Making Tough Choices: Writing for Your Audience

There are ways you can support your child if she is being bullied

parent

Match each detail about bullying on the left with its appropriate audience on the right Strict laws are needed to discourage bullying

politician

emphasis

special attention given to something

If the faculty gets along, students feel a sense of community

teacher

Bullies succeed because people do not stand together against them

teenager

Informal

text to a sibling e-mail to a friend note to a parent letter to a grandmother

tone

the attitude the writer has toward the topic and audience

topic

the subject of a piece of writing

adjust

make a change to something so that it works better

Consider the theme, "Making Tough Choices." From the point of view of a principal who made school uniforms mandatory, write a one-paragraph letter to parents explaining your decision.

I made the decision to require uniforms because I believe they will help lower bullying and allow students to focus on what is important in school. I ask that you support my decision and talk with your children about the benefits of uniforms. Please call my office with any questions or concerns. What did you consider as you wrote your paragraph? Check any that apply. word choice tone details

Again, consider the theme, "Making Tough Choices," and pretend you are the principal who made school uniforms mandatory. Write a brief letter to students explaining your choice.

Sample Response: I understand how you feel about the new rule. This wasn't an easy decision to make. I hope that the uniforms will cause less stress, lower bullying and will allow you to focus on learning. Even though this is a final decision, I will gladly listen to any feedback. Please feel free to stop me in the hallway to ask questions. What did you consider as you wrote your paragraph? Check any that apply. word choice tone details

Read the excerpt from "Citizenship." Citizenship isn't just about voting once every few years. Democracy works best when citizens get involved in government. There are several ways citizens can participate. They can send letters to their lawmakers or speak out about something important to them. Which word best describes the tone of this passage? scientific helpful casual humorous

Scientific is incorrect

Read and contrast two passages about summer camp. Passage 1 "Are you ready for an amazing summer? Come join me at Camp Haverhill! It is a great place to beat the heat. Horseback riding, swimming, archery, and great staff make Camp Haverhill an awesome summer stop!" Passage 2 "Studies show that children who spend time outdoors develop good health. This is one reason many American families enroll their children in summer youth camp experiences. Summer camp can provide fresh air, exercise, and personal growth opportunities." Which difference can be found when contrasting these two passages? The first passage is written to educate children, and the other to persuade adults. The first passage is written to persuade children, and the other to educate adults. The first passage is written in a formal tone, and the other in an informal tone. The first passage is written in a scientific tone, and the other in a humorous tone.

The first passage is written to educate children, and the other to persuade adults. This answer is incorrect

Robin Arnold said Jaylen's Challenge was recently nominated for a Chase Community Giving Grant for up to $250,000, but they need help from the community to get it. Starting Sept. 6, people can visit facebook.com/chasecommunitygiving and cast their vote for Jaylen's Challenge. —"Taking on Bullying," Clifford Parody Notice the details the writer includes about fund-raising. Why do you think the writer includes this information for a general public audience? This audience would want to know how to help Jaylen meet his goals. This audience only cares about how much things cost. This audience wants to visit Jaylen's Facebook page and say hello.

This audience would want to know how to help Jaylen meet his goals.

audience

a group of people who will read a piece of writing

Read this news article. There has been a recent announcement that school uniforms would be mandatory for the entire middle school. This rule will affect all students. The principal has said, "It was a tough decision, but I believe it will greatly benefit students." What do you think? You will have the opportunity to voice your opinion after school on Thursday. Whether you support it or disagree, please come to share your thoughts. Which words encourage student awareness about the new rule? mandatory, come, opportunity after, Thursday, announcement recent, middle school, students rule, decision, believe, think

mandatory, come, opportunity

Page 1: "I grew up with Tourette (syndrome) in the New York City public schools," Mihok told Ledger reporter Clifford Parody. "And I was just amazed at the bravery and fortitude of this young man." Jaylen and Mihok soon became friends. And this month, they've reportedly visited at least 10 schools together. —"Florida Kid Helps Other Kids Say, 'Bullying No Way'," Nick News with Linda Ellerbee Page 2: "I grew up with Tourette's in New York City public schools and I was just amazed at the bravery and the fortitude of this young man," Mihok said. "I sent him an email letting him know he had a friend in Los Angeles and his mother asked me to be his mentor. I happily accepted." Together, Jaylen and Mihok have been taking their knowledge into the Polk County school system, holding assemblies to educate students on bullying. —"Taking on Bullying," Clifford Parody What tone do both passages convey? angryintense ✔ positive Why is this an appropriate tone for both audiences? a positive tone is unsuitable for older readers ✔ a positive tone is suitable for all readers an angry tone is not suitable for young readers

✔ positive ✔ a positive tone is suitable for all readers

Bullying has many psychological effects on children

counselor

Read and compare two passages from an outdoor magazine. Passage 1 "A cane fishing pole is a good way for young kids to begin. Light lines and small hooks also help children gain early success. Crickets and worms are the best bait." Passage 2 "Jason Zimmer is a champion fly fisherman. He trains eight hours each day to compete all over the world. In his spare time, Jason enjoys camping, hiking, and skiing." Which similarity is found when comparing these two passages? Both passages are written to help children learn a skill. Both passages are written in a formal, scientific tone. Both passages are about fishing successfully. Both passages are about a famous champion athlete.

