O Me ! Oh Life

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Learn poetry and writing with listenign and reflection exercises from eslwriting.org.

O H ME O LIFE

Here is an ESL writing exercise that begins with a poem and asks English students to write a considered response.

Exercise Structure

1  Read the poem O Me! Oh Life! by Walt Whitman.
2  Students write a response piece by briefly discussing their interpretation of the poem.
3  Students answer this question, based on the last part of the poem, “What verse will you contribute?”

The Poem

O Me! O Life!

Walt Whitman (1819–1892)

 

O ME! O life!… of the questions of these recurring;

Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities filled with the foolish;

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Writing With an Engine

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Here is a writing style tip that helps ESL students write well.

This style tip is about engines and comes from Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer.

WRITING STORIES WITH QUESTIONS

Part 1

An engine is a source of energy that keeps something moving. In writing, the engine is a question which the reader finds interesting. Because the reader wants to know the answer, he or she will keep reading to the end.

What are some common questions that give stories an engine?

  • Who did it?
  • Guilty or not guilty?
  • Who will win the race?
  • Which man will she marry?
  • Will the hero escape or die?

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Writing Style Tips

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Teaching ESL students how to write English stories and essays with style can be a challenge. What is style, anyway?

LEARN WRITING STYLE

Here are a few examples of how to write English with style. These come from Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. This style tip encourages writers to use four numbers to improve their style.

One

A single idea in a short sentence can make a great impact. For example:

  • I have a dream.
  • Just do it.
  • “It’s kind of fun to do the impossible.”

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