Exploring a topic through various
genres
Gloria Munson
Grammar/Writing Coordinator
English Language Institute
University of Texas at Arlington
gmunson@uta.edu
• L2 writers are different from L1 writers
• L2 writers already understand the academic
expectations of universities in the U.S.
• L2 writers need to be made aware how to
write academic papers (Leki, 1995)
• Write a 5,000 word research
paper
• Include a working bibliography
• You must cite and document your sources in
mla
 Did you understand
to do research?
• Did you merely
the requirements?
• Did you really
final project?
• Did you
your drafts for the
the teachers corrections?
• Should certain kinds of ads be banned in the
interest of health/morality/annoyance – alcohol,
cigarettes, prescription meds, etc…?
• Should the government use invasive pat-downs
and body scans to ensure passenger safety or are
there better methods?
• U.S. companies that move factories to
undeveloped nations barely pay employees enough
to live on. Is it unethical to pay cheap wages or are
companies doing those workers a favor?
Write down three memorable events
in your life that include the one or all
of the topics you just wrote down.
1. A decision that changed you
2. A time when an adult did something
unexpected during your childhood
3. An action that seemed threatening or
dangerous
4. An unpredictable event that changed your
life
•
•
•
•
Why are the events significant?
When did each one happen?
How did each one change your life?
What is the topic of this event (topic—not main
idea)?
Goal: generate cohesiveness and trust among
classmates. Practice natural vocabulary about the
topic.
• What is it and what does it do?
• How do you do it?
The sequenced writing project is a series of
written assignments on a single topic in order to
allow students to develop expertise in a subject
and to write with ease and confidence.
(Leki, 1998)
Personal Narrative
Interview/profile
Summary analysis
Researched argument
The Sequenced Writing Project
Leki, Ilona. (1991-1992). Building expertise through sequenced
writing assignments. TESOL Journal, 1(2), 19-23.
Are your
your
connected to
?
Which topics would you prefer to write
about?
A. Research topic from a list
B. Research project you feel a personal
connection with
• experience
• choice
• background knowledge
Choose a topic
• Take a look at your three personal events that
changed your life and are related to a topic that
interests you. Share with others in a group.
For example, I really like to ride my bike.
– Terrible accident while riding my bike
– I rode my bike alone through SE Asia
– I attended Arlington City Council meetings in an
attempt to support city funding for bike lanes
The topic is your choice. However, you
must select a topic that meets three
requirements.
1. You must feel very interested in the topic and
want to learn more about it, since you will
spend several weeks writing about the same
subject
2. You must already have had some personal
experience with the topic you will write about.
3. This must be a topic that will allow you to do all
four parts (Personal narrative, Interview Report,
Summary Response Analysis, Argument).
Topics Ideas used by Other Students
• Obesity: student had gained 30 pounds since
arriving in the United States.
• Traveling alone: unusual for her Asian culture,
student preferred traveling alone.
• Technology creating social isolation: student’s
marriage nearly failed due to his obsession
with playing games on a smart phone.
• In each case the student had already had
some personal experience with the subject of
their project before they wrote about it.
• Students should choose carefully. They will
write about the same topic in four different
genres.
Which topic could be written in all
four genres?
Personal Narrative
Interview/profile
Summary analysis
Researched argument
In the sequenced writing project, you
may write on any topic you wish
• All four papers will address the topic that you select. For
example, I am a long-distance cyclist.
• I wrote a narrative essay involving an accident that
occurred on my longest ride (140 miles). It changed my life.
• I interviewed a cyclist who attempted to ride across
America in 11 days. He was featured in the award winning
movie Bicycle Dreams. I wrote a profile essay about him.
• In my summary analysis paper, I analyzed the elements of a
chapter from Catfish and Mandala (autobiography of a
Vietnamese American who cycled alone through Vietnam.
