If you could take the seventh grade class on a field trip to ANYWHERE, where would you take them? A persuasive essay

Writing Situation The seventh grade class worked hard this year to fundraise money for its class trip. Your principal has just shared with the student body that he is leaving the option of where to go up to the students. The principal is taking recommendations from all students. Writing Task You and your partner will select a place you would like to take the seventh grade class on a field trip.

What is the Purpose of this Project? Students will be able to utilize and apply special features in Microsoft PowerPoint and demonstrate such in their presentation to the class. Students will be able to work cooperatively with partner sharing ideas and assisting their partner in the writing process and organization of ideas in the PowerPoint presentation. Students will be able to present their writing and research in an oral presentation, persuading their peers of the best location to visit for the seventh grade field trip. Students will be able to work in a timely manner and initiate independent thinking, writing and research skills.

Common Core Standards SL.7.1 Students will be able to engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions with their partners. SL.7.2 Students will be able to come to discussions prepared, having read or researched material on their topic and utilize that information as evidence for their presentation. SL.7.4 & 5 Students will be able to utilize Microsoft PowerPoint as a multimedia presentation tool as they present their research and evidence to the class in an organized format. RI.7.1 Students will be able to cite several pieces of textual evidence to support analysis and draw inferences from their independent research. W.7.1.a-e Students will be able to write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. W.7.4. Students will be able to produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. W.7.6 Students will be able to use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources. W.7. 7 & 8 Students will be able to conduct this research project to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused reasons to support their response.

ASSIGNMENT STEP 1: If you are able to, obtain and bring to class a flash drive if you want to work on the PowerPoint at home. If not, you can the PowerPoint to yourself and open the document at home. STEP 2: Working with your partner, you will first choose a place you would like to take the seventh grade class. You will both complete research on the location independently. You MUST print out all of your information. All research will be printed and saved in a folder and kept in class

Assignment STEP 3 : Begin to develop your STRONG REASONS together. Each student will complete ONE PARAGRAPH EACH If one student writes every paragraph the partner will be given a failing grade. VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!!! (PARAGRAPH = 7-9 SENTENCES) Keep in mind Aristotle’s concept of persuasive techniques – logical, emotional and moral Each paragraph should include ONE reason and three supporting details: REASON Supporting detail 1 Supporting detail 2 Supporting detail Your paragraph should have ONE reason and THREE supporting details to prove your reason is true

ASSIGNMENT STEP 4: APPROVAL: Mrs. Stauss MUST approve your reasons. STEP 5 : Begin developing a PowerPoint at school. You may the PowerPoint to yourself to continue working on it at home if you would like or you can copy the PowerPoint on to a flash drive. Time will be given to complete your Powerpoint in class, however, you MUST complete the assignment in three days. No extra time will be given. You MUST have a minimum of 6 slides Slide 1 = Title slide with partner names Slide 2 = Tell us what location you have chosen and why you and your partner would like to bring the seventh grade class to this place. This will be your thesis statement. Slide 3 = Reason 1 – Partner 1 paragraph Slide 4 = Pictures OR hyperlink (to a website) Slide 5 = Reason 2 – Partner 2 paragraph Slide 6 = Pictures OR hyperlink (to a website)

STEP 6: the PowerPoint to Mrs. Stauss. In the subject box you must put your period number and both partners’ names FOR EXAMPLE: PERIOD 1 Tommy Hickey & Ann Jobinsky ASSIGNMENT

W HAT DO YOU INCLUDE IN YOUR P OWER P OINT S LIDES ? Figurative Language/ Descriptive Writing Similes – a comparison of two unlike things using the words “like” or “as”. Metaphors – a comparison of two unlike things WITHOUT using the words “like” or “as”. Personification – giving life to an inanimate (lifeless or dead) object. Imagery – paint a picture with your words Allusions A reference to something outside of the text: An historical figure Time period in history Movie Book Film Specific quote STRONG VOCABULARY Use dictionary.com or webster.com

BONUS POINTS PICTURES! Click “INSERT” Click “CLIP ART,” or you can save the picture and open it under “PICTURE”. COLOR The brighter the better! Just be sure your audience can see the slides from the back of the room. COLOR! VIDEOS You may include the URL address to a Youtube video as well.

