Persuasive essay: Environmental issues

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 6

• Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives drawn from personal or related experience.
  • Objective 1.03: Interact appropriately in group settings by:
    • listening attentively.
    • showing empathy.
    • contributing relevant comments connecting personal experiences to content.
    • monitoring own understanding of the discussion and seeking clarification as needed.
• Goal 2: The learner will explore and analyze information from a variety of sources.
  • Objective 2.01: Explore informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understand of what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
    • studying the characteristics of informational works.
    • restating and summarizing information.
    • determining the importance and accuracy of information.
    • making connections between works, self and related topics/information.
    • comparing and/or contrasting information.
    • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
    • generating questions.
• Goal 3: The learner will examine the foundations of argument.
  • Objective 3.01: Explore argumentative works that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understanding what is read, heard, and/or viewed.
    • analyzing the characteristics of argumentative works.
    • determining the importance of author's word choice and focus.
    • summarizing the author's purpose and stance.
    • making connections between works, self and related topics.
    • drawing inferences.
    • responding to public documents (such as but not limited to editorials and school and community policies).
    • distinguishing between fact and opinion.

Grade 7

• Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives in response to personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
  • Objective 1.03: Interact in group settings by:
    • responding appropriately to comments and questions.
    • offering personal opinions confidently without dominating.
    • giving appropriate reasons that support opinions.
    • soliciting and respecting another person's opinion.
• Goal 2: The learner will synthesize and use information from a variety of sources.
  • Objective 2.01: Respond to informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
    • analyzing the characteristics of informational works.
    • summarizing information.
    • determining the importance of information.
    • making connections to related topics/information.
    • drawing inferences and/or conclusions.
    • generating questions.
• Goal 3: The learner will refine the understanding and use of argument.
  • Objective 3.01: Analyze a variety of public documents that establish a position or point of view by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and /or viewed.
    • identifying the arguments and positions stated or implied and the evidence used to support them.
    • recognizing bias, emotional factors, and/or semantic slanting.
    • examining the effectiveness of style, tone, and use of language.
    • summarizing the author's purpose and stance.
    • examining the importance and impact of establishing a position or point-of-view.
    • making connections between works, self and related topics.
    • drawing inferences.
    • responding to public documents (such as but not limited to editorials, reviews, local/state/national policies/issues).

Grade 8

• Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives through analysis of personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
  • Objective 1.03: Interact in group activities and/or seminars in which the student:
    • shares personal reactions to questions raised.
    • gives reasons and cites examples from text in support of expressed opinions.
    • clarifies, illustrates, or expands on a response when asked to do so, and asks classmates for similar expansion.
• Goal 2: The learner will use and evaluate information from a variety of sources.
  • Objective 2.01: Analyze and evaluate informational materials that are read, heard, and/or viewed by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
    • recognizing the characteristics of informational materials.
    • summarizing information.
    • determining the importance of information.
    • making connections to related topics/information.
    • drawing inferences.
    • generating questions.
    • extending ideas.
• Goal 3: The learner will continue to refine the understanding and use of argument.
  • Objective 3.01: Explore and evaluate argumentative works that are read, heard and/or viewed by:
    • monitoring comprehension for understanding of what is read, heard and/or viewed.
    • analyzing the work by identifying the arguments and positions stated or implied and the evidence used to support them.
    • identifying the social context of the argument.
    • recognizing the effects of bias, emotional factors, and/or semantic slanting.
    • comparing the argument and counter-argument presented.
    • identifying/evaluating the effectiveness of tone, style, and use of language.
    • evaluating the author's purpose and stance
    • making connections between works, self and related topics.
    • responding to public documents (such as but not limited to editorials, reviews, local, state, and national policies/issues including those with a historical context).