This lesson plan is part of my Honors 320 class, which has as its primary objective helping

students write a 15-20 page essay (classical Montaignian-style, conversational, exploratory,

interdisciplinary essay rather than thesis-driven, argumentative or persuasive essay). The essay should

explore a “great” (universal, perennial, complex, personally connected) question through a number of

varied academic approaches. This lesson provides the introduction to various academic approaches in

writing, and how they can each be used to look at a topic or question in a slightly different way.

The lesson plan follows the ROPPPES model in its structure and content. There are a number of

elements of this lesson that reflect principles we have discussed this semester:

• Students are involved in giving and receiving feedback (through the group discussions on their

topics of interest and possible avenues for research)

• Students are exposed to good writing to give them salient examples and help in their own

writing (through the 3 essays previously assigned that are being discussed)

• Explicit instruction on the conventions of various writing genres (in the presentation and

examination of the various academic approaches)

It is hoped that this lesson would help students understand how to incorporate research from

different academic disciplines in their essays. Though this learning objective is specific to the course, it is

also an important element of learning to write in other contexts, in which students will need to use

various academic approaches to offer support in their writing.

Review and Overview (10 minutes):
discussion of readings
Ask students to share their thoughts on the 3 essays they
were assigned to read prior to class:
1. How did these essays exemplify the principles we
have discussed so far (examining a “great” question;
taking a risk in writing; involving yourself in the essay;
asking questions in the essay process)?
2. What do you think these essays can teach us about
the interdisciplinary approach?
Present: the interdisciplinary
approach (15 minutes)
Practice: examining the approach of
the various readings (25 minutes)
Perform: group discussions of their
topics and possible disciplines (15
minutes)
Evaluation and Summary (10
minutes): report to class on group
discussions
(PowerPoint presentation and handouts): Present the
characteristics and example disciplines of:
1. The empirical approach (STEM disciplines)
2. The behavioral approach (sociology, psychology,
anthropology, etc.)
3. The interpretive approach (humanities, fine arts,
theology, etc.)
Discuss each essay and how it uses one of the above
approaches to look at the topic of fear in meaningful and/or
unexpected ways:
1. Fear Not ( interpretive)
2. Fear Itself (behavioral)
3. The Person that Fear Makes You (empirical)
Divide into groups of 3-4. Have students share the questions
they plan to explore in their essays, and brainstorm possible
disciplines (1 from each approach) that would be salient to
their question. (Teachers and TAs will participate in group
discussions.)
Share insights with the class and clear up misunderstandings
noticed in the discussions. Remind students of the
interdisciplinary approach parameter of their essay
assignment. Make sure everyone has a copy of the handout
with the information about each disciplinary approach.