Persuasive Writing

Write to Teach and Share Big Ideas We write not just to tell stories but to teach and share big ideas. Sometimes we write narrative stories that take us on journeys, living in the shoes of a character. Other times we write expository pieces, which contain clear, organized writing that explains ideas.

Choose a topic that matters to you Yesterday we thought of things we wanted to buy, have, or change (either at school, at home, or in the world). You chose a topic about which to write. Read what you wrote. Is this something that really matters to you?

Choosing Topics Today I want you to understand that essayists don’t just write about any old topic. They write about things that really and truly matter to them. One way to discover what really matters to you is to look through your stories in your writer’s notebook and “read between the lines”

Read Between the Lines This means that you look for bigger ideas in your stories. For example, if your story is about doing something special with a friend, the bigger idea could be the importance of friendship. Read through your stories and as you do take notes about the big ideas you find.

How to get even more ideas! Writers, you have infinite resources to which you can turn as you are coming up with ideas for essays. You can find ideas by giving thoughtful attention to the stuff that others might walk right past.

How to get even more ideas! Listen to the purr of a cat Study the stuff that accumulates in desk drawers Notice how each person in your family reads a newspaper or plays a game differently Really listen to arguments and conversations Then jot down your observations – “This makes me think…’ or ‘I’m realizing that…”

List your ideas Take time now to think about what you have already observed and start your list of ideas.

Free Write Write about a topic that really matters to you. Work on a story you have already started. Start a new story. Continue to List of Ideas