Persuasive Essay

I assigned the final major writing project, the persuasive essay, before Spring Break. It is due on Wednesday, May 9, 2007. The students already have the assignment paper as well as a list of approved topics. I will approve other topics when submitted to me in writing.

Today, I gave the students a sample essay which marks important parts to be included in the essay. Specifically, it highlights 1) the argument being made, 2) the topic sentences of each of the body paragraphs, and 3) the three supporting statements in each of the three body paragraphs.

On the back of that sample essay is a blank outline that the students are to complete for their persuasive essay.

We have previously looked at a student example included in our Houghton Mifflin reader.

Sequence and Steps of the Research Paper

Step 1: Choose a topic that interests you and which is an important part of the American Revolution or a fifth-grade science topic.

Step 2: Find at least three sources for your research. One should be an encyclopedia article that gives you an overview of your topic. Show your three (or more) sources to your teacher.

Step 3: Read the encyclopedia overview and see if the topic still interests you. If it does, go on to Step 4. If it does not interest you, go back to Step 1 and start over.

Step 4: Narrow your topic by creating a focus question that you will answer in your research paper. Your focus question must relate directly to the American Revolution and the events that led up to it. You may not write about George Washington’s presidency or Benjamin Franklin’s inventions; neither of those topics relates directly to the American Revolution.

• For example, if you chose the topic of Abigail Adams, you might ask: “How dedicated a patriot was Abigail Adams?” Then you would follow that up with: “What specific actions did Abigail Adams take that show she was a dedicated patriot?”
• If you chose the topic of John Dickinson, you might ask: “Why is John Dickinson called the ‘penman of the Revolution?’” From that focus question follow more specific questions that help to answer the larger focus question. You might ask: “What did he write before and during the Revolution? Besides writing, what other actions did he take that supported the Revolution?”

Step 5: Clear your focus question with your teacher before you start taking notes.

Step 6: Take notes from your sources. If you use note cards, each note card should contain a topic heading, one important fact or event, and the source where you found the information. You may want to use regular binder paper for notes. If so, put your topic heading, and then list the important facts or events that relate to that topic and the source where you found them. Remember, it is important to track your sources to prepare your bibliography.

Step 7: Once you have enough notes to write a complete paper, submit your notes to your teacher, who will either approve them as written or ask you to correct them or include more.

Step 8: Write your paper. Follow the guidelines provided by your teacher.

Step 9: Write your bibliography. List your sources in alphabetical order based on the authors’ last names.

Step 10: Compile your research paper, including cover page, essay, and bibliography. Turn in to your teacher on time.

Research Paper

The research paper was assigned on Monday, January 8 and is due on Friday, February 23.

Purpose: to inform the reader; to explain factual information to the reader
Assignment: Write a research paper of at least 500 to 700 words.

Writing Standard 2.3 - Write research reports about important ideas, issues, or events by using the following guidelines:
a. Frame questions that direct the investigation.
b. Establish a controlling idea or topic.
c. Develop the topic with simple facts, details, examples, and explanations.

Writing Standard 1.2 - Create multiple-paragraph expository compositions:
a. Establish a topic, important ideas, or events in sequence or chronological order.
b. Provide details and transitional expressions that link one paragraph to another in a clear line of thought.
c. Offer a concluding paragraph that summarizes important ideas and details.

Writing your paper:

• Write your thesis statement. It has two parts. One, it tells the reader your topic. Two, it explains the point of your essay. (Example: John Dickinson, while not a well-known founding father, was an influential writer who helped to inspire rebellion amongst the American colonists and who later helped to shape our Constitution.)
• Write your outline. You should have at least three sub-topics that support your main topic and your focus question on that topic.
• Write your body paragraphs. Write at least one paragraph for each of your sub-topics. Each body paragraph should follow the same basic structure. One, write your topic sentence. Two, write at least three sentences that support your topic sentence. You may also write sentences that elaborate on your supporting ideas. Three, write a concluding sentence.
• Write your introduction and conclusion. Now that the body of your essay is done, go back and introduce your topic and conclude your essay. Your introduction should immediately get the reader’s attention. It should also end with your thesis statement. Your conclusion should provide closure to your paper, summing up your main points.

Note: Using someone else’s ideas or phrasing and representing those ideas or phrasing as your own, either on purpose or through carelessness, is a serious offense known as plagiarism.

Avoid this problem by writing your notes in your own words. Paraphrase the information in your sources so that you are not copying what someone else has written. If your notes are in your own words, then your essay will be your own ideas in your own words, and you will not have plagiarized someone else’s writing. You will have written an original research essay, and that is the assignment.

Book Report

Today I officially assigned the book report. Students already have the assignment sheet, which includes the outline format that I suggest they use to help them take notes and write their report. Today I also gave them the grading rubric, which shows exactly what criteria I am looking at to grade their book report.

They have two weeks to finish reading their book, until Friday, November 17. They then have about a week and a half to finish writing their book report, which is due on Wednesday, November 29.

I set out a number of excellent fifth grade books, many of which have won awards. Among them are The Phantom Tollbooth, The Westing Game, Dear Mr. Henshaw, The Giver, Out of the Dust, Holes, Maniac Magee, and My Side of the Mountain. All of those books were pre-approved by me for the book report. Students could also select another book, show it to me for my approval, and then if I okayed it, read that book for the book report; about ten students took advantage of that choice, and I okayed their books today.

Beginning to read their book report book was the only homework I assigned today.

Narrative Writing Assignment

The narrative is the first major writing project of the year, and the one for the first quarter. We have officially begun this assignment. Today I gave the students the grading rubric and a worksheet called "What a Character!" to help them do some prewriting, some notes on developing their main character.

Tomorrow they'll get another double-sided sheet that will help them flesh out their plot and settings.

Students may turn in a first draft to me on or before Tuesday, September 26. I will give them some preliminary feedback on the rubric, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of their story. This is optional; students are not required to turn in a first draft to me.

The final draft is due on Friday, October 6, 2006. Students have three weeks to write a narrative of 500 to 700 words. This counts as 75% of their writing grade for the first quarter; their Ten Best from their daily writing journal will count for the next 25%, along with grammar and spelling.