ELA Writing Standards and the ESL Learner:Classroom StrategiesJoseph Manja

Equipping the ESL Student to Meet

Common Core Writing Standards

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL Student

Welcome/Preview

• Welcome to: ELA Writing Standards & the ESL Learner

• Preview: Today I’d like to share with you classroom strategies that will better equip you to help ESL students in your classroom to meet Common Core Writing Standards.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentQuestion

• For how many of you are at least half of your students English a Second Language (ESL) learners?

• What I would like to give you now are some classroom strategies for helping your students learn to write a formal argumentative essay.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL Student

Argumentative Essay

Common Core Writing Standard for an argumentative essay:

Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.

Organization1a.a. Introduce precise claims.1a.b. Distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claim(s).1a.c. Create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claims, counter claims, reasons and evidence.Content/Audience1b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL Student

Organization ,Content, Audience: Substandards 1a & 1b

Organization1a.a. Introduce precise claims.1a.b. Distinguish the claim(s) from alternate or opposing claim(s).1a.c. Create an organization that establishes clear relationships among claims, counter claims, reasons and evidence.Content/Audience1b. Develop claim(s) and counterclaims fairly, supplying evidence for each while pointing out the strengths and limitations of both in a manner that anticipates the audience's knowledge level and concerns.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL Student

Organization ,Content, Audience: Substandards 1a & 1b

• Go from straightforward to more complex topics. Essentially-learn to swim in a pool before launching out in the ocean.

• What are some examples of straightforward topics?

• What are we asking students to do here?

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL Student

Classroom Strategy 1: Scaffolding-Introduce Claim

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentStraightforward to Complex

• So if the first step is writing a paragraph on what your claim is then….

• What are we asking students to do here?• What is our objective for this step?.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentClassroom Strategy 2: Flesh Out A Claim.

1. Separate into Groups based on the candy you were given:• Snickers = School Uniforms• Bounty = Video Games• Twix = Arranged Marriages

2. Using the graphic organizer:• Write a paragraph in which you

give 3 points supporting your claim.

• Make each supporting point a major point in your outline.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentAn Example: Claim/Counter-Claim/Rebuttal

• Claim: “Choosing healthy food helps us live longer, be more active and have a happier outlook on life.”

• Counter-Claim; “People are too busy to choose healthy foods.”

• Rebuttal: “Yet lines in fast food courts can be long. Eating out all of the time can become expensive….”

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentFrom Thesis Statement to Main Points

Intro (3-4 sentences)Thesis statement: Choosing healthy food helps us:• Point 1:Live longer • Point 2:Be More Active• Point 3:Have A Happier Outlook On LifeParagraph 1 (point 1)Statement: Choosing healthy food helps us to live longerEvidence: These sources show that….Analysis: They explain why the evidence supports their claim statement.Paragraph 2 (point 2)Statement: Choosing healthy food helps us to be stronger and more active.Evidence: These sources show that…Analysis: They explain why the evidence supports their claim statement. Paragraph 3 (point 3)Statement: Choosing healthy food helps us to have a happier outlook on life…Evidence: These sources show that…Analysis: They explain why the evidence supports their claim statement

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentCounter-Claim(s) & Conclusion

Paragraph 4 (Counter-Claim(s))1. Counter Claim(s): These are introduced fairly and clearly rebuffed. Be

sure to choose relevant topics—issues students care about. If this is not possible, one way around this is to show the student the relevance of the topic for their situation.

2. Example: Consider this questions from Macbeth: Who is more evil—Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? Most students will say: “Who cares?” So what do you do? What about:—“We have all met people like Macbeth and Lady Macbeth haven’t we?” This now helps them to better understand real people in their lives—Yes?

Conclusion (Rewrite thesis statement)3. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.2. Write your “Bang” statement—the last strong sentence that your readers will walk away with which follows from and supports your argument.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentFrom: Organization , Content & Audience to Style

• Note that the first two have dealt very much with organization, content and audience. Right?

• Now the next three standards will deal with style (word choice and grammar).

Style1c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.1d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.1e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL Student

Style: Substandards 1c ,1d & 1e

Style1c. Use words, phrases, and clauses to link the major sections of the text, create cohesion, and clarify the relationships between claim(s) and reasons, between reasons and evidence, and between claim(s) and counterclaims.1d. Establish and maintain a formal style and objective tone while attending to the norms and conventions of the discipline in which they are writing.1e. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL Student

Style: Substandards 1c ,1d & 1e

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentClassroom Strategy 3: Linking and Relational Words

• Break-up into your groups.

• Organize paragraphs and supply transitions.

• Use bank of words and phrases to

complete task.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentRelationship Between Claim & Analysis

1. Claim & Analysis/ReasonExample: Claim = Eating healthy will mean living longer. Analysis/Reason = Since we want more time with those we love, we should eat healthy.

2. Reason & Evidence.Example: Reason = We want to be with those we love longer. Evidence = Medical studies that link longer lives with healthy eating habits.

3. Claims and counterclaimsExample: Counter-claim = Eating healthy takes too much time. Using contrastive phrases: on the one hand, on the other hand, however, while, but…

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentClassroom Strategy 4 : Writing A Counter-Claim

Paragraph 4 (Counter-Claim(s))1. Counter Claim(s): These are introduced fairly and clearly

rebuffed. Be sure to choose relevant topics—issues students care about. If this is not possible, one way around this is to show the student the relevance of the topic for their situation.

2. Example: Consider this questions from Macbeth: Who is more evil—Macbeth or Lady Macbeth? Most students will say: “Who cares?” So what do you do?

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentClassroom Strategy 5: Maintaining A Formal Style

1. Writing in 3rd Person• Find “I” and “You” subject

sentences.• Change sentence subjects to

“He”, “She”, “It” and “They”.

2. Get rid of slang. • Edit out slang from samples.

3. Formal vs. Casual Tone• Identify writing samples as

either formal or casual.• Change casual to formal.

Common Core Writing Standards & The ESL StudentClassroom Strategy 6 : Writing A Conclusion

Conclusion (Rewrite thesis statement)1. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and

supports the argument presented.2. Write your “Bang” statement—the last strong sentence that your readers will walk away with which follows from and supports your argument.