Top 6 Best Lesson Plans for 'Writing Paragraphs in Explanatory Essays' (Grade 8)

I - ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE TO MASTER

1. In explanatory essays, identify key points, each written as a separate paragraph.

2. Clearly present the main idea in the topic sentence of each paragraph, avoiding overlap with others.

3. Arrange paragraphs logically: by object structure, perception order (whole to parts, outside to inside, far to near), chronological order, or priority (main points first, supporting details later).

II - GUIDELINES FOR UNDERSTANDING THE LESSON

1. Identifying Explanatory Paragraphs

a) The topic sentence of this paragraph is: "The world is facing a severe clean water shortage." Subsequent sentences explain limited resources, pollution, and worsening scarcity, especially in poor regions.

b) This paragraph describes revolutionary leader and cultural icon Pham Van Dong, covering his origin, main activities, significant roles, and relationship with Ho Chi Minh.

2. Revising Unclear Explanatory Paragraphs

a) The paragraph on ballpoint pens lacks coherence. It should first explain the structure (internal parts like tip and ink tube; external parts like body, clip, and button) and then detail usage and care.

b) The paragraph on desk lamps is disorganized. It should outline three parts: 1) base; 2) stem (steel tube, wires, switch, bulb holder, and bulb); 3) lampshade (frame and fabric or enamel-coated steel).

III - PRACTICE GUIDANCE

Question 1: Example:

- Introduction: My secondary school is the largest in the area, built on a spacious, level plot. From the entrance, two two-story buildings are visible: one for administrative offices and health services, the other for the traditional room, lab, and library. Classrooms are housed in two three-story buildings at the back.

- Conclusion: My school is a beautiful place filled with cherished memories. With only two years left until graduation, I am determined to excel in my studies and leave with lasting fondness for my school.

Question 2: Refer to the paragraph on Pham Van Dong. Briefly introduce Ho Chi Minh's origin, the year he went abroad to seek independence, his major roles, and his exceptional leadership that brought significant victories to the Vietnamese revolution.

Question 3: Summarize:

The book "Literature 8, Volume 1" includes 17 lessons, each typically divided into three subjects: Literature, Vietnamese Language, and Composition. Some lessons include additional review and assessment sections. Each subject is structured uniquely. For instance, Literature features sections like Text, Notes, Reading Comprehension, Key Takeaways, and Practice Exercises.

Task 1: Exercise 1, page 15, Textbook.

Write an introduction and conclusion for the essay topic: "Introduce Your School".

Answer:

This exercise asks you to write an introduction and conclusion introducing your school. In the first semester, you learned how to write descriptive introductions, narrative introductions, and introductory paragraphs for introducing places. Each of these types of introductions has its corresponding conclusion method.

Introduction (here is a suggested method using a question and description):

Anyone passing by the street (village, town)... will notice a large school with multiple two (three)-story buildings, surrounded by trees and fresh air. That’s my school...

Or:

Anyone who has studied at my school and comes back to visit will surely be amazed—it has changed beyond recognition.

Conclusion:

I love my school, and together with my friends, I will take care of it to keep it clean and beautiful, forever serving as the home for generations to study, grow, and succeed.

Task 2: Exercise 2, page 15, Textbook.

Topic: "Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese people." Write a paragraph of explanation.

Answer:

This paragraph may include the following points:

- He dedicated his life to raising the flag of independence and freedom for the nation.

- He united all segments of the people, without dividing by religion, party affiliation, gender, age, or region, under that flag.

- He led the Vietnamese people along with the Communist Party to defeat powerful invading forces, gaining complete independence and unity for the country.

- The Vietnamese people deeply revere him, calling him "Uncle".

Task 3: Write a paragraph introducing a self-service bookstore.

Answer:

You may choose to write about:

- The introduction paragraph describing the bookstore’s location, appearance, and layout. What does it look like from the outside? How is the display inside arranged?

- The paragraph introducing the interior of the bookstore, with sections categorized to help customers find books easily. Typically, there are areas like: textbooks, reference books, foreign language books, literary books, research books, office supplies, etc.

- A paragraph explaining the bookstore’s operating hours and activities. What time does it open and close? How busy is it? Are there groups browsing textbooks, literature books, foreign language books?

