Editorials and Persuasive Essay

An editorial is a newspaper article written by or on behalf of an editor that gives an opinion on a topical issue. A persuasive essay is one in which you attempt to get the reader to agree with your point of view. You are trying to present arguments, research, and ideas in order to sway the reader one way or the other. When selecting books in this genre it is important to get books that are visually appealing to the students. The teacher would also want to make sure that this is true for the websites that they are choosing for in the classroom. It is also important that they are grade level appropriate. If choosing websites you want to make sure that they are acceptable for the students in the classroom. The websites should also be at the appropriate grade level for the students. We want the websites to cover the material that we are teaching in the classroom. The websites should be student friendly and easily accessible by the students in the classroom. Just like a book, the websites should also have good text features including, headings, larger text that is easy to read, and a good layout.

DOGO News: http://www.dogonews.com

DOGO News can be used for all grade levels. It provides many different themes and concepts for all students to explore. DOGO News is a great resource for all students to use both at home and at school. Students are given the opportunity to see good examples of an editorial. The different examples on the website include pictures of the topics covered. I really like that this is kid friendly, so students will be able to navigate them on their own. The students will encounter a variety of different articles. These articles will present events that occur locally, nationally, and globally. With the different articles, students might need some help with the vocabulary terms that are used within the editorials.

Time for Kids: www.timeforkids.com

This website is very similar to DOGO News and can also be used for students in all grade levels. It provides many different themes and concepts for students. Magazines are a great tool to provide students within the classroom, this website is also a great resource for students. They can use it both at home and at school. Like DOGO News, Time for Kids lets students see what a good example of an editorial is. The articles include realistic pictures and the different topics that are covered are for students. The editorials cover a variety of topics about things that are happening around the world today. They do it in a way that students can understand what is happening. Depending on the topics that are covered within the editorials, students will be presented with a variety of events that occur locally, nationally, and globally involving major issues. Due to the wide range of topics that are covered within these editorials, students might need help with some of the vocabulary terms that are used.

Personal and Comparative Essay

A personal narrative tells the true story of something that happened to you. A comparative essay compares at least two or more things. When selecting books in this genre it is important to get books that are visually appealing to the students. The teacher would also want to make sure that this is true for the websites that they are choosing for in the classroom. When looking for examples that were classified comparative and personal essays, it was very important that these papers met the Iowa Common Core Literacy Standards, as well as the standards for the subject the paper is being used for, somewhere along the lines of the grade level the paper is being used for. This is important because information within the text will help cover some of the standards the teacher is required to meet. It is also important that they are grade level appropriate. If choosing websites you want to make sure that they are acceptable for the students in the classroom. Along with all of this I also tried to choose examples that provided explanations as to why each piece is important and enhances the essay itself.

Mirror

Baker, J. (2010). Mirror. Somerville, MA.: Candlewick Press.

This book would be for lower elementary. A lexile level could not be found for this book. The books major theme is about comparing and contrasting. This book makes it fun to compare and contrast because it has two different stories about two different families and their lives. Students are able to see how these families are both similar and different, just through pictures. The illustrations in this book are wonderful. They are very detailed. They make it easier to gain the attention of the students. This book would be a good fit for classrooms with a large percentage of diversity, as well as classrooms with little diversity. It could help students see that there are similarities and differences between everyone. Although there are not any connections to make specifically to global issues, it does compare the lives of a family from Australia and one from Morocco, North Africa. Students may need help making the connections between some of the similarities and differences. Other than that, little help will be needed when reading this book.

A Country Far Away

Gray, N., & Dupasquier, P. (1989). A country far away. New York, NY: Orchard Books.

This book has a lexile level of BR, which stands for beginning reader. It would be at the 1^st grade independent reading level and it could be used between first and third grade for interest reading. The theme of this book is ways of life. Two boys from different parts of the world talk about one day in their lives. They ride bicycles, swim, stay up late, score goals while playing soccer, and so much more. The boys are from rural Africa and urban North America. The illustrations in the book are detailed. They are also colorful and gain the attention of the students. This book would also be good for a classroom with a lot of diversity or little diversity. This could also help students see that there are some similarities and differences between everyone. There are not any connections to make specifically to global issues. The book does compare the lives of boys from Africa and North America. Students may need some help making the connections between the two countries.