Lesson Plan
Verb Power-Up Strategy
Students will identify and utilize strong action verbs to enhance their resume descriptions, making their applications stand out.
Mastering impactful language is crucial for creating professional resumes that dynamically showcase achievements, increasing their effectiveness in job applications.
Audience
12th Grade Student
Time
30 minutes
Approach
Direct instruction, guided practice, and independent application.
Materials
Whiteboard or Projector, Unleash Your Action Verbs Slide Deck, and Dynamic Verbs Decoder Worksheet
Prep
Review Materials
10 minutes
- Review the Unleash Your Action Verbs Slide Deck to familiarize yourself with the content and flow.
* Print copies of the Dynamic Verbs Decoder Worksheet for each student.
* Ensure projector/whiteboard is ready for the slide deck presentation.
* Review the generated materials as needed.
Step 1
Introduction & Hook
5 minutes
- Begin by asking students: "What's the difference between a good resume and a great resume?" Allow for brief discussion.
* Introduce the concept of action verbs and their importance in making a resume dynamic. Briefly explain that today's lesson will equip them with an "Action Verb Arsenal" to power up their resumes.
Step 2
Action Verb Power-Up
10 minutes
- Present the Unleash Your Action Verbs Slide Deck.
* Go through slides explaining what action verbs are, why they're important, and provide examples of strong vs. weak verbs.
* Encourage students to share any action verbs they've seen or used before.
Step 3
Dynamic Verbs Decoder Activity
10 minutes
- Distribute the Dynamic Verbs Decoder Worksheet.
* Explain the instructions: Students will practice replacing weak verbs with stronger action verbs in various resume-style sentences.
* Circulate around the room, providing individual support and feedback as students work.
Step 4
Share & Reflect
5 minutes
- Bring the class back together.
* Ask a few students to share some of their
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Slide Deck
Welcome to Your Action Verb Arsenal!
What makes a resume great instead of just good?
Welcome students and introduce the topic of resume writing and the importance of strong language. Engage them with a question about making a resume stand out.
Power Up Your Resume!
What are Action Verbs?
- Strong, specific verbs that describe your skills and experiences.
- They show what you did and what you achieved.
- Make your resume descriptions dynamic and impressive!
Explain what action verbs are and how they differentiate from passive language. Emphasize that these verbs highlight what the student did and achieved.
Weak vs. STRONG Verbs
Ditch the Dull, Embrace the Dynamic!
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Weak: "Responsible for customers"
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Strong: "Assisted customers with product inquiries"
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Weak: "Worked on projects"
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Strong: "Collaborated on team projects, leading to X result"
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Weak: "Helped with things"
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Strong: "Facilitated daily operations, improving efficiency by 15%"
Provide clear examples of weak vs. strong verbs. Encourage students to think about how the stronger verbs create a more vivid and impactful picture.
Your Action Verb Categories
Think About Your Skills!
- Communication: Articulated, Presented, Collaborated
- Leadership: Managed, Guided, Coordinated
- Problem-Solving: Analyzed, Resolved, Innovated
- Technical: Developed, Programmed, Operated
- Achievement-Oriented: Achieved, Exceeded, Generated
Introduce categories of action verbs to help students brainstorm. Give a few examples for each category.
Time to Practice!
Unleash Your Inner Word Wizard!
- We're going to practice transforming weak statements into powerful, action-packed resume descriptions.
- Get ready to use your new Action Verb Arsenal!
Explain the activity and transition to the worksheet. Emphasize that practice will make them masters of action verbs.
Worksheet
Dynamic Verbs Decoder: Powering Up Your Resume
Instructions: For each sentence below, identify the weak or generic verb. Then, rewrite the sentence using a stronger, more descriptive action verb from your "Action Verb Arsenal" to make the statement more impactful. Remember to focus on what you did and achieved!
-
I was responsible for helping customers find products.
Rewrite:
-
My job was to make sure the store looked clean.
Rewrite:
-
I worked on a group project to present on local history.
Rewrite:
-
I did clerical tasks like answering phones and filing papers.
Rewrite:
-
I was a part of the school newspaper, writing articles.
Rewrite:
-
I helped out at the community center after school.
Rewrite:
-
I had to do a lot of research for my science fair project.
Rewrite:
-
I managed the social media for the student council and posted updates.
Rewrite:
Challenge Question:
Think about a past experience (volunteer work, a school project, a club, a job). Write one bullet point describing your role or achievement using at least two strong action verbs.
Answer Key
Dynamic Verbs Decoder: Answer Key
Instructions: Review the suggested stronger action verbs below. Remember that many verbs could work, but the goal is to be more specific and impactful than the original.
-
I was responsible for helping customers find products.
- Suggested Rewrite: I assisted customers in locating desired products and provided information.
-
My job was to make sure the store looked clean.
- Suggested Rewrite: I maintained store cleanliness and organization, enhancing the customer experience.
-
I worked on a group project to present on local history.
- Suggested Rewrite: I collaborated on a group project, researching and presenting local history findings.
-
I did clerical tasks like answering phones and filing papers.
- Suggested Rewrite: I performed clerical tasks, managing phone calls and organizing documents.
-
I was a part of the school newspaper, writing articles.
- Suggested Rewrite: I contributed to the school newspaper, authoring and editing articles.
-
I helped out at the community center after school.
- Suggested Rewrite: I volunteered at the community center, supporting various after-school programs.
-
I had to do a lot of research for my science fair project.
- Suggested Rewrite: I conducted extensive research for my science fair project, analyzing data and formulating conclusions.
-
I managed the social media for the student council and posted updates.
- Suggested Rewrite: I oversaw student council social media, crafting engaging content and publishing timely updates.
Challenge Question:
Think about a past experience (volunteer work, a school project, a club, a job). Write one bullet point describing your role or achievement using at least two strong action verbs.
- (Answers will vary, but should demonstrate the use of at least two strong action verbs.)
- Example: "Organized and executed a school fundraiser, exceeding our goal by 20%."