Guided Composition, Generating Ideas and Drafting for JSS 2

Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 10
Age: 13 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: Writing
Previous Lesson: Meaning of Words in Context and Alternative Words
Topic: Writing: Guided Composition, Generating Ideas and Drafting
Subject Matter: Select topic for writing; Generate ideas for introduction, body; Write a draft

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Select an appropriate topic for composition writing.
• Generate relevant ideas for the introduction of a composition.
• Generate relevant ideas for the body paragraphs of a composition.
• Outline the main points for a composition.
• Write a preliminary draft of a composition.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of planning before writing.
• Develop confidence in expressing ideas through writing.
• Show interest in the process of composition writing.

Psychomotor Domain

• Organise generated ideas into a simple outline.
• Produce a legible and coherent first draft based on generated ideas.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2025 Revised 9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• Macmillan English for Junior Secondary Schools 2
• The HeadTeacher Scheme of work

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Whiteboard or chalkboard
• Markers or chalk
• Students’ notebooks and pens
• Sample composition topics
• Chart showing parts of a composition (introduction, body, conclusion)

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson is essential as it equips students with foundational skills for effective writing. Learning to select a topic, generate ideas, and draft helps students overcome writer’s block and structure their thoughts logically. These skills are crucial for producing clear, well-organised compositions in all academic subjects and real-life communication.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Students should have basic knowledge of sentence construction, paragraph writing, and the general structure of a simple story or essay.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Writing: Guided Composition, Generating Ideas and Drafting

Selecting a Topic for Writing

Choosing a good topic is the first step in writing a composition. The topic should be:

1. Interesting to you, so you can write about it easily.
2. Familiar, so you have ideas or experiences related to it.
3. Specific enough to be covered in a short composition.

Examples of composition topics:

1. My Best Friend
2. A Day I Will Never Forget
3. The Importance of Education
4. My Favourite Hobby
5. How I Spent My Last Holiday

Generating Ideas for Introduction and Body

After selecting a topic, the next step is to brainstorm and generate ideas. This helps you plan what to write in each part of your composition.

1. Introduction:

The introduction should catch the reader’s attention and state what your composition will be about. Ideas for an introduction can include:

1. A general statement or question related to the topic.
2. A brief background or definition of the topic.
3. A sentence that clearly states the main point or purpose of your composition (thesis statement).

2. Body Paragraphs:

The body paragraphs develop the main ideas of your composition. Each body paragraph should focus on one main point. Ideas for body paragraphs can include:

1. Specific examples or illustrations.
2. Reasons or explanations.
3. Descriptions of events, people, or places.
4. Facts or details that support your main point.
5. Personal experiences.

Methods for generating ideas:

1. Brainstorming: Writing down all ideas that come to mind without judging them.
2. Mind Mapping: Drawing a central idea and branching out with related thoughts.
3. Listing: Simply making a list of points you want to include.
4. Asking “Who, What, When, Where, Why, How”: Answering these questions about your topic.

Writing a Draft

A draft is the first version of your composition. It is where you put all your generated ideas into sentences and paragraphs. The main goal of drafting is to get your ideas down on paper, following your outline. Do not worry too much about perfect grammar or spelling at this stage; you will revise and edit later.

Steps for writing a draft:

1. Start writing, following the ideas you generated for your introduction.
2. Develop each main point in a separate body paragraph, using your brainstormed ideas.
3. Connect your ideas with simple linking words or phrases.
4. Focus on expressing your thoughts clearly.
5. Do not stop to correct mistakes; keep writing until you have finished expressing your ideas.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Individual Practice, Brainstorming

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Recalling/Motivation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them about their experiences in writing compositions. The teacher then introduces the topic of guided composition, emphasizing the importance of planning before writing.

Pupils’ Activity: Students respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Importance of composition planning

Step 2: Selecting a Topic for Writing

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Guidance

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains how to choose a suitable topic, providing examples. The teacher then presents several topics on the board and guides students to select one they find interesting and relevant.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen to the explanation, discuss the presented topics, and choose one for their composition.

Learning Point: Criteria for topic selection

Step 3: Generating Ideas for Introduction

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Brainstorming/Facilitation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher leads a class brainstorming session on how to start a composition for a chosen topic. The teacher guides students to generate ideas for their composition’s introduction, focusing on a hook and main idea.

Pupils’ Activity: Students actively participate in brainstorming and note down ideas for their introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction idea generation

Step 4: Generating Ideas for Body Paragraphs

Time: 8 minutes

Teaching Skill: Brainstorming/Guidance

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher further guides students to generate ideas for the body paragraphs of their chosen topic. The teacher encourages them to think of specific examples, reasons, and details to support their main points.

Pupils’ Activity: Students brainstorm and write down ideas for the body of their composition, organising them into potential paragraphs.

Learning Point: Body paragraph idea generation

Step 5: Outlining the Composition

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Structuring/Organisation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher briefly explains the importance of outlining and guides students to create a simple outline using their generated ideas for the introduction and body.

Pupils’ Activity: Students create a simple outline in their notebooks based on their brainstormed ideas.

Learning Point: Composition outline creation

Step 6: Writing a Draft

Time: 7 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher instructs students to begin writing their first draft, reminding them to focus on getting their ideas down according to their outline, without worrying about perfection.

Pupils’ Activity: Students start writing the first draft of their composition in their notebooks.

Learning Point: Initial composition drafting

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. What is the first step in writing a composition?
2. Mention two ways to generate ideas for a composition.
3. What should an introduction contain?
4. What is the purpose of writing a draft?

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding composition process

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 4 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on selecting a topic, generating ideas, and drafting into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Board summary recording

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 2 minutes

Teaching Skill: Reinforcement

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the lesson by reiterating the importance of selecting a topic, generating ideas, and drafting as key steps in effective composition writing. The teacher encourages students to continue practicing these skills.

Pupils’ Activity: Students listen and ask any final questions.

Learning Point: Composition writing process reinforced

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework

Instruction: Complete the draft of your composition, ensuring it has a clear introduction and well-developed body paragraphs based on the ideas you generated in class. You may add a conclusion.

1. Write a full draft of the composition you started in class.
2. Underline your introduction and circle the topic sentences of your body paragraphs.

Lesson Keywords

• Composition – A piece of writing, often on a specific topic.
• Topic – The subject or theme of a composition.
• Brainstorming – A method of generating ideas by listing all thoughts that come to mind.
• Draft – The first version of a written work, often unpolished.
• Introduction – The beginning part of a composition that introduces the topic.
• Body paragraphs – The main part of a composition where ideas are developed and supported.
• Outline – A plan for a piece of writing, showing the main points in order.

Differentiation

For weaker learners, the teacher can provide more structured guidance during brainstorming, perhaps offering sentence starters or specific questions to prompt ideas. For faster learners, the teacher can encourage them to think of more complex ideas, use varied vocabulary, or consider different angles for their chosen topic.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search on YouTube for: “JSS 2 composition writing ideas and drafting”, “How to write a good composition for junior secondary school”

Teacher Guide for Using This Lesson Plan

Before the lesson, prepare a list of 5-7 varied and age-appropriate composition topics for students to choose from. Have a sample outline or a simple mind map on the board to illustrate the idea generation process. During the lesson, actively engage students in brainstorming, allowing them to share ideas freely. Emphasise that the drafting stage is about getting ideas down, not perfection. Circulate around the classroom during individual writing time to offer support and check on student progress. Remind students to copy the Board Summary notes during Step 8 to ensure they have a record of the key concepts.