- The closing paragraph.

What does the bookstore mean for students and the public? Do you often visit this bookstore?

Once you’ve selected the paragraph to write, plan out the key ideas to include before writing them into your exercise book.

Task 4: Write a paragraph describing the layout of your school from the entrance, so the reader can imagine where the playground, principal’s office, classrooms, and garden are located.

Answer:

This exercise requires you to describe the school layout from the entrance. Pay attention to words like: in front, opposite, on the left, on the right, ahead, behind...

I- Paragraphs in Expository Text

1. Identifying Expository Paragraphs

How to organize sentences within a paragraph:

a. Paragraph A:

• Sentence 1: General introduction to the issue of freshwater scarcity globally
• Sentences 2, 3, 4: Specific examples of the impacts of water scarcity
• Sentence 5: Predictions about future freshwater shortages

b. Paragraph B:

• Sentence 1: Introduction to Pham Van Dong
• Sentence 2: Overview of his revolutionary journey and key positions held
• Sentence 3: His relationship with President Ho Chi Minh

2. Revising Incomplete Expository Paragraphs

a. Issues:

• Unclear topic sentence
• Lack of purpose
• Disorganized ideas

Revised:

• Introduce the ballpoint pen
• Explain its structure
• State its purpose and usage

b. Issues:

• Lacking purpose and types
• Disorganized structure

Revised:

Reorganize the structure for a table lamp: base, steel tube body, electrical wire, switch, socket, lightbulb, lampshade with metal frame and silk fabric (or metal with white enamel coating)

II- Practicing Paragraph Writing in Expository Text

Question 1, page 15, Grade 8 Textbook:

Write an introduction and conclusion for the essay: "Introduce Your School"

Introduction: I invite you to visit my school, a place located in the middle of lush fields, and it is like a second home to us.

Conclusion: This school holds the most beautiful memories of my school days. In my heart, it will always hold a special place, cherished with love and affection.

Question 2, page 15, Grade 8 Textbook:

Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese people, dedicated his life to the liberation of his country, bringing the light of freedom to those suffering under oppression. Not only was he a political figure and diplomat, but he was also a great cultural icon, leaving a significant legacy for the nation. Despite his role as President, he lived a simple, humble life, always close to the people, and focused on improving their lives. Every Vietnamese person will forever remember his contributions, for it is thanks to him that we now enjoy peace and happiness.

Question 3, page 15, Grade 8 Textbook:

Expository paragraph about the Vietnamese Literature 8, volume 1.

The book contains 17 lessons, divided into 3 main sections: Literature, Vietnamese Language, and Writing Practice. Each lesson concludes with review and test sections to reinforce the learned material. Every chapter is clearly organized and presented, making it easy for students to effectively grasp the knowledge.

I. Fundamental Knowledge to Understand

1. Identifying Expository Paragraphs

- A paragraph is a segment of a text. Writing a good paragraph is essential for crafting an effective essay.

- A paragraph typically contains two or more sentences arranged in a specific order.

- In an expository paragraph (a) and (b), the topic sentence appears at the beginning: "The world is facing a severe shortage of fresh water." "Phạm Văn Đồng... Quảng Ngãi Province."

- The sentences in the paragraph aim to clarify the topic sentence.

2. Revising Expository Paragraphs

a. The expository paragraph (a) is disorganized in terms of the order of presenting the structure of a pen.

- It can be revised to: the pen components (pen refill, pen tip, ink tube, pen casing, clip, push button), followed by instructions on usage and maintenance.

b. The content of the expository paragraph about the table is also disordered.

- Revise it to: base of the lamp → lamp body → lampshade.

II. Practice

Exercise 1 (Page 15, Vietnamese Language 8 Textbook, Volume 2):

Introduction: The school I attend is a small school in a mountainous district. It has been a pride of many generations of students since its establishment in 1964.

Conclusion: My school is always my second home, where countless memories of school life, both happy and sad, are stored. It is a place where I have learned many fascinating things, opening up new horizons before me. I hope my efforts will contribute to making this school even better.

