1. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Persuasive Must Haves! Position Statement Audience Awareness Persuasive Language

2. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Clear Position- What is it? 1. A position or argument; it lets the audience know exactly what the writer wants 2. The writer must clearly state position and stay with that idea. 3. Generally, the position is stated in the thesis.

3. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Why is it important? With the person sitting next to you, discuss why having a clear position would be important. Be ready to share!

4. Why is it important? Write this in your notes: It lets the reader know exactly what you think. It defines the mood of the essay.

5. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Clear Position – example You must make a rule against turning in late homework assignments. At first that sounds unbearable for us kids, but when you really look at it you see it does more good than bad. Just simply turning in our homework on time prepares us for the hurdles life throws at us. Have you ever thought to look at it from the teacher’s point of view? They don’t really want to grade a late assignment from last quarter. Having no late homework will also be very pleasing to those of us who get their work done on time by not seeing kids with A’s that haven’t turned a single assignment in on time.

6. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Find the Position Statement Imagine you were a student sitting in your math class when your teacher says, “Okay, get out your homework!” You rustle around in your backpack for a while until you realize – oh no! You left your homework at home perfectly done. The teacher comes by your desk and you say, “I am sorry. I left my homework at home. My mom just had a baby, so I was taking care of her, and I just ran out the door without it.” Your teacher smiles at you. “It’s okay. I understand. Just bring it in tomorrow.” Isn’t that a better situation than “Oh too bad! You don’t get any credit for it.”? Late homework should be accepted.

7. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Find the Position Statement – Example Imagine you were a student sitting in your math class when your teacher says, “Okay, get out your homework!” You rustle around in your backpack for a while until you realize – oh no! You left your homework at home perfectly done. The teacher comes by your desk and you say, “I am sorry. I left my homework at home. My mom just had a baby, so I was taking care of her, and I just ran out the door without it.” Your teacher smiles at you. “It’s okay. I understand. Just bring it in tomorrow.” Isn’t that a better situation than “Oh too bad! You don’t get any credit for it.”? Late homework should be accepted.

8. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Find the Position Statement My feeling about the rule that teachers do not accept late homework is definitely a mixed one. I know that the rule has its pros and cons, but I really do think that the cons heavily outweigh the pros. I would like to show you, the principal, my position on this rule in a little bit more depth.

9. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Audience Awareness What is it? 1. The audience is who will read your writing. 2. Providing info THAT audience may need and/or anticipating an audience’s point of view 3. Knowing your audience likes/dislikes before you start writing.

10. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Audience Awareness Why is it important? Knowing who your audience helps you to decide: Knowing who your audience helps you to decide: How to connect with the ideas, knowledge, or beliefs of the person or group. How to connect with the ideas, knowledge, or beliefs of the person or group. What information to include. What information to include. What arguments will persuade him/her. What arguments will persuade him/her. How informal or formal the language should be. How informal or formal the language should be.

11. Audience Awareness – poor example Dear Mrs. Gillingham, The teacher yells, “Okay, get out your homework.” You rustle around in your backpack for a while until you realize -- oh no! You left your homework at home, perfectly done.

12. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Audience Awareness – example Dear Mrs. Gillingham, Imagine you were a student, sitting in algebra when your teacher says, “Okay, get out your homework.” You rustle around in your backpack for a while until you realize -- oh no! You left your homework at home, perfectly done.

13. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Audience Awareness – example If you are writing TO a teacher, don’t use WORDS that are degrading to TEACHERS if you want to persuade them to your side!

14. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Persuasive Language What is it? Words and phrases that urge or compel the reader to support the position of the author 1. Precise words2. Repeated words 3. Different connotations4. Persuasive words

15. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Persuasive Language Why is it important? Persuasive language is choosing just the right words or phrases to use at just the right time with just the right audience.

16. Persuasive Language Examples – Divide your box in four parts. Choose one example from each for the boxes. Precise words trigger strong feelings. Precise words trigger strong feelings. Seizes Seizes Snarls Snarls Repeated words or phrases for emphasis Repeated words or phrases for emphasis I have a dream…(Martin Luther King, Jr.) I have a dream…(Martin Luther King, Jr.) She knows…she knows (smiley face trick She knows…she knows (smiley face trick Different connotations Different connotations Mean vs. strict Mean vs. strict Used or pre-owned Used or pre-owned Persuasive Words Persuasive Words Should, must, have to …yes you can use, but try to be more creative! Should, must, have to …yes you can use, but try to be more creative! Absolutely imperative, a matter of life or death, etc. Absolutely imperative, a matter of life or death, etc.

17. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Find Words that Could Be More Persuasive Find Words that Could Be More Persuasive You are a young middle school student. Essay in one hand, you go to class. “I’m done!” You are glad. The teacher takes the essay out of your hands and throws it away. She says, “It’s a day late!” You look at your hard work. The teacher didn’t look at it! The No Late Homework Rule is bad.

18. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Persuasive Language- Redone Imagine yourself as a young middle school student. Five page essay in one hand, you rush into the classroom. “I’m done! I’m done!” You pant, beaming proudly. The teacher seizes the essay out of your grasp and tears it to pieces before your eyes. She snarls, “It’s a day late!” On your knees, you stare dumbstruck at your hard work, ripped to shreds. The teacher didn’t even glance at it! The No Late Homework Rule is a cruel, horrible rule.

19. Principal Scaddilybob Take a look at the Principal Scaddilybob essay. Underline the position statement. Underline the position statement. Circle any/all words and phrase that you think fit the criteria of persuasive language. Circle any/all words and phrase that you think fit the criteria of persuasive language. Write one sentence about how the author was aware of their audience – meaning give an example or two about what they did so you know this was to a principal and not a kid or parent. Write one sentence about how the author was aware of their audience – meaning give an example or two about what they did so you know this was to a principal and not a kid or parent.

20. Copyright © 2007 Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. All rights reserved. Putting it together – Audience Awareness, Clear Position, Precise Language Practice- Write a short letter requesting that a teacher changes a grade you would like to be increased. Underline where you have used 5 persuasive language choices. Underline where you have used 5 persuasive language choices. Circle your position statement. Circle your position statement. Write one sentence at the bottom of the letter that states how you connected with your audience.