Opinion Writing in Primary: What Qualities Do We Want in Our New President? Jean Wolph, Louisville Writing Project Director Kentucky Writing Project Director Developed for K-1; appropriate for 2-3 with more independence in reading texts or with replacement by texts that are grade-level appropriate. Adaptable to MS/HS; Grades 5-9 texts are posted with this mini-unit.

Mini-Unit Overview Writing Reading Argument MINI-UNIT Emphasis # of Lessons ARGUMENT SKILLS PRODUCT ELEMENTS OF ARGUMENT CLOSE READING STRATEGIES RESPONSE TO READINGS TOPICS Draft, Feedback, Revise, Reflect Close reading strategies Writing & talking to develop knowledge on topic or issue Researching to Make an Argument of Value 6 Lessons Entering Skills: Sharing ideas in a small group discussion Completing cloze sentence frames. Foundational Skills: Exploring evidence to develop criteria for making a judgment and apply it to a new situation Introduce the topic, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure. Product: Paragraph or Poster Researching to make an informed opinion Studying texts to form an opinion Making inferences from facts and applying them to a new situation Scaffolded claim writing: We should elect a president like ____ because _____. What Qualities Do We Want in Our New President? 4 shared Readings (teacher may add others)

Standards Emphasized in the Mini-Unit READING STANDARDS FOR INFORMATIONAL TEXT 8. Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text. WRITING STANDARDS 1. Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.

Mini-Unit Instructional Sequence Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Introduce research question (inquiry) Gather our knowledge about 4 selected presidents on a class chart Study text 1, excerpted material from text on George Washington. Focus on the qualities or characteristics of the man, based on his actions. Class charting of qualities Study text 2, excerpted material from text on Abraham Lincoln. Focus on the qualities or characteristics of the man, based on his actions. Study text 3, excerpted material from text on George Washington. Focus on the qualities or characteristics of the man, based on his actions. Study text 4, excerpted material from text on Barak Obama. Focus on the qualities or characteristics of the man, based on his actions. Claim writing Four Corners Debate Drafting of letter or poster to share opinions about the qualities we need in our next president

What Qualities Do We Want in Our New President? What are qualities? Insert photo of Francine’s inside/outside silhouettes.

Examples of Qualities Honest, Truthful Dishonest, Untruthful GOOD BAD Honest, Truthful Dishonest, Untruthful Smart, Intelligent, Wise, Thoughtful Stupid, Foolish, Thoughtless Brave, Courageous, Fearless, Bold Scared, Timid, Afraid, Fearful Likeable, Popular Unlikeable, Unpopular Respected, Trusted Disrespected, Untrustworthy Persuasive, Convincing Unbelievable, Unconvincing Confident Fearful Clear, Understandable  Unclear, Confusing Kind, Caring Uncaring, Mean Humble Proud, Boastful Peaceful Warlike Helper Destroyer Inspiring Dull Risk-Taker Timid Passionate, Dedicated, Determined Wishy-washy, Unfocused

What do we think we know about these presidents? Let’s list our ideas on a class chart. Washington Lincoln Kennedy Obama Students may or may not know facts about these 4 presidents, but it’s always important to be able to dispel misconceptions when we are tapping background knowledge. Keep this chart up in the room. As readings are discussed, go back to this chart to confirm or disconfirm this information. Capturing our thinking

Reading and Researching Confirm: prove Research will help us confirm what we think we know and ADD to our knowledge.

Research Resources In this PowerPoint you will find slides that could be read/explained by a teacher. Alternate strategy: Use simple texts such as Scholastic’s Very First Biographies (Pre-K/K), either instead of or along with these slides.

Inquiry Question: What qualities did George Washington have that made him a good president?

Biography President George Washington What is George Washington most known for?  General George Washington was one of our most popular presidents. He defeated the British in the American Revolution. He was the first President of the United States. He helped shape the role of the president. Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences.   Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/georgewashington.php

Brave Likeable Smart What did these ACTIONS show about George Washington? Brave  He defeated the British in the American Revolution. He was the first President of the United States. He helped shape the role of the president. Likeable Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences. Sample qualities are provided on this slide. Later slides will just have “?” for students to discuss and fill in. Smart   Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/georgewashington.php

Inquiry Question: What qualities did Abraham Lincoln have that made him a good president?

Biography What is Abraham Lincoln most known for? President Abraham Lincoln What is Abraham Lincoln most known for?   Abraham Lincoln led the U.S. during the Civil War. He kept the North and South together. He freed the slaves. He set up a national banking system. He started the Department of Agriculture. He came from poverty. He loved books and learning. Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences.   Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/abrahamlincoln.php

? ? ? ? ? ? What did these ACTIONS show about Abraham Lincoln? He kept the North and South together. He freed the slaves. He set up a national banking system. He started the Department of Agriculture. He came from poverty. He loved books and learning. ? ? ? ? Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences. They can use the anchor chart of qualities to get ideas. ? ?

