LEARN NC

CareerStart lessons: Grade eight

1.5 Persuasive writing: The importance of work permits

By Andrea Fedon, Gail Frank, and Cindy Neininger

Provided by CareerStart

Essential question: How can careful reading help you to form an opinion about a work-related topic?

Learning outcomes

Students will read about the rights and responsibilities of teen workers and write a persuasive paper about the need for teen work permits.

Teacher planning

Materials needed

  • Reading: “Child Labor Laws and Enforcement” — a publication of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • Student computers with internet access or computer with internet access and projector

Time required for lesson

One class period

Activities

  1. Begin the lesson by activating students’ prior knowledge about the rights and responsibilities of teens when on the job. If you or the students have internet access, it may be helpful to visit the “Teen Workers” page on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration website.
  2. Divide the class into groups of three or four students.
  3. Distribute copies of pages 6, 7, 8, and 9 (Exhibits 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 2.4) from the “Child Labor Laws and Enforcement” document, which explain the limitations for minors in the workplace.
  4. In their groups, have students discuss the need for work permits: Why do we have work permits? How do they protect you?
  5. As a class, read the section with the heading “State Child Labor Laws” on page 10.
  6. Have students write a persuasive paper about the need for teen work permits, based on what they’ve learned from the OSHA website, their reading of the child labor laws document, and their own personal experiences. This essay should demonstrate their ability to research and organize information to achieve a purpose.
  7. As a class, have students share their opinions on the topic through a class discussion. Remind students to support their opinions using information they’ve gained in their research.

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 8

  • Goal 2: The learner will use and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
    • Objective 2.02: Use multiple sources of print and non-print information to explore and create research products in both written and presentational forms by:
      • determining purpose, audience, and context.
      • understnaing the focus.
      • recognizing and/or choosing a relevant topic.
      • recognizing and/or selecting presentational format (e.g., video, essay, interactive technology) appropriate to audience.
      • evaluating information for extraneous detail, inconsistencies, relevant facts, and organization.
      • researching and organizing information to achieve purpose.
      • using notes and/or memory aids to structure information.
      • supporting ideas with examples, definitions, analogies, and direct references to primary and secondary sources.
      • noting and/or citing sources used.
      • recognizing the use of and/or employing graphics such as charts, diagrams,and graphs to enhance the communication of information.