ESL Writing STUFF

Helping English instructors teach better, plan faster and work smarter.

Learn English Writing: the Hypothesis

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Learning how to write a sentence with a hypothesis helps ESL students organize text, summarize complex ideas, and write with style.

Summarizing information is a challenge for my EFL students. For example, if I ask students to summarize a short story in a video, they tend to present information in the same sequence as the story. There is no synthesis of information, no presentation of a theme, no defense of an idea.  It’s all very cook bookish.

Teaching students how to write a hypothesis is one solution. The idea is that students synthesize information into a specific sentence pattern and then spend the balance of the text defending the idea or at least explaining it with evidence and details.

Part 1. Basic Hypothesis Format

A hypothesis is a sentence that tells us two (or more) things are related to each other. What is not in the hypothesis is an explanation about HOW the two things are related.

Hypothesis sentences are useful for two reasons.

  • They can summarize complex ideas in one sentence.
  • They tell us what to expect in the future.

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Short Story Summary

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This mixed skills activity helps ESL students learn English summary writing.

Short Story Summary

Purpose

learn to write a summary of a short text

Time

about 20-40 minutes to complete a first draft

Flow

Divide class into pairs. Half the students get Story A. The other half get Story B. Provide students with these instructions.

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Teach Show, Don’t Tell With a Powerful Guided Prompt

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If you want a memorable and meaningful ESL creative writing activity, here’s one that never fails: teaching students how to “show, don’t tell.” This activity pushes learners beyond simple sentences and into expressive, sensory descriptions. Along the way, they gain richer vocabulary, stronger storytelling skills, and more confidence with English. You can use this exercise in an ESL writing lesson, during ESL classroom activities, or as part of ongoing ESL writing practice for intermediate and advanced learners. Students who normally write matter-of-fact sentences suddenly discover how creative language can transform a scene—and how emotions can shape the world of a story.

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