I. Curricular Framework

Concept:

Persuasion

Essential Question:

How is the process of writing a persuasive letter similar to writing a persuasive piece of Literatu

Bridge:

Essence of Giving

Content:

Persuasive Writing

Outcomes:

II. Standards Aligned

III. Instruction and Assessment

1. Connect: Connecting to the Concept Experientially

Objective: To hook students into the idea of giving.

Activity: Set up this scenario: "You have decided to give one $1,000 gift to one person. Fill out the blank check (run off blank checks with your school's logo and distribute) and underneath it state what you are buying your chosen person and list three to five reasons why."

Assessment: Involvement of students in this procedure.

2. Attend: Attending to the Connection

Objective: To have students rationalize their gift and recipient choices.

Activity: Students will discuss which recipient and gifts they have chosen in 1R and share their 3-5 reasons for these choices. Students vote for the most deserving recipient and best gift matchd.

Assessment: Involvement of students in this procedure.

Assessment, Phase One, Level of Engagement, Fascination:

3. Image: Creating a Mental Picture

Objective: To increase student understanding of giving.

Activity: Students cluster the word "giving." Students create visual analogs to portray the essence of "giving."

Assessment: Quality of participation, mindmaps, and analogs.

Assessment, Phase Two, Seeing the Big Picture:

4. Inform: Receiving Facts & Knowledge

Objective: To develop student knowledge of persuasion, letter writing, and the story.

Activity: Students read appropriate chapters in text on persuasion and letter writing. Then they read "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry.

Assessment: Student note-taking and teacher checking for understanding.

Assessment, Phase Three, Success with Acquiring Knowledge:

5. Practice: Developing Skills

Objective: To analyze what was learned in 2L.

Activity: Answer questions about story, quiz over story. Practice worksheets on "persuasion" and "letter writing."

Assessment: Quality of all written work.

Assessment, Phase Four, Success with Acquiring Skills:

6. Extend: Extending Learning to the Outside World

Objective: To extend the internalization of what has been learned.

Activity: Write a persuasive letter to the person student chose in 1R explaining to that person by using details and elaboration why the gift was chosen.

Assessment: Student involvement in completing letter.

7. Refine: Refining the Extension

Objective: To evaluate letters.

Activity: Have students exchange letters and peer-edit papers by having them number how many detailed elaborations were used. Teacher grades.

Assessment: Quality and concentration of editor - students. Quality of written work.

8. Perform: Creative Manifestation of Material Learned

Objective: To publicize papers.

Activity: Post letters on bulletin board.

Assessment: Enjoyment of experience.

Assessment, Phase Five,Performance, Creative Use of Material Learned: