Introduction

Welcome teachers! I hope you find this lesson plan helpful. You can use it at the beginning of a unit when you are first introducing opinion writing or you can use it at the end! Feel free to to use the same format and process but change up the topics! This lesson may take a few days to complete.
Task

Students will be able to write from an opinion point of view. The process will include a circle map to brainstorm, a graphic organizer to collect their thoughts, and a final draft paper.
Process

Tell the students that they are going to write an opinion paper on their favorite pet.
If you are introducing opinion writing for the first time, you may want to create a chart with the students with all the criteria that needs to be included when writing from an opinion point of view.
Students will create a circle map. They will put the name of the pet they would like to have in the middle and the reasons they like that pet on the outside. Circle map can be found here:
http://www.studenthandouts.com/01-Web-Pages/2013-07/bubble-map-graphic-…
Students will share their circle map with a partner using the sentence stem "In my opinion the best pet to have is____because_____".
Students will complete graphic organizer. Model first. Graphic organizer can be found here:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sites/default/files/posts/u133/pdfs/…
Students will transfer information from graphic organizer to final copy. Model first. Final copy paper can be found here:
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/lined-paper/handwriting-paper/handwriting…
Evaluation
Use the attached rubric to score. Rubric is student-friendly so it should be shared with students so they can self reflect and possibly even participate in peer feedback. (page 3)
http://www.fwps.org/tfl/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/07/CommonCoreWr…
Conclusion
I hope this was a successful lesson! Have fun with it and maybe even let the students come up with a topic to write about from an opinion point of view. Encourage parents to have their child speak in complete sentences and use the sentence stem "In my opinion.." when appropriate.
Credits
studenthandouts.com
scholastic.com
fwps.org
allkidsnetwork.com
Teacher Page
Rubric:
http://www.fwps.org/tfl/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2013/07/CommonCoreWr…
Graphic Organizer:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/sites/default/files/posts/u133/pdfs/…
Brainstorm Map:
http://www.studenthandouts.com/01-Web-Pages/2013-07/bubble-map-graphic-…
Writing Paper:
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/lined-paper/handwriting-paper/handwriting…