World Literature Friday, September 30, 2011

Warm-up: 9/28/09 This is national banned books week. Please wait quietly and I will read a short article and talk about some banned books. Then I will ask you to write about this

Today’s Targets Developing skills in persuasive writing, specifically writing a persuasive thesis

Today’s Tasks 1.Warm-up 2.Overview of thesis patterns (pink handout and power point lecture) 3.Practice in identifying effective and non- effective thesis statements (tan handout)

Warm-up The purpose of this warm-up is to consider techniques of persuasive and formulating an argument with clear reasons. (It is also to recognized Banned Books Month.) This is national banned books week. Should parents have the right to raise objections to what books their children are taught or are available in their school libraries? And should every book be exempt from challenge, no matter what its point of view or literary merit? Why or why not?

Today’s Activities 1.Warm-up 2.Some general guidelines for persuasive writing 3.Guidelines for a persuasive thesis (pink handout and power point instructions) 4.Identifying effective thesis statements (tan handout) 5.Looking at a sample persuasive prompt 6.Brainstorming arguments for both sides 7.Writing a persuasive thesis

Selecting strong reasons Must be arguable Must be supportable, meaning that you can find solid evidence from a variety of sources Must target the prompt

Follow A pattern Pattern One: Topic/Issue + Opinion/Position + (because, for, since, etc.) + supporting reason 1 + supporting reason 2 + supporting reason 3. Example: School should be held year-round, because such a system will aid students in retaining information, make better use of resources, and discontinue an antiquated and unnecessary system.

Follow A pattern Pattern Two: Supporting reason 1 + supporting reason 2 + supporting reason 3 + (therefore, consequently, accordingly, hence, etc.) + Topic/Issue + Opinion/Position. Example: Eating animals is unhealthy, unkind, and unnecessary; therefore, all Americans should become vegetarians.

Follow A pattern Pattern Two: Supporting reason 1 + supporting reason 2 + supporting reason 3 + (therefore, consequently, accordingly, hence, etc.) + Topic/Issue + Opinion/Position. Example: In order to aid students in retaining information, make better use of resources, and discontinue an antiquated and unnecessary system, schools should be held year round.

Follow a pattern Pattern Three Action + (will) + supporting reason 1 + supporting reason 2 + supporting reason 3. Examples: Prohibiting backpacks in classrooms will eliminate clutter, make classrooms safer, and prevent students from bringing unnecessary materials into the classroom.

Follow a pattern Pattern Three Action + (will) + supporting reason 1 + supporting reason 2 + supporting reason 3. Examples: Holding school year round will aid students in retaining information, make better use of resources, and discontinue an antiquated and unnecessary system.

Recognizing effective thesis statements Look at the tan handout. Identify which of the thesis statements are effective and have all the required pieces (There are four of them.) Identify which five are not effective and state what they are missing. Revise the non-effective statements to make them effective. There is space on the back.

Next practice: Write a thesis on a current issue without thesis starters (discussed on the next slides)

Looking at the prompt Should parents and/or community members be able to ban books from being taught in schools?

Practice Thesis skills Prompt: Should parents and/or community members be able to ban books from being taught in schools? Check out the links below for information on this issue. Listen as the issue is discussed. The website _n_ html?ncid=edlinkusaolp _n_ html?ncid=edlinkusaolp the article: censorship_b_ html censorship_b_ html

Should parents and/or community members be able to ban books from being taught in schools? Reasons For (Yes/Pros)Reasons Against (No/Cons)

Write your thesis After looking at the issue and these reasons, write your own thesis statement on this topic on the bottom of the tan handout. Turn in the tan handout when you are done.

Mary Maloney The Prosecution (intentional murder) The defense (an act of temporary insanity)