Persuasive Writing: Lesson Two

Our next writing assignment will be a persuasive essay. With this writing piece your goal will be to get the reader to agree with you. We will begin this unit with a short, independent lesson from the Scholastic website. Click the link below to explore this lesson!

Persuasion Mini-Lesson: (Click on mini-lesson 2)

To begin the writing process you will start by brainstorming topics that you care about. Here is a list of some topics you could choose from:

● Should students be allowed to have cell phones in school?

● Should kids get paid for good grades?

● Should schools serve french-fries and other fried foods to students at lunch?

● Can video games be educational?

● Should students be able to listen to MP3 players on headphones during study hall?

● Should unhealthy fast food products be sold with a warning label?

● Should school athletes have to be on the honor roll to play in games?

● Are students being given too much homework?

● Should girls be allowed to play on boys’ sports teams?

Topics from: Mrs. Wright and http://www.custom-essay-writing.net/persuasive-essay-topics.html

Persuasive Writing

persuade |pərˈswād|

verb [ with obj. and infinitive ]cause (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument It wasn't easy, but I persuaded him to do the right thing.

We have all tried persuading someone to do something at one time or another. Maybe you were trying to convince Mr. Burch to allow you to work in partners for your Africa project, telling him you will work harder. Or perhaps you persuaded your cousin to let you borrow her video game, by saying that you would, in return, let her use yours.

Persuasive speech is as simple as your mom trying to convince you to wear your hat in the winter, or a TV or radio commercial get you to buy a product, donate to a cause, or vote for a political candidate.

Writing a persuasive essay, or preparing a persuasive speech is like being a lawyer arguing a case before a jury, who are the readers or listeners. 

Persuasion is a skill we use in everyday life, so why not use it in writing?

To do a good job of convincing someone to do something you want, or to change their mind about a topic, it is helpful to have a plan or a  persuasive strategy.