Inquiry Question: What qualities did John F Inquiry Question: What qualities did John F. Kennedy have that made him a good president?

Biography What is John F. Kennedy most known for? President John F. Kennedy What is John F. Kennedy most known for?   He was a war hero. He said, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." He kept the U.S. and the Soviet Union from nuclear war. He started the Peace Corp. Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences.   Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/johnfkennedy.php

? ? ? ? What did these ACTIONS show about President John F. Kennedy?   He was a war hero. He said, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." He kept the U.S. and the Soviet Union from nuclear war. He started the Peace Corp. ? ? ? ? Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences.   Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/johnfkennedy.php

Inquiry Question: What qualities does Barack Obama have that makes him a good president?

Biography Barack Obama What is Barack Obama most known for?  He is our first African American President.  He ended the Iraq War. He had Osama bin Laden killed. He got the economy moving. Unemployment dropped to 5% in December 2015. Obama gave poor people health insurance (ObamaCare). Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences.   Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/barakobama.php

? ? ? ? What did these ACTIONS show About Barack Obama? He is our first African American President.  He ended the Iraq War. He had Osama bin Laden killed. Obama got the economy moving. Unemployment dropped to 5% in December 2015. Obama gave poor people health insurance (ObamaCare). ? ? ? ? Read the slide with the class, then give them copies of this slide to partner-read before discussing and making inferences.   Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/barakobama.php

Let’s Review and Compare! In your group, fill out the “inside” of your president’s silhouette. Use words that show what he was like—what could you say about his “inside” based on the kinds of things he did, said, or believed? Get ready to share with the class. Developed for K-1; appropriate for 2-3 with more independence in reading texts or with replacement by texts that are grade-level appropriate. Adaptable to MS/HS; Grades 5-9 texts are posted with this mini-unit.

Let’s Walk the Room. Re-Read Each Chart. Washington Lincoln Kennedy Obama Put a star on the chart that shows the most qualities you want in a new president. Give students “star” stickers.

Which President’s Qualities Do We Want in Our Next President? Time to Make a Claim! Which President’s Qualities Do We Want in Our Next President? We should elect a president who is like ___________ because ____________. This is your CLAIM. It’s your opinion, which you will back by EVIDENCE.

Four Corners Debate Time! Which President’s Qualities Do We Want in Our Next President? Gather your evidence. Go to the area of the room assigned to the president you think had the qualities we need in our next president. Talk as a group. What is your best point? In other words, why are these qualities ones that a good president should have? Pick one student to talk for the group. Each group will share. Listen carefully. If you change your mind about which president had the best qualities, move to that corner. Talk again. What is another good point—another quality a good president should have? Repeat the sharing process. Move if you now change your mind. Repeat for one last quality. Post signs in each corner: Washington, Lincoln, Kennedy, Obama

Writing Time Options We need another president like _____. Write a letter to the editor explaining your ideas about the qualities needed in our next president. Ask adults to vote for a candidate who has these qualities. OR make a poster reminding adults to make a good decision when they vote for the next president. Explain the qualities they should look for. OPTIONAL. The text for the poster can be the claim that the student wrote. If several students have the same claim, they might work together on a single poster.

Working on Conclusions Writers give readers a signal that the piece of writing is ending. Here are examples: What you want readers to think or do goes in the blank: It is important to remember that ____________. In conclusion, ___________________________. Therefore, ______________________________. All in all, we can see that ______________. For this reason, __________________________. Unless you want ___________, you should _________. Think about what you want your readers to do or believe. Now try an ending sentence. Characteristics of Effective Concluding Sentences from http://study.com/academy/lesson/concluding-sentence-definition-examples-starters.html It is important for your students to know how to write effective concluding sentences in order to drive home the final point. Some characteristics of concluding sentences include: Review main points mentioned in a paragraph Restate the topic sentence Are found at the end of a paragraph Do not introduce new ideas or topic The concluding sentence in an argument paragraph will summarize the argument being made. It may re-affirm why the argument is correct and the consequences that may occur if the argument is not heeded.

References Image of George Washington provided under Creative Commons license by https://strateupinformation.wikispaces.com/Grammar+-+Writing Image of Abraham Lincoln provided under Creative Commons license by http://www.yalosabes.com/frases-celebres-de-abraham-lincoln.html Image of John F. Kennedy provided under Creative Commons license by https://www.flickr.com/photos/13476480@N07/10755556423/ Image of Barack Obama provided under Creative Commons license by http://miter37.tistory.com/83