Lesson: Intro. to Persuasive Writing

Opening:

Just the other day, I was trying to persuade my dad to come up to
Boston for the eighth grader’s graduation.  I was telling him how this was my last year at Epiphany, this was the last chance he’d have to meet my students, how he hadn’t had a vacation in a long time.  My argument worked, and I actually persuaded my dad to come!

When have you had to persuade someone of something recently?  [Elicit several responses.] Well, today we’re going to formalize this process and learn how to write a persuasive paragraph.

Introduction to New Material:

Have students take guesses on what should complete the following blanks before giving them the answers:

1       The purpose of persuasive writing is _________________________.

   (to convince someone of your opinion on an issue.)

2       You can gather evidence for your argument from _______________,

(personal experience, interviews)

__________________________, and ________________________.

          (articles, books, newspapers)                                            (internet)

3       The topic sentence of a persuasive paragraph states _____________.

            (your position on the issue)

4       Audience is important in persuasive writing because ____________________________________________.

(you have to tailor your tone and content to best appeal to your audience)

5       Some current hot-button issues that involve persuasion are _________________, _________________, __________________.

(immigration, gun control, death penalty, withdrawing from Iraq, uniforms in school, cell phones in school, longer recess.)

Guided Practice Practice:

          Students vote on an issue that they’d most like to explore.  Then, with teacher they fill in answers on document “Guided Practice – Defining Persuasive Writing.” My kids chose “Cell Phones Should Be Allowed in Schools” with the audience being the school’s administration.

1   The purpose is to convince Epiphany School’s administration that cell phones should be allowed in schools.

2       You can gather evidence for your argument from our personal experience, the internet, interviews with students at other schools where cell phones are allowed. 

3       The topic sentence of this persuasive paragraph will be:

Cell phones should be allowed in schools. 

4       Our audience is the Epiphany School administration, so we will have to consider adopting a serious tone and really address where they are coming from on the issue.

 Independent Practice:

          Students independently complete Persuasive Writing Quizzito.