December 18, 2013 Presented by: Ms. S. Hines ELA-7 All Periods

When writing an Opinion/Argumentative Piece, I must be able to:  Introduce a claim, acknowledge alternate claims and organize the reasons and evidence logically. (7.W.1.a)  Support claims with logical reasoning an relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text. (7.W.1.b)  Establish and maintain a formal style of writing. (7.W.1.d)  Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented. (7.W.1.e)  Develop and strengthen my writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting or trying a new approach. (7.W.5)  This step may require so help from my peers and Ms. Hines/Mrs. Miller  Use technology, Google Drive, to produce and publish my writing. (7.W.6)

In today’s lesson, we will learn:  How to write (create) the first draft of our opinion piece.  How to vary the length and types of sentences to make our writing more interesting.

Essential Question How can Opinion/ Argumentative writing be used to influence people?

What is an Opinion/Argumentative Essay? In an opinion/argumentative essay, you state your opinion/argument about an issue and try to persuade others to agree with you. Introduction Supporting Reasons Conclusion Introduce the topic in an interesting way. Clearly state your argument about it, as well as any opposing arguments or claims. Support your argument with at least three clear reasons and relevant evidence. Use facts and details from credible sources as well as your own experience. Restate your argument, and sum up the reasons that support it.

Step #3: Draft During the drafting stage, you will: – Write the first draft of your opinion piece. – Get your notes and ideas down in an organized way. – Try out different ways to present your argument effectively. – NOT worry about making revisions. – Draft your opinion/argumentative piece on a sheet of paper and/or on Google Drive.

Step #3: Draft Before we begin, let’s complete a short mini lesson on “Using Sentence Variations”. The purpose of this mini lesson is to help you vary the length and types of your sentences. Varying the length and types of your sentences, helps you to make your writing more interesting and it improves the flow of your writing.

Step #3: Draft Try to include the following: – Questions – Exclamations – Statements – Simple sentences – Compound sentences – Complex sentences

Step #3: Draft Let’s take a look at the difference between a simple, compound, and complex sentences. Sentence Types Simple We walked past the art room, turned right, and went upstairs. Compound Soccer practice is today, but I will not be able to attend. Complex Although the test was hard, most students did very well.

Step #3: Draft The writer of the mentor text uses a variety of sentence types, lengths, and structures in the first paragraph. Sentence Variations Your family might have a penny jar at home, but you probably don’t have a nickel jar or a dime jar. Why do we toss pennies in jars? Perhaps we do this because they are such a nuisance to carry around! Some people worry about price increases if pennies are not used. However, I think that the United States should stop producing and using pennies. These coins are almost worthless, waste our time, and actually cost more money to produce than they are worth.

Step #3: Draft The writer of the mentor text uses a variety of sentence types, lengths, and structures in the first paragraph. Sentence Variations Your family might have a penny jar at home, but you probably don’t have a nickel jar or a dime jar. Why do we toss pennies in jars? Perhaps we do this because they are such a nuisance to carry around! Some people worry about price increases if pennies are not used. However, I think that the United States should stop producing and using pennies. These coins are almost worthless, waste our time, and actually cost more money to produce than they are worth.

Step #3: Draft As you begin to draft your opinion/argumentative piece, remember to use words, phrases, and clauses that show clear relationships among ideas in your piece. Use the drafting checklist to help you as you write.

 Get your reader’s attention in the introduction by beginning with:  A Question (?)  A Quotation (“ “)  A Funny experience ( )  State your claim or argument in the first paragraph.  Begin each supporting paragraph with a topic sentence that clearly states a reason that supports the argument.  Use the reasons and support you chose during Step #2: Organize.  In each supporting paragraph, include details, facts, examples, or experiences.  You could also use quotations that relate to your claim.  Ex. According to ____________ (someone that knows about your topic)  When you can, introduce an opposing claim, but always be sure to have a counterclaim prepared that answers any opposing claims you include.  In the conclusion, restate your claim, and summarize your argument and supporting reasons. When drafting an Opinion/Argumentative Essay remember to:

 Discuss your topic-and your opinion about it- with someone else.  Others sometime help in offering new reasons that support your claim.  Do not stop to check your spelling or worry about punctuation or grammar.  You will have time for that when you revise and edit.  Write each supporting paragraph on an index card first.  This makes it easier to move paragraphs around to determine the BEST order for supporting ideas. Tips for Writing Your First Draft

Step #3: Draft Let ’s Draft Your Opinion Piece 1.Grab 3 index cards from the supply table. 2.Write each supporting paragraph (reasons) on a separate index card. 3.Decide the order in which your paragraphs should go. Once you decide, number each paragraph 1, 2, or 3. 4.Create a new document inside of your ELA Turn it in folder (Google Drive). 5.Title the document: “Opinion/Argumentative Essay” 6.Type and save your work. 7.Place your class notes handout in the “Class Notes” section of your binder. 8.Complete assigned Skills Tutor lessons. If you have any questions, please see your On- Task manager or have a seat at the Genius Bar (small group). Name:ELA 7-___ _________________________ Supporting Paragraph #1 Write your supporting paragraph.

In today’s lesson, we learned:  How to write (create) the first draft of our opinion piece.  How to vary the length and types of sentences to make our writing more interesting.