Both passages are about fishing successfully.

Read and compare two passages about Canada. Passage 1 "I had a great time on my road trip along Canada's coast! I loved hanging out in the beautiful mountains, and the food was yummy. Canadian chocolate is awesome!" Passage 2 "Canada has the longest coastline of any nation in the world. It is more than 151,600 miles long." Which similarity is found when comparing these two passages? Both passages mention the coastline. Both passages use a formal tone. Both passages are written for textbooks. Both passages mention Canadian food.

Both passages mention the coastline.

Read and compare passages from two news articles about bullying. Clifford Parody writes: With the help of his mother, Robin Arnold, and a tight-knit group of family friends, the Lakeland 12-year-old launched his website jaylenschallenge.org in May 2009 to educate people on the effects of bullying. From there his campaign against bullying has flourished. "It's crazy in a good way," Jaylen, a sixth-grader at Victory Christian Academy, said. "Kids are coming up to me and telling me they aren't getting bullied as much. I'm glad that it's gotten so big." Linda Ellerbee writes: According to Mihok, Jaylen is getting his message across. And together, they're empowering other kids to stand up to bullying. "It's just amazing to see these young people have their lives altered by [Jaylen]," Mihok told the Ledger. If you don't believe Mihok, ask one of Jaylen's classmates at Victory Christian Academy in Lakeland. "It actually changed [my] life," said classmate McKenna Inglett, in an interview with WFTS reporter Laura Harris. "I have tried to change some people that were bullying me." Which similarity is found when comparing the two passages? Both passages state that Jaylen's anti-bullying campaign has changed lives. Both passages claim that Jaylen's anti-bullying campaign has reduced bullying. Both passages include positive quotations from Jaylen's classmates. Both passages are written for an audience of school guidance counselors.

Incorrect: Both passages include positive quotations from Jaylen's classmates.

Dear Mr. Gaines: I'm writing to you on behalf of the sixth grade. We are very concerned about the recent idea to have all students wear school uniforms. Hadley Middle School has always been proud of the diversity of its student body. With this new rule, all of the students will look the same. Can students weigh in on this decision before it becomes a permanent rule? Sincerely, Simon Duffy The audience for this letter is a school administrator. If the audience changed to the students themselves, how would the tone change? It would be more formal. It would be less sarcastic. It would be less formal. It would remain the same

It would be less formal.

Read the excerpt from a news article about bullying. All those things have made Jaylen stand out. And the bullies noticed. But those aren't the only reasons Jaylen stands out. And they're not the most important reasons. Jaylen stands out because he has refused to let the bullies beat him down. And he's trying to make sure no one else gets beaten down, either. Which detail shows that the author is writing for a young audience? The author uses a very formal tone. The author writes about a young person. The author uses many short sentences. The author writes using adult humor

The author uses many short sentences.

Read and contrast two passages about cats. Passage 1 "Feeding an older cat is very different than feeding a kitten. Older cats need fewer calories to prevent weight gain. Still, their food should contain adequate protein to maintain muscle." Passage 2 "My cat, Whiskers, is so cute! His favorite game is hide and seek. I always find him hiding behind the sofa where it is bright and sunny." Which difference can be found when contrasting these two passages? The second passage is written for a specific audience. The first passage is written for a specific audience. The second passage is written with an emphasis on cat care. The first passage is written with an emphasis on cat breeding.

The first passage is written for a specific audience.

Read and contrast two passages about sun safety. Passage 1 "It is a scientific fact that everyone needs sunscreen, regardless of skin color or ethnic origin. All people are subject to sun damage." Passage 2 "No one wants to look like a lizard! You need a big squirt of sunscreen before heading outside to play. Sunburns are no fun, so protect yourself." Which difference can be found when contrasting these two passages? The first author uses humor to appeal to children. The second author uses humor to appeal to children. The first author uses scientific facts to appeal to children. The second author uses scientific facts to appeal to children.

The second author uses humor to appeal to children.

Page 1: "It actually changed (my) life," said classmate McKenna Inglett, in an interview with WFTS reporter Laura Harris. "I have tried to change some people that were bullying me." "He has taught me about Tourette syndrome and how not to bully and things like that," said another classmate, Ethan Whittaker. —"Florida Kid Helps Other Kids Say, 'Bullying No Way'," Nick News with Linda Ellerbee Page 2: "I grew up with Tourette's in New York City public schools and I was just amazed at the bravery and the fortitude of this young man," Mihok said. "I sent him an email letting him know he had a friend in Los Angeles and his mother asked me to be his mentor. I happily accepted." —"Taking on Bullying," Clifford Parody How are the passages similar? They both provide an interview. They both discuss where Jaylen lives. They both describe Jaylen's school experience. The first passage contains interviews from Jaylen's family Jaylen's team members Jaylen's classmates. The second passage contains an interview from a family member an adult a classmate. Why is including interviews with Jaylen's classmates an important detail in the first passage? so a young audience can relate so an older audience can relate only young people should be interviewed

