GED 2002 Teachers' Handbook of Lesson Plans

Activity Title "Meow-Meow" or "Bow-Wow"

Goal/Objective

Students will organize ideas and write a "comparison-contrast" essay on a given topic,using the rules of EAE.

Lesson Outline

Discuss "comparison -contrast" essay writing and review the four steps in the writing process.

Introduction

Show pictures from magazines of dogs and cats and discuss the pros and cons of each one as a pet.

Activity

Demonstrate how to use Venn diagram (overlapping circles) and fill in from student responses.Discuss how these ideas might be organized into an essay. Review how to write introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion. Then students write essays, using their own numbered ideas, on which animal they think makes the better pet.

Debriefing/Evaluation Activity

Students turn in essays to be revised and edited the next class period. An informal poll is taken as to which pet was more popular in this group. Students are asked to bring photos of their own pets to share. These will be used as a prompt for description essays.

Materials, Texts, Realia, Handouts

 

Extension Activity

Students will bring photos the next class period of past or present pet(s) to share with classmates and do a future description essay.

 

ESE Accommodations

Make a list of common terms that pertain to pets, with definitions on back.

Real-Life Connection

Decision-making about housing is determined by comparing and contrasting the pros and cons of each type. (apartment dwelling versus home ownership)

Activity Title "Meow-Meow" or Bow-Wow?"

Introduction

Say: Today I have brought many pictures to class of cats and dogs, cut from magazines. How many of you have ever owned a cat or dog? How many of you have had both? Which makes a better pet? Today we are going to learn to write a "compare and contrast" essay, by looking at how they are the same and how they are different. Comparison allows you to find similarities between two things, and contrast allowsyou to find differences between them.

Main Activity

Draw two intersecting circles on the board. Label one "Cats" and the other "Dogs."

Say: A Venn diagram is a good way to gather information for a comparison-contrast essay. The overlapping area indicates similarities. The outer segments indicate unique characteristics. We will complete this Venn diagram as a class activity and discuss the order in which ideas might be presented in an essay. On your own paper number the ideas in the order you plan to talk about them.

Review the four steps in essay writing and the characteristics of a good introduction, body paragraph, and conclusion. Students now write essay on which makes a better pet, using personal observation, experience, and knowledge to back up their opinions.

Closure/Conclusion

Students turn in essays and take informal poll as to which pet was the more popular among the group.

Follow-up Lessons/Activities

Have students bring photos of their own pets to share and use as a basis for a future description writing.Students revise and edit their original "compare- contrast" essays in groups of three.