Lesson Plan for Junior Secondary 1 - English Comprehension - Expository Essay

### English Comprehension Lesson Plan **Topic:** Expository Essay **Grade Level:** Junior Secondary 1 (Grade 7) **Duration:** 60 minutes #### Objectives: 1. Students will understand the structure and purpose of an expository essay. 2. Students will identify key features and language elements of an expository essay. 3. Students will read and comprehend a sample expository essay. 4. Students will plan and outline their own expository essay. #### Materials: - Whiteboard and markers - Copies of a sample expository essay - Chart paper and markers - Notebooks and pens - Graphic organizers for essay planning #### Introduction (10 minutes): 1. **Begin with a Discussion:** - Ask students if they know what an expository essay is. - Elicit responses and write key points on the board. 2. **Define Expository Essay:** - Explain that an expository essay is a type of writing that explains a topic or provides information about it. - Highlight that it is factual, clear, and has a logical structure. 3. **Purpose and Structure:** - Explain the purpose of an expository essay: to inform or explain a topic to the reader. - Introduce the structure: introduction, body paragraphs each with a main idea, and conclusion. #### Direct Instruction (15 minutes): 1. **Introduce the Sample Essay:** - Hand out copies of a sample expository essay. - Read the essay aloud as a class. 2. **Break Down the Essay:** - Analyze the introduction: how it grabs attention and presents the thesis statement. - Identify the main ideas presented in each body paragraph and how they support the thesis. - Discuss the conclusion: how it summarizes the main points and closes the essay. 3. **Key Features:** - Focus on transitional phrases (e.g., "firstly," "in addition," "consequently") and their role in providing coherence. - Highlight factual evidence and examples used to support the main points. #### Guided Practice (20 minutes): 1. **Group Activity:** - Divide students into small groups. - Distribute chart paper and markers to each group. - Assign each group a different part of the expository essay to analyze: introduction, body paragraphs, or conclusion. 2. **Group Analysis:** - Have each group list the key features and elements they find in their assigned section. - Groups will present their findings to the class, discussing the importance of each element. 3. **Whole Class Discussion:** - Facilitate a discussion on how all these parts come together to form a cohesive expository essay. #### Independent Practice (10 minutes): 1. **Planning Your Expository Essay:** - Distribute graphic organizers for essay planning. - Ask students to think of a topic they are interested in writing about. - Guide them to fill out the organizer with their main idea, supporting points, and examples. - Emphasize clarity and organization. #### Closing (5 minutes): 1. **Review Key Points:** - Reiterate the structure and purpose of an expository essay. - Quickly review the role of the introduction, body, and conclusion. 2. **Homework Assignment:** - Instruct students to complete the graphic organizer at home if not finished during class. - Ask them to write a draft of their expository essay based on their plan and bring it to the next class for peer review. 3. **Questions and Feedback:** - Allow a few minutes for students to ask questions or provide feedback. ### Extra Tips: - **Differentiate Instruction:** - Provide additional support or simplified example essays for students who need more help. - Challenge advanced students by asking them to incorporate more sophisticated evidence and sources. - **Assessment:** - Informal assessment through participation in discussions and group activities. - Formal assessment through the completed graphic organizer and the draft of the expository essay. This lesson plan aims to provide a foundational understanding of expository essays, enabling students to identify, analyze, and start creating their own expository essays.