Walk or Drive Opinion Writing

Walk or Drive Opinion Writing

Hey, y'all! Inspiration for opinion writing can be found anywhere. I mean, we all have opinions about something. Recently I was inspired by the talk of upgrading our infrastructure in the US and how well some countries in Europe have made their cities entirely walkable. Or at least use public transportation well. So I thought I'd propose this idea to my students: is it better to drive everywhere or should we focus on walking/biking more?

Some cities in the US are more walkable than others, but for the most part, if we want to get anywhere, we usually have to drive. Now, there are pros and cons to both. Driving gets us there quicker and we can bring everyone and our dog with us, but there are the emissions to think about. Walking is better for our health and the environment, but our cities are not setup to make walking feasible for everything we need to do. 

In this mini unit, students are given two passages that talk about the pros and cons of each. Then, as a class, we make a T-chart for each. As students think about these options, they begin to form opinions about what they think is a better option, or they should anyway. Then, it's time to put pencil to paper and explain why they think one is better than the other. 

It's a simple lesson but the conversations around this topic are invaluable. It could easily last you a week if you wanted it do. Super passionate students may even want to do their own research around the topic and learn more. 

You can check out the full unit in my TPT store here. While you're there, be sure to follow me so you always stay up to date with latest ideas, resources, and freebies. 

I hope you found this post helpful. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful week. I'll talk to you soon.

Stay cozy,