Writing to Call Other to Action

Picture
A message to my student game changers...
I have been so inspired and impressed watching your hard work and dedication to our Brooklyn Reads@BAM project that I think you are ready to take the power of your voice and ideas to the next level. For the next 5-10 days we are going to learn how to use the influence you have as writers and thinkers to to persuade (convince) others to take action on an important social issue. 

The poems you wrote for the performance have such power because they channel real emotions - we all know what it feels like to be bullied  or insulted - and your words are a way of fighting back...facing the haters. Now we are going to express our opinions in another way: through building arguments that are based on evidence, and designed to change the thinking of others. It's going to be an amazing journey!
                                                                                                               - Ms. Brody

Part 1 Activities

Should cell phones be allowed in school?

Aim
What social issues are important to me, and how do I begin organizing myself to write an argument?

Task 1
After a short discussion you will watch two videos, taking notes on graphic organizers:

Banning Cell Phones from Class Helps Students Focus by Chris Morrison (NBC Action News)
http://www.kshb.com/dpp/news/education/banning-cell-phones-from-class-helps-students-focus

Plymouth Canton High Schools Lifting Total Cell Phone Ban by Alexis Wiley (WJKB)
http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/18446035/plymouth-canton-high-schools-lifting-total-cell-phone-ban

Task 2
Read an article on the pros and cons of cellphones in the classroom. Take notes on the article as well - make sure you write down the title and author. You can search for your own article or use one of the following:

Should Cell Phones be Banned in School? (Scholastic)
http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/debate/index.asp?article=d1211

Should Cellphones be Allowed in School Settings? (Teen Ink)
http://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/academic/article/447859/Should-Cell-Phones-Be-Allowed-In-School-Settings/

Cell Phones at School: Should they be Allowed? (Family Education)
http://life.familyeducation.com/cellular-telephones/school/51264.html

Exit Ticket
Go to m.socrative.com and enter virtual room number 112721. Five minutes before shutting down your computer, you should answer the following questions:
  1. Name
  2. How well did you understand the material?
  3. What did you learn today?
  4. Please answer the question on the board? (In as few words as possible, what makes a good argument?)
Unit Vocabulary | Keywords
argument
social issues
credible
reference resources
sources
consider
leader
relevant
irrelevant
accuracy
“call to action”
convince and support
social excerpt
search engine
bookmarking
bias
CCSS Addressed
W.4.1 - a, b,c, d
W.4.4
L.4.3
W.4.5
R1.4.1
SL.4.2
SL.4.3
Credits
A significant portion of this literacy unit is based on Literacy in English Language Arts: A Call to Action accessed here.