What students can really do with collaborative, scaffolded essay experiences
Some student examples straight from my classroom!
Last week, I sent out a unit plan for a collaborative essay experience — specifically one on character analysis.
I thought it might be helpful to see what my seventh graders came up with.
Now, are these the most innovative pieces of writing I’ve ever seen? Definitely not. They’re not even the most innovative pieces of writing these students will do this year. These are some glued-together reading responses.
Remember: essays of this kind are a step in a bigger process. Movement down a longer path. One lap in a longer race.
But, to be honest, I was proud of them! And perhaps seeing some authentic examples of a few seventh graders writing analysis for the very first time will enable you to envision what these collaborative essays might really look like for your students.
Here are a few:
What do you notice? What strikes you as interesting? What do you see the students approximating or attempting to do, even where it’s not done perfectly yet? What would your next steps be with these students? What will your next steps be with YOUR students?
Leave a comment + let me know what you’re thinking!
Looking for more in-depth training to help student craft reading responses + use them to build the foundation of analytical essays? I’m offering a 2-session webinar in February!