vietwriting

The Vietnam War: Learning to Care, Caring to Learn Writing

There are many writing opportunities in this unit that can meet every form of writing required for proficiency preparation.

Letter
1) Write a letter to a veteran whose name is on the Wall. Post the letter on the Virtual
Wall web site.
2) Write a letter to a parent, grandparent, or friend explaining what you have learned
about the Vietnam War and the Vietnam Memorial.

Invitation
1) Write an invitation to a relative, friend, or veteran inviting him or her to see the Wall
That Heals when it arrives.
2) Invite a veteran to speak to your class.
3) Write a letter to Senator John McCain and invite him to visit our school when The
Wall That Heals is here.

Thank you note
1) Thank a guest speaker for visiting your class.
2) Send a thank you note to a veteran for serving his or her country.
3) Send a thank you note to City Council, Time Warner, and PTA for contributing to
our efforts to bring the Wall to Sharonville Elementary School.

Letter to the Editor
1) Write a letter to the editor of the Tri County Press explaining what you have learned
    and that you care about the veterans in our community.
2) Write a letter expressing your support for building a Veterans’ Memorial in
    Sharonville and offer to help build it. Be sure to say why you feel it is important it is
    built soon.

Directions
1) Write directions for people who are traveling to see the Wall at our school.
2) Imagine a refugee from Vietnam is new in town. Write directions to one of your
favorite places.

Journal
1) Keep a daily journal of what you have learned and what you are reading.
2) Imagine you are an infantryman. Make a journal entry explaining what is happening
and how you feel.
3) Imagine you are a nurse in Vietnam. Write journal entries explaining what is
happening and how you feel.

Summary
1) Read one of the news articles in the unit and write a summary of it.
2) Read any of the books in this unit and write a summary.

Retelling
1) After you experience a tableau activity, write a retelling of what you experienced and
what you learned.
2) Read one of the news articles in the unit and write a retelling of it.
3) Read any of the books in this unit and write a retelling.

Fictional Narrative
1) Imagine you are a child in Vietnam trying to escape. Write a story of your escape
adventure.
2) Choose any page from Why?, or any book, and write a creative story inspired by the
picture.
3) Write a continuation of a story that was read.

Personal Experience Narrative
1) Write about a time you had a personal conflict and how you solved it.
2) Write about an event that made you sad or reflective.

Informational Piece
1) Choose any aspect of the Vietnam War, research it, and write a report.
2) Research an aspect of Vietnam’s culture and write a report.
3) Compare and contrast the life of a child in Vietnam to their own lives.

Persuasive Piece
1) Many people feel that the men and women who died in Vietnam died in vain.
    Write a piece persuading people that our brave men and women did not die not in
    vain, rather they gave their lives in service to their country.
2) Many people feel women did not serve in dangerous areas. Write an essay proving
    otherwise.
3) Civilians, such as Red Cross volunteers, who died in Vietnam are largely forgotten.
     In fact their names are not on the Wall. Write an essay explaining why their names
     should be on the Vietnam Memorial Wall.
4) Write a pro or con piece concerning our entry into Cambodia.

Poetry
1) Poetry is very popular in Vietnam.
     : Write a poem about something you like about the Vietnamese culture.
     : Write a poem in memory of a young soldier who died.
     : Write a poem in memory of a nurse who was killed.
     : Write a poem about the futility of war.
     : Write a poem in response to any of the books you read.
     : Write about a poem about the plight of the refugees.
     : Write a poem about our veterans.
     : Write a poem about The Wall.

Other Writing Opportunities

1) Write an essay in response to the prompt: “Based on what you have learned about
     the war in Vietnam, how do you intend to live the rest of your life?”
2) Write an essay in response to the prompt: “What can you do at your age to help
     there be peace on earth?”
3) Listen to “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” by Pete Seeger and write how it
     relates to Why?, the Vietnam War, and the Wall.
4) Write reactions to each of the books you read or heard.
5) Retell The Wall by Eve Bunting from a different perspective.
6) Write responses to some of the discussion guide questions.

All writing must meet proficiency criteria for content, organization, use of language, and writing conventions.