Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will understand the drafting process of an expository essay. They will learn how to organize their thoughts, create a draft, and recognize the importance of revising their work to make it clear and interesting.

Materials and Prep

• Paper
• Pencil or pen
• Colored pencils or markers (optional for creativity)
• Timer (optional, for timed activities)

Before the lesson, make sure to explain what an expository essay is: a type of writing that explains, describes, or informs about a topic. Be ready to guide the student through each step of the drafting process!

Activities

• Brainstorming Session: Start by having the student think of a topic they are interested in. They can write down as many ideas as they can think of in 5 minutes. This helps them gather their thoughts!
• Outline Creation: Once they have their ideas, help them create a simple outline. This can include a title, an introduction, main points, and a conclusion. It’s like making a treasure map for their essay!
• Drafting Time: Now, it’s time to write! Encourage the student to write their first draft based on their outline. Remind them that it doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s just a way to get their ideas down on paper.
• Peer Review: If possible, have a family member read the draft. This can help the student see how others understand their writing and what could be improved.
• Revision Fun: Teach the student how to revise their draft. They can use colored pencils to highlight parts they like and parts they want to change. This makes it colorful and engaging!

Talking Points

• "What is an expository essay? It’s like telling a story about something you know, but instead of a story, we explain facts!"
• "Why do we brainstorm? It helps us think of all the cool things we want to write about!"
• "What is an outline? It’s like a map that shows us where we’re going in our essay!"
• "When we draft, we just write down our ideas. It’s okay if it’s not perfect!"
• "Why should we ask someone to read our draft? They can help us see if our ideas make sense!"
• "What does it mean to revise? It’s like giving our essay a little makeover to make it better!"
• "How can we make our writing fun? We can use colors and drawings to show our ideas!"