• My fourth paper argued whether drivers who kill or injure
cyclists should suffer the same consequences as they would
when they kill or injure other drivers or passengers of cars.
Portion of Timeline….
Date due
Assignment
Details
Tuesday January 23
Topic
Wednesday January 24
Outline narrative essay
Thursday January 25
Rough draft narrative essay
Thursday February 1
Final copy narrative essay
due.
Outline interview essay
Approval by Gloria must be
given
Use appropriate format
including thesis statement
and complete topic sentences.
Comments will be given for
on-time assignments.
Outside writing grade given.
Tuesday February 6
Thursday February 8
Thursday February 15
Rough draft interview essay
due.
Final copy interview essay
Use appropriate format
including thesis statement
and complete topic sentences.
Comments will be given for
on-time assignments.
Outside writing grade given.
(in class) Free-write on
chosen topic
Students complete an
outline for the first assignment
Check for
• Thesis statement: Main idea and viewpoint
• Clear organization
– Topic sentences
– Support
– Detail
Write the rough draft
• Assign appropriate reading from text book
After writing:
peer response activity
Topic: What is the story about?
What does it reveal about the author?
What do you think is important to the author? Does that come across in the
narrative?

First event:
Second event
Topic—what is the story about?
Third event
Details:
1.
Details:
What does it reveal about
the author?
1.
Details:
1.
2.
2.
What do you think is important
about this story to the author? 2.Does that come
across?
3.
3.
3.
Do you understand what happened in this story? Yes No
What was your favorite part?
(WARNING: students should not check
grammar or spelling errors)
Check to make sure the students
completed their assignments and
answer any questions
Students write final drafts
Teacher provides comments
Students write final paper and turn it
in for a grade
on
Students
what they wrote
Although written informally, the reflection paper
should be as organized as any other type of formal
essay. Include an
• Introduction, describe your expectations before you
began writing.
• The body explain the conclusions you have come to
and why, basing your conclusions in concrete details
from your reading and experience.
• End the paper with a conclusion that sums up what you
learned or obtained from the writing experience.
Reflection essay: Introduction
I feel that the narrative essay is the hardest one
to write compared to other types of essays. Usually,
the narrative essay includes personal experience
and viewpoint, so transferring personal thoughts to
a formal essay is not easy. As I wrote about living
with a pet, I held a stereotype. However,
throughout my writing experience, I learned from
that particular story. Through the writing
experience, I realized my essay should have various
descriptive words, organization, academic language,
and many revisions.
Reflection Essay: body
If I were a reader and I had to read an
article without enough detailed descriptive
words, I might struggle with understanding the
material. As same as this process, I have to have
responsible for giving an interesting story to
readers. When I look back at my essay, I realized
that I did not satisfy this process. That was
because I did not try hard enough. Next essay, I
will.
Reflection at the end of the project
Self-reflection graphic organizer
Comprehension
And knowledge
Past: I
saw/remembered/felt/thought
that…….
Present: I see/
realize/know/recognize that….
Describe your expectations before
you began working on the
sequenced writing project (four
essays: narrative, interview,
summary/analysis and argument).
Look at the final project. What are
your feelings now?
Recalling the first week of class when
the sequenced writing project was
announced, or before you began
writing.
Self-reflection graphic organizer
Reflection
(analysis/synthesis)
Application/Evaluation
I have come to understand that. .
.
OR
I understand that my
experiences have. .
So that as I move forward in my
life. . .
I will / do / can. . .
Write a conclusion that sums up
what you learned or obtained
from the writing experience.
Discuss what you learned or
obtained from the writing
experience and how it will affect
your future writing tasks.
Steps for each genre
(change #1 to suit)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Choose topics and share stories with classmates
Free-write on chosen topic
Complete an outline
1st rough draft
Peer response activity
Teacher checks students work/answers
questions
7. Students write final drafts
8. Teacher gives comments
9. Students write final papers and turn them in
10.Students write reflection essay