I used this handout to prepare students for the writing midterm in integrated skills level 3.
We began by looking at the prompt together. We focused on noticing verb tenses used in the prompt and what verb tenses they should use responding to the prompt, with me annotating the prompt on the document camera (with students writing it out on the handout to help plan).
We then talked about what a topic sentence is and brainstormed possible topic sentences together, while I wrote them on the board at the front. After that I modeled taking notes/outlining what I would write about to answer the prompt using the projector. We then talked about what a concluding sentence is, and brainstormed sentences together.
We finished by collaboratively composing a (very) short paragraph answer to the prompt. We were running short on time at this point, but finished the class with them writing their own responses to the prompt as they would for an exam. (it took 30-45 minutes doing the brainstorming and modeling– including some discussion of verb tenses, etc. and then I gave them 45 minutes to write)
Taking the time to go over reading the prompt (and explaining what the word ‘prompt’ means) seems to have helped them with focusing their responses to prompts (based on their midterm exams). It also gave them time to think about organization and see planning writing modeled which is an important part of the writing process and will hopefully better prepare students for higher level writing classes.
Finally, I gave feedback and marked grammar mistakes on the practices and returned them for students to re-write with corrections as homework before they took the midterm exam.
ESL and English Instructor at Yuba College and Butte College