Mastering the Elements of Composition Writing: Pre-writing, Writing, Editing, Body, and Conclusion

Composition English Grammar JSS 2 First Term Lesson Notes Week 3

Subject: English Grammar
Class: JSS 2
Term: First Term
Week: 3
Age: 12–14 years
Topic: Elements of Composition – Pre-writing, Writing, Editing, Body, and Conclusion
Sub-topic: Steps in Writing a Good Composition
Duration: 40 minutes

Behavioural Objectives

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

1. Define the elements of composition.
2. Explain the stages of writing a composition: pre-writing, writing, editing, body, and conclusion.
3. Apply the steps of composition in writing an organized essay.
4. Edit and revise a piece of writing to improve clarity and correctness.

Keywords

• Composition: A piece of writing on a particular topic.
• Pre-writing: The planning stage of writing.
• Editing: Correcting errors and improving the composition.
• Body: The main part of the composition that contains the key ideas.
• Conclusion: The closing paragraph of a composition.

Set Induction

The teacher will start by asking students about any writing activities they have done before and discuss what steps they followed. This will lead to introducing the elements of composition.

Entry Behaviour

Students are familiar with basic sentence structure and grammar rules.

Learning Resources and Materials

• Whiteboard and markers
• Sample essays
• Charts showing the steps of writing a composition
• Textbooks

Building Background/Connection to Prior Knowledge

Students have written essays in earlier grades, but they may not be familiar with the structured stages of writing. This lesson will build on their prior knowledge and introduce formal elements of composition writing.

Embedded Core Skills

• Communication: Writing and editing essays.
• Critical Thinking: Organizing ideas logically.
• Problem-Solving: Identifying and correcting writing errors.

Reference Books

• Lagos State Scheme of Work
• English Language Textbook for JSS 2

Instructional Materials

• Pre-written examples of well-organized and poorly-organized essays.
• A chart showing the five elements of composition.

Content

Steps in Writing a Good Composition

1. Pre-writing
   • Pre-writing is the planning stage.
   • At this stage, you brainstorm ideas, choose a topic, and create an outline.
   • Ask yourself: What is the purpose of my composition? Who is my audience?
2. Writing
   • Begin writing based on the outline created in the pre-writing stage.
   • Organize ideas logically and use proper sentence structure.
   • Write the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion.
3. Editing
   • After writing, review your work for errors.
   • Correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation mistakes.
   • Ensure the composition is clear and well-organized.
4. The Body
   • The body is the main part of the composition, where key ideas are developed.
   • Each paragraph should cover a single idea or point.
   • Ensure that the ideas flow logically from one to the next.
5. Conclusion
   • The conclusion summarizes the main points of the essay.
   • It leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
   • Make sure not to introduce new ideas in the conclusion.

15 Fill-in-the-blank Questions with Options

1. The first stage of writing is called ______.
   a) Editing
   b) Pre-writing
   c) Conclusion
   d) Body
2. The main part of a composition is called the ______.
   a) Introduction
   b) Body
   c) Editing
   d) Conclusion
3. A good composition should have at least ______ paragraphs.
   a) One
   b) Two
   c) Three
   d) Four
4. Pre-writing helps to ______ your ideas.
   a) Organize
   b) Confuse
   c) Avoid
   d) Summarize
5. The purpose of editing is to correct ______.
   a) Ideas
   b) Mistakes
   c) Structure
   d) Content
6. The final paragraph of a composition is called the ______.
   a) Conclusion
   b) Pre-writing
   c) Body
   d) Introduction
7. An outline is created during the ______ stage.
   a) Editing
   b) Writing
   c) Conclusion
   d) Pre-writing
8. After writing, the composition must be ______.
   a) Discarded
   b) Left
   c) Ignored
   d) Edited
9. The introduction should capture the reader’s ______.
   a) Attention
   b) Confusion
   c) Anger
   d) Boredom
10. Editing involves correcting ______ and ______ errors.
    a) Ideas, sentences
    b) Spelling, grammar
    c) Conclusions, topics
    d) Paragraphs, bodies

15 FAQs with Answers

1. What is the first step in writing a composition?
   The first step is pre-writing, where you plan and organize your ideas.
2. What is the purpose of pre-writing?
   Pre-writing helps you choose a topic and create an outline for your composition.
3. What do you do in the writing stage?
   You write the introduction, body, and conclusion based on your outline.
4. Why is editing important?
   Editing helps correct errors and improve the overall clarity of your composition.
5. How many paragraphs should a typical composition have?
   A typical composition should have at least three paragraphs: an introduction, body, and conclusion.
6. What is the role of the body in a composition?
   The body contains the main ideas and supporting details of the composition.
7. What should you do after writing the first draft of your composition?
   You should edit your work to correct mistakes and improve the flow of ideas.
8. Can you skip the pre-writing stage?
   No, pre-writing is important for organizing your thoughts before you start writing.
9. What is the conclusion supposed to do?
   The conclusion summarizes the main points and provides closure to the essay.
10. How does editing improve your composition?
    Editing helps fix grammatical errors and ensures that the composition is well-organized and clear.
11. What is the best way to begin a composition?
    Start with an engaging introduction that grabs the reader’s attention.
12. What should the body paragraphs focus on?
    Each body paragraph should focus on a single idea or point.
13. What is a good strategy for editing a composition?
    Read the composition carefully, checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes.
14. How can you make your conclusion strong?
    Restate the main points of your essay in a clear and concise way, without introducing new ideas.
15. Why is it important to use paragraphs in your composition?
    Paragraphs help to organize ideas and make the composition easier to read and understand.

Presentation (Steps 1-3)

Step 1: The teacher revises the previous topic, discussing the importance of writing essays and compositions.
Step 2: The teacher introduces the new topic, explaining each step of writing a composition (pre-writing, writing, editing, body, and conclusion).
Step 3: The teacher allows the students to give their own examples of compositions, and then corrects and guides them where necessary.

Teacher’s Activities

• Explain each element of the composition writing process.
• Provide examples of pre-writing, writing, and editing.
• Give students time to practice each step.

Learners’ Activities

• Listen to the explanation and take notes.
• Practice pre-writing by brainstorming topics.
• Write and edit a short composition.

Assessment

Students will write a short composition on a given topic, following all the steps (pre-writing, writing, and editing).

Ten Evaluation Questions

1. What is the first step of writing a composition?
2. Why is editing important in writing?
3. What does the body of a composition contain?
4. How many paragraphs are usually in a composition?
5. What is the purpose of the conclusion?
6. What do you do in the pre-writing stage?
7. What should you correct during editing?
8. What is an outline?
9. Why is the introduction important in a composition?
10. How do you write an engaging conclusion?

Conclusion

The teacher goes around, checks students’ compositions, and provides constructive feedback to improve their writing skills.

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