Korean Job Discussion Forums

[widespread123]

I need some ideas. Here is what I have asked so far:

-What is your favorite movie/sport/musical group/book?
-What do you do to get better when you are sick?
-Write the directions to make duenjang jigae.
-If North Korea played Japan in soccer, who would you cheer for?
-Who is your hero and why?
-What did you do for Chuseok?

I give them an essay every class (twice a week) and the are relatively low middle school students. I asked them about helping the enviroment once and they didn't understand the question so they should be simple. A handful of great topics will spark other great topics hopefully. Thanks.

[peanut]

I wasn't getting the response and level of writing I wanted from my students so I decided to take a new approach. I picked several words (more or less depending on how long the essay is) and had them create a story using those words. It has worked wonders. They are able to show their creativity and write about something they are interested in. My students are elementary so I'm not sure how well this will work for middle school but it's an idea.

[Smee]

Are you doing basic 5 paragraphs? Intro, 3 supporting, conclusion? If so, try a topic like:
*Would you rather have 9 fingers or 11 fingers?
*Would you rather be a meter shorter or a meter taller?
*Would you rather kick a puppy or make a baby cry?
*Would you rather go three days without food or three days without sleep?

and so on. You can use them to both review paragraph writing and essay writing, as the formula is the same. They'll also have to come up with creative supporting details that go along with their position.

[Juregen]

[ddeubel]

See my writing folder at the batcave address below for a list of many many essay topics. Most along the lines of a persuasive essays -- The reaons you should(n't) ....... Intro / thesis/ 3 paragraphs / conclusion. Alternatively, just PM an email address and I'll send you them. Also see the many writing prompts there.....

This alway works as a good way for beginning writers to order / plan their essays. Also see the canned essay ppt there for a good way to have them plan their essay by folding their A3 paper.

DD

[widespread123]

Unfortunatly, my students are not quite at that level yet. I am really just trying to get them to write everyday and we are working on sentence structure and expressing their ideas on paper pretty much. Just writing everyday with a short lesson on common mistakes has pushed us forward and I am happy with that. Some students are much better than others.

Anyways, how does this "random word" essay work?

Write a story with the words: 9-iron, ice cubes, leather suit and dungeon?

[oneofthesarahs]

Basic hypotheticals work well for all ages.
-What would you do with a million dollars?
-If you had three wishes, what would you do?
-If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
-If you could meet anyone who would it be? (TVXQ or Super Junior, no doubt)

My students like writing about outer space. I did a whole months worth of outer space essays for an upper elementary class. They created their own alien by first drawing a picture and then describing it. Then they wrote about the planet their alien was from. They wrote about where in the universe they would want to travel and if they think Korea should send people into space.

[ddeubel]

[keane]