Exercise 2 (Page 15, Vietnamese Language 8 Textbook, Volume 2):

Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese people, was a distinguished revolutionary and the founder of the Communist Party of Vietnam. He was born in Kim Liên, Nghệ An, into a family with a tradition of Confucian scholarship. In 1911, using the pseudonym Văn Ba, he left the Nhà Rồng port in search of a path to save his country. Throughout his years abroad, he sought, learned, and researched ways to liberate Vietnam. After returning to Vietnam, he led the resistance against the French and later the Americans, achieving victory. He dedicated his entire life to the cause of national liberation and the happiness of the people.

Exercise 3 (Page 61, Vietnamese Language 8 Textbook, Volume 2):

The 8th-grade Vietnamese Language Textbook (Volume 1) consists of 17 lessons, divided into three main sections: Literature, Vietnamese Language, and Writing. The Literature section includes selected works from famous authors both domestic and international, focusing on themes such as family affection, love for the homeland, teacher-student relationships, and friendship. The Vietnamese Language section mainly covers word meanings, parts of speech, sentence structures, and figures of speech. The Writing section emphasizes writing expository texts, applying expository methods when composing. The book's clear scientific layout, including theory sections, key points, and practice exercises, helps both teachers and students easily connect knowledge together.

Section I: PARAGRAPH IN AN EXPLANATORY TEXT

1. Identifying Explanatory Paragraphs

(page 14 of Literature Textbook 8, Volume 2)

a) Read the following explanatory paragraphs. Discuss how the sentences are organized within each paragraph.

(1) The world is facing a severe clean water shortage. Freshwater makes up only 3% of the Earth's total water supply. This limited supply is increasingly polluted by industrial waste. In developing countries, more than one billion people are forced to drink contaminated water. By 2025, two-thirds of the global population will be water-scarce.

(Source: Hoa hoc tro)

(2) Pham Van Dong (1906 – 2000): A renowned revolutionary and major cultural figure, originally from Duc Tan commune, Mo Duc district, Quang Ngai province. He joined the revolution in 1925 and held numerous important positions within the leadership of the Communist Party and the Vietnamese State, serving as Prime Minister for over thirty years. He was a close associate and student of President Ho Chi Minh.

(Literature Textbook 7, Volume 2)

Answer:

- In paragraph (1), the main idea is presented in the first sentence. The subsequent sentences further explain and expand on the main idea.

- In paragraph (2), the name Pham Van Dong acts as the subject of the paragraph. The sentences that follow provide additional details about him in a list-like manner.

2. Correcting Inadequate Explanatory Paragraphs

(page 14 of Literature Textbook 8, Volume 2)

* The explanation in both paragraphs is disorganized and lacks clear structure. To better explain a ballpoint pen and a desk lamp, the content can be separated into two distinct paragraphs: one focusing on the features of each component and the other explaining their uses and functions.

* Suggested revision:

a. A ballpoint pen consists of two parts: the ink cartridge and the pen casing. The ink cartridge is a long plastic tube containing ink that is usually blue, black, or red. At the bottom of the ink tube is the pen tip, which has a small ball that rolls when writing, transferring ink onto paper.

In addition to the ink cartridge, the pen has an outer casing. The casing is a plastic or metal tube that surrounds the ink cartridge and serves as the pen's handle. It either has a cap or a click mechanism (for click pens).

b. My house has a desk lamp. The base is made of solid glass, shaped in a round form, which makes it very sturdy. The base also has a switch to conveniently turn the lamp on or off.

From the base, a stainless steel tube rises, attaching to the lamp's arm, which holds a 25-watt light bulb. The tube is hollow, allowing the electrical cord to pass through it to the bulb.

Above the bulb is a lampshade made from silk fabric, supported by a metal frame and a wire hoop attached to the lightbulb. The lampshade helps focus and soften the light emitted by the bulb.

Section II: EXERCISES

Question 1 (page 15, Literature Textbook 8, Volume 2).

Write an introduction and conclusion for the essay "Introducing Your School".

Answer:

Introduction: “The middle school I attend is the largest school in the region. I am happy to study at this school, which my older siblings once attended.”

Conclusion: “My school is a beautiful place full of cherished memories. In just two more years, I will graduate and move on to high school. I hope that when I leave, the positive memories of this place will stay with me forever.”

