Building Strong Opinions
Develop a clear reason paragraph with supporting details
Learn how to elaborate on an opinion with specific examples
Understand the structure of a reason paragraph
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
— Proverbs 14:15 (WEB)Understanding how to develop strong reasons helps us think carefully about our beliefs
Gather students in a circle and explain that today we'll learn how to write strong reason paragraphs. Just like we need good reasons to make decisions in life, we need good reasons when we share our opinions.
A reason paragraph explains WHY you believe something. It should have a clear main idea, supporting details, and specific examples.
Students will draft a reason paragraph about something they believe strongly, using a provided template.
Simpler: Provide a pre-selected topic with a starter template
Challenge: Include transition words and more complex examples
Share one reason from your paragraph with a partner and explain why it's a strong reason.
Dear God, help us to think carefully and speak truthfully. Guide us to make wise choices and support our opinions with good reasons. Amen.
Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn about linking words to connect our opinion ideas!
“The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps.”
— Proverbs 14:15 (WEB)🎯 Activity: Charades: Act out thinking carefully before making a decision
Third graders are learning to develop more complex writing with clear reasoning
Children might have difficulty moving beyond simple statements to detailed explanations
Paragraphs with a clear main idea and supporting details