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Save the Carousel: Opening and Grouping an Opinion Letter worksheet preview

Worksheet

Save the Carousel: Opening and Grouping an Opinion Letter

Grade 4 opinion writing: study a letter about fixing an old park carousel, then introduce a topic, state an opinion and group related reasons.

Grade 4ELAInteractive · Printable

Aligned toW.4.1.a

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What’s included

  • Single worksheet
  • Auto-graded online
  • 1 Common Core standard
  • Printable answer key
  • 10 questions
  • Classroom-ready

Details

Format
Interactive · Printable
Grade
Grade 4
Subject
ELA
Question types
Multiple choice, Matching, Circle the answer, Sorting, Short answer

About this worksheet

What students practice

  • Students identify the sentences that introduce a topic and state an opinion in an opinion letter.
  • Students group related details under the reason they support and remove ideas that do not belong.
  • Students plan an opening, an opinion and two groups of reasons for their own opinion letter.

How to use

Read the model letter together and talk about the job of each paragraph. Students answer the questions on their own, then use the last section to plan a letter about a place in their own town or school.

Curriculum

Common Core standard covered

W.4.1.a

Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and group related ideas to support the writer's purpose.

Preview

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Name Date

Save the Carousel: Opening and Grouping an Opinion Letter

Introduce a topic, state an opinion, and group reasons in a letter.

Read the letter

Read Marisol's letter. Then answer the questions about how she opens it.

Marisol wrote this letter to her town council. She wants the council members to agree with her opinion.

A Letter About the Carousel

1Dear Town Council Members,
For almost one hundred years, a wooden carousel has turned in the middle of Riverside Park. Last spring, its motor broke, and now the painted horses stand still behind a locked gate. Some people want to take the carousel apart and sell the pieces. I believe our town should repair the carousel and open it again. It is an important part of our history, and it brings people together.

2First, the carousel is a big part of our town's history. Long ago, workers carved and painted each horse by hand. My grandmother rode the same blue horse when she was my age, and she still talks about it. Old photos in the town hall show the carousel when it was brand new. It is even older than the bandstand and the stone fountain. If we sell the pieces, that history will be gone for good.

3Second, the carousel brings people of all ages together. Little kids squeal as the horses glide up and down. Older kids help their younger brothers and sisters climb on. Parents and grandparents wave each time the riders pass by. Kids from different schools sometimes meet there and become friends. On summer nights, neighbors who might never meet stand in line and talk with each other.

4Fixing the carousel will take time and money, but it is worth it. Many people in town have already said they would help raise money. It will save a piece of our past and give families a happy place to gather. Please vote to repair the carousel so it can turn again.
Sincerely,
Marisol Vega, Grade 4

1.
These sentences come from paragraph 1. Sort them by the job each sentence does.
Last spring, its motor broke, and now the painted horses stand still behind a locked gate.I believe our town should repair the carousel and open it again.For almost one hundred years, a wooden carousel has turned in the middle of Riverside Park.It is an important part of our history, and it brings people together.Some people want to take the carousel apart and sell the pieces.
Tells about the topicStates Marisol's opinionNames the reasons to come
2.
Marisol tried other first sentences before she chose one. Which first sentence introduces her topic most clearly?
  • A. Parks are nice places to spend a sunny afternoon with friends.
  • B. I have something very important to tell all of you today.
  • C. The old carousel in Riverside Park has been broken since last spring.
  • D. Horses are large animals that people have ridden for a long time.
3.
A good opinion statement tells the reader exactly what the writer thinks. Which sentence states an opinion about the carousel most clearly?
  • A. Our town should fix the carousel so it can run again.
  • B. The carousel is very old, and it is made of wood.
  • C. Maybe the carousel could be fixed, or maybe it could not.
  • D. Some people like carousels, and some people do not.

Group related ideas

A strong opinion piece keeps ideas that go together in the same paragraph.

4.
Sort each detail by the reason it supports in Marisol's letter. Some details do not support either reason.
My grandmother rode the same blue horse when she was my age.Neighbors stand in line and talk with each other.Parents and grandparents wave as the riders pass by.Some carousels in other places have lions and zebras.Workers carved and painted each horse by hand.The park has a new parking lot by the main gate.Older kids help younger ones climb on.Old photos show the carousel when it was brand new.
Part of our historyBrings people togetherDoes not belong
5.
Marisol wants to add three more sentences to her letter. Match each new sentence to the paragraph where it belongs. One paragraph is not used.
  1. The music box plays songs that were popular long ago.
  2. Teenagers and toddlers can laugh together on the same ride.
  3. A carousel is a ride with seats that go around and up and down.
  1. A. Paragraph 4, the ending
  2. B. Paragraph 3, the people reason
  3. C. Paragraph 1, the opening
  4. D. Paragraph 2, the history reason
6.
Theo is writing an opinion piece. He thinks the town pool should stay open later on summer evenings. Below are the sentences of one paragraph from his draft, in order. Underline the sentence that does not belong with the other ideas in the paragraph.

First, a later closing time would give more kids a chance to swim.Many kids have summer classes until five o'clock.By the time they get to the pool, it is almost time to close.The snack bar sells frozen fruit bars and pretzels.A few extra hours would let them swim after class.

7.
Theo has two groups of reasons: "More kids could swim" and "Families could spend time together." Which detail belongs with "Families could spend time together"?
  • A. Kids who have classes all day could swim after five.
  • B. The pool has a tall slide and a diving board.
  • C. The water in the pool is cleaned every morning.
  • D. Parents who work all day could swim with their kids.

Plan your own opinion letter

Think of a place in your town or school, such as a playground, a fountain or a mural, that you think should be kept, fixed or changed. Plan a letter about it.

8.
Opening: Write one or two sentences that introduce the place, so a reader who has never seen it understands your topic.
9.
Opinion: Write one sentence that tells exactly what you think should happen to the place.
10.
Group your reasons: Write two reasons for your opinion. Under each reason, list two details that belong with it.

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