Literacy Techniques and Strategies
Lesson Plan: Prewriting and Preparation for the Final Writing Assignment
Goals:
- Give students one effective method of prewriting.
- Have students make connections between their own friendships and the friendship between Max and Freak.
- Help students prepare to write their essay or story.
- Give students an effective organizational tool for their writing.
- Show that the process of writing is as important as the product.
Materials Needed:
- Chalk or whiteboard
- Prewriting handout packet (flowchart sheet)
- The novel, Freak the Mighty
Activities:
Opening
- (2 minutes) I will have a student volunteer to pass out the prewriting packet while I draw a flowchart on the board.
- (10 minutes) I will have the students brainstorm to come up with the steps or events that take place during the course of Max and Freak's friendship while I write them in the boxes for the flowchart on the board.
Body
- (5 minutes) I will talk about how they can use this same prewriting strategy as they are preparing to write their papers or stories.
- (20 minutes) Students will fill in their own flowchart for their story or essay about friendship and/or acceptance as I walk around and make myself available to help. I will also tell them that they are welcome to ask for their peers' input while they are working.
Closing
- (3 minutes) I will sum up the class by telling them to keep these packets, that we will work on webbing as prewriting the next day, and reminding them to read chapters 21 and 22, as well as keep filling in their journals.
Formative Analysis:
- Assess students' use of a new prewriting method by observing and helping them as they work on their own flowcharts.
- Assess students' connections between their friendships and Max and Freak's friendship by listening to their comments about both subjects and observing what they write on their flowcharts.
- Assess students' preparation for their writing assignment by observing how well they are able to complete this prewriting exercise.
- Assess their understanding of flowcharts as an organizational tool by observing the order in which they put Max and Freak's friendship flowchart, as well as the order they use on their own.
- Assess their understanding of writing as a process by identifying prewriting as an important part of the writing process as a whole and by observing how much effort they put into the task.