Title: Enhancing Paragraph Structure and Crafting Strong Arguments
Attendance:
– 2 students absent (Aydana, Analia)
– 1 student sick (Askeldi)
Topics Covered:
I. Paragraph Structure and Review
– Importance of focused review before midterm paragraph corrections
– Discussion on common mistakes in paragraph writing
– Step-by-step process for writing a strong paragraph
II. Understanding Essay Questions
– Emphasis on directly answering the question (good vs. bad)
– Importance of choosing a stance and sticking to it
– Crafting a topic sentence close to the question
III. Developing Supporting Details
– The necessity of focused, relevant details
– Use of examples to illustrate points
– Avoiding common mistakes in supporting details
IV. Constructing a Complete Paragraph
– Combining topic sentence with supporting details
– Ensuring coherence and relevance throughout the paragraph
– Concluding sentences that reiterate the main argument
V. Practice with New Paragraph Topics
– Students create topic sentences and supporting details for new questions
– Discussion and feedback on student-created sentences
– Emphasis on direct answers and concise writing
Actionable Items:
– Students need to refine the ability to distinguish between direct answers and supporting details.
– Encourage students to practice writing concise, focused topic sentences.
– Address the confusion between the question statement and students’ own opinions in their writing.
Homework:
– Write a complete paragraph based on the new question provided: “This winter has been unusually warm in Bishkek. Many people think this is a good development, but other people think this is bad for the environment. Do you think this change in weather is a good or a bad thing?”
– Submit topic sentences via the Telegram group chat for review.