Suggest fun activities that I can use in class to teach an essay writing to 14 year old students?

Question

I have to teach an essay writing in class. I have not yet decided about the essay topic. I want my students to participate in class and not just take notes about how to write the essay. I want them to participate actively and have fun. My objective is to make them contribute to the essay writing, get the ideas and to submit the essay in a week. Can you suggest me a good essay topic and what activities i can use? A letter writing sounds like good idea too but how to teach that to students?

Answer 1

You could try creating an evening news report and give each student a role to play, i.e. news reader, reporter at the scene, reporter with witness,reporter with rescue services. and the story needs to be told to a blind and deaf person - so they will need to use all their skills to create an atmospher, convey feelings, convey surroundings, sounds etcTopics you could use could be:

Escape from Guantanamo

Eruption at Mount Helen's

Kidnap of president

Outside Death row prison on day of execution

Breaking news, such as Hurricane Katrina, earthquake in San Francisco.