Read Write Think: Essay Map

Details

Main Website:

http://www.readwritethink.org

Activity Website:

http://www.readwritethink.org

Activity Description

In this activity, students use the Essay Map online tool as a pre-writing activity to help structure and organize their writing. The tool helps students understand the relationship between the introduction, main ideas, supporting details for the main ideas, and the conclusion and allows them to move back and forth through the map changing and adjusting their essay outline as needed.

Preparation

Select two essay prompts that relate to what you are studying in class: one to model how to use the Essay Map and another for the students to work on in pairs.
Students should have basic computer, Web site navigation, and keyboarding skills before engaging in this activity.

How-To

Ask students what steps they follow when completing a writing assignment. Lead a brief discussion and introduce the Essay Map as one tool for planning and organizing their writing.
Write the essay prompt you will use to model the use of the Essay Map on the board.
Display the Essay Map using the digital projector by visiting the Example Web Site (above).
Write your name and have students help you identify the topic of the essay based on the essay prompt and select the Get Started button.
Verbalize your thought process as you write a 1-2 sentence introduction. Since you have not identified your main ideas yet, you will come back to this screen to revise your introduction. Go to the Main Ideas screen by selecting the down arrow button.
Use the boxes to brainstorm your three main ideas. Just write short phrases.
Return to the Introduction screen (using the up arrow button) and add a brief description of the main ideas.
Go to the Supporting Details screens (using the down arrow buttons) for each Main Idea and provide these details, verbalizing your thought process. Go to the Conclusion screen. (Continue using the up and down arrows to navigate the Essay Map.)
Write one or twp sentences to conclude your essay. Revisit all of the sections of the essay to confirm the content makes sense.
Select the Finish button and print a copy of your essay map for yourself and each of your students.
Using the document camera, write your essay using the printed essay map as an outline. The introduction and conclusions can be copied from the Essay Map. Explain that the essay will contain five paragraphs: an introduction, three main body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Point out the relationship between the boxes and separate paragraphs within the essay (i.e. main idea #1 and its supporting details are included in one paragraph).
Write essay prompt #2 on the board and have students find a partner.
Direct each pair to the Essay Map Web site, using a provided browser Bookmark or Favorite. Or better still post a link to the Essay Map on your class Web site.
Have them follow the steps you modeled to complete the Essay Map together.
Circulate the room, assisting as needed.
When students have completed their essay maps, have them print them and use them to help guide the writing of their essays, which they will do individually.
Collect the essays along with a copy of the essay maps and provide feedback on the structure and content. If you choose to have students revise their essays, you will want to focus on grammar in the second revision.

Teacher Tips

Use this tool to help your students complete writing activities included in your textbook.

More Ways

The Student Interactives section (on the Classroom Resources tab) contains 50+ student interactives tools, and printable resources for students. To find ideas for how to incorporate the interactives into instruction, there are links to applicable lessons (Lessons That Use This Interactive). While they are targeted for K-12, they can be adapted for adult ed use. There are interactive activities on Learning about Language , Organizing and Summarizing , Writing Poetry , and more. For example, under Learning the Language there is Eye on Idioms , Flip a Chip on affixes and roots , and Word Matrixes .

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