Persuasive+Writing


 * Persuasive Writing ** – //Hey, Little Ant// (NFMT p. 111-116) (Best after **Creating a Scene**)

After reading //Hey, Little Ant//, students will answer the question, “What do you think the kid should do?”

Materials: //Hey, Little Ant // by Phillip and Hannah Hoose //Almost Gone… // by Steve Jenkins (591.68 JEN) //Imagine a Day //by Sarah Thomson (PCL)

Day 1
 * Chart the arguments presented by the boy and by the ant.
 * With a partner, discuss and decide which character has the strongest argument.

Day 2
 * Collect nonfiction books on ants and have the students read and chart facts learned.
 * Students will create topic statements. (ex. -//Ants are a lot like people. Ants help farmers. Ants are important to their habitat. Ants are amazing and interesting creatures//.) Chart the topic statements.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Students choose a topic and find explanations, descriptions, or examples in their books that would support their topic.

<span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Day 3
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Create an interesting lead (Use //Almost Gone…// or //Imagine a Day// as mentor texts for a What if… or imagine-a-world lead.)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Cambria','serif'; font-size: 19px;">Make sure students address the original question about whether the boy should step on the ant or not. The research done should give facts to support the answer to the question in a persuasive manner.