Mid November - January
This unit introduces the students to the idea of making a "claim" and supporting their idea with specific reasons and evidence. Whether it's, "My mom is the best mom in the world" or "Students should be required to wear school uniforms," students have the challenge of supporting their idea with evidence that would convince their audience of their idea or opinion.
Throughout this unit, students learn skills such as planning with "boxes and bullets" (reasons with evidence), incorporating transition words to make one idea flow smoothly to the next, and adding in little vignettes (micro-stories) that help to bring their writing to life by the inclusion of these narrative "mini stories."
Students routinely do a remarkable job of supporting their claims with evidence and examples in a way that makes their readers want to "buy in" to what they're saying!