Objectives (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Understanding Cohesion: The students will be able to define cohesion in writing and identify its importance in making a piece of writing coherent and understandable.

2. Identifying Cohesive Devices: The students will learn to recognize and use various cohesive devices such as pronouns, conjunctions, and transition words in their writing. They will also be able to explain how these devices contribute to the cohesion and clarity of the text.

3. Ensuring Clarity: The students will understand the role of clarity in effective communication. They will learn strategies for improving clarity in their writing, such as using specific details, providing explanations, and organizing their ideas logically.

Secondary Objectives:

• Promoting Peer Learning: By engaging in group activities during the class, the students will be encouraged to learn from each other and develop their social skills.

• Encouraging Critical Thinking: Through discussions and analysis of different texts, the students will be prompted to think critically about the use of cohesion and clarity in writing.

Introduction (10 - 12 minutes)

1. Review of Previous Content: The teacher begins by reminding students of the importance of organizing ideas in writing, which they learned in previous lessons. The teacher also briefly revisits the use of transitional words and phrases to connect ideas, helping students make the connection between these concepts and the new topic of cohesion and clarity. (3 minutes)

2. Problem Situations as Starters: The teacher then presents two problem situations to serve as starters for the development of the theory.

   • Situation 1: The teacher writes two short paragraphs on the board. One is a well-organized and cohesive paragraph, while the other is a jumble of unrelated ideas. The teacher asks the students to read both and identify which one is easier to understand and why. (2 minutes)

   • Situation 2: The teacher shares a personal story about a confusing set of instructions they once received, emphasizing how frustrating and time-consuming it was to try and understand what was being asked of them. The teacher asks the students to think about a similar experience they've had and how they felt. (2 minutes)

3. Contextualizing the Importance of the Topic: The teacher explains that in addition to making writing more readable and understandable, cohesion and clarity are crucial for effective communication. The teacher provides examples, such as how a poorly written instruction manual can lead to confusion and mistakes, or how a muddled argument in a debate can weaken a person's position. The teacher also mentions that these skills are not just important for English class but also for other subjects and real-world scenarios, such as job applications and college essays. (3 minutes)

4. Introduction of the Topic with Curiosities: The teacher introduces the topic of cohesion and clarity by sharing two curiosities:

   • Curiosity 1: The teacher explains that the word "cohesion" comes from the Latin word "cohaesus," which means "stuck together." This reflects the idea that cohesive writing is like a puzzle where all the pieces fit together perfectly. (1 minute)

   • Curiosity 2: The teacher shares a fun fact that one of the most famous rules of writing for clarity is the KISS principle, which stands for "Keep It Simple, Stupid." The teacher explains that this rule is a reminder to keep writing clear and straightforward so that it's easy for readers to understand. (1 minute)

Development

Pre-Class Activities (15 - 20 minutes)

1. Video Presentation: The teacher prepares a short, engaging video that covers the basics of cohesion and clarity. The video should include examples of cohesive writing and tips for making writing clearer. The teacher provides the students with a link to the video and instructions to watch it before the next class. (7 - 10 minutes)

2. Reading Material: The teacher selects two texts of different genres from the internet - a well-crafted professional article or essay, and a poorly written, confusing piece. The students are instructed to read both texts and make notes on the differences in cohesion and clarity between them. (8 - 10 minutes)

3. Quiz: To check the students' understanding of the video and reading, the teacher prepares a short online quiz with multiple-choice and true/false questions. The quiz includes questions about the definition of cohesion, the identification of cohesive devices, and the strategies for improving clarity in writing. The students are expected to complete the quiz before the next class. (5 minutes)

In-Class Activities (20 - 25 minutes)

Group Activity 1: Cohesion and Clarity Contest

1. The teacher divides the class into small groups of four or five students each. Each team is provided with a set of mixed-up paragraphs that are not cohesive and clear. The paragraphs should cover different topics and be of varying levels of difficulty.

2. The groups are tasked with rearranging the sentences in each paragraph to make them more cohesive and clear. They must also identify and highlight the cohesive devices used in the revised paragraphs.

3. Once the teams have completed their tasks, they will present their revised paragraphs to the class, explaining the changes they made and the reasons behind them. (10 - 12 minutes)

Group Activity 2: Clarity Challenge

1. The teacher introduces a "Clarity Challenge" where each group is given a short, confusing set of instructions, such as a poorly written recipe or a vague guide to a board game.

2. The groups are given the task to rewrite the instructions to make them clear and easy to follow. They must also create a visual aid, such as a flowchart or a diagram, to help illustrate their revised instructions.

3. After completing the task, each group will present their revised instructions and visual aid to the class, explaining the changes they made and why they think their version is clearer. (10 - 13 minutes)

Discussion and Wrap-Up: (5 - 7 minutes)

1. The teacher concludes the activities by facilitating a class discussion about the importance of cohesion and clarity in writing and real-life scenarios. The teacher reviews the key points from the group presentations and provides feedback.

2. The teacher then reiterates the importance of cohesion and clarity in writing and encourages students to continue practicing these skills in their own writing. The teacher also suggests that students apply these skills in other subjects and real-world situations.

3. Finally, the teacher wraps up the lesson by reminding students to complete any remaining tasks for the flipped classroom, such as the online quiz and any additional reading or video-watching. The teacher also provides a brief overview of the next lesson topic to pique students' interest and ensure they come prepared.

Feedback (8 - 10 minutes)

1. Group Sharing: The teacher asks each group to share their solutions or conclusions from the group activities. Each group is given up to 2 minutes to present. This allows for a comprehensive understanding of the topic and promotes learning from peers. (5 minutes)

2. Connection to Theory: After all groups have presented, the teacher facilitates a discussion on how the group activities connect to the theory of cohesion and clarity. The teacher highlights how the use of specific cohesive devices and strategies for improving clarity were applied in the group tasks. This reinforces the students' understanding of the theoretical concepts and their practical application. (2 minutes)

3. Reflection Time: The teacher then proposes a moment of reflection, during which the students are asked to think about and answer the following questions:

   • Question 1: What was the most important concept you learned today about cohesion and clarity in writing? (1 minute)

   • Question 2: What questions do you still have about this topic? (1 minute)

4. Discussion of Reflections: After a minute of silent reflection, the teacher opens the floor for a brief discussion. Students are encouraged to share their responses, and the teacher provides clarifications or further explanations as needed. This step allows the teacher to gauge the students' understanding of the topic and address any lingering questions or misconceptions. (2 minutes)

5. Wrap-up: The teacher concludes the feedback session by summarizing the key points of the lesson and commending the students on their active participation and insightful contributions. The teacher also reminds the students to review the material at home, complete any remaining tasks, and prepare for the next lesson. (1 minute)

Conclusion (5 - 7 minutes)

1. Summary and Recap: The teacher starts the conclusion by summarizing the main points of the lesson. They emphasize the importance of cohesion and clarity in writing, and how these elements contribute to effective communication. The teacher reviews the definition of cohesion, the various cohesive devices, and strategies for improving clarity in writing. They also highlight the key points from the group activities and the connections between theory and practice. (2 minutes)

2. Connecting Theory, Practice, and Applications: The teacher then explains how the lesson connected theoretical knowledge, practical skills, and real-world applications. They mention the pre-class activities that provided the theoretical foundation, the in-class activities that allowed students to apply their knowledge and skills, and the discussions that helped students understand the real-world importance of cohesion and clarity. They also suggest that students can apply what they've learned to improve their writing in other subjects and real-life situations. (1 minute)

3. Additional Materials: The teacher recommends additional resources for students who want to delve deeper into the topic. These resources could include:

   • A list of common cohesive devices and when to use them
   • Online exercises and quizzes to practice identifying and using cohesive devices
   • Samples of well-written and poorly written texts for students to analyze

The teacher also suggests that students keep an eye out for examples of cohesion and clarity in their everyday reading and writing, as this can help reinforce what they've learned. (1 minute)

4. Relevance to Everyday Life: Lastly, the teacher briefly explains how the topic of cohesion and clarity is relevant in everyday life. They mention that these skills are not only important for academic success, but also for effective communication in personal and professional settings. For example, being able to write clearly can help in writing emails, reports, and job applications, and being able to understand cohesive writing can help in reading and interpreting various texts. The teacher concludes by reminding students that the skills they are learning in English class have practical applications in the real world. (1 - 2 minutes)