Project Launch Announcement: Essay Writing as a Tool for Thinking and Self-Expression

With the start of the new term,we are pleased to announce the launch of the new school project entitled “Essay Writing as a Tool for Thinking and Self-Expression.”

This project is not only about writing—it is about learning how to think, analyze, and express ideas clearly and meaningfully.

The decision to focus on essay writing was deliberate. In today’s educational context, students are expected not merely to reproduce information, but to reason, argue, reflect, and communicate their thoughts effectively. Essay writing develops exactly these skills. It encourages critical thinking, logical structure, and personal voice—competencies that are increasingly demanded by modern curricula, exams, and real-life communication.

This project also provides a natural and meaningful link between our previous unit, Literature, and the current unit, Mysteries. Literature often explores the mysteries of human nature, love, sacrifice, and values. One text that perfectly bridges these two units is O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, which has been chosen as the Book of the Month.

The story fits seamlessly into the thematic plan. On the surface, it is a simple Christmas story. On a deeper level, it explores the mystery of meaningful giving, the paradox of sacrifice, and the wisdom hidden in seemingly foolish actions. These themes allow students to move smoothly from literary analysis to argumentative and reflective essay writing, especially on questions such as:

Should gifts have a meaning behind them?

What makes a gift truly valuable?

Is love a form of wisdom?

By working with this text, students learn that essays are not written “for marks” only. They are written to explore ideas, question values, and express personal understanding. This approach keeps us firmly within the framework of the thematic plan while responding to new educational demands, where writing is viewed as a tool for thinking rather than a mechanical skill.

Through this project, students will:

learn how to build a thesis

support ideas with literary evidence

develop arguments and counterarguments

and express themselves with confidence and purpose

Essay writing, when taught thoughtfully, empowers students. It gives them a voice—and that is exactly what modern education calls for.

Grade 10/1

Teacher: K. Aleksanyan

7.01.2026