How to Write a Research Essay for Beginners

In this one-time class, students will learn the basics elements of research essays, breaking down a prompt, and writing the essay, all while receiving constructive feedback from the teacher.  Students will be given the research topic "All About elephants." Students will read two informational texts about elephants, then be asked to respond to a given prompt. The teacher will lead students in a discussion about the purpose of each author and compare the information presented in each passage, to determine the validity and reliability of the article. After, the teacher will walk students through the writing process, covering steps such as brainstorming, finding evidence, and an essay outlining. Students will also be introduced to beginner MLA format essentials like headings and parenthetical citations.

My philosophy behind teaching can best be summed up in two words, "holistic learning." In my experience, kids learn best when learning skills in environments that are most engaging to them, lead by a facilitator, rather than a lecturer. My classes revolve heavily on discovery learning principles, allowing students to become fully immersed while making connections between their interests and key academic skills. I say all of this to say, the more fun a student has, the more they learn in the end.

This class is perfect for reinforcing writing skills learned in school, while at home, especially since students tend to view the informational text as less interesting than fiction passages. As a classroom English teacher, these are all essential writing skills I notice many students struggle with learning. In my experience, students learn best when being able to discuss and apply the skills that are taught to them. As the teacher, my job is to guide and be a support figure for students as they progress through the lesson.  To ensure each learner is able to comprehend and internalize the skills covered in class, students should have an age-appropriate reading ability and a basic understanding of essay writing.