Running Head: WRITERS WORKSHOP: RELIABLE SOURCES

Commentary Writing: Reliable Sources

Prepared by: Joanna Alexander
Subject: Language Arts Writers Workshop
Grade: Fourth
Dr. Leake
Graduate School of Education
The College of New Jersey

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Commentary Writing: Reliable Sources Lesson Plan

Fourth Grade
Language Arts Writers Workshop
Opinion: Commentary - Research Unit
Lesson Essential Question
How do we choose which sources to use to support our claims when writing or talking about a topic?
Learning Objectives
Students will develop the understanding that
researchers gather and critique information on a topic
from a variety of sources for specific purposes.

Assessments
Students will be able to choose sources that support
their claims about the topic they are writing about in their
commentary.

Students will develop the understanding that authors

research topics to form their own opinions, and that
Students will be able to use research in their writing in
authors use specific evidence (research) to support
an appropriate way by writing with reasons supported by
opinions.
information, facts, and details.

American Education Reaches Out Unit Standards

Standard 2: Learners understand that the application of writing skills and strategies empower us to create a
variety of texts.
4.W.1

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Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.
2.8
Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, assess the credibility and accuracy of each
source, and integrate the information while avoiding plagiarism
CCSS
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.5
With guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning,
revising, and editing.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.8
Recall relevant information from experiences or gather relevant information from print and digital sources; take
notes and categorize information, and provide a list of sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1
Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.4.1.B
Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details.

Materials
Writers Notebooks
Projector
DocCam
Bettys Writers Notebook
Slate Laptops
My Commentary Plan see Appendix page 7
Commentary Writing Rubric see Appendix page 8
Exit Tickets - see Appendix page 8
Reliable Sources Anchor Chart see Appendix page 9

Pre-lesson assignments and/or prior knowledge: Students are familiar with the structure of Writers
Workshop. Students are also familiar with accessing information from the internet and using evidence gathered
from their research to support their writing.
Instructional Plan:
Introduction
Ask students to meet at the green carpet for Writers Workshop and bring their Writers Notebooks: New Page
Title: Reliable Resources.

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Activate Prior Knowledge (Contextual Connection): I was reading Bettys draft yesterday and I noticed how
she did a great job of planning for places she needed to research (to support her opinion).

Show Bettys draft on DocCam.

o Differentiation (Providing the students with both auditory and visual examples)
I will read aloud the written content.

Teaching Point: Planning for places in your writing where you need to research and then carrying out that
research is important. Research provides you with compelling evidence that supports your opinion and makes
what youre writing reliable.
What does Reliable mean?
o Define and write down in notebook.
Review Rubric Today our goal is to research using reliable resources to help us:
o Write with reasons supported by information, facts and details.
o Use research in our writing in an appropriate way.
Modelling:
Differentiation (for ELL students): Turn & Talk Buddies can read the written content together if one of them
is struggling with the reading. Additionally, ELL students are given devices to use Google Translate to translate
any unknown words during instruction.

Reading your drafts got me thinking about my writing, and I realized that I had planned for places in my
draft to research and what to research. Now it is time for me to start researching. Im going to ask you for help
with researching for my writing.
Show and review my draft.

Ask class & choose a student or two to answer: How can I find information online to support my
reasons? Discuss.

I need to identify experts that have researched this issue.

Turn and Talk: What is an expert?

o Circulate and share what you heard from 1-2 students.
Have knowledge and experience.

Who would my experts be? (Ask class) possible answers: Ecologists; Biologists; Scientists
First, Im going to do some research on my topic so that I can add my research to my writing to
support my opinion.
I need to find specific evidence of a species becoming extinct because of deforestation in tropical
environments due to palm oil plantations Which animals live in these environments? (Ask class)
Orangutans, frogs.

Go on Google: Im going to use KEY WORDS in my research Im not going to type in, what are
some animals that lose their homes because, I cut my Search Phrase down to the key words: animals
deforestation rain forest palm oil

Lets take a look at some sites and see if we can identify if they are reliable and are by experts:

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http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/saving_the_natural_world/forests/palm_oil/palm_oil_and_deforestation/
Palm oil and deforestation

I trust this site because:

o .org
o I dig around on the website to find out about who created this site.
scientists (About Us tab on webpage) = experts
- Turn and Talk: Can I trust them? Why or why not?
Guided Work:
http://www.earthsfriends.com/orangutan-facts/ Facts About Orangutans
Who created this site?
o About: Author a blogger, interested in nature and the outdoors
Turn and Talk: Can I trust this site? Why or why not? Is the author an expert? How do you know?
Circulate and share what you heard from 1-2 students.
- The author has knowledge, but does not have any experience to back it up.
Now that Ive narrowed down some of my resources that are reliable (by experts) to support my opinion, my
next step is to read through them once, then reread, and take notes on evidence the author gives that supports
my reason(s).
Based on what we just went over, what could we add to our Reliable Sources Anchor Chart? In other
words, how can I check for the reliability of a website? With your Writing Buddy, write your ideas down
on a Sticky and put it on our Anchor Chart.
o Who created the site? Are they an expert?
o .org/.gov/.edu
Independent Work:
Today when youre writing your drafts, look over your plan/draft and find places where you need to research
to provide compelling and reliable evidence that will make an impact on your reader. You might be at the
point where your ready to research remember to use KEY WORDS when searching and check to see if the
source is reliable and from an expert.
Differentiation: (Preparing students for whats next) At the end of Writers Workshop today when you meet
with your Writing Buddy, youre both going to use the Feedback Exit Ticket and hand it in to me when you
are finished. Helper of the week will pass out exit ticket when its time to meet with our buddies. (Show ticket
& review what to do).
Transition: Students go to their seats and get their Writers Notebooks and Slate Laptops.