They both provide an interview. Jaylen's classmates. an adult so a young audience can relate

What would be the best way to approach writing about the topic of mosquitoes if the audience is a group of counselors at summer camp? a list of ways to stop the itching a description of the mosquito life cycle an explanation of why mosquitoes bite a short history of the mosquito

a list of ways to stop the itching

In which situation would it be most appropriate to use an informal writing style? a letter of recommendation a report on photosynthesis an e-mail to the mayor a postcard to a friend

a postcard to a friend

In which situation would it be most appropriate to use a formal writing style? a text message to a friend a science report for class a letter to a grandparent a note to a brother or sister

a science report for class

Formal

book review essay for a teacher science report cover letter for a job

Think about the sample you just read. Sort the details depending on whether they are suitable for a younger or older audience. Details for a younger audience:

defining "litter" how to recycle interviews with kids start an environment club

Details for an older Audience:

fuel-effecient car facts scientific experts' views energy-saving goods to buy statistics about pollution

So how can you, as a citizen, make your community and country a better place? Don't wait until you are 18 and can vote. If you and your friends put your heads together, you'll find lots of ways to practice citizenship every day. When you collect canned goods for a food drive, you're being a good citizen. If you attend a rally to protect the environment, you're being a citizen. Even speaking out at a city council or school board meeting is good citizenship. —Citizenship, Jason Skog Read the passage, and think about how the writer expresses his ideas and attitude to motivate a young audience. Which words help you understand what the author is encouraging kids to do? ways, food, good, every day, better heads together, 18, friends, practice even, city, school board, put, until How would you describe the tone? formal humorous encouraging Why are the word choice and tone appropriate for this audience? They get kids excited. They get kids angry. They get kids worried.

heads together, 18, friends, practice encouraging They get kids excited.

You are the principal writing a letter to students about why you made the decision to require school uniforms. What would your focus be? how there won't be any diversity in what students wear how students can no longer wear their favorite clothes how wearing uniforms benefits the students how students have no choice in the matter

how wearing uniforms benefits the students

One of those contacts came in the form of Dash Mihok, an actor who has had roles in major films, including "I Am Legend," and "The Thin Red Line." Mihok, 38, also has Tourette's syndrome. "I grew up with Tourette's in New York City public schools and I was just amazed at the bravery and the fortitude of this young man," Mihok said. "I sent him an email letting him know he had a friend in Los Angeles and his mother asked me to be his mentor. I happily accepted." —"Taking on Bullying: Jaylen Arnold Brings His Message to Polk County Schools," Clifford Parody The audience for this passage is the general public. What details would the writer include if the audience changed to a group of kids who had been bullied? if or how Mihok dealt with bullying as a kid what it was like to grow up in New York City how Mihok likes acting in Hollywood movies a description of the symptoms of Tourette's

if or how Mihok dealt with bullying as a kid

You are writing an article for the school newspaper about the new policy of wearing school uniforms in your school. What would the student body want to know? Check all that apply. when the dress code goes into effect how students can voice their opinions how the clothes are made why the principal made this decision what to do with their regular clothes

when the dress code goes into effect how students can voice their opinions why the principal made this decision

Page 1: Now, what started as a response to his own personal pain has turned into a crusade for other kids, too. —"Florida Kid Helps Other Kids Say, 'Bullying No Way'," Nick News with Linda Ellerbee Page 2: As a grassroots endeavor, Jaylen's Challenge has always relied on the public for funding. —"Taking on Bullying," Clifford Parody The first passage describes Jaylen's campaign as a crusade and a response to his own personal pain, while the second passage describes the campaign as a grassroots endeavor. How would you describe the word choice of grassroots endeavor? X informal X playful ✔ formal This word choice indicates that the second passage is meant for ✔ an older audience a younger audience any audience .

✔ formal ✔ an older audience

Read this note, written by a student to the principal: Dear Mrs. Bowen. Is it possible to meet to discuss your recent decision? I would like to talk about other alternatives to wearing uniforms. I have several great ideas. Thank you. What is the tone of the note? humorous ✔ formal sad excited Why is the tone appropriate for the audience? ✔ The principal is an authority figure. The principal is like a friend The principal is a funny person. The principal is very serious.

✔ formal ✔ The principal is an authority figure.

Read the sample again. Think about how you can change word choice and details to write for an older audience. It's more important than ever for young people to help keep our planet clean. Pollution is increasing, which can cause us to be sick. Hopefully, before you throw a bottle in the trash or garbage out the window, you stop and think about how it affects the planet. Try to recycle and pick up trash to keep the earth clean from litter. How else can you and your friends help the environment? To write for an older audience, "young people" can be changed to ✔ members of society X folks everyone. The words "us to be sick" can be changed to "issues." ✔ "health concerns." "problems.". What suggestion can be added that would be suitable for an older audience? ✔ Drive an energy-efficient car. Learn about recycling. Ask an adult for tips. The last sentence can be changed to "Talk to your parents about the environment." "Ask your science teacher for information." ✔ "Think about your children's futures.".

✔ members of society ✔ "health concerns ✔ Drive an energy-efficient car. ✔ "Think about your children's futures.".