1. OPINION/ARGUMENT WRITING
Reading Resource Specialists’ Meeting
March 21, 2012

2. SHIFT IN WRITING INSTRUCTION
Common Core State Standards call for a new focus on writing opinions and arguments Instruction should be a balance Informational, Narrative, and Opinion Writing
Higher education encourages independent and advanced thinking.

3. STANDARD ONE PROGRESSION OF SKILLS
State an opinion
State an opinion, supply a reason
State an opinion, supply reasons

4. STANDARD ONE PROGRESSION OF SKILLS
Provide reasons that support the opinion
Provide reasons supported by facts and details
Provide logically ordered reasons supported by facts and details

5. STANDARD ONE PROGRESSION OF SKILLS
-Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence (credible sources)
-Acknowledge opposing claims

6. WHAT’S YOUR OPINION? Children have opinions or certain beliefs.
They must have an understanding that their words/ideas matter and have power.
Teach them that they can support their beliefs or opinions with facts or evidence.
Vaildates and adds more credibility

7. WRITING AN OPINION
An opinion is an idea that a person or group holds to be true.
Can be based on someone’s feelings, what they’ve heard, or what they have been told (REASONS)
Does not necessarily have to be supported by facts or evidence
Can be based on instinct or experience.
Not trying to convinnce

8. Sample taken from Common Core State Standards Appendix C- Sample Writing 2nd grade

9. WRITING AN ARGUMENT
An argument is a claim that is supported with concrete, real-world EVIDENCE (articles, books, reports, statistics etc) related to topic.
Research is required- implies author is knowledgeable of the topic
Writer explains and defends their position or opinion
Writer refutes the opposing position
Reader can agree or disagree
Formal in tone
Opinion is developing form of argument,
Rational appeal
Side or position
Reasons/support but includes evidence/ use of logic and reason

10. Sample taken form CCSS Appendix C - Sample Writing 6th grade

11. EXPRESSING AN OPINION Letters (Persuasive)
Book Reviews, Movie Reviews, Restaurant Reviews
Speeches, and more!!!!
I like this
book!
My favorite
part is…
persuasive writing- you want them to accept your opinion on an issue: you want to change that person's mind to your way of thinking. Provoke action
More passionate, emotional appeal
Letters can be persuasive in nature- asking for a favor/ recognizing a problem and offering possible solution (wnats someone to take action)

12. PERSUASIVE LETTERS
First, expose students to many examples of this form of writing. Mentor Text Modeled Writing Shared Writing

13. MENTOR TEXT “If animals can do it, then so can we!”
. Farm animals decide that they have been mistreated and band together to write letters of protest to the farmer. He, in the end gives in to their request
Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin

14. MENTOR TEXT
dog uses several tactics to persuade his owner to let him come home from obedience school
Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague

15. MENTOR TEXT I Wanna Iguana by Karen Orloff
Alex just has to convince his mom to let him have an iguana, so he puts it in writing.

16. WHAT’S MY PURPOSE? Create a real purpose for writing
Capture causes they can address
Eventually move from personal wants/needs to writing to participate in helping make the world a better place
Have students notice their environment and jot down ideas (view environment as a writer)
Classroom needs more books, need a new bedspread, a pet hamster

17. GENERATING IDEAS What I Notice What I Think
Are there things that happen here that you want to change?
What do I notice in the cafeteria?

18. MAKE IT POWERFUL
Best way to get what you are asking for or get your point across is by providing well thought out reasons
Reasons improve the quality of the writing
Guarantee that people will listen
Please, please, please! (Not Enough)
Talk up your point
Model for students how it works!!!
Give opportunity to turn and talk- asking for a pet ( give a reason or two)

