Cycle 1: Writing

Summary

In this lesson, the focus is on enhancing writing skills, particularly in interpreting and describing charts. The session aims to teach students how to describe various types of charts, such as bar and pie charts, in a clear, organized manner. It also emphasizes the importance of identifying trends, timeframes, and data relationships. Students are guided through the process of writing short and extended descriptions of charts, with a focus on using correct tenses and vocabulary. The lesson includes practical activities to refine these skills, culminating in self-evaluation and improvement of written outputs.

Takeaways

• 😀 Writing in a foreign language requires not just vocabulary but also the ability to interpret and describe visual data like graphs and charts.
• 😀 The lesson focuses on enhancing writing skills by interpreting charts and graphs, with an emphasis on producing clear, descriptive paragraphs.
• 😀 The first type of writing activity will focus on short answers, such as describing diagrams or graphs.
• 😀 The lesson objectives include identifying different types of charts, writing 2-3 cohesive paragraphs, self-editing, and applying revisions.
• 😀 It's important to state the title, main points, and data of the chart when describing it.
• 😀 Descriptions should consider the time frame (past, present, future) to determine the appropriate tense to use in writing.
• 😀 When describing a chart, the first paragraph provides an overview, and the second paragraph delves into trends and data analysis.
• 😀 The second paragraph should focus on trends, changes, relationships between data points, and what those changes mean.
• 😀 When analyzing data, verbs like 'rise,' 'increase,' 'decrease,' and adjectives like 'sharp,' 'rapid,' or 'dramatic' are used to describe trends.
• 😀 Adverbs can modify verbs and adjectives to express the speed, manner, or extent of changes in data, such as 'dramatically,' 'rapidly,' or 'slightly.'

Q & A

What is the main objective of today's lesson?

The main objective is to help students enhance their writing skills by interpreting and describing charts, focusing on both short and extended responses in professional and academic writing.

What are the two types of writing skills targeted in this course?

The course targets two skills: answering short descriptive questions about charts and writing extended essays that describe and analyze charts in detail.

What is the importance of understanding charts in the context of writing?

Understanding charts is crucial because writing is not just about using words but also interpreting and analyzing visual data, like graphs and charts, which enhances the clarity and accuracy of written descriptions.

What are the four lesson objectives listed in the script?

The lesson objectives are: (1) to name some different types of charts, (2) to produce 2-3 comprehensive paragraphs describing a chart, (3) to self-edit a descriptive paragraph based on a river, and (4) to apply corrections to a draft and revise a written output.

How should the first paragraph in a chart description be structured?

The first paragraph should provide basic information about the chart, including its title, the data it presents, and the main points. This should give an overview of what the chart is about.

How should the time frame of a chart be considered when writing about it?

The time frame should be considered carefully. If the data is in the past, the past tense should be used. If the data is about something happening now, the present tense should be used. For future projections, the future tense is appropriate.

What are some verbs and adjectives that can be used to describe changes in data?

Verbs like 'increase,' 'rise,' 'decline,' and 'fall' can be used. Adjectives like 'sharp,' 'dramatic,' 'slight,' and 'significant' can describe the extent of these changes.

What is the difference between a bar graph and a line graph?

A bar graph compares categories or groups, using bars to represent data. A line graph shows trends over time with points connected by lines, illustrating changes or relationships between variables.

What should the second paragraph in a chart description focus on?

The second paragraph should focus on describing the trends, changes, and specific data points in the chart. It involves analyzing how individual data elements change, rise, or fall, and discussing what those changes mean.

What is the importance of self-editing and comparing your written work with a sample interpretation?

Self-editing allows students to refine their work, while comparing it with a sample helps identify strengths and areas for improvement, encouraging a deeper understanding of how to interpret and describe charts effectively.