never sometimes usually always Spelling, Punctuation, Neatness:
ever sometimes usually always
5. I thought that using the rubric helped me be a better writer. never sometimes usually always
6. I would like to use a rubric in the future.
never sometimes usually always
If there is anything you would like to write about using the rubric you may do so on the lines below.
______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________
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Appendix G
Chart of Elements of Persuasive Writing Chart • State what your opinion is in the beginning. T
• Give lots of reasons why. K
• Give specific details to go with your reasons. K • Choose interesting persuasive words. T
• Use ! and capital letters when appropriate but be nice about it. K/T • Show how other people like it or have it. K
• Make promises to persuade. K • Restate your opinion. T
• Exaggeration may be appropriate. K/T • Comparing might get your point across. K/T
These three were added later, based on Common Core Standards:
• Use Transition words. T
• Make sure it is written in an order that makes sense. T • Have a conclusion. T
K indicates that the kids thought of the idea. T indicates that the teacher added the idea. K/T indicates that the students initiated the idea and the teacher put it into words based on student conversation.
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Appendix H
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Appendix I
Class Findings of Persuasive Elements Students’ Responses to Persuasive Genre Books:
(Italics in parenthesis are my words which I believe express what the students were trying to get across.)
I Wanna Iguana:
• Alex is trying to make it sound like an Iguana is cuter than a hamster. • Iguanas can make a good friend.
• Alex could teach it tricks.
• Alex said that he would clean the Iguana’s cage and feed it (and water it).
I Wanna New Room:
• He (Alex) wrote letters to his parents.
• Alex told his parents how annoying his brother was. • He told his parents how he needed his own space. • He said that his brother keeps him up at night.
• He used capital letters and exclamation points (to show that he felt strongly about something)
Earrings by :
• She (the main character) said that she would be proud of them. • She said that wearing earrings would help her posture.
• She said that they would make her look and feel good. • She said that every girl has them.
• She said that she was responsible because she clears the plates and she takes showers without being told to, implying that she is mature enough to have them.
• She is the only girl in her class that doesn’t have them. My Brother Dan’s Delicious:
• He tried to show that:
his brother is more delicious than he is It would be easier to eat Dan than him
His brother would make more of an easy meal because he would be easy to catch.
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Appendix J
Teacher’s Findings of Persuasive Elements The teacher’s observations about the mentor texts:
I Wanna Iguana:
Right away Alex tells what he thinks: “I know you don’t think I should have Mikey Gulligan’s baby iguana when he moves, but here’s why I should.”
He says it will get eaten by Stinky’s dog Lurch, if Stinky takes it instead of him. He says that they are quiet pets.
He signs his letters in such a way as to make his mother think about him in a positive way, “smart and sensitive kid,” “your adorable son” “Love and a zillion and one kisses” “Your son who has learned his lesson” He chooses his words carefully to try and persuade.
He says that he will try and clean is room if he gets one and he will even pay for the lettuce.
Several times he states,” if I had an iguana…” throughout the book. I Wanna New Room:
Right away Alex states his opinion: “I know you think I should share a room with Ethan now that we have Baby Annie, but here’s why I shouldn’t.”
He doesn’t just say “He’s annoying.” He tells specific things he does that are annoying, like: “Sticks crayons up his nose” “barks like a walrus” “snores like Grandpa Ralph” He promises to keep his room clean if he gets his room back.
He tells how even Stinky’s dog Lurch has his own room (comparing). He asks several times throughout the book for his old room back. Earrings:
Right in the beginning the main character states her opinion very strongly:
“I want them. I need them. I love them. I’ve got to have them. My mom and dad won’t let me have them. Earrings. Beautiful earrings for pierced ears.” (pages 1,2) She states how other people have them.
She tells that she doesn’t want to have to wait for them.
She tells that she is the only girl in the world without them (exaggeration). She takes her parents reasons for not getting them and argues their points.
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She tells them all of the things she will do if they will let her get them (clean up her room for one whole year, read a book once a week for a whole year, walk the dog every day for a whole year).
She repeats what she wants throughout the book.