19. Dear Portsmouth Neighborhood Association,
I am a third grader at Clarendon Elementary school and I live in the Portsmouth neighborhood. I am writing to you to tell you about a problem I think our neighborhood should work on together. Every day I walk to school like most of the kids at my school and there are scary dogs that make me worried. Sometimes one of the dogs gets out of the yard and chases some kids. I want people to know that it is not okay for their dogs to get loose. I think the neighborhood association should help this problem by letting people know that they have to keep their dogs in their property.
There are a lot of good reasons to keep dogs in their yards. First, a dog that escapes might run away and then the owner will be sad. Also, a dog that is loose could get hit by a car and get hurt some other way. If the dog is mean then it could attack a kid or someone else’s pet, like a smaller dog or cat. The law says that if your dog attacks somebody then you can get in trouble or have to pay them money. Last, if there are mean dogs running around everywhere then people might think our neighborhood is a vicious wild animal park!
I think you will agree with me about these reasons. If you would like to contact me you can write back at the address on the envelope or you can call my teacher at the school. You can also use this letter in your newsletter so people will see what I’m saying.
3rd grade sample

20. ORGANIZATION First state what you are asking for ( the what)
Second, state the reason or reasons that this is important (the why)
Add details to the reasons
Don’t forget appropriate transitional phrases
Sum it up! Maybe a possible solution

21. MINI STORIES
Children should have experiences with writing small moments
Listing may be a start, eventually move into a story of one particular incident
Create short anecdotes that may touch people (can be embedded into the argument to pack more punch)
Make sure it supports the claim or position
Don’t forget the details

22. REVISING Shift from being a writer to a reader
Picture your audience
Do I start off warm and personal?
What do I want my reader to feel?
Reread their letters to make them better.
Readers ask: Does my partner’s letter make sense or is their something I do not understand?
Writer ask: Did my letter make the reader feel something? If you don’t like what is staring back at you, change it!!!
AIM FOR HONESTY!!!!

23. BOOK REVIEWS
A book review is a description and an evaluation of a book that you have read.
Book reviews inform future readers about books they may be interested in reading.
A book review can influence other readers by telling them a little bit about what the story is about, as well as if is is worth reading or not!
Book reviews DO NOT give away the ending or anything else that may spoil the book for someone else!

24. BEFORE THE BOOK REVIEW Read deeply
Read a tiny bit, pause to get a picture in your mind
What do you notice in the text?
Say or write what you notice
Read closely, try to stand in the character’s shoes

25. WRITING A BOOK REVIEW
Give your book review a catchy title ( may describe your feelings about the book)
Tell the title and author of the book
Write an interesting introduction that will hook the reader
Question, quote from a character

26. WRITING A BOOK REVIEW
Give a brief summary about what happens in the story (plot)
What was the story about?
Who were the main characters?
Did you have a favorite character? Why?
Tell about your favorite part and why (Opinion)
Did you like the book?
What was your favorite part of the book?
Do you have a least favorite part of the book?
If you could change something, what would it be?
Write an exciting ending/Any recommendations

27. Nothing Compares to a True Friend
Do you want to read an amazing story about friendship?  Once you start reading, Amber Brown is Not a Crayon by Paula Danziger, you will not be able to put the book down.  This story is packed with adventure and guaranteed to be enjoyed by readers of all ages.    
This story begins when Amber Brown's best friend, Justin Daniels, tells her he is moving away.  Amber starts to imagine third grade without him and decides she is not going to let him leave.  The two friends work together to come up with ways to make Justin stay.  They are both determined to stay together.     
My favorite part is when Justin and Amber team together and try to discourage a family from buying Justin's house.  They tell all kinds of lies about the house so that the family will not want to live there.  This is my favorite part because I liked how Justin and Amber worked together to try to keep each other close by.    
If this book doesn't make you laugh, nothing will!  It was fun to read about Justin and Amber.  You will be hooked and want to read more books in this series after reading this story. 
Make thoughtful choices with words, it makes your review more powerful

28. TRANSITIONING FROM OPINION TO ARGUMENT
You can turn your opinions into arguments by researching the subject in question.
Look for evidence to support a particular point of view - but also look at any evidence that may contradict your own opinions.
Be aware of the counter-arguments and be willing to keep an open mind about them.
You may also decide to change your opinions in the light of any new evidence.