What's the problem?
Teacher Jocelyn Holden
| YEAR
|
LEVEL
|
DURATION
|
| 10
|
4-6
|
4 weeks
|
| Achievement Objective Being Assessed
|
Learning Outcomes
|
| Transactional Writing
|
Process and publish in Tearaway
or a class magazine one piece of persuasive transactional writing which outlines a teenage problem and its possible solutions using appropriate structure, linking of main ideas with researched supporting detail and correct register.
|
| Processes
|
| Exploring language
|
Identify and use the conventions and structures of a formal opinion essay.
|
| Processing Information
|
Gather, select and present information using a range of ICT.
|
| Supporting Achievement Objective
|
Learning Outcomes
|
| Interpersonal Speaking and Listening
|
Listen and speak to others to clarify ideas and opinions.
|
| Presenting
|
Use word processors to communicate their writing/ideas to an authentic audience.
|
| NCEA Link
|
| Assessment:
|
Formative
|
| Achievement Standard:
|
AS90053 (English 1.2): Produce formal writing.
|
Introduction
The aim of this unit is for students to develop their persuasive writing and information gathering skills using various forms of information and communication technology. It is hoped that the context of 'teenage problems' will provide an authentic and personally relevant purpose. A 'negotiation' and 'self-assessment checklist' approach is used to give students some control of their own learning. The final product is an opinion essay which answers the questions: 'What is a major problem facing teenagers today? What can be done about it? '
Teaching and learning activities
Select and adapt these learning activities to best meet the needs of your students, and to fit the time available:
Learning task 1
Learning task 2
Learning task 3
Assessment
Publication of a piece of transactional writing which argues a researched point of view suitable for publication in a class magazine or Tearaway
.
Resources
Electronic
-
Online Module Maker
Contains guidance on how to build online research modules which will challenge your students to make up their own minds while supplying them with rich information to support such thinking.
Print
- Reisfeld R. & Morreale M. (1999) Got Issues Much? Celebrities Share Their Traumas and Triumphs, Scholastic
-
Tearaway Magazine
The June 1999 edition has an excellent feature on Teenage Pregnancy.
- Whitehead, D. (1997) Writing Frameworks: Book A, User Friendly Resources, Christchurch
Other
- Audio Conference and Faxing in the Classroom available from Info-Tech Education Fax (07) 8566535, e-mail infotech@wave.co.nz
Follow up
- The unit highlighted the need to do further work on:
- sentence structure
- logical organisation of ideas into paragraphs
- all areas of proofreading!
- Letters of thanks will be sent to the experts interviewed with a copy of the best group letter on the expert's topic. A class magazine will be made with all the essays.
