Intro

1. The Magic Three Intro 1 Catch the reader’s attention 2 Use information from the prompt 3 State your position 4 Thesis statement 5 Take each supporting Idea and turn it into a Paragraph 6 Use transition/signal words Body Ending Restate your position But, do NOT repeat In Conclusion/offer an alternative solution

2. TAP • Topic • Audience (Who are you writing to?) • Purpose (Agree or Disagree)

3. Persuasive letter planning • Agree • Uniforms are cheaper • There will be less wash • Students will look & act professional • No pressure to wear expensive clothes • Disagree • Uniforms are uncomfortable • Take away our freedom of expression • Everyone will look the same

4. Include details for each reason • I outgrow my clothes quickly • My mother is a single parent • There are 2 kids in family • Jeans take long to dry • Jeans take up more room in washer • Uniforms can be washed in the sink • Students will be more serious • Students won’t be distracted • Kids will get better grades

5. Plan to writing essay quickly • Write P1, P2, P3, P4, P5 on your prewrite area • Write one reason next to each • Plan the writing technique you plan to use next to your reason. For example: • P1 My mother is a single parent- RQ • P2 I outgrow my clothes quickly- Narr • P3 Kids will get better grades- D/S • P4 Students will be less distracted E/O

6. Writing a 5 paragraph essay PLAN: Conclusion Final paragraph Restate your opinion Vary word use Body P1 reason/details/technique P2 reason/details/technique P3 reason/details/technique P4 reason/details/technique P5 reason/details/technique Introduction Be sure to state your opinion clearly Strong thesis statement

7. 5 Writing Techniques • 1) Personal Experience: This is something that happened to you OR someone you know. Example: My cousin, Mary, wears uniforms to school and loves them. • 2) Data & Statistics: This is data compiled from a group or a poll that was taken. Example: I conducted a class poll and 90% of my classmates wouldn’t mind wearing uniforms to school each day.

8. 5 Writing Techniques • 3) Rhetorical questions: A question that you put out to the reader, not necessarily wanting an answer. Example: What student wouldn’t mind waking up and not having to think about what to wear? • 4) Expert Opinion: Who would be an expert on this topic? For example, a principal might be an expert on a subject connected to school while a police officer might be an expert on crime.

9. 5 Writing Techniques • THIS IS BY FAR THE MOST DIFFICULT TO MASTER. HOWEVER, IT WILL GET YOU THE HIGHEST SCORE. • 5) Narrative: Tell a story, adding a character and setting to prove your point or support your opinion. Example: John’s mother struggles to pay the bills. With John asking for the latest fashions and the newest sneakers, she just can’t do it. When John’s school put in the uniform rule, it was an answer to her prayers. Uniforms are cheaper than buying jeans, you need less outfits and they can be easily washed in the sink. Who wouldn’t want to take that savings to the bank?

10. Reminders • Use a “Hook” or creative lead in • Include a thesis statement with at least three reasons • Begin body paragraphs with transition words/signal words (Do not use My first reason is…) • Be creative “Imagine a world where children don’t feel bad about not being able to afford the latest fashion statement.

11. Lessons created by: Kathleen Kopacz, Reading Specialist, Jersey City Public Schools Nancy Kopacz, Language Arts teacher, Bayonne Public School