Innovative way to teach ESL academic writing
If you teach ESL academic writing with college-level learners, Actively Engaged in Academic Writing offers you a classroom-tested online multimedia course that maximizes student learning and motivation while simplifying your life as a teacher. The ESL academic writing course is brought to by Bokomaru Publications.
Looking for stimulating ways to teach literary analysis? The course offers step-by-step explainer videos covering the key literary elements and terminology that bring literature to life. Six short stories are studied including Poe’s classic “The Black Cat” and a lesser-known masterpiece by Mary Webb, “Over the Hills and Far Away.” There are engaging study questions for each of the stories with suggested answers for the teacher.
Course contents
Entertaining videos, clearly explained guidelines for effective writing, engaging projects, short stories, automated corrective feedback on ESL academic writing: Actively Engaged in Academic Writing has it all and more. There are 35 online videos, available 24/7, that keep even the most-challenged students from falling behind and support your teaching. Most videos are accompanied by formative assessments that reinforce learning.
Looking for stimulating ways to help high-intermediate and advanced learners improve ESL academic writing? The course gives students practice in the five elements of effective writing, such as developing a clear thesis statement, creating well-developed paragraphs, and using sentence variety. Students also get plenty of practice in revising and editing their work with automated corrective feedback on writing tasks.
Looking for engaging projects that get students to practice real-life tasks in communicative situations? Do a family story project with your students which is fun, and in some cases has been a life-changing experience for some of my own learners. One student commented,
“Learning about a family member and doing the whole interview process was really fun!
Both the songwriting project and the film project have received similar accolades from students.
Looking for advice on how to teach a lesson? Based on my experience in teaching the material over the years, I offer suggestions for each lesson on how to teach the materials.
Teachers enjoy using the materials too. One teacher commented:
The course is very easy to navigate, the videos are very clear and straightforward, and the supporting materials are abundant and useful.”
Another teacher noted:
If you’re looking for ESL resources for writing, Frank’s materials make an excellent choice. Each aspect of writing is broken down into manageable modules that students can follow at their own pace.
Actively Engaged in Academic Writing (College level 103A – focusing on literary analysis, ESL academic writing, project-based learning) Find out how to order.
Lesson Plan: 12 lessons
| Lessons | Web Companion | Homework/web companion |
| Lesson 1
Short talk assignment 10 tips for giving a short talk How to use Blogger.com Introduce Virtual Writing Tutor 2.1 Introduction – preview questions 2.2 Do research 2.3 Take notes Activity: Interview a classmate |
Video 2.1
Video 2.2 Video 2.3 |
Do Pre-test
Do quiz video 2.2 Do quiz video 2.3 |
| Lesson 2
1.1 Introduction – preview questions 1.2 Specific purpose 1.3 Debatable thesis 1.4 Literary analysis: introduction Activity 1.2 Subject versus topic Activity 1.3 Defining literary terms Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat The Black Cat: Study questions |
Video 1.1
Video 1.2 Video 1.3 Video 1.4 Quiz: The Black Cat
|
Do quiz video 1.2
Do quiz video 1.3 Do quiz video 1.4 |
| Lesson 3
1.5 Literary analysis: character, plot, point of view 1.6 Literary analysis: setting, style, theme Activity 1.4 Understanding a thesis statement Reading: Person, narrative, distance Activity Understanding narrative Activity Card Game: literary terms Self-Assessment Worksheet 1 M1 Oscar Wilde, The Model Millionaire The Model Millionaire: Study questions Family Story project Activity 1 Project background Activity 2 Interview preparation |
Video 1.5
Video 1.6 Quiz – The Model Millionaire |
Do quiz video 1.5
Do quiz video 1.6 Do Final Quiz 1 Read Person, narrative, distance Do Activity Understanding narrative, p. Do Self- Assessment 1, p. |
| Lesson 4
2.4 Think Critically 2.5 Paraphrasing Family Story project Activity 3 Transcription Activity 4 Peer critique Activity 6 Slideshow presentation Ambroise Bierce, An Occurrence at Owl Creek An Occurrence at Owl Creek: Study questions |
Video 2.4
Video 2.5 Quiz – An Occurrence at Owl Creek |
Do video quiz 2.4
Do video quiz 2.5 |
| Lesson 5
2.6 Summarizing 2.7 Quoting Self-Assessment Worksheet 2 M2 (103) Family story presentations |
Video 2.6
Video 2.7 |
Do video quiz 2.6
Do video quiz 2.7 Do Final Quiz 2 Do Self- Assessment 2, p. |
| Lesson 6
3.1 Introduction – preview questions 3.2 Use simple sentences 3.3 Being clear and brief 3.4 Varying sentence structure Songwriting project Activity 1 Defining songwriting terms Activity 2 Understanding AABA song form |
Video 3.1
Video 3.2 Video 3.3 Video 3.4 |
Do video quiz 3.2
Do video quiz 3.3 Do video quiz 3.4 |
| Lesson 7
3.5 Work on paragraph organization 3.6 Write coherently 3.7 Don’t plagiarize Songwriting project Activity 3 Planning your AABA song Activity 4 Slideshow presentation Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Red-Headed League The Red-Headed League, Study questions |
Video 3.5
Video 3.6 Video 3.7 Quiz – The Red-Headed League |
Do video quiz 3.5
Do video quiz 3.6 Do video quiz 3.7 Do Self- Assessment 3, p |
| Lesson 8
4.1 Introduction – preview questions 4.2 Use an outline 4.3 Writing a draft Mary Webb, Over the Hills and Far Away Over the Hills and Far Away, Study questions Card Game: Grammar talk Songwriting project: presentations |
Video 4.1
Video 4.2 Video 4.3 Quiz – Over the Hills and Far Away |
Do video quiz 4.2
Do video quiz 4.3 Do Self- Assessment 4, p |
| Lesson 9
5.1 Introduction – preview questions 5.2 Revise 5.3 Edit 5.4 Proofread Shirley Jackson, The Lottery The Lottery, Study questions Songwriting project: presentations |
Video 5.1
Video 5.2 Video 5.3 Video 5.4 Quiz – The Lottery |
Do video quiz 5.2
Do video quiz 5.3 Do video quiz 5.4 Do Self- Assessment 5, p |
| Lesson 10
Film project Lecture A: Why teach literature Lecture B: What literature to teach Lecture C: Using film Activity 1 Film analysis Activity 2 Film reviews Activity 3 Questions about the novel |
Lecture A
Lecture B Lecture C |
Film project
Do Activity 1 Film analysis Do Activity 2 Film reviews |
| Lesson 11
6.1 Making it look right – preview questions 6.2 MLA Style Guide 6.3 Proper layout Film Project Activity 3 Film essay: analysis – Blade Runner Activity 4 Film essay outline Lecture D: Getting to talk |
Video 6.1
Video 6.2 Video 6.3 Lecture D |
Do quiz video 6.2
Do quiz video 6.3 Do Self- Assessment M6 Film project Do Activity 1 Film analysis Do Activity 2 Film reviews |
| Lesson 12
Lecture E: Getting to write Film Project speaking (expert group/ mixed group) |
Lecture E | |
| Bonus Material
Student discussion guide Five-paragraph model for ESL academic writing Essay writing checklist for revising and editing How to analyze a play |
||
| Assignments
Family story presentation Midterm nonfiction-narrative writing test Songwriting speaking instructions (Virtual Writing Tutor) Film project speaking Final Film Essay Writing Exam instructions |
||
| Works Cited |