Melissa Zetts Coley

Color of Water Personal Experience Essay

Course: English 11
Lesson Title and Goal:
Review of assignment requirements for personal essay through group discussion in
response to the book The Color of Water and discussion on the challenges of writing from
personal experience.
Standard (if applicable):
English 11.2
Write an argumentative essay in response to a quotation from a text.

Objective(s):
*SWBAT answer each others questions regarding the expectations for the fourth and
final argumentative essay. Students will also use their knowledge from the book, and
share their own ideas on the effectiveness and challenges of writing from personal
experience.
Accommodations:
All students will be provided with the correct answers to the commonly asked questions.
Students have been provided with a rubric, and materials have been provided prior to
todays lesson. One-on-one help will be provided to the students who need further
assistance during the provided time to write.
Assessment(s):
*Students will be required to write down the answers to each of the questions asked.
Many of these questions will be used on a warm-up quiz next week.
Lesson Structure:

Introduction:
In order to encourage the students to engage meaningfully with text and have practice
doing so, two weeks ago we assigned The Personal Experience Essay. Students have been
responsible for reading The Color of Water and take two quizzes each week on a total of
eight chapters. Last week they were asked to choose a quote from the book that they
could relate to. We have been discussing issues that James McBride addresses, such as
race, identity, education, poverty, family, and personal experiences. These issues have
been covered extensively in class, and the students should have a good understanding of

what they want to write about.

On Tuesday, students were asked to write down questions they still have about the essay.
I have typed the commonly asked questions (see attached). These will distributed today in
class after reviewing the warm-up question. The students will split into groups of 3-5
(depending on attendance) and will be assigned a few questions from the sheet to answer.
They will discuss their answers together, as a group, and then will take turns sharing their
answers with the class. This will be an opportunity to review and remind what is required
for the essay, which is due on Thursday.
1. Students will begin class by responding to a warm-up question, projected on the board.
1. What has been the most challenging aspect of writing an essay using personal
experience to support your quote?
2. Why do you think James McBride chose to write his book from personal
experience?
3. How is a writer both empowered and limited by writing from personal voice and
experience?

2. Using name note cards to call on students, students will share their answers. The floor
will be open for discussion of the questions.
3. Teacher will then remind the students of the questions they wrote down on Tuesday.
Teacher will distribute the ten questions and ask the class to split up into groups of 3-5.
Students will be given 5-8 minutes to answer the questions assigned to them.
4. Teacher will ask each group to read their questions and provide their answers to the
class. Opportunity will be given for class to ask any clarifying questions they might have.
Teacher will remind students to write down all answers since the questions will be used
for a quiz next week.
5. Students will be given time at the end of class to work quietly on their essays. Both
teachers will circulate throughout the room in order to provide any one on one help that
students might need.
6. Teacher will remind students of homework:
Quiz on Color of Water Thursday
Personal Experience essay due Thursday
Closure:
Student grades will be projected on the board in the last minute and a half to two minutes
of class.
Required Materials and Technology:

-Commonly Asked Question sheet

-Promethean Board
-Name Notecards