1. The Genre Approach to Teaching ESL Writing
Writing for a Purpose
The Genre Approach to Teaching ESL Writing

2. Allison Beecher
Hilldale Elementary

3. The genre approach
We don’t just ‘read’ and ‘write’: we always read and write something for a particular purpose, in a particular way, in a particular time and place.’
–David Barton

4. Image taken from: http://www.geek-life.com/

5. image taken from: http://southernwritersmagazine. blogspot

6. Written Communication/Letters
BEST LITERACY TEST
What genre are the 2 large written tasks?
Written Communication/Letters
Purposes?
Invitations and responses (refusal/acceptance)
Requests
Excuse/permission
Informational
Cordial/ friendly

7. Real Context
Give them a a real life social situation and have the students discuss how, when, and what they would say in their own language and culture.
What is important to say or not say and how? By , text, phone, letter?
Scenario: We keep talking about Tamales in class with your teacher and you want to invite her to your house. How will you do that? What will you write?

8. Image taken from : Second Language Writing, Hyland, 2003

9. 1.Model Text- Authentic Examples!
Hello Mrs. Beecher,
I would like to invite you and your family to my house for dinner on Friday, June 30th at 7:00. My wife is making Tamales! I live close to the school. My address is 1530 NW 30th Street OKC
I hope you can come!
Eduardo

10. 2.Analyze Text- Awareness Raising
Identify the moves or Steps
Greeting- Hello! Dear, How are you?
Invitation- Focus on phrase“I would like to invite....”/ or “ I wanted to invite you to...” (importance of conveying Politeness with these word choices)
Details: 1.Who 2.what 3.when 4.where
Closing – I hope you can come! /Please let me know if you can come! Always a Signature!
Hello Mrs. Beecher,
I would like to invite you and your family to my house for dinner on Friday, June 30th at 7:00. My wife is making Tamales! I live close to the school. My address is 1530 NW 30th Street OKC
I hope you can come!
Eduardo

11. 3. Joint Construction with Move Prompts
Identify the moves or Steps
Greeting- Hello! Dear, How are you?
Invitation- Focus on phrase“I would like to invite....”/ or “ I wanted to invite you to...” (importance of conveying Politeness with these word choices)
Details: 1.Who 2.what 3.when 4.where
Closing – I hope you can come! Please let me know if you can come! Always a signature!
.__________________,
I _________ _________ to invite _____________to _________ for __________on _________, ________at _______. I live ___________________. My address is ___________________________.
I _________you can ________!
Eduardo

12. 4. Independent construction with similar prompts and Revision
.__________________,
I _________ _________ to invite _____________to _________ for __________on _________, ________at _______. I live ___________________. My address is ___________________________.
I _________you can ________!

13. Now it’s your turn!
In groups write a letter/message of a typical response to this invitation declining because you are not available.
Identify the important “Moves” or steps in writing this message.

14. Helpful Resources Best Literacy grading rubric and examples
Green English for Life book, specifically the Housing Unit
Full Lesson Plan Examples:
beginning_housing_week_2_of_2.pdf
Short informational blogs about the Genre Approach

15. BEST LITERACY RUBRIC

16. BEST LITERACY RUBRIC

17. BEST LITERACY RUBRIC: TAASK-SPECIFIC