ISSUE 3, LESSON 6 P.70

ACADEMIC WRITING

ACADEMIC WRITING TYPE

A justification states a claim and supports it with logical reasons and relevant evidence. Evidence can include information from a text and examples from personal experience.

A. The topic sentence clearly states the writer’s claim

about the issue.

B. Detail sentences support the claim with reasons and

evidence from the text and the writer’s experience.

C. The concluding sentence restates the writer’s claim

about the issue.

Analyze TextRead this student model to analyze the elements of a justification.

The article “The New Bully at School” has convinced me that

schools should not be responsible for punishing cyberbullies. One

powerful reason is that most cyberbullying is done off school property. For

example, someone I know used her home computer to harass a teen that

once bullied her. Her actions were wrong, but they had nothing to do with

school. Additionally, schools cannot get involved in cyberbullying situations

for legal reasons. In the article, the author emphasizes how one school

lost a lawsuit when it suspended a cyberbully. Perhaps more importantly, I

believe cyberbullying that does not break the law is protected by our right

to free speech—even if that speech is cruel. For these reasons, I contend

that schools should not be accountable for disciplining cyberbullies.

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Mark and Discuss ElementsMark the justification elements and use the frames to discuss them with your partner.

1. Underline the writer’s claim. The writer’s claim is that _______________.

2. Box six transitional words or phrases.One transition (word/phrase) is ________________.

3. Highlight three reasons and underline three pieces of evidence with a red pen that support the writer’s claim.

One (reason/piece of evidence) that supports the writer’s claim is __________________________.

4. Circle three verbs that express the writer’s opinion.

One verb that expresses the writer’s opinion is _____.5. Star four precise topic words.

One example of a precise topic word is ________.

Choose Language for Writing

Identify Precise Words

Review the article to identify precise words and phrases for your justification and complete the chart in your workbook.

Prompt

Should schools be responsible for punishing cyberbullies?

TaskWrite a justification that states and supports your claim.

ORGANIZE SUPPORTING EVIDENCETAKE NOTES – DESCRIBE YOUR CLAIM ABOUT SCHOOLS’ RESPONSIBILITY FOR PUNISHING CYBERBULLIES.

My claim: I believe that schools (should/should not) _________________________________________

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Use academic language to restate your claim and write a topic sentence.

Topic Sentence The article (title) ________________________ has convinced me that ____________

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List reasons and evidence from the text or personal experience that support your claim.

Reason 1: __________________________________________________________________________

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Evidence: __________________________________________________________________________

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Reason 2: __________________________________________________________________________

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Evidence: __________________________________________________________________________

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Reason 3: __________________________________________________________________________

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Evidence: __________________________________________________________________________

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should be responsible for punishing cyberbullies.

“The New Bully at School” schools

should have the authority to discipline cyberbullies.

Schools are responsible for guaranteeing that all students feel safe and secure.

******Look at p.17, at the passage beginning with “Most cyberbullying is done off-campus”. Paraphrase.Even if cyberbullying happens off campus, most of the resulting pain and humiliation causes

a disruption at school (17). Cyberbullies often use cell phones to harass victims on school property.

Studies show that more than 70% of students send text and picture messages on their

phones, and at least 50% of students use their cell phones in school (19).

Many cyberbullies use school property to threaten their victims.

Last year, a group of students I know used a school computer to bully someone online

through Facebook.

SHARING IDEAS AND EVIDENCE

Share one reason and its supporting evidence with your partner using the following frame:

• One reason that supports my claim that schools _________ is

_____________. A piece of evidence that supports this reason is

_______________.

Next, we will have students share with the class.