Persuasive Essay: Should Cities Have Natural or Green Spaces within ½ Mile of Every Resident?

Introduce public policy and persuasive writing with a well-designed activity for junior high learners. The writers develop a stance on whether cities should have natural or green places within a half a mile of all residents. Included are worksheets that aid in class debate, and help focus the students' stance on the issue. The lesson also reinforces the core ideas of freedom and American constitutional democracy, and includes a timed writing prompt concerning the effect of home sale prices that are next to parks.  All material is easily modified to suit the needs of the instructor, although the design of this project would enlighten the students on the workings of their town and neighborhood where they live.