3.  Independent Reading!!!

HW#12:  Due December 5, 2011

1.  Write a persuasive essay ON LOOSELEAF that is supported by factual data.  Your essay is to be the opposite stance of the essay topic that you had in class for the "City Life is Better than Country Life" or "Country Life is Better Than City Life" essay outline that you made in class.  Be sure to use one of the 5 types of introductions that we have worked on over the past month and a half (question, quotation, summary, fact, or anecdote).  Remember to employ all of the techniques that we have talked about such as descriptive vivid language and knowing your audience.  Make your work shine!

HW#11:  Due December 1, 2011

1.  Reflect on what you learned in class yesterday and today about persuasive writing and the importance of molding what you say to fit the desires of your audience.  In your homework notebook, explain what you have learned about the importance of audience in persuasive writing.  What type of person (audience) would be interested in going on a "relaxing Caribbean vacation"  Describe why writing about the wonderful heat of the Caribbean or the relaxing atmosphere may not be such a good idea if you do not know your audience.  Make sure the responses to these questions and ideas above are written as a well ordered essay.

2.  Independent Reading.

HW#10:  Due November 30, 2011

1.  You are to fill out each of the 2 outline graphic organizer sheets that you were given today to explain why a Carribbean vacation is better than a European vacation.  As I explained multiple times in class, the graphic organizer represents the pieces of one paragraph where you have one claim that is supported by 3 different bits of evidence.  I am sure than your work will be much better than what you turned in the last two days!  Give your best effort!!!!

2.  Go to our BLOG to discuss this futher to get your creative juices flowing.  Click Here:   

HW#9:  Due November 28, 2011  (Thanksgiving break assignment to be done on LOOSELEAF PAPER.)

1.  You are to write a persuasive/argument essay using one of the topics below AFTER reading the information about writing a persuasive/argument essay that you will find below and filling out the graphic organizer on looseleaf, and then re-reading the information below to make sure that you have done as you are expected to as a writer of a persuasive/argument essay.  Choose your topic from one of the following:

A.  A wealthy donor plans to build a new facility that will benefit young people in your area. 

It could be a swimming pool, a theater, a skateboard park, an art school, or any other facility that 

would provide young people with constructive ways to spend their time. The donor is not sure 

what kind of facility would be most useful. Write a letter to the donor in which you identify the 

type of facility you would like to have built, and persuade her that it is the best choice. Be sure to 

support your opinion with convincing reasons and evidence.  

B.  Your principal wants to invite a celebrity speaker to your school. Think about the celebrity you 

would choose to have speak; then, write a letter to persuade your principal to invite this person. 

Be sure to include convincing reasons and details to support your choice.  

C.  Girls and boys often enjoy playing the same sport. Some people believe that girls and boys should 

be able to play on the same team. What is your opinion on this issue? Write an essay stating your 

opinion and supporting it with convincing reasons. Be sure to explain your reasons in detail.  

D. It has been said that television has little real educational value. What is your opinion on this 

issue? Write an essay stating your opinion and supporting it with convincing reasons. Be sure to 

explain your reasons in detail.  

E. The principal of your school is considering conducting random locker searches several times a 

year without letting students know in advance. What is your position concerning this issue? Write 

a letter to the principal stating your position and supporting it with convincing reasons. Be sure to 

explain your reasons in detail.  

F. Suppose Congress wants to make a new national holiday honoring an important person or event. 

Choose a person or event you would like to honor. Write an essay to convince members of 

Congress to accept your choice.  

G. Your principal has asked students to suggest a school rule that should be changed. Think of one 

rule that you would like to have changed. Write a letter convincing your principal that this rule 

should be changed. Be sure to support your opinion with convincing reasons and evidence.  

2.  Now that you have chose from the persuasive essay topics (A-F) above, read the information below, and using both that information and what we have been working on for the past two weeks in school, fill out the graphic organizer below (print or re-write on looseleaf).  You will then re-read the information below and write your essay.  

