Writing for College-Bound Students Persuasive Writing

Yes, writing… Writing will be an integral part of your high school career and will be especially important once in college and beyond. Narrative Essays (Telling a story) Descriptive Essays (Painting a picture) Expository Essays (Just the facts) Persuasive Essays (Convince me) Socratic Method

Why is it important to know how to write? Writing is the primary basis upon which your work, your learning, and your intellect will be judged—in college, in the workplace, and in the community. Writing expresses who you are as a person. Writing fosters your ability to explain a complex position to readers, and to yourself. Writing ideas down preserves them so that you can reflect upon them later. Writing out your ideas permits you to evaluate the adequacy of your argument. Writing stimulates you to extend a line of thought beyond your first impressions or gut responses. Writing is an essential job skill. http://www.marquette.edu/wac/WhatMakesWritingSoImportant.shtml

No, not texts, tweets, posts, or snaps! When or how do you write? Give an example of when you write: Do you only write for classes? Do you write for therapeutic purposes? i.e. does writing make you feel better? Do you write for artistic purposes? Have you ever done a poetry reading or slam? Do you write for job pursuits? Have you ever had to create a resume or cover letter? Do you ever compose emails? No, not texts, tweets, posts, or snaps!

Overview: Persuasive writing for 9th graders Investigative Worksheet (Topics) Outline/Brainstorming Worksheet Persuasive Essay Scoring Rubric

College Issues: Persuasive Writing Assignment Objective: The student will investigate, develop, and draft a concise essay in regards to a critical issue facing today’s college going student. As a result, the student will gather evidence, take a position, and provide the reader with a legitimate explanation of his/her stance. A persuasive or argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with specific evidence. The claim could be an opinion, a policy proposal, an evaluation, a cause-and-effect statement, or an interpretation. The goal of the argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the claim is true based on the evidence provided.

Direction & Outcome: Provide students with the “Investigative Worksheet.” This list includes college-related issues of historical or cultural significance. In groups of 4-5, students will select different topics to evaluate. Allow time for group discussion and preliminary research. Individually, students will use the discussion/research acquired to develop a working thesis statement for their persuasive writing essay. An outline of the essay will be required as well. The student will develop main topics for each of their paragraphs. The student should write a 1-3 page persuasive essay addressing one of the topics provided. NO REFERENCES NEEDED.

Investigative Worksheet (Topics) As many of us are aware, college campuses are many times the setting (directly and indirectly) of various contentious issues. As future college students, you may have to convey your feelings, opinions, and facts about these issues through writing. Current events have made much of the population aware of certain topics such as: Free Speech on Campus Campus Carry Affirmative Action Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Hazing Sexual Assault on Campus (Title IX)

Investigative Worksheet (Topics) Free Speech on Campus Campus Carry Affirmative Action Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Hazing Sexual Assault on Campus (Title IX) First, select and define what your topic is. Research is crucial in thesis development. Refine, refine, refine!

Investigative Worksheet Cont.(Thesis Development) What is a thesis statement? It’s basically an argument for or against your chosen topic. One of the best and more effective ways to develop a quality thesis statement is to ask questions and do your research. The thesis statement is usually one of the last few sentences of your first paragraph. Keep your thesis Prominent! A thesis is never a question. A thesis should be as clear and specific as possible.

Investigative Worksheet Cont. (Thesis Development) Example: Think of yourself as a member of a jury, listening to a lawyer who is presenting an opening argument. You’ll want to know very soon whether the lawyer believes the accused to be guilty or not guilty, and how the lawyer plans to convince you. Readers of academic essays are like jury members: before they have read too far, they want to know what the essay argues as well as how the writer plans to make the argument. After reading your thesis statement, the reader should think, “This essay is going to try to convince me of something. I’m not convinced yet, but I’m interested to see how I might be.” https://writingcenter.fas.harvard.edu/pages/developing-thesis

Investigative Worksheet Cont. (Thesis Development) First and foremost, a thesis statement must be debatable. Example 1, non-debatable thesis statement: Pollution is bad for the environment. Example 2, debatable thesis statement: At least 25 percent of the federal budget should be spent on limiting pollution. Example 3, debatable thesis statement: America’s anti-pollution efforts should focus on privately owned cars.

Persuasive Writing Plan (Outline) The introduction a) The introduction should have a “hook or grabber” to catch the reader’s attention. The body paragraphs a) The writer provides evidence to support the opinion offered in the thesis statement in the introduction. The body should consist of at least three paragraphs. Conclusion a) A piece of persuasive writing usually ends by summarizing the most important details of the argument and stating once again what the reader is to believe or do.

Persuasive Writing Plan (Outline) Example: Introduction: (4-6 sentences) -Hook: grab the reader’s attention with a quote, scenario, question, vivid description, etc. -Three arguments. Choose arguments you can use to convince your reader of your positon. Briefly state these arguments here. -Thesis statement: Simply and clearly state your position on the issue. https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/jason.laviolette/persuasive-essay-outline

Persuasive Writing Plan (Outline) Example: Body: (three paragraphs, 4-6 sentences each) -Reference your first argument. Then write about it. -Use specific examples to support your argument. e.g. stats, quotes, diagrams. -Write a transition sentence.

Persuasive Writing Plan (Outline) Example: Conclusion: (4-6 sentences) -Summarize—restate your thesis statement and three arguments in different words. -Making a closing statement. Tie your closing statement back to your opening hook.

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