Thursday, February 23, 2017

How To Justify Your Position

Persuasive Writing in Various Forms

(Please see this document for more information. You must sign into your school email)


Assignment 1 (ALREADY COMPLETED January 2017)


Early in 2017 you wrote and edited a justice-based persuasive letter. You identified an issue of concern and injustice, did research, and wrote a convincing argument to someone closely involved with the issue. This one is done and done!


Assignment 2 (First draft due Monday, February 27)


Your next persuasive piece is a detailed paragraph justifying why a particular color is great. This will not require research, but you will need to do some deep thinking and observation (paragraph length should be at least 200 words). You will need to choose a color and masterfully defend your position that (black, red, silver, blue, orange etc.) is truly wonderful.

First and second drafts required. SEE “YELLOW” SAMPLE PARAGRAPH


Assignment 3 (Due Friday March 3)


You will write a book review based on one of your independently-read books. A book review is not usually considered a “persuasive” piece, but this is a good way to practice making clear statements and supporting them with specific evidence and examples.

You will have guidelines and examples. Option: some student reviews may be posted on the new King Library website.


Assignment 4 (Due March 15)


You will write a full-length persuasive essay (on a topic to be announced) with plenty of guidelines, sentence frames, and examples. You will read two informative articles and quote from them in your essay.


Assignment 5 (written entirely in class -- end of March)


One final full-length essay on the topic of BANNING BOOKS in middle school libraries. (This is the Berkeley district essay assessment)
See you on Monday,

Ms Searle

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Thursday, February 16, 2017

"We write because we have questions, not answers." -Jacqueline Woodson

Begin thinking about what book you will choose to write a review on for the new King Library website.
I will give you plenty of tips and instructions on Tuesday.
Here are some examples: http://bit.ly/2lnslTF

Ms Searle 😜

Beowulf Projects Due February 23

Please remember that your Beowulf projects are due on February 23rd. You will have to turn in your newspaper, poem or picture book, perform your puppet show and turn in your project.
Have a great weekend, Ms Searle 😉