Essay Structure Through Song?

English essays are a song and dance in Mrs. Riley’s class! Her 9th grade Clairemont High School students have been learning about essay structure so that they can write an argument essay about something they value. Sure, they’ve seen model essays and they’ve practiced analyzing evidence in their daily warm-ups, but what strategy has made the most impact? It’s the song and dance! They reach high up to the sky for their exciting opening, they sway back and forth to demonstrate commentary. Time to restate the thesis? Roll your arms, of course! The things students are writing about in their ‘values essay’ are diverse: racing scenes in The Fast and the Furious, favorite “Friends,” the upside down in “Stranger Things,” water polo, and even bananas. But no matter what each student values, they’ve got the structure down pat thanks to Mrs. Riley!