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Abstract: The author proposes to use the technology of «educational workshop» for preparing students to write essays. In addition to the scenario of workshop the article offers some materials for the lesson (aphorisms about reading and books, excerpts from scientific work) and a methodical commentary on each stage of the workshop. The author focuses on a «break» (a moment of surprise or even shock as a result of meeting with novelty) as an organizing principle of the workshop. The article also offers different variations of «socialization» phase of the lesson. The reflection stage is conceived here as assessing of the adequacy of the theme sessions to its real content. Workshop encourages students to close reading of the local text (aphorism), stimulate them to formulate their own questions, to complete another's text, to choose text fragments that «we should think about», to create their own statement, to realize the importance of personal choice of the book. Finally the author analyzes the impact of the workshop on preparing for essay, paying special attention to the development of skills of critical reading and writing and to personal learning outcomes (in particular to understanding the role of the book in human life).