This week we will...
Continue using Achieve 3000 by reading about fairness.
Recognize and explain the elements of a persuasive text by reading examples writing my own, and grading mentor texts using the persuasive rubric.
Learn about subordinating conjunctions by constructing sentences with subordinating conjunctions in the Everyday Editing lessons.
Work in groups to read the script of A Christmas Carol.
Academic Vocabulary:
argument, poverty, greenhouse, curfew, vandalism, role, audience, format, topic
Continue using Achieve 3000 by reading about fairness.
Recognize and explain the elements of a persuasive text by reading examples writing my own, and grading mentor texts using the persuasive rubric.
Learn about subordinating conjunctions by constructing sentences with subordinating conjunctions in the Everyday Editing lessons.
Work in groups to read the script of A Christmas Carol.
Academic Vocabulary:
argument, poverty, greenhouse, curfew, vandalism, role, audience, format, topic
What is raft writing?
Examples of Persuasive letters
Letter 1
To Whom it May Concern:
I have learned that the county is considering a plan to build a middle school to accommodate seventh graders only. I am opposed to the idea for two reasons.
First, it is not cost effective. If the county is going to invest $350,000 for school facilities, it might as well invest another $50,000 and include facilities for eighth grade students too. Acquiring the land and building the school account for most of the cost. By spending only $50,000 more we could have ten additional classrooms. The county will probably spend that much to maintain the run-down facility that eighth graders currently occupy.
My second reason for opposing the plan is that it would be emotionally difficult for the students to be isolated. Students at that age want to feel as though they are entering a higher level of education with older peers. It would be a letdown for them to be alone for a year before experiencing junior high school.
Please consider these concerns and present them to the school board. I appreciate the service you give to our schools.
Sincerely,
David Smith
Letter 2
Poverty Is Everyone’s Problem by Natalie, Shelburne, Vt.
Dear Mr. President,
I believe, as many others do, that we have let all of this go way too far. We need to go to desperate measures to help the numerous humans who are suffering from poverty. We should not only help the people living in the U.S., but also people all over the world. This is a very serious matter involving millions of people’s lives that are currently at risk.
I know that no one deserves to live in the horrible conditions in which hundreds of millions of innocent humans are forced to live. Extreme poverty is no way to live your life, and those people need our help to make it right. The government's need to better fund programs and shelters that help with this rather large problem. We need to publicize this, and make it known so more people are educated about it. Then they will be more likely to help with it. Things aren’t going to be made better on their own, so we have to be proactive and take action. Some people might say that it’s not our problem, so they aren’t going to do anything about it. Well, we have to make it our problem. Our duty is to help the less privileged people of our Earth.
In some places, poverty is improving slowly with help. But in others, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty is worsening. In that region, the poverty level rose from 41 percent in 1981 to 46 percent in 2001. There are also more places in the same situation, like the Caribbean, which is closer to the USA. Once we get our own poverty under control I think we should help the Caribbean with their poverty, because they are in need of outside assistance. Also, this would set an example for other countries with the ability to help areas in need.
In the end we need to take charge and control of this difficult situation. Together we can fix this monster of an issue, but only together. This problem may take a while to fix, but with patience and persistence I believe we can.
Sincerely,
Natalie
Letter 3
I’d Rather Not Be Charbroiled, Thanks! by Lauren P., Bellingham, Wash.
Dear Mr. President,
Every time someone drives their car, burns coal or oil, leaves their lights on, idles their car for more than 30 seconds, they are slowly helping to char the earth and all life on it. The latest EPA greenhouse gas inventory shows that, in 2005, the U.S. emitted over 7.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases. That was also the warmest year on record, according to NASA and NOAA data, since 1850. Coincidence? I think not. Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting, animals and plants are becoming endangered, weather is becoming more intense, ice is freezing later and thawing earlier; and here you are, in the middle: the president of the United States of America — which is currently digging itself into a pretty big hole, with seemingly no way out. But I’ve got a ladder for you: renewable alternative green energy. So grab hold and climb up. …
Sincerely,
Lauren Pilgrim
Letter 4
To Whom it May Concern:
It's just before the holidays, and the Springfield Food Bank is almost out of food! We're asking the principals in all the city schools to sponsor a food drive so that the less fortunate in the community can also have a happy holiday season.
I know you are concerned about teaching students to be good citizens as well as good learners. What better way to teach citizenship than to invite them to participate in caring for the needs of all members of our community?
