How Do You Teach Personal Essay Writing?
Widely thought to have begun with the French writer and philosopher, Montaigne, in the 1500s, the essay form has evolved greatly over time and has come to be an essential genre of critical and creative expression. Of course, for most high school kids the history of the essay is not all that important, what matters is what the essay can get them or what it can express. Today, any admissions counselor will tell prospective students that one of the most important parts of any college application is the personal essay. Even if they don’t plan to attend college, the essay can be a great format that will give kids the freedom to explore difficult issues in their lives. Read on to learn how to teach personal essay writing. Understand that the most important part of teaching any writing form is making it fun. Before tackling the essay head on, warm the kids up with a few writing exercises that get them thinking about personal experiences and opinions in a more casual way. For example, have the
