"An environmentalist must be calm, rational, reasonable, and willing to compromise; otherwise, you won't listen to him."
- Joy Williams, "Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp," p. 5
- Joy Williams, "Save the Whales, Screw the Shrimp," p. 5
After a quick writing strategy mini-lesson on "evidence-based transitional phrases" to promote the natural integration of text details and research (and to prevent dropped quotes!), this lesson allotted the class period to writing the second portion of the final project's persuasive research letter. We recalled the "loaded words" English class mini-lesson and referred to our research/popular science articles and CHoMP notes to do so.
Writing Strategy Mini-Lesson: Evidence-Based Transitional Phrases Since your final project culminates to a persuasive research letter, you are required to use the four (4) articles your found to support your arguments and ideas. A key component of effective persuasion? Using strong support. You don't want unsubstantiated opinions floating around your letter. To help you integrate your research seamlessly and effortlessly into your letter, we looked at possible transitional words to lead into your paraphrased or quoted research information (your letter should include both forms!). An anchor chart listed potential "evidence-based" transitional phrases. You are required to use them in your letter. Please note that you can reuse the terms, but variety should also exist. There are many benefits to using the transitional phrases:
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Dear Hunters...
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Dear Foresters...
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Dear Fishermen...
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Dear Farmers...
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Dear Industrialists...
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Persuasive Research Letter: In-Class Writing Session Using your paraphrased notes from the during-reading CHoMP strategy, your prior knowledge of "loaded words" from English class, and your new knowledge of "evidence-based transitional phrases" that will help you integrate your article notes into your letter's narrative, you will write a persuasive research letter. This entire class session was dedicated to quiet writing time. However, obtaining during-writing feedback from either your peers or your teacher was highly encouraged. As identified by your greeting (i.e. "Dear..."), you must choose a general target audience for your letter. It should be the main class of people behind the endangerment of your self-selected species. Remember that this is a persuasive writing assignment, so you must inform and appeal to your audience, convincing them of the value of your species and the need for them to recognize their accountability in your species' endangerment. A few things to remember when writing:
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Letter Format Diagram:
* Contrary to the diagram, allign all text to the left margin. Possible closings: "Respectfully," Sincerely," "Regards."