Essay writing clubs give writers the opportunity to conference with peers and engage in activities designed to develop their writing skills. These clubs are highly useful to budding writers, who are just starting to develop their craft, as well as established writers, who can benefit from communication with their colleagues within the field. Through essay writing clubs, writers can engage in helpful activities that allow them to practice the skills necessary to write effectively.
Seashell Description
Writers can practice their descriptive essay skills through the composition of a seashell description essay. To prepare for this activity, gather a collection of seashells. Collect enough so that each member of the club can have two seashells. When the writers arrive, give them each two similar looking shells. Ask them to inspect their shells, looking carefully at the similarities and differences between them. Ask each writer to compose two descriptive paragraphs, one about each shell. Tell the writers not to directly compare the two shells, but instead to describe each as a separate entity.
Once the writers have finished their paragraphs, allow them to read them to the club members and show the members the two shells. Ask the club members to determine which description goes with each shell, relying upon the writer's attention to detail and careful use of adjectives to make the match.
New News
Provide writers with the opportunity to practice their news-writing skills through the staging of a newsworthy event. Start out the club meeting by reading some newspaper stories that contain descriptions of crime perpetrators. Arrange for a volunteer to interrupt your meeting, near the end of your reading session. Ask the volunteer to enter the meeting--wearing distinctive attire--and do something unexpected, like steal a pencil or a desk lamp.
After the volunteer has done his part, ask the stunned writers to describe what happened. Allow them to use their knowledge of the ways in which perpetrators were described in the news stories to craft their essays. Encourage them to be as descriptive as possible, and to incorporate creative measures by making up quotes from other club members or imagining what they may learn about the background of the perpetrator if he were caught.
At the Mall
Send your essay writing club member home with some homework. Ask the club members to visit the area mall before the next meeting and hunt for writing inspiration. Encourage them to sit around in the food court, stroll through the walkways or hang out in the playground, keeping their eyes and ears open for inspiration. Allow them freedom in crafting their mall-inspired piece. Tell them that they can write a story about someone that they encounter, an advertisement for a mall store, a plan for mall improvements or anything else that comes to mind while immersing themselves in the sights and sounds of the mall.
When members arrive at the club meeting the following week, allow them to share their compositions, looking for similarities and noticing the differences in how each individual writer interpreted their surroundings.
