Many of our third grade students have been thinking about the question "Are friendships necessary?" This inquiry question was considered as they read a variety of stories. A few of the GT students extended this question to the book Poppy by Avi. This question helped the students focus on the characters and how their actions and choices impacted the plot.
As we wrapped up this book study, the students were asked to respond to the original question with their opinion and evidence from the text to support their thinking. This is in line with the new Common Core State Standards that Idaho recently adopted. CCSS Writing #1 requires third graders to:3.W.1 Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons.
a. Introduce the topic or text they are writing bout, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons.
b. Provide reasons that support the opinion.
c. Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, for example) to connect opinion and reasons.
d. Provide a concluding statement or section.
As the students move toward fourth grade, this standard moves from a paragraph to a longer piece of writing with introductory and concluding sections. This standard will eventually evolve into an argument with claims and evidentiary reasoning at the high school level.
I thought the students had a good first try at opinion writing and I wanted to share their work with you. The copies from their Reader's Notebooks was too faint to share pictures, but here are their finished (without my editing) pieces. Enjoy!
"I think friendships are necessary and the book Poppy proves my point because if poppy hadn't met her friends she would have never completed her journey. For example when Poppy was fighting Oxax she needed Ereaths quill if Poppy hadn't met Ereath Ocax would have killed her. In order to find out the truth, start her journey and save her family Ragweed died. Everybody needs a friend like Poppy's to start their adventure in life."
N. H.
"I think friendships are necessary and I can prove it in the book Poppy. For instance, in chapter 11 Ereth chases a fox away for Poppy because the fox wants to eat her. Ereth also leaves behind a quill in order to defeat Ocax. Ereths friendship helped Poppy on her jorny, but I think everyone needs a friend."
C.P.
"I think friendships are necessary and the book Poppy proves my point. Based on what I read, Poppy runs into Ereth's log and the fox was trieing to eat Poppy so Ereth helped Poppy get away from the fox. For example, the fox wouldn't be an example because he wants to eat Poppy. Ereth was a good friend to Poppy so I think every body should have friends."
A.W.
"Poppy had friends and they were necessary. According to the text in chapter 11 Ereth was nice enough to chase away a fox for Poppy so she won't get eaten when she leaves. In addition, later in the story, Ereth leaves Poppy a quill for her protection. She needed this weapon from her friend to defeat Mr. Ocax. Ereth's friendship was appropriate for Poppy on this journey."
A.P.
