How do you take a strong position on a prompt?

In this lesson, you will learn how to take a position on a

prompt by analyzing the evidence for each side.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

Imagine your family is trying to decide whether or not to get a pet. Take a position on this subject. Would you like to have a pet or not? Write a letter to your family explaining why getting a pet is, or is not, a good idea. Support your opinion with strong reasons.

Responding to a Writing Prompt

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

Identify the Question and Type of Writing

Write Your Response

Revise Your Response

Plan Your Response

Let’s ReviewA Common Mistake

Picking a position without looking at the evidence.

Good ideaBad idea

Let’s ReviewA Common MistakePicking a position without looking at the

evidence.

Good idea

Bad idea

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

List the evidence for each response.1

2 Judge the evidence, asking, “Which position has the strongest evidence?”

3 Take a position.

Let’s ReviewCore LessonList the evidence for each response.1

Imagine your family is trying to decide whether or not to get a pet. Take a position on this subject. Would you like to have a pet or not? Write a letter to your family explaining why getting a pet is, or is not, a good idea. Support your opinion with strong reasons.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

1 Pet is a good idea Pet is a bad idea• A pet can teach us about

responsibility.• We learn about animals

through our pet.• Pets are fun to play with

at home.• Pets can be dressed up

with people clothes• We can give the pet a

funny name.

• Adults always end up taking care of it.

• Who will care for it during vacations/trips?

• We will get too attached to the pet when it dies.

• Pets make a huge mess• Our neighbors will hate us.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

2 Judge the evidence.

Which position has the strongest

evidence?

A pet is a good idea.

A pet is a bad idea.

Let’s ReviewCore LessonPet is a good idea Pet is a bad idea

• The adults always end up taking care of it.• Who will care for it during vacations/trips?• We will get too attached to the pet when it dies.• Pets make a huge mess.• Our neighbors will hate us.

• A pet can teach us about responsibility.

• We learn about animals through our pet.

• Pets are fun to play with at home.

• Pets can be dressed up with people clothes.

• We can give the pet a funny name.

2

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

3 Take a position

A pet is a good idea.

A pet is a bad idea.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

3 Pet is a good idea Pet is a bad idea• The adults always end up taking care of it.• Who will care for it during vacations/trips?• We will get too attached to the pet when it dies.• Pets make a huge mess.• Our neighbors will hate us.

• A pet can teach us about responsibility.

• We learn about animals through our pet.

• Pets are fun to play with at home.

• Pets can be dressed up with people clothes.

• We can give the pet a funny name.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

List the evidence for each response.1

2 Judge the evidence, asking, “Which position has the strongest evidence?”

3 Take a position.

In this lesson, you have learned how to take a position on a prompt by analyzing the

evidence for each side.

Let’s ReviewGuided Practice

Use the steps to take a position on the following prompt:

The local science museum has decided to close on certain Saturdays during the year. Write a letter to the museum director about whether you agree or disagree with their decision. Support your opinion with strong reasons.

Let’s ReviewExtension Activities

Imagine you friend disagrees with your position. You present your evidence.

How would your friend respond?

With a partner, write your friend’s response to your opinion.

Let’s ReviewExtension Activities

If you have taken a side on this prompt, look at the side you didn’t pick.

Write three reasons why you didn’t pick that opinion.

Let’s ReviewQuick Quiz

Using the three steps from this lesson, take a position on the prompt below. Show your evidence.

The fifth grade is deciding on a theme for the end-of-year dance. Write a letter persuading your classmates to use your idea for the dance. Support your opinion with strong reasons.