Fourth Graders Present Persuasive Essays
Source/Author: Colette Husenitza, Fourth Grade Teacher
November 20, 2019
For the last month and a half, Mrs. Husenitza’s fourth graders have been learning how to write opinion essays. To flex their new skills, students took on the task of developing a persuasive essay to present to their peers and guests.
Together the class brainstormed strategies for making opinion essays strong. Each student selected their own topic on which to write. Because the class has also been studying sustainability, many of the persuasive essays revolved around reducing plastic use, and one was about deforestation.
Together the class brainstormed strategies for making opinion essays strong. Each student selected their own topic on which to write. Because the class has also been studying sustainability, many of the persuasive essays revolved around reducing plastic use, and one was about deforestation.
The fourth graders had three days to come up with a to-do list and a plan for their essay. “They completed their essays with no help from me - just their opinion writing checklist and their plan,” Mrs. Husenitza explained.
The essay checklist included telling the audience about their opinion, helping the audience understand their opinion, trying to hook others into caring about their opinion, using real-life examples, writing in ways that got others thinking or feeling in certain ways, and using an expressive voice when reading aloud.
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Watch some video clips of presentations here.
Find more photos here.
Watch some video clips of presentations here.
