1. Composition on 'Expressive Essay and How to Write an Expressive Essay' Version 4
I. Expressive Essay Topic and Steps for Writing an Expressive Essay:
1. Expressive Essay Topic:
a. Reflections on the river:
- Subject: the river of my hometown.
- Emotions to express: my love and admiration for the river.
b. Reflections on the Mid-Autumn Moon Night:
- Subject: the moon during the Mid-Autumn Festival, memories of the moonlit night.
- Emotions: fondness for the Mid-Autumn moon night.
c. Reflections on my mother's smile:
- Subject: my mother's smile.
- Emotions: affection and appreciation.
d. Joys and Sorrows of Childhood:
- Subject: joyful and sorrowful childhood memories.
- Emotions: nostalgic, recalling past times with fondness.
e. The Tree I Love:
- Subject: the jackfruit tree.
- Emotions: affection, treating it like a friend.
2. Steps to Write an Expressive Essay:
Example Topic: Reflections on my mother's smile.
a. Understand the topic and find key ideas:
- Subject: my mother's smile.
- Imagining my mother's smile: a smile that comforts, reassures, and brings happiness.
b. Create an outline:
*Introduction: Introduce the most impressive thing about my mother’s smile.
*Body:
- A description of my mother: kind-hearted, with a smile that spreads happiness to everyone.
- Expressions of my mother’s smile:
+, She smiles when she is happy (e.g., when I get good grades).
+, Her smile is a source of encouragement (e.g., when I was learning to play the piano and struggling).
+, Her smile shows forgiveness and understanding (e.g., when I said something rude to her).
- When her smile is missing: it feels like something important is gone.
- How I make sure to see my mother smile: by being good and excelling in my studies.
*Conclusion: My feelings towards my mother and the importance of always loving and respecting her.
II. PRACTICE EXERCISE:
a. A composition expressing love for the village of An Giang by the author.
- Subject: beloved An Giang homeland.
- Title: 'My An Giang Homeland.'
b. Outline of the composition:
- Introduction: Introducing the author’s love for their hometown.
- Body:
+, Childhood memories.
+, Love for the homeland during the fight for independence and admiration for the heroes of the homeland.
- Conclusion: The feelings of someone who is far away from their homeland.
c. Expression style of the composition: direct expression.


2. Composition on 'Expressive Essay and How to Write an Expressive Essay' Version 5
Part I: EXPRESSIVE ESSAY TOPIC AND STEPS FOR WRITING AN EXPRESSIVE ESSAY
1. Expressive Essay Topic:
Essay Prompt - Subject of expression - Emotions to convey
a) Reflections on the river of my homeland.
The river of my hometown.
The love and memories I have of this river.
b) Reflections on the Mid-Autumn Moon Night.
The Mid-Autumn moon.
Emotions of affection for the Mid-Autumn moon night.
c) Reflections on my mother's smile.
My mother's smile.
Love and appreciation.
d) Joys and sorrows of childhood.
Happy and sad childhood memories.
Reflecting on these memories with fondness and nostalgia.
e) The tree I love.
The tree I cherish (e.g., jackfruit, mango, pomelo, lychee, guava, etc.).
Reflections on this beloved tree.
2. Steps for Writing an Expressive Essay
Essay prompt: Reflections on my mother's smile.
a) Understanding the prompt and finding key ideas:
- Subject of expression: my mother's smile.
- Imagining my mother's smile: a smile that motivates, comforts, and brings happiness.
- My emotions towards my mother's smile and her overall presence:
+ My mother doesn’t always smile.
+ How I feel when her smile is absent (sad, lonely, missing her).
+ How to ensure I always see my mother smile (be well-behaved and excel in my studies).
b) Create an outline:
*Introduction: Describe my general feelings about my mother’s smile.
*Body:
- A description of my mother: kind-hearted, with a bright smile that spreads joy to others.
