Writing Opinions For an Audience

Students will:

• Be able to choose an opinion they have and write at least three reasons with details about that opinion.

Vocabulary Words:

1. Informational Piece of Writing: Informational writing is a type of nonfiction writing that conveys information about something, which means it is factual. Many examples of informational writing can be found in newspapers, almanacs, and reference books.

To prepare for this lesson:

• Before the lesson, teachers must set up SeeSaw accounts for their class and invite parents to join.

  • Please view the TEACHER video on creating SeeSaw accounts. 

• Students should also know the basic features of SeeSaw.

  • Please view the STUDENT VIDEO on using SeeSaw.

• Teachers will need journal paper or opinion writing paper available to students. There are many templates that can be found using Google. 

  • The opinion writing paper will include:
    • Title and Purpose
    • Opinion
    • Use linking words and phrases like because, for example, I believe, I prefer, in my opinion, to convince the reader
    • Reasons 1-3
    • Examples to support the reasons
    • Conclusion

Note: SeeSaw has many other tutorials on their website and Help Center. 

See Accommodations Page and Charts on the 21things4students.net site in the Teacher Resources. 

Directions for this activity:

1. The teacher begins by asking students “Who reads your writing?” Student answers will include people in the classroom and also their family at home if journals go home.

2. The teacher then asks, “what types of writing do we write?” Students should answer journal writing, stories, nonfiction, etc…

3. The teacher explains that today when students work on writing, they are going to write an opinion about something, post their writing to SeeSaw and read it aloud for their audience.

4. Teacher and students discuss opinion topics that they like to write about. Students may say:

   • School Uniforms

   • Later Bedtime

   • Why I should get a phone

5. Next, students and teacher talk about reading an opinion text out loud to someone and how to help their reader understand their story. Students may say:

   • Read clearly.

   • Be convincing.

   • Point to the words.

6. Students create their opinion writing on journal paper and add a picture to match. When finished, the students will upload their writing to SeeSaw.

7. In SeeSaw students press the “+” sign, then select the camera icon to take a photo of their writing.

8. Next, students tap the microphone and record themselves reading their writing aloud.

9. When finished, students select the green check to add it to their journal.

Here is a photo of the steps to add and explain a photo in SeeSaw:

Different options for assessing the students:

• Observations
• Check for understanding
• Teachers can see what students have posted to their journal from the Teacher side of SeeSaw. They are able to leave feedback for students and intervene with any student who did not read their story or added more detail then they wrote about. The teacher can also talk about how their writing might help someone to continue the discussion about audience.