Dear Librarian: Writing a persuasive letter

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 3

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.04: Increase sight vocabulary, reading vocabulary, and writing vocabulary through:
    • wide reading.
    • word study.
    • listening.
    • discussion.
    • book talks.
    • book clubs.
    • seminars.
    • viewing.
    • role play.
    • studying author's craft.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, or viewing by:
    • setting a purpose.
    • previewing the text.
    • making predictions.
    • asking questions.
    • locating information for specific purposes.
    • making connections.
    • using story structure and text organization to comprehend.
  • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
    • fiction (short stories, novels, fantasies, fairy tales, fables).
    • nonfiction (biographies, letters, articles, procedures and instructions, charts, maps).
    • poetry (proverbs, riddles, limericks, simple poems).
    • drama (skits, plays).
  • Objective 2.04: Identify and interpret elements of fiction and nonfiction and support by referencing the text to determine the:
    • author's purpose.
    • plot.
    • conflict.
    • sequence.
    • resolution.
    • lesson and/or message.
    • main idea and supporting details.
    • cause and effect.
    • fact and opinion.
    • point of view (author and character).
    • author's use of figurative language (e.g., simile, metaphor, imagery).
  • Objective 2.08: Listen actively by:
    • facing the speaker.
    • making eye contact.
    • asking questions to clarify the message.
    • asking questions to gain additional information and ideas.
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • present information in a sequenced, logical manner.
    • discuss.
    • sustain conversation on a topic.
    • share information and ideas.
    • recount or narrate.
    • answer open-ended questions.
    • report information on a topic.
    • explain own learning.
  • Objective 4.03: Share written and oral products in a variety of ways (e.g., author's chair, book making, publications, discussions, presentations).
  • Objective 4.05: Identify (with assistance) the purpose, the audience, and the appropriate form for the oral or written task.
  • Objective 4.07: Compose a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama selections using self-selected topics and forms (e.g., poems, simple narratives, short reports, learning logs, letters, notes, directions, instructions).
  • Objective 4.08: Focus reflection and revision (with assistance) on target elements by:
    • clarifying ideas.
    • adding descriptive words and phrases.
    • sequencing events and ideas.
    • combining short, related sentences.
    • strengthening word choice.
  • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal narrative, short report, friendly letter, directions and instructions).
  • Objective 4.10: Explore technology as a tool to create a written product.
• Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
  • Objective 5.01: Use correct capitalization (e.g., geographical place names, holidays, special events, titles) and punctuation (e.g., commas in greetings, dates, city and state; underlining book titles; periods after initials and abbreviated titles; apostrophes in contractions).
  • Objective 5.02: Use correct subject/verb agreement.
  • Objective 5.03: Demonstrate understanding by using a variety of complete sentences (declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory) in writing and speaking.
  • Objective 5.04: Compose two or more paragraphs with:
    • topic sentences.
    • supporting details.
    • appropriate, logical sequence.
    • sufficient elaboration.
  • Objective 5.06: Proofread own writing for spelling and correct most misspellings independently with reference to resources (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, word walls).
  • Objective 5.07: Edit (with assistance) to use conventions of written language and format.
  • Objective 5.08: Create readable documents with legible handwriting (manuscript and cursive).