- Expressions of my mother’s smile:
+ She smiles when happy (e.g., when I get good grades).
+ Her smile of encouragement (e.g., when I was struggling to play an instrument).
+ Her smile of forgiveness when I make a mistake (e.g., when I speak harshly to her).
- When my mother’s smile is absent: it feels like something important is missing.
- How I make sure to always see my mother smile: by being good and excelling academically.
*Conclusion: My emotions towards my mother and the importance of always loving and respecting her.
c) Write the essay:
Based on the outline, write each section of the essay to express my love and respect for my mother.
d) Edit the essay:
After writing, read through the essay and make necessary changes, removing redundant points, adding missing ones, and checking for spelling and grammar errors.
Part II: PRACTICE EXERCISE
Answer the question (page 89, 7th Grade Literature Textbook, Volume 1):
a)
- The essay expresses the author’s love for their hometown, An Giang.
- Subject: the beloved homeland of An Giang.
- Title: 'My An Giang Homeland.'
b) Outline:
- Introduction: Introduction to the author’s love for their hometown.
- Body:
+ Beautiful childhood memories.
+ Love for the homeland during struggles for freedom and admiration for the heroes of the land.
- Conclusion: The feelings of a person far from their homeland.
c) The expressive method in the essay is direct through sentences such as: 'I long to meet again...', 'I yearn to...', 'I deeply want to know...', 'I wish to find back...', etc.


3. Composition on 'Expressive Essay and How to Write an Expressive Essay' Version 6
A. Key Knowledge
I. Expressive Essay Topic and the Steps to Write an Expressive Essay
1. Expressive Essay Topic
Typically, it specifies the object of expression and the emotions that need to be conveyed. Identify these elements in the following topics:
a) Thoughts on a river (or mountain range, field, orchard, etc.):
b) Thoughts on the Mid-Autumn Moon Night
c) Thoughts on my mother’s smile
d) The joys and sorrows of childhood
e) A tree I love
Answer:
Topic - Object of Expression - Emotions to Convey
a)
River (or mountain range, field, orchard, etc.)
Admiration, pride
b)
Mid-Autumn Moon Night
Beauty, love for nature
c)
Mother’s smile
Love, happiness, warmth
d)
Joy or sorrow of childhood
Treasuring, cherishing, and reminiscing
e)
A tree
Love, affection
2. Steps to Write an Expressive Essay
For the topic: Thoughts on my mother’s smile
a) Understanding the topic and finding ideas:
The object of expression in the topic is my mother’s smile.
Characteristics of my mother’s smile:
A loving, encouraging smile with every step I take: when I was born, when I first walked, when I started speaking, when I first went to school, whenever I received good grades…
Not every time does she smile: only when she is happy, when I do something good, when she feels joyful.
When my mother doesn’t smile: When I upset her, when she’s sick or tired.
To see my mother’s smile: I must strive to study well, be obedient, and take good care of her to keep her happy and healthy.
My emotions every time I see my mother’s smile: love, joy, warmth, and trust in life.
b) Outline the essay
Introduction: Introduce my mother’s smile and my general feelings.
Main body:
Describe my mother’s smile: Her eyes squinting, a bright smile revealing her even teeth, or sometimes just a gentle smile, but her eyes can’t hide her joy.
When I have seen my mother smile: When I was young, learning to walk, babbling, holding her hand as she took me to school for the first time, when I did something well…
My emotions when I see her smile.
Not every time does she smile: when she’s sad, when she’s ill, or tired, her face looks pale, drained, or her eyes appear distant…
What I must do to always see my mother smile?
Conclusion: Reaffirm the importance of my mother’s smile in my life.
c) Write the essay
d) Read and revise
Remember: page 88 of the 7th grade Literature textbook, volume 2
B. EXERCISES AND SOLUTIONS
II. Practice
Exercise: page 89 of the 7th grade Literature textbook, volume 1
Read the following excerpt and answer the questions:
Usually, when people return home from a long trip, they tell their relatives about the strange things they've seen. As for me, whenever I return to my village, I always want to talk about the beauty and greatness of my homeland.
