Writing an Opinion - Longer School Days
You will watch a video, read some articles, and look at a graph. Each source will give you some information about the issue of whether or not longer school days will boost student success..
Your reading will set you up to figure out what your stance, or position, is on this issue:
Should schools make the school day longer?
After you’ve done some research, you’ll have a chance to take a side on this issue by writing an opinion essay to persuade others to take your side.
1. Watch the videos. Create a document in google drive. Write a brief summary of both videos. With each bullet point, be sure to cite the part of which you are noting. Then, create a list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Video 1: Will longer school days boost student success?
Video 2: Longer School Days, Shorter Vacations: Parents Sound Off
Video 3: How a Longer School Day Can Improve Academics
2. Read the first article. Write a summary of the article on your document. Be sure to cite the paragraph of which you are noting. Add to your list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Source 1: More Time is Critical
3. Read the second article. Write a summary of the article on your document. Be sure to cite the paragraph of which you are noting. Add to your list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Source 2: Let Students Sleep
4. Interpret the graph. What can you conclude from the graph? Write about the information you learned from the chart on your document. Add to your list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Graph 1: Are more school days the answer?
5. Plan and write an essay based on your opinion. Should schools make the school day longer?
Remember, a good opinion essay:
o Has an introduction
o Clearly states your opinion/claim in a focus statement
o Uses specific evidence from the text(s) to support your opinion and explains your thinking
o Groups ideas in paragraphs
o Has a conclusion
o Uses precise language and linking words to connect ideas
o Has correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation
6. Apply your opinion to a product:
The local school board will be voting on plan to increase the school day by 90 minutes at all elementary schools. Before they vote, they will listen to the opinions of community members, parents, and students on the issue. In the Showme app, create a presentation that expresses your opinion on the issue, and then record your presentation as a movie. You will play your movie for the school board.
You will watch a video, read some articles, and look at a graph. Each source will give you some information about the issue of whether or not longer school days will boost student success..
Your reading will set you up to figure out what your stance, or position, is on this issue:
Should schools make the school day longer?
After you’ve done some research, you’ll have a chance to take a side on this issue by writing an opinion essay to persuade others to take your side.
1. Watch the videos. Create a document in google drive. Write a brief summary of both videos. With each bullet point, be sure to cite the part of which you are noting. Then, create a list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Video 1: Will longer school days boost student success?
Video 2: Longer School Days, Shorter Vacations: Parents Sound Off
Video 3: How a Longer School Day Can Improve Academics
2. Read the first article. Write a summary of the article on your document. Be sure to cite the paragraph of which you are noting. Add to your list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Source 1: More Time is Critical
3. Read the second article. Write a summary of the article on your document. Be sure to cite the paragraph of which you are noting. Add to your list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Source 2: Let Students Sleep
4. Interpret the graph. What can you conclude from the graph? Write about the information you learned from the chart on your document. Add to your list of the pros and cons of longer school days.
Graph 1: Are more school days the answer?
5. Plan and write an essay based on your opinion. Should schools make the school day longer?
- Brainstorm: Take some time to plan your writing before you begin. Think about the videos and texts. In a sheet of paper, create a graphic organizer to record your thoughts. See the example to plan your work. Go back to the videos, texts, and your summaries to gather evidence to support your opinion.
- Rough Draft: Using the graphic organizer, write your opinion essay in Google Docs. Be sure to include evidence from the sources to support your opinion.
- Peer Editing Conference: Use the peer editing form.
- Revise: Add to your essay using the suggestions from the peer conference. Do you have enough evidence?
- Proofread: Use the proofreading checklist.
- Publish: Publish onto your Digital Portfolio under the WRITING tab.
Remember, a good opinion essay:
o Has an introduction
o Clearly states your opinion/claim in a focus statement
o Uses specific evidence from the text(s) to support your opinion and explains your thinking
o Groups ideas in paragraphs
o Has a conclusion
o Uses precise language and linking words to connect ideas
o Has correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation
6. Apply your opinion to a product:
The local school board will be voting on plan to increase the school day by 90 minutes at all elementary schools. Before they vote, they will listen to the opinions of community members, parents, and students on the issue. In the Showme app, create a presentation that expresses your opinion on the issue, and then record your presentation as a movie. You will play your movie for the school board.