Though some people feel that the Food Bank encourages undesirable elements in the community, Jane Doe, Executive Director of the Food Bank, notes that the majority of their clients are families who are struggling to support themselves on low-paying jobs.
Won't you please join with your colleagues on December 1 at 10:00 a.m. in City Hall to plan a food drive? Each principal in attendance will receive a packet of information outlining the successful elements of a food drive and describing effective incentives. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
John Maxwell
Letter 5
Dear Editor,
I read your editorial published on October 13th. As an eleven-year-old skateboarder, I want to say I think the mayor is wrong. Kids should be allowed to skateboard in Rutherford Park. Just because one girl did not follow the rules, why should the rest of us be punished?
I have been a skateboarder since I was eight years old. I do most of my skateboarding at the park or at the Southerland School. I skateboard with my friends and we all wear helmets. Our parents do not have to remind us to put our helmets on. We have been skateboarding for three years and have not had an accident. If we did collide, we are not only wearing helmets, but also knee and shoulder pads. We do everything right to make sure that we and others are safe.
Just because some wild kids did not follow the rules, does not mean that all of us should not be allowed to skateboard. There is not a lot to do in Tullyville. Skateboarding keeps us busy and healthy. We are not sitting around watching television and eating junk food to get obese. The U.S. Government said that overweight children are a big health problem for this country. We eleven-year-olds in Tullyville are doing something to solve this problem. We are exercising in a safe way.
We should be allowed to keep skateboarding. If the mayor is really concerned, he should raise the fine for not wearing a helmet. Then maybe the parents will pay attention.
Sincerely,
Sara Jones,
6th grader at Southerland School
Letter 6
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the article about a new curfew for kids under 18 that will be going into effect next Tuesday. The article was based on the opinions of adults, and I think that these adults should listen to what kids have to say about this important issue.
According to the article, the city council wants to have a curfew because they feel it will make the city of Avon a safer place to live. They say that when kids are in their own houses after dark there will be less crime, and that the city will be cleaner because kids will not be able to vandalize walls and sidewalks.
I do not believe that having a curfew for kids under 18 will make the town of Avon safer or cleaner. I have done some research about crime and vandalism in Avon by reading the city council reports on crime for the past year. This is what I found out:
• Almost 98% of all crime committed in Avon in the past year was committed by people over the age of 18.
• Avon has the lowest vandalism rate in the state. Last year there were only two acts of vandalism, one of which was committed by someone over the age of 18.
It is very unfair to punish all kids for the acts of a few irresponsible kids. The facts clearly show that a curfew would not affect crime or vandalism statistics in Avon. I hope that the editor of this newspaper will conduct his own investigation, and help put a stop to the kids’ curfew in Avon.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Adams
Avon citizen and kid
To Whom it May Concern:
I have learned that the county is considering a plan to build a middle school to accommodate seventh graders only. I am opposed to the idea for two reasons.
First, it is not cost effective. If the county is going to invest $350,000 for school facilities, it might as well invest another $50,000 and include facilities for eighth grade students too. Acquiring the land and building the school account for most of the cost. By spending only $50,000 more we could have ten additional classrooms. The county will probably spend that much to maintain the run-down facility that eighth graders currently occupy.
My second reason for opposing the plan is that it would be emotionally difficult for the students to be isolated. Students at that age want to feel as though they are entering a higher level of education with older peers. It would be a letdown for them to be alone for a year before experiencing junior high school.
Please consider these concerns and present them to the school board. I appreciate the service you give to our schools.
Sincerely,
David Smith
Letter 2
Poverty Is Everyone’s Problem by Natalie, Shelburne, Vt.
Dear Mr. President,
I believe, as many others do, that we have let all of this go way too far. We need to go to desperate measures to help the numerous humans who are suffering from poverty. We should not only help the people living in the U.S., but also people all over the world. This is a very serious matter involving millions of people’s lives that are currently at risk.
I know that no one deserves to live in the horrible conditions in which hundreds of millions of innocent humans are forced to live. Extreme poverty is no way to live your life, and those people need our help to make it right. The government's need to better fund programs and shelters that help with this rather large problem. We need to publicize this, and make it known so more people are educated about it. Then they will be more likely to help with it. Things aren’t going to be made better on their own, so we have to be proactive and take action. Some people might say that it’s not our problem, so they aren’t going to do anything about it. Well, we have to make it our problem. Our duty is to help the less privileged people of our Earth.
