Lang. and Lit.                                   Mrs. Koplik
Writing Workshop
                         Support Groups
                                
         The goal of your group is to write a paragraph which expresses
the group's opinion on an important topic.  As we have discussed,
effective writing relies on many kinds of support to develop ideas
effectively.

Instructions:
         1. Elect a secretary who will write down the group's ideas.
         
         2.  Your group will receive a topic card (tells what the
             paragraph will be about) and a support card (tells  how the group 
             will support or develop the idea).  You may need to invent some data!!
         
         3.  The group must come to an agreement about its position on
             the topic (it does not have to be a consensus of personal opinion, 
             as  long as you understand why someone else might hold that opinion).
         
         4.  The group will write  a  short paragraph explaining and
             supporting the group opinion.
         
The paragraph will:
                 a. introduce the group's position on the topic  (do not
                     use "We think..")
                 b. provide a reason for the opinion (perhaps one of many
                     reasons)
                 c.  provide support  for the reason -  the type of support
                     you provide will depend on what your support card says:
                     analogy, anecdote, example, statistic,                                           
                     

Ex:  Should Barrington H. S. allow students from other schools to
     attend its dances?

Group opinion:
Barrington High School should not allow students from other schools to 
attend its dances.

Reason:  
Having students from other schools at the dances might encourage 
fighting among students, especially if they are from rival schools.

Last year, a gang of students from Purpletown began a large brawl
at the Halloween Dance.  Several people were hurt, and there was some 
property damage in the gym. (anecdote)
                                                 
High School Magazine  states that 45% of dances that admit
outsiders end in some form of violent conflict. (statistic)

The student body is like a huge family. Inviting outsiders to a
school dance  (other than dates) is like inviting outsiders to a family 
dinner.