My childhood memories are deeply embedded in the image of the mountains in the distance, sparkling like diamonds—sometimes a soft green, sometimes dark green, sometimes a lilac purple, or dazzling like green gemstones. The years spent away from my homeland, the storms of life, almost made me forget everything, but in my heart, the rivers of my homeland still flow continuously, and the canals still slowly drift by. I love the vast fields that turn golden in harvest season, the smoke rising from them, the sweet smell of sugarcane, and the mist that lingers after Tết (Lunar New Year). I love the bell of the pagoda ringing through the stillness of the night. I adore the afternoon sunlight casting a yellowish tint on the cassava fields, slanting along the mountain slopes. I often find myself writing about the small stream that flows by the Miễu (Temple) wharf, with its golden sand touching the shallow water. I love the gray stones, the old bamboo mats that shade the stone breakers from the sun. I remember the little grass waving in the large pond and the heavy bunches of cà na fruit, the solitary and twin gáo trees standing still far outside the fields. I long to meet the sheep grazing on the meadows and dream of returning to the mythical "Promised Land". I yearn to reunite with the banyan tree by the Miễu, the tamarind tree by Đá Chẹt, the winding road around the fortress.
My homeland, An Giang, has been a battlefield for centuries. An Giang has always been invaded and covered in blood throughout history. Its history is written with the lives of many hardships, tragic fates, great souls, through blood and tears, swords, spears, sharp bamboo sticks, and rifles. I long to climb the fortress to find the stone where Hoàng Đạo Cật once stood with his comrades, launching a heavy artillery barrage against the enemy. I want to know which stone was where the courageous patriot Trương Gia Mô jumped from the tower to avoid being captured by the French invaders. I want to find the place where the legendary revolutionary Phan Bội Châu heard the news of his comrade’s death and wept, composing sorrowful poetry.
Oh, the beauty of my homeland, everywhere is glorious with historical achievements, grand feats. From the small, poor land where I first began my journey, to the present, my feet have grown strong from walking through many parts of the country. When I left, I gazed out from the small door of the hut, looking out at the vast land beyond with naive eyes. When I return, the light of foreign lands illuminates every step I take. I see my homeland clearer now, appreciating the beauty of my own country more than I ever did before.
(Adapted from Mai Văn Tạo’s essay)
Questions:
a) What emotions does this essay express, and towards what object? Suggest a suitable title and essay prompt.
b) Provide an outline of the essay.
c) Identify the method of expression used in this essay.
Answer:
a) The essay expresses deep longing and love for the homeland, as well as the author's emotional connection to it. The object of the essay is the beauty and greatness of the homeland.
Suggested title: My Homeland; My Beloved Homeland; The Land I Love.
Suggested essay prompt: Thoughts on your homeland.
b) The essay has three parts:
Introduction (from the beginning to the beauty of my homeland): Introduce and discuss the author's feelings about the homeland.
Main body
Describe the natural scenery of the homeland from the author's memories, expressing emotions of longing and love.
Discuss the historical significance of An Giang and the author's pride in its heroic past.
Conclusion: Reaffirm the author's growing maturity and deep love for their homeland.
c) The method of expression in the essay is mainly direct emotional expression, using simple language and vivid imagery. The essay conveys the author’s intense emotions and their love and nostalgia for the homeland through powerful descriptions of nature and history.


4. Lesson on "Expressive Writing Topics and How to Approach Them" - Exercise 1
Part I: EXPRESSIVE WRITING TOPICS AND STEPS TO WRITE EXPRESSIVE ESSAYS
1. Expressive Writing Topics:
a. Thoughts on the river:
- Subject: the river in your hometown.
- Emotion to express: your affection for the river of your hometown.
b. Thoughts on the Mid-Autumn moon:
- Subject: the moon on Mid-Autumn night, memories from the moonlit night.
