LESSON FIVE:  Writing a Persuasive Essay

 

LESSON DESCRIPTION

Students write multi-paragraph text that interprets, evaluates, and persuades and uses relevant evidence to defend a position. The text contains an effective thesis statement and individual perspective, individual style and voice, and complex ideas in a sustained and compelling manner.

 

GRADE-LEVEL EXPECTATIONS

W3C       The student writes effectively in various forms and types of writing

 

LESSON MATERIALS

 

§         Supplies

o        Pencils

 

§         Handouts provided

o        Persuasive essay examples

o        Writing Scoring Guide

 

§         Words to know

o        persuasive writing

 

LEARNING ACTIVITIES

 

Questions for Students

Why might convincing people towards your viewpoint and/or stance be a challenge?

When is a common time you hear persuasive speeches?

What type of issues might be covered in a persuasive speech?

 

1.        Using Cats Make Good Housepets handout, use two colors of overhead markers, one color for elements that make the essay persuasive and another color for elements that make the essay well-written. Use the Writing Scoring Guide to determine elements needed for a piece of writing to be considered a well-written essay.

 

2.        Students read sample persuasive essays and highlight the elements that make the essays persuasive.  Using the Writing Scoring Guide highlight the elements that make the essays well written.

 

Questions for Students

What examples, comparisons, word choices, etc. make this essay persuasive?

What elements make it a well-written essay? (e.g., effective beginning, middle, end, logical flow, effective paragraphing, etc.).

 

Provide each student with a copy of a multi-paragraph top-quality persuasive essay. Have students work in small groups to analyze and discuss an assigned paragraph, using the Read-Write-Talk strategy.   Students look for elements that make the paragraph persuasive and elements that make the paragraph well written.  

 

 

Use the Read-Write-Talk strategy described below to enhance student comprehension of the  passage or you may use another research-based reading strategy.

 

Strategy

 

Read-Write-Talk is a reading and a post-reading strategy.  The outlined process follows:

 

1.        Students individually read the passage silently.  During reading, students note (annotate) major topics, characters, and/ or events in the passage.  Sticky notes may be used.

 

2.       Partner students and allow time for discussion of the passage. Individual annotations may be used as a point of reference.

 

3.      Students individually write responses to the following:

a.     What is most important in this passage? 

b.    What does the author want the reader to think is important?

c.     How did the discussion with your partner help increase your understanding of the passage?

 

 

3.        Students write an effective persuasive essay.  Convince or persuade people towards your viewpoint and/or stance.  Review the Writing Scoring Guide.