Grade 1 – Opinion/Argument Writing

Dysart Unified School District

1st GRADE

InteractiveOpinion/ArgumentWriting

Language Arts Benchmark 1

Social Studies DBQ – Form A

People have unlimited wants and desires but only limited resources. We all make economic choices.

Student Name
School
Teacher Name / SCORED USING SIX-TRAITS
Ideas/Content ______
Organization ______
Voice ______
Word Choice ______
Sentence Fluency ______
Conventions ______
Overall Score ______
Question:
In your town (Surprise) is there a need for more farmland or more stores to better meet you wants and needs? Give at least two reasons why.

Discuss the pictures below as a class:

  • What are some things you notice in the pictures?
  • Discuss vocabulary: crops, farmland, plows, tractors, produce, vegetables and fruits.
  • Why do we need/want farmland and produce?

(Teacher: please refer to the suggested response guide.)

Write about what you discussed about what you discussed with your teacher and classmates about the pictures on this page.
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Discuss the pictures below as a class:

  • What are some things you notice in the pictures?
  • Discuss vocabulary: grocery store, produce, buying, selling, needs and wants.
  • Why do we need grocery stores?

(Teachers: please refer to the suggested response guide.)

Do you believe grocery stores are a good use of the land in your community? Why or why not?
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Discuss the similarities and differences between the two uses of the same land in the pictures.

Use the Venn diagram to identify differences and similarities between the two uses of the same land.

FIRST DRAFT: Now use the paper provided by your teacher to write the first draft of your paragraph.

Opinion Paragraph Peer Revision and Evaluation

Name of Writer: ______
Name of Listener: ______
Directions:
Listen to your friend read his or her paragraph. Check Yes or No to answer the questions.

Did My Friend… / Yes / No
-Make his/her opinion clear?
-Write about one main idea?
-Write two or more facts about the topic?
-Explain the facts?
-Write a closing?
  1. Tell your friend about anything he/she should change, add or delete (take out) to write a better paragraph. List added details or changes here:

Opinion Editing Checklist

Did My Friend…. / Yes / No
-Use complete sentences?
-Begin sentences differently?
-Use capitals, commas and correct end punctuation?
-Spell check?

I liked my friend’s paragraph because ______

6-TRAITSOF WRITING- K-2vRUBRIC

All Score Point 5

IDEAS
_____ Presents a fresh/original idea
_____ Topic is narrowed and focused
_____ Develops one clear, main idea
_____ Uses interesting, important details for
support.
_____ Writer understands topic well / ORGANIZATION
_____ An original title is present (if requested)
_____ Transitions connect main ideas
_____ The opening attracts
_____ An effective ending is tried
_____ Easy to follow
_____ Important ideas stand out
VOICE
_____ Uses text to elicit a variety of emotions
_____ Takes some risks to say more than what is
expected
_____ Point of view is evident
_____ Writes with a clear sense of audience
_____ Cares deeply about the topic / WORD CHOICE
_____ Everyday words used well
_____ Precise, accurate, fresh, original words
_____ Creates vivid images in a natural way
_____ Avoids repetition, clichés or vague
language
_____ Attempts at figurative language
SENTENCE FLUENCY
_____ Consistently uses sentence variety
_____ Sentence structure is correct and creative
_____ Variety of sentence beginnings
_____ Natural rhythm, cadence and flow
_____ Sentences have texture which clarify the important idea / CONVENTIONS
_____ High frequency words are spelled correctly and very close on other words
_____ Capitals used for obvious proper nouns as well as sentence beginnings
_____ Basic punctuation is used correctly
and/or creatively
_____ Indents consistently to show paragraphs
_____ Shows control over standard grammar
FINAL PARAGRAPH
You have read, discussed and viewed pictures about the different uses of farmland.
In your town (Surprise) is there a need for more farmland or more stores based on your wants and needs? Give at least two reasons why.
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Dysart Unified School District – June 2014Page 1