Week 3 · Unit 1 (B) and the first chapter of the reader: a night report with idioms (reference only), main idea and supporting details, the structure of a blog post (title, introduction, main body, conclusion), a model post about a cold (reference only), a blog task, reading the first chapter of the reader (reference only) · 3 lessons
2
Writing a blog post: title, introduction, body and conclusion
English Secondary 3 Term 1, Unit 1 Lesson 5: pp. 22–23
GoalLearn the four parts of a blog post and write a short post with a catchy title and a closing question.
New words
blog post · a short piece of writing on a website, often personalcatchy · easy to remember and interestinghook · an interesting first sentence that makes people read oninformal · friendly, like speaking to a friendparagraph · a group of sentences about one ideaconclusion · the last part, with the message of the post
Explanation
A blog post has four parts. The title should be catchy and say what the post is about. The introduction has one or two paragraphs: start with a hook and name the topic. The main body has two to four paragraphs, and each one gives one idea with an example or a detail. The conclusion has one or two paragraphs; it gives the message and often asks the readers a closing question. The style is informal or semi-formal: you may use contractions and exclamation marks, but keep the post on one specific topic and not too long. Do not give your address or the name of a website. For this lesson write 70 to 90 words, and if you can, up to 120. Your book has a model post on pages 22 and 23 and a task of 180 to 200 words on the same page; you can plan that task with our frame.
Part
Job
In our model
Title
catchy and specific
Fixing Things Is Easier Than I Thought
Introduction
a hook and the topic
Last week I joined the school repair club ...
Main body
2 to 4 short paragraphs of detail
the bag, the bicycle bell, the tricks
Conclusion
a message and a closing question
What have you fixed lately?
Worked examples
Fixing Things Is Easier Than I Thought. Last week I joined the school repair club, and it has already changed how I see broken things. On my first day the leader gave me a torn bag and a needle, and I felt nervous. By Thursday I had sewn the bag and fixed a bicycle bell! Every member teaches me a trick. I now know that most problems are smaller than they look. If you have a broken thing at home, bring it along. What have you fixed lately?
Read our model post of 88 words, including the title.
Title and hook: the title is surprising, and the first sentence says that the club has changed how the writer sees broken things. A reader wants to know more.
Main body: the writer gives a first lesson, a result by Thursday and a feeling about the club. Each detail has a past tense or a present perfect, because the post tells about last week and now.
Conclusion: the writer gives a message (most problems are smaller than they look), asks the readers to bring a broken thing and ends with a question. Questions invite comments.
Tone: “I felt nervous” and the exclamation mark are informal. A semi-formal post would use fewer exclamation marks, but the structure is the same.
Class activity
Your post. Write a blog post of 70 to 90 words with the title “Why I Walk to School”. Use a catchy title, a hook, two body ideas, a message and a closing question. Underline the hook and the question. If you can, write up to 120 words.
Practice
1
Which title is more catchy? (a) A Post about Bikes (b) How a Broken Bell Made Me a Mechanic (c) Bikes and Me
(b). It is specific and makes the reader curious.
2
Which sentence is the best hook? (a) This is my blog post. (b) Have you ever fixed something with a needle? (c) I will write about clubs.
(b). A question to the reader is an interesting first sentence.
3
Where does a closing question belong?
In the conclusion, at the end of the post, to invite readers to answer.
4
How many body paragraphs does a blog post usually have?
Two to four paragraphs, each with one idea and a detail.
5
Is “Hi, friends! I have great news!” suitable for a blog post?
Yes. It is informal and friendly, which suits a blog. It would be too informal for a formal email.