Question 2 (page 15, Literature Textbook 8, Volume 2)

The topic: "Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese people". Write a paragraph explaining this topic.

Answer:

Ho Chi Minh was the great leader of the Vietnamese people. Driven by the pain of losing his homeland, Nguyen Tat Thanh set out to find a way to liberate the nation. After returning to Vietnam, he devoted his entire life to the revolutionary cause. Today, the happiness and peace we enjoy are largely due to his leadership and wisdom.

Question 3 (page 15, Literature Textbook 8, Volume 2)

Write a paragraph introducing the structure of the Literature Textbook 8, Volume 1.

Answer:

The Literature Textbook 8, Volume 1 consists of 17 lessons. Each lesson typically includes three sections: Literature, Vietnamese Language, and Composition. However, not all lessons follow the same structure; some have only two sections, while others may include review and testing sections. Each section is presented in a format that suits its content. For example, the Literature section includes text, notes, comprehension questions, key points, and practice exercises, while the Composition section covers content based on the lesson and exercises.

I. Paragraphs in Expository Texts

1. Identifying Expository Paragraphs

How sentences are structured within a paragraph

a) - The key theme appears in the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph: The world is facing a serious shortage of clean water.

- The following sentences elaborate and expand upon the topic sentence: providing information about the dwindling water supply, its contamination, and the struggles of impoverished nations that rely on polluted water.

b) – The key theme is introduced in the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph: Pham Van Dong (1906-2000): A famous revolutionary and a prominent intellectual, born in Duc Tan village, Mo Duc district, Quang Ngai province.

- The subsequent sentences provide further details about his major activities, roles, and his connection to President Ho Chi Minh.

2. Revising Poorly Structured Expository Paragraphs

a) - Issue: Disorganized structure, lacks coherence.

- How to fix:

+ First, introduce the structure (parts of the pen, including the nib, ink tube, and the pen casing with clip and button).

+ Then explain its use: what to do while writing, and what should be done after finishing.

b) – Issue: Illogical structure, lacks clarity.

- Suggested revisions: Present ideas sequentially in three parts:

+ Point 1 discusses the base of the lamp...

+ Point 2 covers the lamp's body, including the steel tube, electrical wire, switch, lamp holder, and bulb...

+ Point 3 elaborates on the lampshade, which is made of silk fabric, supported by a metal frame and a steel ring attached to the light bulb...

II. Practice Exercises

Question 1 (page 15, Literature 8, Volume 2): Introduce your school

a) Introduction:

My school is named Le Hong Phong Secondary School, located along the main road of the city, surrounded by tall trees that provide plenty of shade. The school is regarded as the dream school for generations of students. Not only is it beautiful, but it also boasts a rich history and is one of the top-ranking schools in the province, excelling in academics and extracurricular activities.

b) Conclusion:

Just a while ago, I was a new student here, and now I am already in the 8th grade. In no time, I will have to part with this school, its teachers, and friends. I am always proud to be a student of Le Hong Phong Secondary School. I will strive to study hard, not only to meet the expectations of my parents and teachers but also to live up to the honor of studying in a school named after a national hero.

Question 2 (page 15, Literature 8, Volume 2): Write a paragraph

Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese people, was born into a patriotic family. Outraged by the plight of the nation, on June 5, 1911, he left the country to seek the way to save his people. After many years of wandering, he discovered the path to national salvation and led the Vietnamese people in their struggle to expel foreign invaders. On September 2, 1945, at the historic Ba Dinh Square, President Ho Chi Minh declared the independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. The Vietnamese people will forever remember his contributions as a leader and father of the nation.

Question 3 (page 15, Literature 8, Volume 2): Introduce the structure of the Vietnamese Literature textbook

The Vietnamese Literature 8, Volume 1 contains 17 lessons. Each lesson typically consists of three parts: Literature, Vietnamese Language, and Writing Practice. Each section is further divided into smaller topics. For example, the Literature part includes: text, annotation, text comprehension, memorization, and exercises. The Vietnamese Language section includes theory, examples, memorization, and exercises. The Writing Practice section covers topic analysis, task breakdown, memorization, and exercises. This structure is quite logical and tailored to the specific needs of each subject.