N.B - This idea requires the use of one computer throughout the lesson and access to an email account.
An activity that can be happening throughout the lesson whilst students are working on other things. If you have access to a computer in your classroom, start by typing an essay title based on the topic being studied at the top of a word document. Ask for a student to volunteer to begin the essay. Each student must add no more than 2 or 3 sentences to the essay. The student must type up their addition and save before ‘passing the baton’ to one of their class mates. The next student must then continue by adding their 2 or 3 sentences. This can continue throughout the lesson until every student has contributed. You should then create a class mailing list and email the finished essay to every student. Their homework is to mark the essay using a mark scheme provided by you and bring it back to the next class. A whole class discussion should then take place about how the essay should be corrected to make it better. A volunteer can change the essay on the computer as the discussion unfolds. When all of the group are satisfied with the essay, it can be emailed out again so that each student has a copy for their notes.