Unit 2:Introduction to Essay; The Origin

of Essay
and an Overarching Definition
Lesson 2.1
Part 1
 Learning Goals: Students will learn to..
 Understanding the essay beyond an academic 5 paragraph
structure.
 The definition of the essay as fluid and changeable depends on
Learning Goals context.

and Success  Understanding the purpose of citations and how to create them.

Criteria Success Criteria: I will be able to…

 Students will display their learning by using their
understanding of essay throughout the unit as fluid.
 Students should properly cite items on their work in their future
writing.
 Review:
What is a narrative?
What is a family narrative?
Minds On..
What did you learn about
yourself and your family?
 When we think of the essay,
what do we think about? Usually
it’s boring, and it makes us
dread writing them. They’re
In class: always these long, researched
pieces of writing that make us
repeat the same process over and
over.
 a. But, where did the essay come from? What did it set out to do
when people started writing them? How have they evolved since
that time?

b. Read; "The Essay: History and Definition.

c. Essays are all around us, even though we don’t think they are.
Minds On… Our definition of essay writing is so narrow.
d. The essay is meant to educate an audience about something:
that’s it. It provides proof, examples, reasoning for thinking a
certain way. But in the simplest form, it’s meant to talk/engage in
a topic.
  What is the distinction between articles and
essays?
 Briefly describe Michele Richman
Task: Read the article definition of the term essay? Do you agree
and answer the with his definition?
following questions.  According to the article, what does the
Complete the
worksheet. author convey by the term voice and
persona in the essay? Do you agree with
the author’s point of view?
 What is the reader’s role in reading essays?
 Choose one essay that you’ve
written in the past. Reading it
back, what do you think you did
Homework well? What do you think could
use improvement? Bring ONE
skill you’d like to learn about
essay writing to class tomorrow.
 For homework, go
searching for an essay
Consolidation you’re proud of.
Homework Tasks
(essay reflection).