**************************************

Writing series

Persuasive or argumentative essays

In persuasive or argumentative writing, we try to convince others
to agree with our facts, share our values,
accept our argument and conclusions,

and adopt our way of thinking.

Elements toward building a good persuasive essay include

• establishing facts
  to support an argument
• clarifying relevant values
  for your audience (perspective)
• prioritizing, editing, and/or sequencing
  the facts and values in importance to build the argument
• forming and stating conclusions
• "persuading" your audience that your conclusions
  are based upon the agreed-upon facts and shared values
• having the confidence
  to communicate your "persuasion" in writing

Here are some strategies to complete a persuasive writing assignment:

Write out the questions in your own words.

Think of the questions posed in the assignment
while you are reading and researching. Determine

• facts
• any sources that will help you determine their reliability 
  (as well as for further reference)
• what prejudices lie in the argument
  or values that color the facts or the issue
• what you think of the author's argument

List out facts; consider their importance:
prioritize, edit, sequence, discard, etc.
Ask yourself "What's missing?"

What are the "hot buttons" of the issue?
List possible emotions/emotional reactions and recognize them for later use

Start writing a draft! (refer to: Writing essays, the basics)
Start as close as possible to your reading/research
Do not concern yourself with grammar or spelling

• Write your first paragraph
  • Introduce the topic
  • Inform the reader of your point of view!
  • Entice the reader to continue with the rest of the paper!
  • Focus on three main points to develop
• Establish flow from paragraph to paragraph
• Keep your voice active
• Quote sources
  to establish authority
• Stay focused
  on your point of view throughout the essay
• Focus on logical arguments
• Don't lapse into summary
  in the development--wait for the conclusion
• Conclusion
  Summarize, then conclude, your argument
  Refer to the first paragraph/opening statement as well as the main points
  • does the conclusion restate the main ideas?
  • reflect the succession and importance of the arguments
  • logically conclude their development?
• Edit/rewrite the first paragraph
  to better telegraph your development and conclusion.
• Take a day or two off!
• Re-read your paper
  with a fresh mind and a sharp pencil
  • Ask yourself:
    Does this make sense? Am I convinced?
    Will this convince a reader?
    Will they understand my values, and agree with my facts?
  • Edit, correct, and re-write as necessary
  • Check spelling and grammar!
  • Have a friend read it and respond to your argument.
    Were they convinced?
  • Revise if necessary
  • Turn in the paper
  • Celebrate a job well done,
    with the confidence that you have done your best.

How to respond to criticism:
Consider criticism as a test of developing your powers of persuasion.
Try not to take it personally.

If your facts are criticized,
double check them, and then cite your sources.

If your values are criticized,
sometimes we need agree "to disagree".  Remember: your success in persuading others assumes that the other person is open to being persuaded!

Fear: If you are not used to communicating,
especially in writing, you may need to overcome fear on several levels. Writing, unlike unrecorded speech, is a permanent record for all to see, and the "context" is not as important as in speech where context "colors" the words. For example: your readers do not see you, only your words. They do not know what you look like, where you live, who you are.

Hopefully in school, and class, we have a safe place
to practice both the art of writing and of persuasion. Then later, when we are in our communities, whether work, church, neighborhoods, and even families, we can benefit from this practice.

Persuasion also has another dimension:
it is built with facts, which illustrate conclusions. Of course, this means you need to know what you are talking about, and cannot be lazy with your facts, or you will not succeed in convincing anyone. This shows another level of fear: Fear of making a mistake that will make your argument or persuasion meaningless. Since you are writing, and the words are on paper for all to see (or on a web site!), you need to work to make sure your facts are in order.

Thanks to the inspiration of S Ryder, and her sixth grade class in Pennsylvania, for revision of this Guide.

HW#8:  Due November 23rd, 2011

1.  A thank you to all of you and your parents who are supporting our culture day of thanks!!!  THANK YOU!

2.  Go online and bring in evidence that supports that long hair is better than short hair and other evidence that supports short hair being better than long hair.  Read through data and highlight information that you feel would work well with your essay.