My Brother Dan’s Delicious:
In the beginning when he talks about the third step in dealing with monsters and he says it is to distract them, he states his distraction clearly: “Are there any monsters about? If there are, I just want you to know, my brother Dan’s delicious!”
He said that his brother is bigger than he, so would be a bigger meal. His brother eats healthier than him, so he would be better to eat. He repeats throughout the book his opinion that Dan is delicious. His word choices are very persuasive and interesting:
Flavor factory
Uniquely appetizing taste
Delicious, divine, delectable, delightful, Meaty, mouth watering
Unparalleled taste sensation He uses similes to compare:
He’s like a Thanksgiving turkey already stuffed for the platter!
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Appendix K
Student and Teachers Findings in Persuasive Texts I Wanna Iguana:
• Alex is trying to make it sound like an Iguana is cuter than a hamster. • Iguanas can make a good friend.
• Alex could teach it tricks.
• Alex said that he would clean the Iguana’s cage and feed it (and water it).
Right away Alex tells what he thinks: “I know you don’t think I should have Mikey Gulligan’s baby iguana when he moves, but here’s why I should.”
He says it will get eaten by Stinky’s dog Lurch, if Stinky takes it instead of him. He says that they are quiet pets.
He signs his letters in such a way as to make his mother think about him in a positive way, “smart and sensitive kid,” “your adorable son” “Love and a zillion and one kisses” “Your son who has learned his lesson”
He says that he will try and clean his room if he gets one and he will even pay for the lettuce.
Several times he states,” if I had an iguana…” throughout the book (restates his opnion).
I Wanna New Room:
• He (Alex) wrote letters to his parents.
• Alex told his parents how annoying his brother was. • He told his parents how he needed his own space. • He said that his brother keeps him up at night.
• He used capital letters and exclamation points (to show that he felt strongly about something)
Right away Alex states his opinion: “I know you think I should share a room with Ethan now that we have Baby Annie, but here’s why I shouldn’t.”
He doesn’t just say “He’s annoying.” He tells specific things he does that are annoying, like: “Sticks crayons up his nose” “barks like a walrus” “snores like Grandpa Ralph” He promises to keep his room clean if he gets his room back.
He tells how even Stinky’s dog Lurch has his own room (comparing).
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Earrings by :
• She (the main character) said that she would be proud of them. • She said that wearing earrings would help her posture.
• She said that they would make her look and feel good. • She said that every girl has them.
• She said that she was responsible because she clears the plates and she takes showers without being told to, implying that she is mature enough to have them.
• She is the only girl in her class that doesn’t have them.
Right in the beginning the main character states her opinion very strongly:
“I want them. I need them. I love them. I’ve got to have them. My mom and dad won’t let me have them. Earrings. Beautiful earrings for pierced ears.” (pages 1,2) She states how other people have them.
She tells that she doesn’t want to have to wait for them.
She tells that she is the only girl in the world without them (exaggeration). She takes her parents reasons for not getting them and argues their points.
She states how she doesn’t want anything else except earrings, not even new clothes. She tells them all of the things she will do if they will let her get them (clean up her
room for one whole year, read a book once a week for a whole year, walk the dog every day for a whole year).
She repeats what she wants throughout the book: beautiful, glorious earrings (restates her opinion).
My Brother Dan’s Delicious:
• He tried to show that:
his brother is more delicious than he is (comparing and contrasting) It would be easier to eat Dan than him
His brother would make more of an easy meal because he would be easy to catch.
In the beginning when he talks about the third step in dealing with monsters and he says it is to distract them, he states his distraction clearly: “Are there any monsters about? If there are, I just want you to know, my brother Dan’s delicious!”
He said that his brother is bigger than he, so would be a bigger meal. His brother eats healthier than him, so he would be better to eat.
He repeats throughout the book his opinion that Dan is delicious (he restates his opinion)
. His word choices are very persuasive and interesting: Flavor factory
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Uniquely appetizing taste
Delicious, divine, delectable, delightful, Meaty, mouth watering
Unparalleled taste sensation He uses similes to compare:
He’s like a Thanksgiving turkey already stuffed for the platter!
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Appendix L
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