Internet Lesson Plan: Be Persuasive!
Grade Levels: 5-8 | Subject: Language Arts

	– Teach the Lesson – Assessment – Key Vocabulary – Web Resources – Extend the Lesson – Standards Correlation – Activity Sheet Printer-Friendly Version

Introduction

Students will form their own opinions about persuasive essays after reviewing a site on the topic. Students will then be able to complete an activity sheet about the features of persuasive essays and discuss this topic with their classmates.

Objectives
Students will:

• explore different Internet sites.
  
• work collaboratively with others by sharing information found online.
  
• develop an understanding of a persuasive argument.
  
• recognize processes and strategies that good writers use.

Estimated Time
1 week: Students complete the Internet Activity during their scheduled computer time. Then they discuss their findings during a 30-minute Internet Workshop.

This lesson correlates to these national standards:
International Society of Technology Educators
National Council of Teachers of English

Teach the Lesson

Preparation

You will need to:

• set up a computer schedule.
  
• print out copies of the Persuasive Writing Activity Sheet.
  
• bookmark the following sites:
  
  Writing a Persuasive Essay
  Writing an Essay
  The Writing Assignment
  The Five Paragraph Essay
  Writing Center at Texas A&M University
  Essay Punch
  Ask an Expert

Materials

• Persuasive Writing Activity Sheet
  
• Pencils

Procedure

Introduce

Before students begin searching for information about persuasive essays, have them visit Writing a Persuasive Essay where they can read some current events. Once students have had an opportunity to read the current events, encourage them to share their opinions about these issues and give reasons to support them.

Teach

• Discuss with students when and why someone might write a persuasive essay.
  
• To help students become more familiar with persuasive writing, and writing in general, have them visit Writing an Essay. Demonstrate how to reach this assigned site using the bookmark or favorite folder.
  
• Pass out the Persuasive Writing Activity Sheet. Make sure students understand that all the information they need can be found at the assigned site.
  
• Tell students to be prepared to share their activity worksheet answers during Internet Workshop. Point out that it is important for students to tell where and how they found the information. Encourage them to share any research strategies that they think are helpful.

Model Your Thinking

"The Web page I was looking for would not appear on my screen, so I hit the Reload icon and then the page appeared!"

Independent Practice
Let students decide whether they want to complete the activity worksheet individually or with a classmate during their scheduled computer time.

Close and Assess
Students will discuss their answers to the activity worksheet and useful navigational strategies during Internet Workshop.

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Assessment

Use the following scale for evaluating students' ability to complete the activity sheet and participate in Internet Workshop.

4 – Exemplary Understanding
Student:

• navigates the Internet quickly and efficiently.
  
• records all of the information requested and shares it.
  
• writes a persuasive essay independently.

3 – Competent Understanding
Student:

• navigates the Internet with very few problems.
  
• records most of the information requested and usually shares it.
  
• writes somewhat persuasively.

2 – Developing Understanding
Student:

• performs simple navigational strategies.
  
• records half of the information requested and sometimes shares it.
  
• writes a persuasive essay with some guidance.

1 – Emerging Understanding
Student:

• needs assistance navigating within a specified site.
  
• needs guidance to stay on task.
  
• writes persuasively only with complete guidance.

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Key Vocabulary

favorite – a feature that allows a user to record the location of a site for easy access at a future time

HTTP or Hyper Text Transfer Protocol – a communication standard used by computers on the World Wide Web, seen at the beginning of most URLs as "http"

hyperlink – a connector that takes you to a different resource; usually appears on the screen as colored or underlined text

Internet – a computer network that includes millions of business, government, educational, and individual computers around the world (often called "the Net")

Net – short form of Internet

online – connected to another computer

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Web Resources

Student Sites

Fifth Grade Persuasive Essays
This colorful site shows eight persuasive essays about the environment written by fifth graders.

Teacher Sites

Principles of Composition
This site explains different features of the writing process, structure, and patterns of composition including argumentative essays.

Rubrics
This site features many printable rubrics and checklists for language arts and other subjects.

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Extend the Lesson

• Invite students to create a "Writing Assignment and Writing Process" poster for the classroom or their room at home by modeling the one they see at The Writing Assignment.
  
• Working in pairs, have students choose a topic for a persuasive essay. You may wish to have students visit the Writing Center at Texas A&M University for some ideas about getting started on a persuasive writing piece.

Homework

Have students orally present their persuasive topic to their family members. Encourage them to use their persuasive writing forms to help them with their presentation.

Enrichment

• Students can actually work through a tutorial for writing a persuasive (argumentative) essay at Essay Punch. This site states a current topic and leads students through each step of the essay-writing process.
  
• If you have a school or class email address, direct students to Ask an Expert, where they can get support information for their persuasive arguments. They can search databases of answers to common questions and even write to experts in many different fields. Remind students to only use their first name and to give the school address.

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Standards Correlation

National Technology Education Standards
Students:

• use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources.
  
• use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity.
  
• demonstrate a sound understanding of the nature and operation of technology systems.

National English Education Standards
Students:

• use written language to accomplish their own purpose of persuading an audience.
  
• use a variety of technological and information resources to gather and synthesize information and to create and communicate knowledge.

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