Writing an essay is an important skill for 7th grade students to learn and develop. At this stage, students are moving past just writing basic paragraphs and are starting to put multiple paragraphs together to express more complex ideas and arguments. Though writing longer essays can seem daunting, breaking the process down step-by-step and providing examples for 7th graders to follow can help make it more manageable. Here are some tips and essay examples tailored specifically for 7th grade students.
The first step in writing any essay is to choose a topic. For 7th graders, it’s best to pick something they are interested in or passionate about. This will make the writing process more enjoyable and the essay stronger overall. Some good topic ideas for 7th graders include favorite hobbies or activities like sports, music, video games, favorite books or movies. School subjects they enjoy or historical time periods that intrigue them also work well. When choosing a topic, 7th graders should pick something they have personally experienced or researched sufficiently so they have enough facts and details to develop their essay.
After selecting a topic, students then need to determine what kind of essay they will write. The three main categories are narrative, descriptive and persuasive essays. A narrative essay tells a story about a personal experience. For example, a 7th grader could write about a fun family vacation. A descriptive essay provides details to help readers visualize a person, place or thing. For instance, a student may describe their favorite spot in a local park. Persuasive essays try to convince the reader of a particular opinion on a debatable topic. 7th graders could argue for or against year-round schooling, for example.
EXAMPLE NARRATIVE ESSAY:
“My Best Birthday Ever”
The day started out like any other Saturday. I woke up and got dressed, not knowing the surprise that was coming. When I went downstairs for breakfast, all of my friends and family popped out yelling “Surprise!” I was totally shocked to see they had thrown me a surprise party for my 13th birthday.
After opening presents and eating lots of cake and candy, my parents told me we were going to an amusement park for the day. I could not believe it! Riding rollercoasters is one of my favorite things to do. We piled into the car and made the two hour drive to Adventureland. When we got there, the park was not too crowded since it was a weekend in October.
The first ride we went on was the new steel rollercoaster called “The Screamer.” I was not scared at all as we clicked into the over-the-shoulder harnesses and listened to the safety talk. When the train launched out of the station, my stomach flipped as we flew up the first big hill. We hit 85 miles per hour on the first drop and I could feel myself floating out of my seat!
We rode “The Screamer” three more times before moving on to other rides. By the end of the day, I had ridden every coaster in the park and my legs were sore from walking. As the sun started to set, my family decided it was time to head home after the best birthday ever. I will never forget that special day at Adventureland!
This narrative essay example for 7th graders tells a story about the writer’s best birthday in an engaging way. It includes descriptive details of the surprise party, the amusement park visit and specific rides for readers to visualize. By following the events chronologically, it clearly recounts the experiences.
After choosing a topic and type of essay, 7th grade students should create an outline. An outline helps organize ideas and ensures all parts of the essay are included. It acts as a framework before writing out the full essay. The basic outline structure includes an introduction, three body paragraphs with topics sentences, and a conclusion. Here is a sample outline for a persuasive essay:
EXAMPLE PERSUASIVE ESSAY OUTLINE:
“Why Year-Round Schooling is a Good Idea”
I. Introduction
Thesis: Year-round schooling should be implemented nationwide because it would help students retain knowledge better, free up families’ summer schedules, and improve school facilities usage.
II. Body paragraph 1: Helps retention of knowledge
Students forget a lot over the long summer break
With more frequent but shorter breaks, less knowledge would be lost
III. Body paragraph 2: Frees up summer time for families
Summer is currently spent reviewing forgotten material
Families could take vacations during new off-weeks instead of summer
IV. Body paragraph 3: Better school facilities usage
Schools sit empty for 3 months over summer
Year-round schedule means buildings used 11+ months per year
V. Conclusion
Restate thesis and main points about benefits of year-round schooling
Conclude it should be implemented nationwide
Using an outline ensures all important arguments for the thesis are covered in this persuasive essay example. It provides structure and direction before drafting out the full essay.
Once an outline is completed, it’s time for 7th graders to start writing their essay draft. The introduction is extremely important, as it needs to catch the reader’s attention and state the main topic and thesis. The body should have 3-5 paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence relating back to the thesis. Paragraphs must include examples, facts, details, quotes or other evidence to support the topic sentence. Transitions between ideas keep the writing flowing smoothly.
The conclusion wraps everything up by restating the main points covered without simply repeating verbatim. It leaves the reader with a strong final message and calls them to action if it is a persuasive essay. Throughout the writing process, 7th graders should keep the intended age group and any assignment guidelines in mind. Having peers or teachers review rough drafts allows for feedback before final revisions. Mastering the essay writing process empowers 7th graders with an essential lifelong skill.
With practice and the right guidance, writing essays can become less intimidating for 7th grade students. Breaking it down step-by-step, providing clear examples, and allowing time for review and revision are key. While longer essays require more effort, choosing engaging topics they are passionate about makes the work more meaningful. Following standard essay outlines keeps writing organized and focused. Developing this foundational skill at a young age sets them up for continued academic and career success.
Andrew Stroud