Lesson
4
Opinion Writing
For Our Class
Objectives &
Common Core Connections
✱✱ Introduce the topic.
✱✱ Focus on the purpose of opinion writing.
✱✱ State an opinion about the topic.
✱✱ Present a list of reasons to support the opinion.
✱✱ Write sentences that include reasons
for the opinion.
✱✱ Write a paragraph that expresses an opinion.
Point out that once a writer offers an opinion,
he or she must give reasons to support it. Ask
students to think of reasons to make a class
banner. For example:
44 can display it for everyone to see
44 will call attention to our class
44 reminder that we’re a great class
Encourage the class to come up with other
reasons, then coach students in using the reasons
to develop complete sentences. For example:
44 We can display the banner for everyone
to see.
Introduction Provide each student with a
copy of the writing frame (page 18). Read the
title and first lines. Also draw attention to the
speech balloons. Ask students to think about
what they would like to create—a song or
banner—to honor the class. Explain that they
will be writing a paragraph to persuade others to
share their opinion. Reinforce that an opinion is
someone’s point of view or idea about something.
Guided Practice Have students complete the
writing frame. Point out that they can choose
either the banner or the song as their topic.
Encourage students to use their own words and
sentences.
Model Review that a paragraph is a group
of sentences about the same topic. Then, tell
students that they should introduce the topic.
Write a sample topic sentence on the board. For
example:
Review Invite volunteers to read their finished
paragraphs to the class. Have listeners use items
1– 5 and 7 on the assessment checklist (page 62)
to evaluate the effectiveness of other students’
work.
44 We’re going to honor our class.
Ask a volunteer to offer an opinion about
writing a song or making a banner. For example:
44 We should make a class banner.
44 It will tell people about our class.
44 The banner will be a reminder that we’re
a great class.
Independent Practice Use the On Your
Own activity (page 19) as homework or practice.
Encourage students to use what they learned in
the lesson to complete it. Explain that they can
choose a way to show school spirit from the Idea
Box or use their own idea.
Writing Lessons to Meet the Common Core: Grade 2 © 2013 by Linda Ward Beech, Scholastic Teaching Resources
17
Lesson
4
Name
Date
For Our Class
You want to honor your class.
Will you design a banner or write a song?
Let’s make
a class
banner.
Let’s have
a class
song.
33¶ Introduce the topic.
33¶ Think about your writing purpose.
33¶ State your opinion.
33¶ List reasons to support your opinion.
33¶ Write practice sentences with reasons.
33¶ Write your paragraph on another sheet of paper.
Topic
Writing Purpose
Opinion
Reasons
Practice Sentences
18
Writing Lessons to Meet the Common Core: Grade 2 © 2013 by Linda Ward Beech, Scholastic Teaching Resources
Lesson
4
Name
On You r
Own
Date
What would you do to show school spirit?
Choose an idea from the Idea Box or think of one of your own.
Complete this page.
Then, write your paragraph on another sheet of paper.
Get others to agree with you.
tt¶Think Up a School Motto
Idea
Box
tt¶My Idea:
tt¶Make Up a School Handshake
tt¶Write a School Cheer
Topic
Writing Purpose
Opinion
Reasons
Sentences
Writing Lessons to Meet the Common Core: Grade 2 © 2013 by Linda Ward Beech, Scholastic Teaching Resources
19
Name
Date
Student Assessment Checklist
Opinion Writing
1. Introduced the topic. ......................................................
2. Focused on the writing purpose. ......................................
3. Stated an opinion. .........................................................
4. Gave reasons to support the opinion.................................
5. Wrote sentences that include reasons for the opinion. .......
6. Connected the reasons and opinion with linking words. ....
7. Added a concluding sentence. ........................................
8. Wrote a paragraph that offers an opinion. ......................
e Thi n
Mor he gs
to C ck
33¶ Capitalized proper nouns.
33¶ Capitalized the first word of sentences.
33¶ Used correct punctuation.
33¶ Spelled words correctly.
33¶ Followed correct paragraph form.
62
Writing Lessons to Meet the Common Core: Grade 2 © 2013 by Linda Ward Beech, Scholastic Teaching Resources