- Emotion: fondness for the Mid-Autumn night.
c. Thoughts on your mother's smile:
- Subject: your mother's smile.
- Emotion: love and appreciation.
d. The joys and sorrows of childhood.
- Subject: happy and sad childhood memories.
- Emotion: nostalgia and connection with the past.
e. A tree you love:
- Subject: the custard apple tree.
- Emotion: love and viewing it as a friend.
2. Steps to Write an Expressive Essay:
Given the topic: Thoughts on your mother's smile.
a. Understand the topic and gather ideas:
- Subject to express: your mother's smile.
- Imagining your mother's smile: a smile of encouragement, comfort, and happiness…
b. Create an outline:
* Introduction: introduce the most memorable smile of your mother.
* Body of the essay:
- A few details about your mother: kind-hearted, with a smile that radiates happiness to everyone.
- Describing your mother's smile:
+, Your mother smiles when she's happy (when you get good grades).
+, Her smile encourages you (when you're learning to play an instrument but haven't mastered it yet).
+, Her smile shows forgiveness and tolerance when you make a mistake (when you say something hurtful to her).
- When your mother's smile is absent: you feel like something important is missing.
- What you can do to always see your mother's smile: be well-behaved and study hard.
* Conclusion: your feelings toward your mother and the importance of loving and respecting her.
c. Based on the suggested outline, write a complete essay.
d. After writing, check for spelling errors, clarity, and ensure your essay stays on topic.
Part II: EXERCISE
a. The essay expresses the author's love for their hometown, An Giang.
Subject: beloved hometown An Giang.
Title: My Hometown An Giang.
b. Outline of the essay:
- Introduction: introduce the author's love for their hometown.
- Body of the essay:
+, Childhood memories.
+, The love for the hometown in times of struggle and admiration for the local heroes.
- Conclusion: the emotions of someone far from their hometown.
c. The expressive method of this essay: direct expression.


5. Guide to Writing 'Expressive Essay Topics and How to Approach Them' - Part 2
I. Expressive Essay Topics and the Process of Writing an Expressive Essay
1. Expressive Essay Topics
- Possible Topics:
a. The river of my homeland
b. The full moon on Mid-Autumn night
c. A mother’s smile
d. Childhood memories
e. A type of tree
- Emotions:
Topics a, b, c, and d express affection. Topic d conveys a mix of happy and sad emotions.
2. The Steps for Writing an Expressive Essay
a. Topic: A mother’s smile.
- Visualize: What is a mother’s smile like, when does she smile, and what effect does it have on the writer?
b. Create an outline:
* Introduction: A general introduction to a mother’s smile: Is it warm, gentle, or bright and radiant?
* Body:
- Brief introduction of the mother: her name, age, and profession.
- Describe the mother’s appearance: her body, face, and the most striking feature: her smile.
- When does she smile: when I receive good grades, when I help with chores, etc.
- The impact of her smile: a source of motivation to work harder.
- What it feels like when her smile is absent: sadness, lack of joy...
* Conclusion: My feelings for my mother: love and hope for her happiness.
c. Writing the essay: Suggested approach for each part:
- Introduction: Use a proverb or poem about mothers to lead into the topic of the mother and her smile.
- Body: Present the ideas developed in the outline. Focus on describing the smile and sharing memories connected to it.
- Conclusion: Express genuine feelings for my mother, potentially ending with a poem dedicated to her.
d. After finishing, review the essay for spelling, word choice, and grammar to make it flawless.
Summary:
- An expressive essay always identifies the subject and the emotional direction of the writing.
- Steps in writing an expressive essay:
Understand the topic
Generate ideas and outline
Write the essay
Review and revise
- To generate ideas for an expressive essay, one must visualize the subject in various contexts and emotions and consider how to express personal feelings effectively.
- Choose appropriate, evocative language to convey emotions clearly.
