Week 39 Day 1

Daily Standards and Objectives  Standards: W : Write arguments to support claims in an analysis of substantive topics or texts, using valid reasoning and relevant and sufficient evidence.  Objectives: Students will be able to – Construct a thesis statement that will inform readers of their essay topic and opinion.

Do Now #5  Answer the following in 3-5 sentences: For your persuasive essay, will you be arguing for or against the usage of stereotypes in our society? In your paper, are you going to convince your reader that stereotypes are entirely negative, or will you argue that stereotyping has its benefits? Why are you choosing this side?

What is a stereotype?  Definition: “To believe unfairly that all people or things with a particular characteristic are the same” (Merriam-Webster).

Examples of Gender Stereotyping  Women aren't as smart as men.  Girls are not good at sports.  Guys are pigs.  Men who cry are wimps.  Women are responsible for taking care of the home and children.  Men should make more money than women.

Examples of Racial Stereotyping  Irish people are all Catholic and alcoholics.  Asian people are good students and can’t drive.  White people have money and are stuck-up and lazy.  Terrorism is associated with people from the Middle-East.  The list goes on…

Grouping of Individuals  People considered to be “Gothic” wear black clothes, are depressed, and stray from society.  Skaters and surfers are bad students and are associated with drugs.  People with tattoos are unsophisticated.  Cops are crooked and like donuts.

Literary Stereotypes  Characters are stereotyped in books, movies, plays, and television to make it easier for the audience to understand and relate to them.  By stereotyping characters, the author/director does not have to spend time introducing each character with a back story.

Task:  On the next slide, I will show you an image of stereotypical, or cliché, characters from a film. Write down as many stereotypes as you can. Ex: Popular/slutty cheerleader

Essay  Riddle– What do a boxing match and a persuasive essay have in common? 1. Being introduced in the ring = thesis 2. Combination punches against the opponent = body paragraphs 1 and 2 3. Defending yourself= body paragraph 3 4. Final Count = Conclusion

Purpose of a Persuasive Essay “In a persuasive essay, the writer attempts to persuade readers that his or her opinion on a controversial issue is the right one. The writer presents one side of the issue and supports his or her opinion with arguments backed up by statistics, examples and expert opinions. In short essays, five paragraphs is the standard format” (Brent Davies, 2009).

Today’s To Do’s 1. Choose a definitive stance (for or against) 2. Compose thesis statement 3. Write Introductory paragraph

Composing your thesis statement:  Your thesis statement must state your opinion so the reader knows what to expect from your paper.  Only 3 rd person point of view!  Example: While many people see stereotyping as a negative action, it actually has its benefits when it comes to the law and individual safety.

More Examples  Stereotyping is a destructive part of society because it can lead to discrimination and unfair treatment of individuals.  Stereotyping individuals has its benefits such as allowing people to make quick judgments for their own safety, as well as positively prejudging someone based on respectable characteristics.

Structuring the Argumentative Essay Introductory Paragraph Begin with a hook -- a technique used to grab the reader’s attention. Effective hook techniques include: 1. Quotations Harold Evans once said, “Attempting to get at truth means rejecting stereotypes and clichés.” 2. Definitions Stereotyping occurs when a person is viewed based on preconceived notions about their membership in a particular group. 3. Facts According to Margo Monteith, Ph.D., many children have definite and entrenched stereotypes about ethnicity, gender, and other social groups by five years of age.

Structuring the Argumentative Essay Introductory Paragraph Format: 1. Hook 1. Description/Discussion of Issue (background information about stereotyping) – do not insert your opinion here 1. Opinion (Thesis) Statement

Sample: Harold Evans once said, “Attempting to get at truth means rejecting stereotypes and clichés.” Evans’ concern with stereotypes and clichés getting in the way of finding the truth about individuals is honest and accurate. Society has been trained to judge individuals based on certain characteristics or physical factors, and uses these judgments to place individuals in categories. These categories are called “stereotypes” which allow people to be grouped according to shared features such as race, gender, etc. Stereotyping is a negative aspect of society, and it can cause harm to individuals because it leads to unfair discrimination, inaccurate prejudice, and even anger and hatred. Hook Thesi s

Exit Slip  Please visit the following link to record your thesis statement for credit for today’s lesson. You will receive feedback by Wednesday. 