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 Text
Read 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.
Mark and Discuss Elements
Mark 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?
Task
Write a justification that states and
supports your claim.
ORGANIZE SUPPORTING EVIDENCE
TAKE NOTES – DESCRIBE YOUR CLAIM ABOUT SCHOOLS’ RESPONSIBILITY
FOR PUNISHING CYBERBULLIES.
should be responsible for punishing cyberbullies.
My claim: I believe that schools (should/should not) _________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Use academic language to restate your claim and write a topic sentence.
Topic Sentence The article (title) ________________________
“The New Bully at School” has convinced me that ____________
schools
___________________________________________________________________________________
should have the authority to discipline cyberbullies.
List reasons and evidence from the text or personal experience that support your claim.
Schools are responsible for guaranteeing that all students feel safe and secure.
Reason 1: __________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
******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
Evidence: __________________________________________________________________________
a disruption at school (17).
___________________________________________________________________________________
Cyberbullies often use cell phones to harass victims on school property.
Reason 2: __________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Studies show that more than 70% of students send text and picture messages on their
Evidence: __________________________________________________________________________
phones, and at least 50% of students use their cell phones in school (19).
___________________________________________________________________________________
Many cyberbullies use school property to threaten their victims.
Reason 3: __________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Evidence: __________________________________________________________________________
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.