiveness of these sessions, but the benefits are well worth it. Just make sure your peer editing rubric matches the requirements of your teacher's rubric.
Consistent Format
This framework has really helped me to teach essay writing in an effective and efficient way. By helping students understand the goal of each essay and guiding them through an organized approach to meeting the requirements, my students' essays are much clearer and better structured. If you are looking for a print-and-go resource that features all of the worksheets and activities here, then be sure to check out my Writing Rules Resource on TPT.
