An online Essay Map

[Alana in Canada]

I just found the coolest thing: an on-line Essay map. I filled it out for the chapter we did today in SoTW and it printed out a excellent visual "path" through writing a three paragraph essay.

 

Thought it might be useful to someone:

 

http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/essaymap/

[Deana FL]

That is really cool. I'm adding it to my favorites!

[Alana in Canada]

Thanks Deanna. If you print it out--and see how it is all laid out, you can easily re-create it in Word. I may prefer using it that way than giving the kids more screen time!

 

Still it is nice to have each bit isolated--one chunk at a time.

[Alana in Canada]

oops, can't help adding the site from which it comes--lots of interesting stuff here.

 

http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/index.asp?grade=2&strand=0&engagement=0&display.x=50&display.y=3

[Christine]

I just found the coolest thing: an on-line Essay map. I filled it out for the chapter we did today in SoTW and it printed out a excellent visual "path" through writing a three paragraph essay.

 

Thought it might be useful to someone:

 

http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/essaymap/

 

My son struggles to write essays. I think I will give this a shot today (he has an assignment). I fear though, that he's going to have maybe 2 items written down (his name and his topic). As I said, he has problems.

 

Which makes me wonder, do these type of activities (graphic organizers) only help organize people who already have a lot of the key points in their heads?

 

Is there some sort of graphic that will help children. . .you know, create thoughts??? Because, I think that's my main issue with him. For when I ask him, "Well, what do you want to say?", he replies, "NOTHING!" (And, while I say this with some degree of levity, I also say it with a twinge of despair.)

[Alana in Canada]

Which makes me wonder, do these type of activities (graphic organizers) only help organize people who already have a lot of the key points in their heads?

 

 

I thin you may be right about that. I like Bubble diagrams or mind maps. They are a great way for getting out random thoughts. (Or, more importantly, generating them)

 

Something, perhaps, like this one:

http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/cluster_web3.pdf'>http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/cluster_web3.pdf'>http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/cluster_web3.pdf'>http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/pdf/cluster_web3.pdf

 

 

The connection comes later--and then something like the essay map can help organize all the info into their proper form. Which is why I think out-lining can be such a valuable tool.

 

Do you have him outline? It's a great way to have the child focus on the text. Even just level One outlines (a full sentence about the main idea of each paragraph) can't help but stimulate thoughts. And even if it doesn't, it's sufficient to do an outline of a piece--especially as an excercise in understanding.

 

Is you son primarily visual?

 

Another type of graphic organizr may be more useful. There are quite a few here:

http://www.eduplace.com/graphicorganizer/

[Beth in SW WA]

Thanks, Alana. My dd 11 will enjoy this -- I hope. :)