Claims & Evidence

Writing: Letter to the Park Committee

Duration: Approximately 35 minutes

The writing prompt provides an opportunity for students to apply the idea of claims and evidence to a new situation. Encourage students to think of this activity as a form of persuasive writing in which they make a case using evidence they have regarding skateboard parks.

LEARNING OBJECTIVE

Students cite evidence within a short persuasive writing piece.

Teacher Tip

• Students who are struggling to generate ideas may want to use the list of items to include as a sort of check list as they write.

• What do you predict would be the main concerns about a skateboard park?
• How might people's perspectives differ from those held by others? Why?

Take on this role for your writing:

A company is building a skateboard park in your neighborhood. The workers have called you to ask for advice on building ramps. Should they be concerned about building ramps that are very steep?

In your response, consider including:

• Your claim about steep ramps and how they affect speed
• Your evidence to support your claim
• Explanation of how a model can be used to represent skateboard ramps
• Suggestions to the builders on other factors to test
• Your thoughts on whether steep ramps are good or bad

Teacher discretion.