Grade 4

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.04: Increase reading and writing vocabulary through:
    • wide reading.
    • word study.
    • knowledge of homophones, synonyms, antonyms, homonyms.
    • knowledge of multiple meanings of words.
    • writing process elements.
    • writing as a tool for learning.
    • seminars.
    • book clubs.
    • discussions.
    • examining the author's craft.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.02: Interact with the text before, during, and after reading, listening, and viewing by:
    • setting a purpose using prior knowledge and text information.
    • making predictions.
    • formulating questions.
    • locating relevant information.
    • making connections with previous experiences, information, and ideas.
  • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, including:
    • fiction (legends, novels, folklore, science fiction).
    • nonfiction (autobiographies, informational books, diaries, journals).
    • poetry (concrete, haiku).
    • drama (skits, plays).
  • Objective 2.09: Listen actively by:
    • asking questions.
    • paraphrasing what was said.
    • interpreting speaker's verbal and non-verbal messages.
    • interpreting speaker's purposes and/or intent.
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • present information and ideas in a clear, concise manner.
    • discuss.
    • interview.
    • solve problems.
    • make decisions.
  • Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations using visual aids with an awareness of purpose and audience.
  • Objective 4.04: Share self-selected texts from a variety of genres (e.g., poetry, letters, narratives, essays, presentations).
  • Objective 4.05: Use planning strategies to generate topics and organize ideas (e.g., brainstorming, mapping, webbing, reading, discussion).
  • Objective 4.07: Compose fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using self-selected and assigned topics and forms (e.g., personal and imaginative narratives, research reports, diaries, journals, logs, rules, instructions).
  • Objective 4.08: Focus revision on a specific element such as:
    • word choice.
    • sequence of events and ideas.
    • transitional words.
    • sentence patterns.
  • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., personal and imaginative narrative, research reports, learning logs, letters of request, letters of complaint).
  • Objective 4.10: Use technology as a tool to gather, organize, and present information.
• Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
  • Objective 5.01: Use correct capitalization (e.g., names of languages, nationalities, musical compositions) and punctuation (e.g., commas in a series, commas in direct address, commas and quotation marks in dialogue, apostrophes in possessives).
  • Objective 5.02: Demonstrate understanding in speaking and writing by appropriate usage of:
    • pronouns.
    • subject/verb agreement.
    • verb tense consistency.
    • subject consistency.
  • Objective 5.03: Elaborate information and ideas in writing and speaking by using:
    • simple and compound sentences.
    • regular and irregular verbs.
    • adverbs.
    • prepositions.
    • coordinating conjunctions.
  • Objective 5.04: Compose multiple paragraphs with:
    • topic sentences.
    • specific, relevant details.
    • logical progression and movement of ideas.
    • coherence.
    • elaboration.
    • concluding statement related to the topic.
  • Objective 5.05: Use visual (orthography) and meaning-based strategies as primary sources for correct spelling.
  • Objective 5.06: Proofread and correct most misspellings independently with reference to resources (e.g., dictionaries, thesauri, glossaries, computer spell-checks, and other classroom sources).
  • Objective 5.07: Use established criteria to edit for language conventions and format.
  • Objective 5.08: Demonstrate evidence of language cohesion by:
    • logical sequence of fiction and nonfiction retells.
    • time order sequence of events.
    • sustaining conversations on a topic.

Grade 5

• Goal 1: The learner will apply enabling strategies and skills to read and write.
  • Objective 1.04: Use word reference materials (e.g., glossary, dictionary, thesaurus, on-line reference tools) to identify and comprehend unknown words.
• Goal 2: The learner will apply strategies and skills to comprehend text that is read, heard, and viewed.
  • Objective 2.03: Read a variety of texts, such as:
    • fiction (tall tales, myths).
    • nonfiction (books of true experience, newspaper and magazine articles, schedules).
    • poetry (narrative, lyric, and cinquains).
    • drama (plays and skits).
  • Objective 2.09: Listen actively and critically by:
    • asking questions.
    • delving deeper into the topic.
    • elaborating on the information and ideas presented.
    • evaluating information and ideas.
    • making inferences and drawing conclusions.
    • making judgments.
• Goal 4: The learner will apply strategies and skills to create oral, written, and visual texts.
  • Objective 4.02: Use oral and written language to:
    • formulate hypotheses.
    • evaluate information and ideas.
    • present and support arguments.
    • influence the thinking of others.
  • Objective 4.03: Make oral and written presentations to inform or persuade selecting vocabulary for impact.
  • Objective 4.05: Use a variety of preliminary strategies to plan and organize the writing and speaking task considering purpose, audience, and timeline.
  • Objective 4.06: Compose a draft that elaborates on major ideas and adheres to the topic by using an appropriate organizational pattern that accomplishes the purpose of the writing task and effectively communicates its content.
  • Objective 4.07: Compose a variety of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama using self-selected topic and format (e.g., poetry, research reports, news articles, letters to the editor, business letters).
  • Objective 4.08: Focus revision on target elements by:
    • improving word choice.
    • rearranging text for clarity.
    • creating simple and/or complex sentences for clarity or impact.
    • developing a lead, characters, or mood.
  • Objective 4.09: Produce work that follows the conventions of particular genres (e.g., clarification, essay, feature story, business letter).
  • Objective 4.10: Use technology as a tool to enhance and/or publish a product.
• Goal 5: The learner will apply grammar and language conventions to communicate effectively.
  • Objective 5.01: Consistently use correct capitalization (e.g., names of magazines, newspapers, organizations) and punctuation (e.g., colon to introduce a list, commas in apposition, commas used in compound sentences).
  • Objective 5.02: Demonstrate understanding in speaking and writing by using:
    • troublesome verbs.
    • nominative, objective, and possessive pronouns.
  • Objective 5.03: Elaborate information and ideas in speaking and writing by using:
    • prepositional phrases.
    • transitions.
    • coordinating and/or subordinating conjunctions.
  • Objective 5.04: Determine the impact of word choice on written and spoken language.
  • Objective 5.05: Spell most commonly used words accurately using a multi-strategy approach to the learning of new spellings.
  • Objective 5.06: Proofread for accuracy of spelling using appropriate strategies to confirm spelling and to correct errors.
  • Objective 5.07: Edit final product for grammar, language conventions, and format.
  • Objective 5.08: Create readable documents through legible handwriting and word processing.