II. Practice
Read the essay in the textbook and answer the questions:
a.
- The essay expresses the writer’s love for their homeland.
- The subject: the land of An Giang, the writer’s home.
- Suggested titles: 'An Giang, My Homeland', 'An Giang – The Land of Memories.'
- Suggested essay title: 'Thoughts on My Homeland.'
b. Outline:
* Introduction: Introduce the subject of affection: the beauty and significance of the homeland.
* Body:
- The homeland as seen in the writer’s memory:
Endless golden fields.
The deep bell of the temple ringing at midnight.
The evening sunlight…
The gray stones, the fragile bamboo shades, the workers under the hot sun.
- The homeland as reflected in history: a battleground where brave souls fell.
* Conclusion: The writer’s deep love for their homeland.
c.
- Expressive method used: direct emotional expression.
- The author explicitly expresses love and longing for their homeland, repeating words like 'love' and 'longing' throughout the essay.
* Practice exercise: Identify the subject and emotions in the following essay topic. Then, create an outline for it.
Essay Topic: Thoughts on a Teacher You Love and Respect.
Suggested approach:
a. Subject: The teacher you admire
b. Emotions: Love, respect, and gratitude.
c. Outline:
* Introduction: Introduce the teacher.
* Body:
- Describe the teacher’s appearance:
Height
Eyes
Hair
Face
Voice: warm and expressive.
- Memorable moments with the teacher:
Lessons filled with smiles.
Helpful teaching.
Advice on studying harder.
=> Love, admiration, and respect for the teacher.
* Conclusion: Express feelings of appreciation for the teacher.


6. Guide to Writing 'Expressive Essay Topics and How to Approach Them' - Part 3
I. THEORETICAL QUESTION CONTENT
Question 1 - Page 87 of the Textbook
Emotional essays usually point out the subject of expression and the emotions to be conveyed. Identify these elements in the following topics:
a) Thoughts on a river (or mountain range, field, orchard, etc.):
b) Thoughts on the Mid-Autumn moonlight
c) Thoughts on a mother's smile
d) The joys and sorrows of childhood
e) A tree you love
Answer
In each emotional essay, two main elements must be identified: the subject of expression and the emotion to be conveyed. Understanding an emotional essay requires recognizing these two components.
a. Thoughts on the river.
- The subject of expression is the river (or field, orchard, etc.) of the homeland.
- The emotion to be expressed is the affection you feel for the river (or field, orchard, etc.).
b. Thoughts on the Mid-Autumn moonlight.
- The subject of expression is the moon during the Mid-Autumn festival.
- The emotion is your genuine admiration and fondness for it.
c. Thoughts on a mother's smile
- The subject of expression is the smile of your mother.
- The emotion is the love and reverence you have for her.
d. The joys and sorrows of childhood.
- The subject of expression is childhood memories.
- The emotions include the joys and sorrows associated with those memories.
e. A tree you love.
- The subject of expression is a particular tree.
- The emotion is the fondness and care you have for the tree.
Question 2 - Page 88 of the Textbook
Steps for writing an emotional essay
Given the topic: Thoughts on a mother's smile
a) Understand the topic and brainstorm ideas
b) Create an outline
c) Write the essay
d) Read and revise
Answer
a) Understand the topic and brainstorm ideas:
- The subject of the essay is the mother's smile.
- Features of the mother's smile:
The smile is full of love and encouragement for each of your milestones: when you were born, when you took your first steps, when you learned to talk, when you went to school, and when you received good grades.
Not every moment is filled with her smile: only when she is happy, when you do something good, or when she feels joy.
When she doesn't smile: when you're causing her disappointment, when she’s sick, or tired.
To see her smile: always strive to study well, be obedient, and take care of her so she’s not tired.
b) Create an outline
Introduction: Introduce your mother's smile and your general feelings towards it.