SAMPLE SLIDE (you do not have to include arrows in your body paragraphs) Contrary to the well-accepted belief, year-round schooling has no constructive impact on education. (1) (2) (3) why is the change necessary? Contrary to the well-accepted belief, year-round schooling has no constructive impact on education. (1) Most year-round schedules use the method: 45 days of school followed by 15 days off. Because of this, there are many first and last days of school. All those transitions disrupt the learning process. Also, (2) there is no evidence of higher test scores. Due to that, many schools that change to year-round schedules end up switching back. For example, (3) since 1980, 95 percent of schools that tried the year-round schedule changed back to a traditional calendar. It is obvious that changing to year-round schooling does not help students; therefore, why is the change necessary? Reason 1 Supporting Detail 2 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 3 Get the reader thinking with a thought-provoking question.

CLARIFICATION You do not need to include the arrows like I did in the previous slide, however you MUST add pictures to enhance the visual presentation of each slide. REMEMBER: pictures must pertain to the topic you are writing about.

You may insert pictures from the CLIP ART You may also look up pictures through Google. Click on “IMAGES” once you do a Google search. Click on “FULL SIZE IMAGE” and copy the picture. If you take a picture from the internet you MUST cite the URL address in a textbox beneath the picture. Center the URL address; bold and italicize it. PICTURES

EXAMPLE: /images/p great_pumpkin_blaze.jpg URL address

Videos and Hyperlinks See handouts to assist you. Very important! These are step by step guides.

ANIMATION Click on ANIMATION on the top tool bar Click on “CUSTOM ANIMATION” and then you may add special effects to each text box. I will help you if needed, however, you must try first on your own.

PREPARE FOR YOUR PRESENTATION Be sure you and your partner prepare for your presentation and each of you know who will be presenting each slide. Be sure to demonstrate confidence and strength in your voice. Practice making eye contact, smiling and moving slowly around the front of the classroom, rather than standing against the white board. You and your partner are encouraged to come after school and practice with each other in our classroom.

SLIDE 1 THIS SHOULD BE YOUR TITLE SLIDE. You should have both partners names, period, date and field trip location. SAMPLE: Elion and Jack Period 7 November ___, 2012 Statue of Liberty

SLIDE 2 Tell us what location you have chosen and why you and your partner would like to bring the seventh grade class to this place. This will be your thesis statement.

SLIDE 3 Partner 1 should type his/her written paragraph into this slide. You may add pictures and animation to enhance this slide. Partner Name: ____________ Your paragraph should have ONE reason and THREE supporting details to prove your reason is true

SLIDE 4 This slide should have pictures of where you would like to take the seventh grade class on a field trip. Your pictures should be large enough for all of the students to see. OR You CAN also include a hyperlink to a particular website. The website could be a video or it could be a virtual tour of the place you want to take the seventh grade class. You must have at least one hyperlink in your ENTIRE PowerPoint. Follow directions on the handout labeled “HOW TO INSERT A HYPERLINK.”

SLIDE 5 Partner 2 should type his/her written paragraph into this slide. You may add pictures and animation to enhance this slide. Partner Name: ____________ Your paragraph should have ONE reason and THREE supporting details to prove your reason is true

SLIDE 6 This slide should have pictures of where you would like to take the seventh grade class on a field trip. Your pictures should be large enough for all of the students to see. OR You CAN also include a hyperlink to a particular website. The website could be a video or it could be a virtual tour of the place you want to take the seventh grade class. You must have at least one hyperlink in your ENTIRE PowerPoint. Follow directions on the handout labeled “HOW TO INSERT A HYPERLINK.”

This is a sample PowerPoint