Confer with students individually.

Formative Assessment: Circulate around the room and take notice of students choosing appropriate
images to share with the class midway through the independent work.
o Also take notes of what is seen to be used for future teaching points and positive writing or points for
one-on-one meetings.

Conclusion (Wrap-Up and Share):

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Transition: 5-minute warning to wrap up draft and get ready to meet with Writing Buddy for Feedback.

Meet with your Writing Buddy for feedback. Think about what feedback you want from them. Maybe
youll ask them to look for places in your commentary that need more support and evidence that you can
research.

(5 minute heads up will be given as well). Email me your draft, then meet at the green carpet for
Readers Workshop.

I will look over your plans in your Writers Notebooks and the drafts that you just emailed me tonight
and give you feedback.
Differentiation (Preparing students for whats coming up next so that they can start thinking about it
beforehand):

Tomorrow were going to talk about adding data, numbers, and statistics from our research to support
our writing.
Next Steps

I will look over the students plans in their Writers Notebooks for their commentary plan and draft to
show as an example of alignment for tomorrows Teaching Point. I will first ask the student if it is okay
with them for me to show his or her work as an example with the class.

I will take a picture of the completed Reliable Sources Anchor Chart and give the students copies to
paste in their Writers Notebooks so that they have it to refer to while researching.

Formative Assessment: I will review the students exit tickets, plans, and drafts and write positive
feedback to them in response. I will use my review to find points for discussion for one-on-one meetings
the following day on their drafts.
o Differentiation: The following day I will meet with students one-on-one to support their individual
needs based on their drafts I reviewed and any questions they have.
Classroom Management: I will circulate the room to provide assistance to students during their drafting.
Additionally, positive reinforcement will be used when necessary.
Appendix

MS. JOANNAS COMMENTARY PLAN

Title (also my opinion): Tropical Forests in Danger: Companies Need to Stop
Using Palm Oil
Introduction: A starving orangutan crawls through the remnants, or remains, of her once lush
and green forest home. What happened here?
PICTURE: Orangutan crawling around clear-cut area
Reason 1

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Palm tree plantations require deforestation in species-rich tropical environments. This deforestation
destroys animal habitats, leading to the endangerment and extinction of indigenous species.
Research:
o Identify Experts

o Provide specific evidence/examples of animals endangered because of rainforest

deforestation due to palm tree plantations

Reason 2

These endangered species are vital to the health of tropical environments and the world.
o How so?
Biodiversity research experts

Reason 3: (Pros vs. Cons): What really matters? Wants vs. Needs: Products/Snacks vs. entire
species loss
o

Research specific products that have palm oil as an ingredient

Reason 4: Theres a better alternative. Sustainable Farming

Example of sustainable company

Nutella sustainable palm oil production

Conclusion: As a consumer, the power lies in your hands to make a choicedo you support
the disappearance of precious life forms or a bright and healthy future for home, Earth?
ASSESSMENTS:
(formatting has been changed to fit this page)
COMMENTARY WRITING RUBRIC
4
3
Write an
Related ideas
Grouping of
organized
are grouped
ideas.
commentary
together.
Clear point of
that states a
Ideas are
view.
point of view.
logically grouped Use of a
to support the
structure that
writers purpose. supports a clear
point of view.
Write with
Logically ordered Reasons are
reasons
reasons
supported with
supported by
supported by
evidence from
information,
facts and details. primary and
facts and
secondary

2
Grouping of
ideas.
Point of view can
be interpreted.
Tries to use a
structure that
supports a point
of view.
Reasons are
supported with
opinion, more
primary sources
and less

WRITERS WORKSHOP: RELIABLE SOURCES

details.
Use research
in their writing
in an
appropriate
way.
Use
commentary
appropriate
craft moves
and features in
their writing.
(quality)

Includes
quotations, data
and facts that
support the
writers purpose.
Include sources.
Uses
commentary
craft moves and
features that
engage the
reader.

sources.
Includes
quotations, data
or facts that
support the
writers purpose.
Include sources.
Tries out
commentary
craft moves and
features to
engage the
reader.

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secondary.
Includes a quote,
a piece of data
or fact that
supports that
writers purpose.
Commentary
craft not evident
or used in a way
that does not
engage the
reader.

EXIT TICKETS (to be used as buddies confer)

WRITING BUDDY:
What piece of advice do you want to give that will
make this piece stronger?

WRITER:
How will you use the feedback you

Completed Reliable Sources Anchor Chart

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Reliable Sources Anchor Chart with Students Stickies

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Reliable Sources Anchor Chart Copy in Students Writers Notebook

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