Body:
- Features of the mother’s smile
Describe her smile: her eyes squinting, a radiant smile showing her white, even teeth, or even a small smile with her eyes still glowing with joy.
When do you see her smile: as a child, when you started walking and babbling, when she held your hand and walked you to school, or when you did something well...
- Emotions you feel each time you see her smile
It’s not always a smile: sometimes her face looks pale, and her eyes distant when she’s sad, ill, or tired.
- What you should do to always see her smile?
Conclusion: Reaffirm the significance of your mother’s smile in your life.
c) Write the essay
Based on the outline, express your feelings of love and respect for your mother through each section of the essay.
d) Revise
After writing, reread the essay to remove redundant ideas, add missing points, and check for spelling and grammar mistakes.
II. EXERCISES
Exercise on page 89 of the Textbook
Read the following passage and answer the questions:
When people return to their hometowns after being away, they often tell stories of faraway places. As for me, whenever I return to my village, I always want to talk about the beauty and grandeur of my homeland.
My childhood memories are etched in my mind with the images of mountains that sparkle from a distance like diamonds, sometimes hazy green, sometimes dark green, sometimes purple, and at times, brilliantly glimmering like precious green mountains. During my years away from home, through the storms of life that seemed to erase everything, the rivers of my homeland still flow strongly in my heart, the streams of the village still glide silently by. I love the vast golden fields during harvest time, the misty mornings filled with the scent of roasted sugarcane, and the white fog after Tết. I love the sound of temple bells ringing late at night. I cherish the golden afternoon sunlight spilling over the cassava fields, tilted along the hillsides. I fondly remember the small, shallow creek flowing past the Miễu temple, the yellow sand almost submerged in water. I love the dark grey stone, the fragile bamboo screens protecting workers from the sun as they harvest stones. I remember the plants swaying gently in the large fields, the heavy clusters of fruit on the coffee trees, and the quiet presence of the lonely Gáo trees far away in the fields. I yearn for the old banyan tree at the Miễu temple, the tamarind tree at Đá Chẹt, and the winding paths leading to the ancient fortress. I also remember the glistening streams rushing down from the stone slopes, trickling through narrow crevices before flowing calmly over the cobbled streets, heading toward the village.
For generations, An Giang has been a land of heat, a battlefield. The borders of An Giang have long been invaded, soaked with blood. The history of An Giang is written through the lives of its struggling people, its tragic fates, and its great souls, all drenched in blood and tears, with swords and spears and sharp bamboo sticks, with arrows and crude firearms. I wish I could climb the fortress to find the stone where the hero Hoàng Đạo Cật stood with his comrades, smashing the enemy’s artillery. I wish to know where the brave Trương Gia Mô leaped from the tower, choosing death over capture by the French. I want to remember the moment when the great revolutionary Phan Bội Châu cried upon hearing the news of Trương’s sacrifice...
Oh, my homeland is beautiful everywhere, every corner is filled with grand achievements and impressive feats. From this poor land, I left with uncertainty, but now, with firm steps, I return to see my homeland with clearer eyes, appreciating its beauty more than ever before.
(Adapted from Mai Văn Tạo's Essay)
Questions:
a) What emotions does the essay express, and what is its subject? Suggest a suitable title for the essay.
b) What is the outline of the essay?
c) What is the method of emotional expression in this essay?
Answer
a) This essay expresses the author's deep love for their beloved An Giang. The title of the essay could be: An Giang in My Heart.
b) Outline of the essay: The essay follows a three-part structure:
- Introduction: Introduce the love for An Giang.
- Body: Various expressions of the author's love for An Giang:
+ Childhood memories.
+ Love for the land shown through its history and the heroic figures from An Giang.
- Conclusion: Reflection on the love for the homeland as the author returns as an adult, with a greater appreciation for it.
c) The emotional expression method in this essay: The author directly conveys their love for their homeland, focusing on both the landscape and the historical significance of An Giang in the struggle for independence.


