ESL Writing Freshmen 2018 Week 1

Welcome to the writing class. I want you to remember these two numbers : 90 and 10.

This week we have many things to do this week:

1. introduce course and review the syllabus
2. review a few basic writing tools
3. practice error correction
4. watch a video and write a summary
5. write a story about a place

Hour 1

Review Syllabus (10)

Here is the course syllabus: writing class syllabus.

What is good writing? (10)

A Few Writing Tools (20)

Let’s do a quick review of some words and phrases that you will need to know for this writing class. I call these writing tools.

Look at the words on this pdf file. Then let’s do a little writing practice.

Next class (5)

Bring 4 things. What are they?

Homework (5)

To prepare for your first writing assignment, I want you to do a little reading. Read the descriptions about places in Korea.

Read about:

• Busan
• Jeju Island

Answer these questions:

1. Can you see any patterns in the descriptions?
2. What do you think about the word choices and sentence fluency?

Hour 2

Part 1 Quick Review (10)

Last week, you write a few sentences with the writing tools. Let’s finish that work and then check a few examples on the board.

Part 2 Writing Skill  (15)

• Show me, don’t tell me explanation
• Vocabulary check: show me words

Part 3 Read and Think (10)

Read about 2 places:

• Busan
• Jeju Island

1. Can you see any patterns in the descriptions?
2. What do you think about the word choices and sentence fluency?
3. Can you find examples of SHOW ME?

Part 4 Writing Exercise (20)

Choose one place that you know and describe it:

• one thing to see
• one thing to do
• one thing to eat.

Remember: don’t tell me about that place …. show me the place.

Hour 3

Part 1 (15)

• Writing skill: Prepositional phrases
• writing drill

Part 2 (15)

• Read and listen 2 Nirvana by Bukowski
• notice elements of show me
• notice plot, characters and setting

Part 3 (20)

• Writing exercise #2: The Diner
• take one sentence and picture prompt from last exercise
• write a creative story

Here are a few tips:

• Every story needs a setting, character(s) and plot.
• Every character wants something. 
• There is a start, middle and end.

In your first draft, don’t try to get everything perfect. Just get the basic parts on paper. You will rewrite this draft 2 more times.

By the end of the third draft, you will have a good looking story.

The canvas page.