Opinion Writing in Primary: What Qualities Do We Want in Our New President?

1. Opinion Writing in Primary: What Qualities Do We Want in Our New President? Jean Wolph, Louisville Writing Project Director Kentucky Writing Project Director

2. Mini-Unit Overview

3. Standards Emphasized in the Mini-Unit READING STANDARDS FOR INFORMATIONAL TEXT 8. Identify the reasons an author gives to support points in a text. WRITING STANDARDS 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.

4. Mini-Unit Instructional Sequence

5. What Qualities Do We Want in Our New President? What are qualities? Insert photo of Francine’s inside/outside silhouettes.

6. Examples of Qualities GOOD BAD Honest, Truthful Dishonest, Untruthful Smart, Intelligent, Wise, Thoughtful Stupid, Foolish, Thoughtless Brave, Courageous, Fearless, Bold Scared, Timid, Afraid, Fearful Likeable, Popular Unlikeable, Unpopular Respected, Trusted Disrespected, Untrustworthy Persuasive, Convincing Unbelievable, Unconvincing Confident Fearful Clear, UnderstandableUnclear, Confusing Kind, Caring Uncaring, Mean Humble Proud, Boastful Peaceful Warlike Helper Destroyer Inspiring Dull Risk-Taker Timid Passionate, Dedicated, Determined Wishy-washy, Unfocused

7. What do we think we know about these presidents? Let’s list our ideas on a class chart. Capturing our thinking

8. Reading and Researching Research will help us confirm what we think we know and ADD to our knowledge. Confirm: prove

9. Research Resources • In this PowerPoint you will find slides that could be read/explained by a teacher. • Alternate strategy: Use simple texts such as Scholastic’s Very First Biographies (Pre-K/K), either instead of or along with these slides.

10. Inquiry Question:What qualities did George Washington have that made him a good president?

11. Biography President George Washington What is George Washington most known for?GeneralGeorge Washington was one of our most popular presidents. • He defeated the British • in theAmerican Revolution. • He was the first President • of the United States. • He helped shape the role of • the president. Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/georgewashington.php

12. What did these ACTIONS show aboutGeorge Washington? Brave He defeated the British • in theAmerican Revolution. • He was the first President • of the United States. • He helped shape the role of • the president. Likeable Smart Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/georgewashington.php

13. Inquiry Question:What qualities did Abraham Lincoln have that made him a good president?

14. Biography President Abraham Lincoln • Whatis Abraham Lincoln most known for? • Abraham Lincolnled the U.S. during the Civil War. He kept the North and South together. • He freed the slaves. • He set up a national banking system. • He started the Department of Agriculture. • He came from poverty. • He loved books and learning. Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/abrahamlincoln.php

15. What did these ACTIONS show • about Abraham Lincoln? • He kept the North and South together. • He freed the slaves. • He set up a national banking system. • He started the Department of Agriculture. • He came from poverty. • He loved books and learning. ? ? ? ? ? ?

16. Inquiry Question:What qualities did John F. Kennedy have that made him a good president?

17. Biography President John F. Kennedy • Whatis John F. Kennedy most known for? • He was a war hero. • He said, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." • He kept the U.S. and the Soviet Union from nuclear war. • He started the Peace Corp. Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/johnfkennedy.php

18. What did these ACTIONS show • about President John F. Kennedy? • He was a war hero. • He said, "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country." • He kept the U.S. and the Soviet Union from nuclear war. • He started the Peace Corp. ? ? ? ? Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/johnfkennedy.php

19. Inquiry Question:What qualities does Barack Obama have that makes him a good president?

20. BiographyBarack Obama • Whatis Barack Obama most known for? • He is our first African American President. • He ended the Iraq War. • He had Osama bin Laden killed. • He got the economy moving. Unemployment dropped to 5% in December 2015. • Obama gave poor people health insurance (ObamaCare). Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/barakobama.php

21. What did these ACTIONS show • AboutBarack Obama? • He is our first African American President. • He ended the Iraq War. He had Osama bin Laden killed. • Obama got the economy moving. Unemployment dropped to 5% in December 2015. • Obama gave poor people health insurance (ObamaCare). ? ? ? ? Adapted from an article posted at http://www.ducksters.com/biography/uspresidents/barakobama.php

22. In your group, fill out the “inside” of your president’s silhouette. Use words that show what he was like—what could you say about his “inside” based on the kinds of things he did, said, or believed? Get ready to share with the class. Let’s Review and Compare!

23. Let’s Walk the Room.Re-Read Each Chart. • Washington • Lincoln • Kennedy • Obama • Put a star on the chart that shows the most qualities you want in a new president.

24. Time to Make a Claim! This is your CLAIM. It’s your opinion, which you will back by EVIDENCE.

25. Four Corners Debate Time!

26. Writing Time OptionsWe need another president like _____. • Write a letter to the editor explaining your ideas about the qualities needed in our next president. Ask adults to vote for a candidate who has these qualities. • OR make a poster reminding adults to make a good decision when they vote for the next president. Explain the qualities they should look for.

27. Working on Conclusions • Writers give readers a signal that the piece of writing is ending. Here are examples: • What you want readers to think or do goes in the blank: • It is important to remember that ____________. • In conclusion, ___________________________. • Therefore, ______________________________. • All in all, we can see that ______________. • For this reason, __________________________. • Unless you want ___________, you should _________. • Think about what you want your readers to do or believe. Now try an ending sentence.

28. References • Image of George Washington provided under Creative Commons license by https://strateupinformation.wikispaces.com/Grammar+-+Writing • Image of Abraham Lincoln provided under Creative Commons license by http://www.yalosabes.com/frases-celebres-de-abraham-lincoln.html • Image of John F. Kennedy provided under Creative Commons license by https://www.flickr.com/photos/13476480@N07/10755556423/ • Image of Barack Obama provided under Creative Commons license by http://miter37.tistory.com/83