1. The document provides instructions for students to write argument letters to the next President of the United States about an issue that is important to them. 2. It guides the students through researching their issue, taking notes from sources, drafting multiple versions of their letter with feedback and revisions, and finally posting their letter online. 3. The goal is for students to thoughtfully consider an issue, support their perspective with evidence, and communicate their ideas to the future President through the writing process.

1. #WhyIWrite
#2NextPrez Writing Argument Letters

2. First, read the prompt and think for yourself
about what you will need to do
Next, share your ideas with a partner and make a
list of things you will need to do to complete the
task
Third, make a list of questions you want to ask
about the task
Be ready to share your list with the class
• EVIDENCE SELECTION:
Make a list

3. • In November 2016, the United States will elect a
new president. We don't know who will win the
election, but we know the winner will be able to
make some important changes starting early in
2017. What changes do you think the next
president should make? You'll be choosing an
issue that matters to you, doing some research to
learn more about it, and developing a letter to the
next president that communicates your ideas.
•#2NextPrez
Argument Letter Writing: Analyze a task

4. • Ability to draw evidence
from informational texts to
support analysis,
reflection, and research.
• You need your
journals and a highlighter
and pencil
•
• EVIDENCE SELECTION:
Let’s Get Organized!

5. • Skim your first source once to get the
main idea of what it says. Then read more carefully,
looking for information you might want to use in your letter.
Make notes on that information, being sure you have the
title of the source at the top of your page.
•Repeat with each of your other sources.
Add a subtitle here
•Summarizing Your Notes

6. SAMPLE LETTERS 1-4
Re-read your sample letters
from Letters to the President
site. Using a highlighter,
highlight key facts from your
notes, then post them on your
note page in Googledocs.
• Re-read your two online
sources about your topic.
• Using a highlighter, highlight
key facts from your notes,
then post them on your
note’s page in Googledocs.
FACTS FROM 2 OTHER
WEBSITES
•Comparison Page Layout
A second line of text could go here
A callout, this
can be edited
or deleted

7. 1. Count off by 1s and 2s
2. All the 1s leave their seats and move to sit next to a 2. Take turns explaining your topic briefly, and
then discuss how you will make your letters work.
3. At the time signal, the 2s will leave their seats, sit next to a 1, and repeat the process.
4. Repeat two more times, once with 1s moving and once with 2s moving.
5. Return to your seat and write out some notes about letter topic and the ideas you're going to
include. They don't have to be in complete sentences this time, but see how many ideas you can jot
down.
SPEED SHARING AND NOTES
LET’S WORK TOGETHER

8. Write a first version of your letter.
Focus on getting your ideas on paper in an idea that makes sense to you.
Do a six-point analysis on your own letter.
First Draft
Let’s Get Writing #whyIwrite

9. Do a new draft of your letter that:
Makes it better based on your six-point analysis.
Has at least one sentence that gives its source.
Fixes the spelling of any words you weren't sure about in the first draft.
Checks for capitalization and punctuation.
Second Draft
REVISION #1

10. Read your partner's letter and do a six- point analysis.
When you make suggestions, be sure they are friendly
and helpful.
Then have a conversation where you and your partner
discuss your two letters.
SIX POINT LETTER ANALYSIS
REVISION #2

11. Do one more draft of your letter.
Use the ideas you got from your partner's feedback, and
make another effort to get spelling, capitalization, and
punctuation right.
This time, be sure your letter begins and ends with the right
formalities for addressing a President of the United States.
GETTING READY TO POST TO THE SITE
FINAL LETTER THIRD DRAFT

12. This week we will be posting our letters to the Letters to the
Future President site.
We will be using our iPad to record ourselves reading and
post the video. We will also be posting our letters with an
optional image.
Looking forward to reading all your posts and can’t wait for
you to get responses from other readers on the site.
https://letters2president.org/
WRITE, READ, POST
POSTING LETTERS TO THE PRESIDENT