Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1 / SSS 1)
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 6
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: English Language Studies
Curriculum Theme: English Language Studies
Previous Lesson: Polite Requests, Antonyms and Noun Clauses.
Topic: Speech
Subject Matter: Speech: Oral composition for expository essays through discussions and debates, Vocabulary Development: Investment vocabulary such as profit, dividends and bankruptcy, Comprehension: Reading to make notes from passages, Structure: Adjectival clauses in complex sentences

Specific Objectives

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

Cognitive Domain:

Define an expository essay.
Explain key investment terms such as profit, dividends, and bankruptcy.
State the steps involved in making notes from a passage.
Identify adjectival clauses in complex sentences.

Affective Domain:

Participate actively in oral discussions and debates.
Show interest in expanding their financial vocabulary.
Appreciate the importance of effective note-making for study.

Psychomotor Domain:

Construct an oral expository composition during a debate.
Use investment vocabulary correctly in sentences.
Make relevant notes from a given reading passage.
Formulate complex sentences containing adjectival clauses.

Collaborate effectively with peers during group discussions.
Communicate their ideas clearly and respectfully during debates.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum for English Language (Senior Secondary Education).
State Unified Scheme of Work for English Language, SS1.
Countdown to Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) English Language.

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Business news clippings (print or digital).
Note templates or example notes.
Grammar charts illustrating adjectival clauses.
Whiteboard/Chalkboard and markers/chalk.

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson helps pupils develop essential communication skills through oral composition and debates, which are important for expressing ideas clearly. It also introduces them to useful financial vocabulary and effective study techniques like note-making, preparing them for academic success and understanding the world around them.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils are expected to have basic knowledge of essay writing, simple sentence structures, and general vocabulary.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Speech, Vocabulary, Comprehension and Structure

Oral Composition for Expository Essays

An expository essay aims to explain, describe, or clarify a topic. Oral composition involves presenting these explanations verbally, often in discussions or debates.

Characteristics of a good oral expository composition:

Clear introduction of the topic.
Logical presentation of facts and ideas.
Use of supporting examples and evidence.
Coherent flow of arguments.
Clear and concise language.

Debates are structured discussions where opposing viewpoints on a topic are presented and argued.

Vocabulary Development: Investment Terms

Understanding financial terms is important for general knowledge and future financial literacy.

Key investment terms:

Profit: The financial gain, especially the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent in buying, operating, or producing something.
Dividends: A sum of money paid regularly (typically quarterly) by a company to its shareholders out of its profits.
Bankruptcy: The state of being unable to pay outstanding debts. It is a legal process involving a person or business that is unable to repay their outstanding debts.

Comprehension: Note Making

Note making is the process of recording information from a source, such as a passage or lecture, in a concise and organized way.

Steps for effective note making:

Read the passage carefully to understand the main idea.
Identify the main points and supporting details.
Use keywords, phrases, or short sentences.
Organize notes using headings, subheadings, bullet points, or numbering.
Summarize or paraphrase the information in your own words.
Review your notes for clarity and completeness.

Structure: Adjectival Clauses in Complex Sentences

An adjectival clause (also known as a relative clause) is a dependent clause that functions as an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun. It usually begins with a relative pronoun (who, whom, whose, which, that) or a relative adverb (where, when, why).

Examples of adjectival clauses:

The student who scored highest received an award. (modifies “student”)
This is the book that I borrowed from the library. (modifies “book”)
I visited the town where my grandparents were born. (modifies “town”)
He remembered the day when they first met. (modifies “day”)

Adjectival clauses help to add more detail and specificity to sentences, making them complex.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the pupils and reviews the previous lesson briefly. The teacher then introduces the topic by asking pupils how they explain things to others or what they know about money matters, linking their responses to the lesson’s various subject matters.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to the teacher’s questions and listen attentively to the introduction.
Learning Point: Pupils are prepared for the lesson and recall prior knowledge.

Step 2: Oral Composition for Expository Essays

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what an expository essay is and how oral composition differs from written. The teacher then facilitates a brief class discussion or mini-debate on a simple, relatable topic (e.g., “Should students have longer holidays?”), guiding pupils to present their points clearly.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, participate in the discussion/debate, and practice presenting their views.
Learning Point: Pupils understand the concept of oral expository composition and practice expressing ideas.

Step 3: Vocabulary Development: Investment Terms

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Definition/Illustration
Teacher’s Activity: Using business news clippings, the teacher introduces and defines the investment terms: profit, dividends, and bankruptcy. The teacher provides examples of their usage in sentences and asks pupils to create their own sentences.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to definitions, read examples, and formulate sentences using the new vocabulary.
Learning Point: Pupils learn and practice using new investment-related vocabulary.

Step 4: Comprehension: Note Making

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a short passage (e.g., from a textbook or news clipping) and demonstrates how to make notes from it using a note template. The teacher highlights identifying main points and keywords.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration, follow along, and practice making notes from a short, provided passage.
Learning Point: Pupils learn and apply skills for making effective notes from reading passages.

Step 5: Structure: Adjectival Clauses

Time: 8 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Analysis
Teacher’s Activity: Using grammar charts, the teacher explains what an adjectival clause is, its function, and how it is introduced by relative pronouns or adverbs. The teacher provides several examples and guides pupils to identify the adjectival clauses and the nouns/pronouns they modify.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the explanation, study the grammar chart, and identify adjectival clauses in example sentences.
Learning Point: Pupils understand and can identify adjectival clauses in complex sentences.

Step 6: Class Activity/Practice

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Application/Guided Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher provides a quick activity, such as asking pupils to construct two sentences: one using an investment term and another containing an adjectival clause.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils attempt to construct the requested sentences orally or in their notebooks.
Learning Point: Pupils apply the concepts learned in the lesson.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

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

Define an expository essay.
Mention two investment terms learned today and explain one.
State two steps for making notes from a passage.
Identify the adjectival clause in the sentence: “The girl who won the prize is my sister.”

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 3 minutes
Teaching Skill: Summarization/Assignment
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the key points of the lesson, emphasizing the importance of clear communication, financial literacy, effective study habits, and correct sentence structure. The teacher then gives homework: “Write a short expository paragraph on ‘The Importance of Saving Money’ and underline any adjectival clauses you use.”
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and copy the homework assignment.
Learning Point: Pupils consolidate their learning and prepare for further practice.

Lesson Keywords

Expository Essay – An essay that explains, describes, or clarifies a topic.
Debate – A formal discussion on a particular topic in a public meeting or legislative assembly, in which opposing arguments are put forward.
Profit – Financial gain, especially the difference between the amount earned and the amount spent.
Dividends – A sum of money paid regularly by a company to its shareholders out of its profits.
Bankruptcy – The state of being unable to pay outstanding debts.
Note-making – The process of recording information in a concise and organized way.
Adjectival Clause – A dependent clause that modifies a noun or pronoun, usually beginning with a relative pronoun or adverb.

Differentiation

For pupils who grasp concepts quickly, the teacher can challenge them to find more complex adjectival clauses in texts or to lead a small group discussion. For pupils needing more support, the teacher can provide simpler passages for note-making, offer sentence starters for oral composition, or provide pre-written example sentences for identifying adjectival clauses.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Encourage active participation in all segments of the lesson. Use real-world examples, especially for the investment vocabulary, to make the lesson more engaging and relevant. Ensure ample practice opportunities for note-making and identifying adjectival clauses.