DAILY LESSON PLAN

Teacher’s Name: Maureen Grandchamp Class/Period 7th Grade Language Arts/Block Period

Unit: Teaching Audience in Writing Date: One

Agenda:

1.  Introduction to audience in writing.

2.  Handout #1 Activity – Same Situation, Two Different Audiences.

3.  Class sharing.

4.  “Dear Abby” Activity.

5.  List of possible audiences.

6.  Assign Homework.

California Content Standards:

1.0 Writing Strategies The writing exhibits students’ awareness of audience and purpose.

Objectives: When performing these tasks SWBAT identify their intended audience, and use the proper tone and language to reflect that.

Materials Needed:

Hand-Outs (“Dear Abby,” Homework Prompt, List of Situations)

Paper

Pencil

Whiteboard

Activities:

Time / Teacher Procedures / Student Responsibilities
10 Min.
15 Min.
15 Min.
20 Min. (10 Min for initial writing, 10 Min for response)
15 Min.
15 Min.
10 Min. / Teacher will give an introduction to writing for an audience. Why is it important that students are aware of their audience? What does knowing one’s audience help to accomplish?
Teacher will pass out Handout #1 and have students form groups of three. Teacher will instruct students that they are to choose two of the situations on the handout. Teacher will give the groups two audiences – parent and friend. Teacher will ask students to discuss and write down how they would talk about the situation with both.
Teacher will have the class come together and ask for volunteer to share their different approaches. Teacher will point out how the language and tone are different when dealing with a parent than when dealing with a friend.
Teacher will explain who “Dear Abby” is and offer an example from the newspaper (Hand Out #3), passed out to the students. Teacher will explain to students that they will have to write their own question to Abby, in a way they think would get her to answer. Then, students will pass their papers to a partner, and they will respond as Abby – keeping in mind their audience.
Teacher will call for volunteers to read their Abby question and answers. Teacher will ask for students to point out the words/phrases that made the writing audience appropriate.
Teacher will compile a list on the board of possible audiences for student writing – editors, companies, bosses, parents, teachers, peers, etc. Teacher will ask for one or two writing traits, phrases, or tone that the students feel would work well with each example.
Teacher will hand out writing prompt (Hand Out #3), and tell the students to pick /one/ of the possible audiences listed on the board, and write a letter to that person/group for homework. / Students will listen and take notes. They will raise their hands for any questions.
Students will get into groups and decide who is going to write down their ideas. They will work up responses to two of the situations on the hand out, from each side.
Students will share their group work with the class.
Students will write their “Dear Abby” question, and then pass their paper to a partner and write their response as “Dear Abby.”
Students will listen, and actively participate in identifying the language used that make these audience appropriate.
Students will participate in giving examples of audience members, and traits or phrases that can be used when writing to them. They will take notes.
Students will listen to instruction and write their audience choice on their prompt hand out.

Homework: See Hand Out 3: Writing a Letter to a Specific Audience

Assessment or Evaluation: Students will be assessed on their final product of this writing to an audience lesson – the letter. The rubric is as follows:

Rubric for Letter Writing

0 1 2 3 4 Student used proper letter format.

0 1 2 3 4 Student identified their audience, and used the proper tone/language to reach them.

0 1 2 3 4 Student used proper grammar and spelling.

Total Points Possible: 12

Lesson Plan Commentary/Reflection: This is a great lesson to get students to realize that often times they are not writing for themselves. They have to look to who their intended audience is, and shift and change their tone and language use to accommodate that. With these activities, they should be able to both see and understand why they might change their way of writing to appeal to a different audience. The activities are hands on, letting the students work with the idea of audience – not just learn about it. This would be a good scaffolding exercise, as the lessons learned here can be applied again and again in students’ writing. My only concern is that they may not know who Dear Abby is – but hopefully with a little explanation and the example given, they will get an idea.


Two Situations, Two Audiences

Pick two of the following situations and discuss them in your group. How would you tell your parents about the situation? How would you tell a friend? Write down your answers.

Situations:

·  You received an F on your report card.

·  You got your driver’s license, and the next day crashed your parents’ car.

·  You broke your brand new Nintendo Wii that you got for your birthday.

·  You are in the hospital because you broke your leg while trying to jump over a table in the cafeteria.

·  You got suspended for fighting at school.

·  You lost your brother’s $300 camera.


Dear Abby

DEAR ABBY: Our first child is nearly a year old, and I am planning his first birthday party. My in-laws and my parents do not get along, and my in-laws have threatened not to come if my parents are present.

My husband and I have made it clear that we do not agree with this. We feel they should be able to put aside their differences for one day for the sake of their grandchild. Should we bend to their stubbornness and have two separate birthday parties -- one for each side of the family? -- TORN IN ILLINOIS

DEAR TORN: Absolutely not. To do so would set a terrible precedent. Make sure your husband's parents know the time and place of the celebration and that they are welcome. If they choose not to attend, then so be it.


Writing a Letter to a Specific Audience

Choose one of the audiences that we had written on the board and write a letter to them with the following as your topic:

You are working at McDonalds, and you would like to quit. Explain why, keeping in mind your audience.

Make sure to use proper letter format!