3.  Independent reading.

4.  PENNY HARVEST!!!  LET'S WIN!!!  (Put those pennies in your bag NOW and bring them in tomorrow.  It's the last day!!!)

HW#7:  Due November 22st, 2011

1.  As we did in class today, you are to create 2 paragraphs which include the elements that we have been working with, namely:

a.  thesis statement

b. claim a

c. evidence #1

d. evidence #2

e. concluding sentence

You will use this format to write a paragraph that states that short hair is better than long hair, and another paragraph prooving the opposite, that long hair is better than short hair.  Remember that these are not just opinions, but claims that must be backed up and supported by evidence.

HW#6:  Due November 21st, 2011

1.  THANK YOUR PARENTS FOR COMING OUT TO PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES IF THEY WERE IN FACT ABLE TO.  I LOVED MEETING WITH AND TALKING TO THEM ABOUT YOU.  IF I DIDN'T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEET THEM, I UNDERSTAND AND LOOK FORWARD TO WHEN WE CAN MEET.

2.  In your homework notebooks, write 7 introductions, one for each of the different ways we have discussed in class.  If for some reason you do not have this information, please look below.  This is exactly what we did in class with "Chicken being better than beef" but with the topic you have chosen with Aeropostale or Polo being better than the other.

The Ways that We Can Effectively Introduce Text

• A Thought Provoking Questions
• An Interesting Fact
• A Quotation
• An Anecdote (Very Short Mini Short Story)
• Summary
• Humor  (can be used with one of the first 5 techniques...deals with your voice as an author)
• Suspense  (can be used with one of the first 5 techniques...deals with your voice as an author)

HW#5:  Due November 17th, 2011

1.  Remember that Parent Teacher Conferences are tomorrow, November 17th from 1-3 in the afternoon, and again in the evening from 5:30-8.  Make sure that your parents are aware of it.  I look forward to meeting them.

2.  Using the Persuasive Writing Outline that we used in class today as our model, create a new outline for the side you have taken concerning Aeropostale versus Polo. Come up with 3 claims and 2 pieces of support for each claim.

3.  Independent Reading.

HW#4:  Due: November 16th, 2011

1.  Bring home letter to your parents, have them sign in the three places, and bring it back.

2.  Write a new and even more thrilling introduction to a fictional essay persuading someone to either eat vanilla or chocolate ice cream using the "thought provoking question" technique that we talked about and have worked on.

3.  Independent Reading.

HW#3:  Due: November 15th, 2011

1.  Bring home letter to your parents, have them sign in the three places, and bring it back. 

2.  Write a great persuasive writing introduction for an essay that explains whether vanilla ice cream or chocolate ice cream is better.  Use the information below to assist you in the writing of your persuasive writing introduction.  Also, copy these notes below in the blue font into your homework notebook.

At first, you should identify your key idea/opinion of your persuasive essay. Your aim is to persuade the audience to agree with your opinion.
Also, it is necessary to identify your target audience. To create a good persuasive essay, you need to understand your readers. You should know whether your audience undecided or hostile to your point of view.
After considering your target audience, you need to identify the strong supporting sides for your point of view. And then you should define the opposing view deserving your attention. Explaining and refuting this opposing view will strengthen the confidence and scope of your persuasive essay.
The organization of a persuasive paper:
1. Introduction: It should catch your reader’s concentration and give background information concerning your topic. Also, this paragraph should end up with a clear statement of the main idea/opinion.

HW#2:  Due:  November 14th, 2011

1.  Choose your 3 favorite topics from your "State Your Position" worksheet and create a paragraph for each of the topics chosen that explain WHY you have made your decision.

HW#1:  Due:  November 4th, 2011

1.  Your literary elements as represented by the 7 works we have studied so far this year (Grid Project) is due today.  Make sure that you have all parts in and have the best work you could have possibly done presented when I collect it.  I look forward to you showing off how much you have learned!  This is your first graded assignment of the 2nd marking period.