Five Paragraph Expository Essay: What was the Social, Political, and Economic Impact of the Great Depression on the Lives of Alabamians?

Learning Resource Type

Lesson Plan

Subject Area

English Language Arts
Social Studies

Grade(s)

4

Overview

Students will work in collaborative groups to analyze and interpret research information from their previous reading assignment on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians. Next, students will use a graphic organizer to collect information needed to develop and write a five paragraph expository essay on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians. Finally, students will present their expository essay to the class.

This unit was created as part of the ALEX Interdisciplinary Resource Development Summit.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 4

ELA21.4.R4

Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

UP:ELA21.4.R4

Vocabulary

  • Writing process
  • Plan
  • Draft
  • Revise
  • Edit
  • Publish
  • Genres

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
  • Various genres of writing.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan writings in various genres.
  • Draft writings in various genres.
  • Revise writings in various genres.
  • Edit writings in various genres.
  • Publish writings in various genres.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
  • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 4

ELA21.4.36

Write informative or explanatory text about a topic using sources, incorporating academic vocabulary, and including an introduction, facts, details with elaboration, and a conclusion.

UP:ELA21.4.36

Vocabulary

  • Informative text
  • Explanatory text
  • Topic
  • Sources
  • Academic vocabulary
  • Introduction
  • Facts
  • Details with elaboration
  • Conclusion

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from research sources.
  • Informative or explanatory text begins by introducing the topic, provides facts and relevant details, and ends with a conclusion.
  • Elaboration means to supply additional information about a detail by using academic vocabulary or by including text features.
  • Academic vocabulary is more formal and specific than spoken language.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Gather information from sources.
  • Write an informative or explanatory text using information gathered from sources.
  • Write an informative or explanatory text that begins with introducing the topic, provides facts and details about the topic, and ends with a conclusion.
  • Elaborate on details included in the text using academic vocabulary.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • Informative or explanatory writing follows a predictable text structure that includes introducing the topic, providing facts or additional details about the topic, and ends with a conclusion.
  • They must gather their facts about the topic from a research source.
  • Writers elaborate details included in the text by using formal academic vocabulary and text features.
SS10.4.12

Primary Learning Objectives

  • Students will analyze and interpret research information from their previous reading assignment on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians.
  • Students will use a graphic organizer to collect information needed to complete a five paragraph expository essay on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians.
  • Students will use the information gathered from their graphic organizer to develop a five paragraph expository essay on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians to present to the class.

Additional Learning Objective(s)

Writing Targets - W.4.23

  1. I can introduce a topic clearly and group related information together in paragraphs including headings, illustrations, and multimedia when useful in aiding comprehension.
  2. I can develop a topic with facts, definitions, specific details, quotations, and/or other information and examples related to the topic.
  3. I can link ideas within categories of information using words and phrases.
  4. I can use precise language and specific vocabulary words to inform about or explain the topic.
  5. I can provide a concluding statement related to the information or explanation presented.

 

Procedures/Activities

Before the Lesson - 60 minutes

  1. Students will watch a video to review the steps for writing a five-paragraph essay.  Writing Ninjas: How To Write A Five-Paragraph Essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uSJEiNZ1rE
  2. Students will fill in the Five Paragraph Expository Essay Graphic Organizer based on the research information from the previous Alabama History lesson on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians.
  3. Each student should conference with the teacher when they finish their graphic organizer.  The teacher will check to make sure the student is on the right track with their thinking.  The teacher will give suggestions for improvement.  Each student will need to keep their graphic organizer until the end of the lesson.

During the Lesson - 60 minutes

  1. Students will use the information from their graphic organizer to write the rough draft of their expository essay.  They must include the following in their rough draft:
    • Topic and thesis statement in the introduction paragraph
    • A paragraph for each of the supporting details
    • A conclusion paragraph that includes the thesis statement
  2. Students will divide into their collaborative groups assigned by the teacher. Students will exchange essays for editing/revising purposes.  Students will use the expository essay rubric to help guide them in making any necessary corrections with suggestions included.
  3. Once all revisions are complete, students will return the rough draft back to the original owner.
  4. Students will meet with the teacher to discuss the suggestions given by their peers.  The teacher will ensure that the student knows what corrections or additions need to be made.  

After the Lesson - 60 minutes:

  1. Students will rewrite their essays, including any necessary corrections or additions, based on their peer edits, teacher conference, and expository essay rubric.  
  2. Once all students have completed their essays, the teacher will arrange for each student to have the opportunity to share their expository essays with the class.

Assessment Strategies

Formative Assessment: The teacher will observe students during the writing process of the five paragraph expository essay.  

Summative Assessment: The final copy of the five paragraph essay will be graded using the Rubric for the Five Paragraph Essay.

Acceleration

Students will create a poem or song about the Great Depression using their research and essays to guide them.

Examples:

Song Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQBgFttbtKM

Poem Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJLGiKby42U

Intervention

Students that are struggling with the process of writing the five paragraph expository essay, may review the process by viewing the following video clip:  How to Plan & Write an Expository Essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR4LunWz-jU 

Students that continue to struggle after watching the how-to video can conference with the teacher after they complete each paragraph.

Total Duration

Greater than 120 Minutes

Background/Preparation

Students' Background Information:

Prior to the lesson, the teacher should be sure that students understand the parts of a five paragraph expository essay and the process of gathering the required information.

The students will view a short video clip about how to write a five paragraph expository essay, including the introduction paragraph with a topic/thesis statement, three supporting paragraphs, and the concluding/closing paragraph.

Writing Ninjas: How To Write A Five-Paragraph Essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uSJEiNZ1rE

This writing lesson will incorporate the research from a prior Alabama History lesson on the social, political, and economic impact of the Great Depression on the lives of Alabamians.  They will use the information found in their research to prepare and write a five paragraph expository essay.

Teacher Background Information: 

The Great Depression had a significant impact on the lives of Alabamians.  The events leading up to the Great Depression included the "Roaring 20s", the overproduction of supplies, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929. These events, which also included mass unemployment and poverty, had a major impact on the social, political, and economic lives of Alabamians. 

This lesson is a continuation of The Great Depression. 

Materials and Resources

Websites:

Writing Ninjas: How To Write A Five-Paragraph Essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uSJEiNZ1rE

How to Plan & Write an Expository Essay: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR4LunWz-jU

 

 

Technology Resources Needed

Teacher/Student Technology Resources

Internet-capable technology devices (iPads, computers, Chromebooks, etc.)

Approved Date

2017-07-06

Owner2

ashleybenham

Owner3

sholyoak
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