Formally Iconoclastic – William, Grade 7
This character analysis is written by one of my grade 7 students. It is based on an excerpt from The Strangeness of Beauty by Lydia Minatoya. The essay has a unique title, representing the character in only two words. It does not contain a hook and kicks off with the …
Dear Aida – Selina, Grade 12
This literary letter is written by one of my grade 12 students. The letter is part of a multi-text project on the theme of forgiveness. Often times, we, fallible humans, make mistakes in our lives. Unable to forgive ourselves, some of us brood over our mistakes for as long as …
Never Late to Change – Tommy, Grade 8
This literary essay is written by one of my grade 8 students. The essay focuses on Scrooge, the main character in Charles Dickens’s masterpiece, A Christmas Carol. In his essay, he discusses how Scrooge is able to make the change from a selfish, mean, and neglectful person to a regretful, …
Focus – Alan, Grade 8
This personal narrative is written by one of my grade 8 students. He has successfully sequenced the events leading to the climax, which is descriptively depicted, helping readers to vividly imagine the scene. He has used some of the elements of fiction, such as dialogue and foreshadowing to make the narrative an interesting piece to read. He has also used a number of literary devices, such as simile, and imagery, to help readers imagine the events in the plot. Finally, he has presented his thesis clearly at the end of the story.
Wear Your Glasses – William, Grade 6
This argumentative essay is written by one of my grade 6 students. The essay presents three reasons why people should wear their glasses. The essay follows the rules of a standard five-paragraph essay. There is a clear thesis statement with three subtopics, each body paragraph starts with a clear topic …
Unexpected Gift – Eric, Grade 7
This personal narrative is written by one of my grade 7 students. He has used some of the elements of fiction, such as dialogue, flashback, suspense, to make the narrative an interesting piece to read. He has also used a number of literary devices, such as simile, and imagery, to help readers imagine the events in the story. Finally, he has presented his thesis clearly at the end of the story.
The Rocking Horse Winner’s Loss – Linda, Grade 11
The Rocking-Horse Winner’s Loss What do hypertension and diabetes have in common? Although they seem to be completely different diseases, they are both caused by overconsumption of certain substances, in this case, salt and sugar. Normally, salt and sugar are essential ingredients that enhance the taste of food and …
The Unwavering Snail – Chris, Grade 7
This short fable is written by one of my grade 7 students. He conveys his message through the animal characters very vividly. He uses positive adjectives to describe the snail’s resolution in achieving his goal, such as unwavering and strong-willed. Also, he applies the literary device of repetition in order to better convey the theme of the story. The punchline of the story, which comes right at the end, is the most effective element in delivering the main message of the fable.
Reaction to Adversities – Selina, Grade 12
This inquiry essay is written by one of my grade 12 students. She has an interesting hook-clincher strategy, starting the essay with an analogy and ending it with the same analogy. In order to explore the issue, she draws on a number of resources, including some TED talks and the ISU novel. She also makes some valid connections to herself and to the world, which makes the essay very reflective in nature. Finally, she sums up the essay by providing an insightful qualitative comment, which requires some deliberation on the part of the readers.