A digital essay writing graphic organiser for Years 7 to 12. Students build an essay introduction (background, thesis statement and roadmap), then body paragraphs in PEEL, TEEL, STEEL or RACE, and the tool runs their answers together into a draft. One HTML file that opens in a browser: nothing to install, no login, and it works offline.
THE TWO THINGS THAT STOP STUDENTS WRITING ESSAYS
How to open one, and how to build a body paragraph. This does both.
INTRODUCTIONS, IN THREE STAGES
- Background: name the text and its writer, and give enough context for someone who hasn't read it
- Thesis statement: three small fields (the text or case, your claim about it, and "because...") assemble into one sentence. The tool says plainly that the result will sound mechanical and that editing it into an argument is the real work. The checklist asks whether it is arguable, specific enough to prove in one essay, and a clear position.
- Roadmap: the main points as short phrases, in the order the essay will argue them
Each stage has its own checklist, and the three stages assemble into the shape of an introduction for students to smooth.
BODY PARAGRAPHS, FOUR WAYS
PEEL, TEEL, STEEL and RACE, so it fits whichever structure your department already teaches. Each step gets its own box and its own question, written to head off the step students skip: PEEL's Explain step says "This is the step that gets skipped, so give it the most words." A connective bank sits beside the boxes, and the steps run together into a draft paragraph to read aloud and fix.
Each structure keeps its own boxes, so students can write the same point in two structures and compare them. That comparison is a lesson in itself.
ALSO INSIDE
- Present to Class: puts the current stage or structure up full screen on the projector
- A learning intention and success criteria
- UK/AU or US spelling for the whole tool, and three text sizes
- Brain Break: five short word games for a break between planning sessions
- Copy My Work and Print, so students keep their plan
WORKS ON ANY TEXT
Nothing here is tied to a set text. Students can plan an essay on a novel, a poem, a film or a history question.
SAVING
Work saves automatically in the browser on that device. Moving to another computer, or clearing the browser, starts fresh, so students press Copy My Work or Print before they close the tab. Nothing is uploaded and no student data is collected.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
- The tool: one HTML file
- A START HERE read-me
There is no answer key: this is a planning tool, not a worksheet.
TEACHING ESSAY WRITING AS A UNIT?
The Analytical Writing Teacher-Led Edition is 12 projector lessons on PEEL and TEEL paragraphs, quotations, techniques and a full analytical essay on a real text, with a Lesson Guide page for every lesson. For students on their own devices, the Analytical Writing Unit, Student Game Edition, builds the same skills. Both are in the Star Class Academy store.
Licensed for one teacher and their own classes.
Questions? starclassacademy.com/help?ref=sh or hello@starclassacademy.com
