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Opinion and Argument Writing and The Common Core State Standards

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Writing Opinions and Arguments

The Common Core State Standards require students to write opinion pieces starting in early elementary school. As students enter middle school, the Common Core State Standards require students to write sound arguments on substantive topics. Educators begin preparing students in kindergarten to share their opinion. As students increase in age they begin to learn the elements of an argument. Upper elementary students can prepare logical arguments in school, when prepared with the academic vocabulary and educational tools they need to do so. Educators can prepare students to logically comprehend arguments and write sound arguments.

Teachers and parents can help students prepare to write opinion pieces:

  • Teaching children to state their opinions
  • Showing children how to use relevant evidence when supporting their points in writing and speaking
  • Supporting opinions with reasons
  • Making lists of words and phrases that support opinions
  • Teaching students how to use linking words and phrases

Teachers and parents can help students prepare to write sound arguments by :

  • Showing children how to constructively evaluate others’ use of evidence
  • Teaching students to verbalize and write a concluding statement

Teach Children About The Elements of an Opinion and Argument

When teaching students how to write and argument piece, children should be exposed to the elements of an argument. The definition of an argument is a reason or reasons why you are for or against something. Educators and parents can identify these elements in text. These elements should be clearly identified for students. Teaching students to use these words also increases their academic vocabulary. It is beneficial to start at a young age. When students make a claim, they need to think about evidence. Evidence is an essential part of argument writing.

  • Claim-The position or assertion that supports an argument
  • Evidence-Facts or reasons that support the claim
  • Warrant-Reasoning that connects evidence to the claim

In middle school students need to think about making a:

  • Counterclaim-The opposing position
  • Rebuttal-Logical reasons for the rejection of the counterclaim

Topics for Opinions and Arguments

Students can write opinion pieces in relation to things that are relevant to their lives. Some examples are:

  • Should chocolate milk be allowed in schools?
  • Is it better for students to walk to school or to drive in a car?
  • Should recycling be mandatory?
  • Should students be allowed to have cell phones in schools?

Sharing Opinions and Arguments With Others

It is important for students to share their work with others. Students may share their written work in a variety of formats. Students like to write for authentic audiences (types of people that will actually read their work). The following lists ideas in which student can make their written work public.

Students can make their work public by placing it in the:

  • Reading and Writing Center
  • Classroom Newsletter
  • School News or School Newspaper

Students can share their work with others and the community:

  • Students can send their written opinion pieces to the local newspaper (with parent permission)
  • Students can send their reviews of the food at a restaurant to the restaurant owner
  • Letters to Politicians, Lawmakers, City Council, the Mayor
  • Technology can make students’ work public (with parent/guardian permission)
  • Students can create online books. Students can share their opinions, arguments and orginial artwork with others.
  • Online books can be created on www.biguniverse.com

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Students can share their published books with others on a virtual bookshelf at Big Universe Learning.

Connecting to The Common Core State Standards

When preparing students for college and career readiness, it is essential to teach students to write sound arguments on substantive topics. The Common Core State Standards prepare students to achieve this writing goal. Teachers start by educating students about expressing their opinions in early elementary grades.

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.K.1 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is…).

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.1.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or name the book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply a reason for the opinion, and provide some sense of closure.

  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.2.1 Write opinion pieces in which they introduce the topic or book they are writing about, state an opinion, supply reasons that support the opinion, use linking words (e.g.,because, and, also) to connect opinion and reasons, and provide a concluding statement or section.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1a Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1b Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1c Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition).
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.4.1d Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.
  • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1a Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which ideas are logically grouped to support the writer’s purpose.
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1b Provide logically ordered reasons that are supported by facts and details.
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1c Link opinion and reasons using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., consequentlyspecifically).
    • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.5.1d Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented.

Would you like help creating kid’s books? Visit

www.biguniverse.com/createkidsbooks


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