Draft letters: Improving student writing through critical thinking
http://www.readwritethink.org/lessons/lesson_view.asp?id=902
A lesson plan for grades 9 and 12 English Language Arts
In this lesson, students reflect on a single piece of writing that they have completed, thinking more deeply about their writing and how they work as writers. Students write reflective letters to the teacher, identifying their own thoughts on the piece that the teacher is about to read. This lesson explains the strategy of writing draft letters and provides models for the project, which can be adapted for any grade level and any writing project. After the teacher explains the assignment and reviews the basic components of a letter, students brainstorm questions to generate topics for conversation. In small groups, students read two sample letters and compare the information that they communicate with readers. After students have discussed the two letters in their groups, the class identifies techniques of good letters, and this list becomes an informal checklist for well-written draft letters. Finally, once students understand the purpose for the assignment, they write their own draft letters to submit with a piece of writing for the teacher’s feedback. Readwritethink provides sample draft letters, reflection questions for the assignment, and links to an online letter generator tool. The lesson suggests several extension activities and offers links to web resources that focus on reflective writing.
North Carolina Curriculum Alignment
English Language Arts (2004)
Grade 9
- Goal 4: The learner will create and use standards to critique communication.
- Objective 4.02: Read and critique various genres by:
- using preparation, engagement, and reflection strategies appropriate for the text.
- identifying and using standards to evaluate aspects of the work or the work as a whole.
- judging the impact of different stylistic and literary devices on the work.
- Objective 4.02: Read and critique various genres by:
Grade 12
- Goal 4: The learner will analyze and critique texts from various perspectives and approaches.
- Objective 4.01: Develop critiques that enable an audience to judge claims and arguments by:
-establishing and applying clear, credible criteria for evaluation.
- substantiating assessments with reasons and evidence.
- Objective 4.01: Develop critiques that enable an audience to judge claims and arguments by:
