Persuading an audience: Writing effective letters to the editor

North Carolina Curriculum Alignment

English Language Arts (2004)

Grade 7

• Goal 1: The learner will use language to express individual perspectives in response to personal, social, cultural, and historical issues.
  • Objective 1.01: Narrate an account such as a news story or historical episode which:
    • creates a coherent organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
    • orients the reader/listener to the scene, the people, and the events.
    • engages the reader/listener by establishing a context and creating a point of view.
    • establishes the signficance of events.
• 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).
  • Objective 3.03: Create arguments that evaluate by:
    • understand the importance of establishing a firm judgment.
    • justifying the judgment with logical, relevant reasons, clear examples, and supporting details.
    • creating an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
• Goal 4: The learner will refine critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate text and multimedia.
  • Objective 4.02: Develop (with assistance) and apply appropriate criteria to evaluate the quality of the communication by:
    • using knowledge of language structure and literary or media techniques.
    • drawing conclusions based on evidence, reasons, or relevant information.
    • considering the implications, consequences, or impact of those conclusions.
• Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of application of grammar and language usage.
  • Objective 6.02: Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:
    • using common spelling rules, applying common spelling patterns, and developing and mastering an individualized list of words that are commonly misspelled.
    • mastering proofreading symbols for editing.
    • producing final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.
    • listening to and monitoring self to correct errors.

Grade 8

• 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.
  • 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.
• Goal 3: The learner will continue to refine the understanding and use of argument.
  • Objective 3.03: Evaluate and create arguments that persuade by:
    • understanding the importance of the engagement of audience by establishing a context, creating a persona, and otherwise developing interest.
    • noting and/or developing a controlling idea that makes a clear and knowledgeable judgment.
    • arranging details, reasons, and examples effectively and persuasively.
    • anticipating and addressing reader/listener concerns and counterarguments.
    • recognizing and/or creating an organizing structure appropriate to purpose, audience, and context.
• Goal 4: The learner will continue to refine critical thinking skills and create criteria to evaluate print and non-print materials.
  • Objective 4.03: Use the stance of a critic to:
    • consider alternative points of view or reasons.
    • remain fair-minded and open to other interpretations.
    • construct a critical response/review of a work/topic.
• Goal 5: The learner will respond to various literary genres using interpretive and evaluative processes.
  • Objective 5.02: Study the characteristics of literary genres (fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry) through:
    • reading a variety of literature and other text (e.g., young adult novels, short stories, biographies, plays, free verse, narrative poems).
    • evaluating what impact genre-specific characteristics have on the meaning of the text.
    • evaluating how the author's choice and use of a genre shapes the meaning of the literary work.
    • evaluating what impact literary elements have on the meaning of the text.
• Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of grammar and language usage.
  • Objective 6.01: Model an understanding of conventional written and spoken expression by:
    • using a variety of sentence types, punctuating properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.
    • using subject-verb agreement and verb tense that are appropriate for the meaning of the sentence.
    • applying the parts of speech to clarify language usage.
    • using pronouns correctly, including clear antecedents and case.
    • using phrases and clauses correctly, including proper punctuation (e.g. prepositional phrases, appositives, dependent and independent clauses.)
    • determining the meaning of unfamiliar vocabulary words using context clues, a dictionary, a glossary, a thesaurus, and/or structural analysis (roots, prefixes, suffixes) of words.
    • extending vocabulary knowledge by learning and using new words.
    • evaluating the use and power of dialects in standard/nonstandard English usage.
    • applying correct language conventions and usage during formal oral presentations.
  • Objective 6.02: Continue to identify and edit errors in spoken and written English by:
    • using correct spelling of words appropriate in difficulty for eighth graders and refining mastery of an individualized list of commonly misspelled words.
    • producing final drafts/presentations that demonstrate accurate spelling and the correct use of punctuation, capitalization, and format.
    • self correcting errors in everyday speech.
    • independently practicing formal oral presentations.

Grade 10 — English II

• Goal 3: The learner will defend argumentative positions on literary or nonliterary issues.
  • Objective 3.01: Examine controversial issues by:
    • sharing and evaluating initial personal response.
    • researching and summarizing printed data.
    • developing a framework in which to discuss the issue (creating a context).
    • compiling personal responses and researched data to organize the argument.
    • presenting data in such forms as a graphic, an essay, a speech, or a video.
  • Objective 3.02: Produce editorials or responses to editorials for a neutral audience by providing:
    • a clearly stated position or proposed solution.
    • relevant, reliable support.
  • Objective 3.03: Respond to issues in literature in such a way that:
    • requires gathering of information to prove a particular point.
    • effectively uses reason and evidence to prove a given point.
    • emphasizes culturally significant events.