In some places, poverty is improving slowly with help. But in others, such as Sub-Saharan Africa, poverty is worsening. In that region, the poverty level rose from 41 percent in 1981 to 46 percent in 2001. There are also more places in the same situation, like the Caribbean, which is closer to the USA. Once we get our own poverty under control I think we should help the Caribbean with their poverty, because they are in need of outside assistance. Also, this would set an example for other countries with the ability to help areas in need.
In the end we need to take charge and control of this difficult situation. Together we can fix this monster of an issue, but only together. This problem may take a while to fix, but with patience and persistence I believe we can.
Sincerely,
Natalie
Letter 3
I’d Rather Not Be Charbroiled, Thanks! by Lauren P., Bellingham, Wash.
Dear Mr. President,
Every time someone drives their car, burns coal or oil, leaves their lights on, idles their car for more than 30 seconds, they are slowly helping to char the earth and all life on it. The latest EPA greenhouse gas inventory shows that, in 2005, the U.S. emitted over 7.2 billion metric tons of greenhouse gases. That was also the warmest year on record, according to NASA and NOAA data, since 1850. Coincidence? I think not. Sea levels are rising, glaciers are melting, animals and plants are becoming endangered, weather is becoming more intense, ice is freezing later and thawing earlier; and here you are, in the middle: the president of the United States of America — which is currently digging itself into a pretty big hole, with seemingly no way out. But I’ve got a ladder for you: renewable alternative green energy. So grab hold and climb up. …
Sincerely,
Lauren Pilgrim
Letter 4
To Whom it May Concern:
It's just before the holidays, and the Springfield Food Bank is almost out of food! We're asking the principals in all the city schools to sponsor a food drive so that the less fortunate in the community can also have a happy holiday season.
I know you are concerned about teaching students to be good citizens as well as good learners. What better way to teach citizenship than to invite them to participate in caring for the needs of all members of our community?
Though some people feel that the Food Bank encourages undesirable elements in the community, Jane Doe, Executive Director of the Food Bank, notes that the majority of their clients are families who are struggling to support themselves on low-paying jobs.
Won't you please join with your colleagues on December 1 at 10:00 a.m. in City Hall to plan a food drive? Each principal in attendance will receive a packet of information outlining the successful elements of a food drive and describing effective incentives. I look forward to seeing you there.
Sincerely,
John Maxwell
Letter 5
Dear Editor,
I read your editorial published on October 13th. As an eleven-year-old skateboarder, I want to say I think the mayor is wrong. Kids should be allowed to skateboard in Rutherford Park. Just because one girl did not follow the rules, why should the rest of us be punished?
I have been a skateboarder since I was eight years old. I do most of my skateboarding at the park or at the Southerland School. I skateboard with my friends and we all wear helmets. Our parents do not have to remind us to put our helmets on. We have been skateboarding for three years and have not had an accident. If we did collide, we are not only wearing helmets, but also knee and shoulder pads. We do everything right to make sure that we and others are safe.
Just because some wild kids did not follow the rules, does not mean that all of us should not be allowed to skateboard. There is not a lot to do in Tullyville. Skateboarding keeps us busy and healthy. We are not sitting around watching television and eating junk food to get obese. The U.S. Government said that overweight children are a big health problem for this country. We eleven-year-olds in Tullyville are doing something to solve this problem. We are exercising in a safe way.
We should be allowed to keep skateboarding. If the mayor is really concerned, he should raise the fine for not wearing a helmet. Then maybe the parents will pay attention.
Sincerely,
Sara Jones,
6th grader at Southerland School
Letter 6
Dear Editor:
I am writing in response to the article about a new curfew for kids under 18 that will be going into effect next Tuesday. The article was based on the opinions of adults, and I think that these adults should listen to what kids have to say about this important issue.
According to the article, the city council wants to have a curfew because they feel it will make the city of Avon a safer place to live. They say that when kids are in their own houses after dark there will be less crime, and that the city will be cleaner because kids will not be able to vandalize walls and sidewalks.
I do not believe that having a curfew for kids under 18 will make the town of Avon safer or cleaner. I have done some research about crime and vandalism in Avon by reading the city council reports on crime for the past year. This is what I found out:
• Almost 98% of all crime committed in Avon in the past year was committed by people over the age of 18.
• Avon has the lowest vandalism rate in the state. Last year there were only two acts of vandalism, one of which was committed by someone over the age of 18.
It is very unfair to punish all kids for the acts of a few irresponsible kids. The facts clearly show that a curfew would not affect crime or vandalism statistics in Avon. I hope that the editor of this newspaper will conduct his own investigation, and help put a stop to the kids’ curfew in Avon.
Sincerely,
Jeremy Adams
Avon citizen and kid