Persuasive Writing: The Five-Step Writing Process

Congratulations! You have made it to day five of Persuasive Writing! Hip hip, hooray! If you are reading this, I have decided that you are ready to get down with the writing process!

Go on, pat yourself on the back!






------But guess what, you have already begun this wonderful process!------

It started with an idea, that turned into an outline, that can now be formulated into a web or graphic organizer.




Here are the steps of the writing process:

1. PREWRITING- Think
  X  Brainstorm- What do you want to do a persuasive writing piece on?

  X  Outline- Generate a brief outline on your claim, your three sub-topics and details for each.

  X  Research your topic. Use at least two credible sources.

  X  Web/Graphic Organizer: For this step you will fill in a graphic organizer using the information from your outline and research.




2. DRAFTING- Write
  X   Put the information into your own words. Share your voice!

  X   Construct complete sentences and form them into paragraphs. Remember, a paragraph is three-five sentences in length.

  X   Read your writing to yourself, at least one time out loud and one time silently.



3. REVISING- Make it Better
  X   Read it to yourself again.

  X   Make sure that you have complete sentences. Check for capital letters for the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns. Did you use the correct punctuation, especially at the ends of your sentences? Did you indent for each new sub-topic/paragraph?

  X   Add or take out parts as needed. Is your paper at least one page long?

  X   How is the flow? Does your paper flow smoothly, using at least one transition per paragraph?



4. PROOFREADING- Make it Correct

  X   Read it to yourself again.

  X   Peer Edit: Remember this? Fill out a peer edit sheet, on your own writing, and then have a peer read your paper and do the same.

  X   Read it to yourself again. Make all of the changes your peer has suggested, that make sense to you; ask questions.

  X   Did you read it again? Does it represent you, and your strong view on your topic? Will it persuade your reader?

  X   Re-type all changes that you have decided need to be made, and you will have your finished product!

5. PUBLISHING-Share the finished product

  X   Read it to the class.

  X   Create a Keynote/Powerpoint slideshow of your paper. Make it at least 3 slides in length, including the Sources page.

  X   Add photos that help illustrate your writing.

  X   Say in a loud voice, "I did it! I finished my persuasive writing and slideshow! Hip, hip, HOORAY!"

Persuasive Writing Topics: Credible Sources

What is a Credible Source?

Anyone can put information on the Internet, and it is not always credible. The credibility of a source refers to how reliable the information is. Is the information based off of facts and research or is it from an individuals own opinions and experiences?

Books and library databases are great credible resources to use. Books have gone through many evaluation processes before being published.

There are some specific things one should look for when deciding whether or not a site is credible.

Look for these things:

Home Page: This should contain more information about the credibility of the information, before you look any further into the source.

• Author: Who is the author or organization? If there is no author, where did the information come from?

• Sponsor: Who is the sponsor, the person that owns the site? Is it a credible group or organization?
• Date: How recent was the website published, and edited?
• What type of site is it?
• Is it a blog? Avoid it!
• Is it a wiki? Watch out!
• Is it an Internet database? Proceed!
• Is it an online periodical or print publication? Do it UP!

• The URL Address and its significance: Domain Names
• .gov -This is derived from "government,"  is used by the United States government, and is the most strongly regulated.
• .com - This is an abbreviation for "commercial," meaning that websites use this type of domain for a business or commercial nature.
• .edu -This stands for education, and represents an educational institution.
• .org -This site is represented by an organization, like: environmental organizations, charities, associations, schools, etc.
• .net -This comes from the word "network" and is typically used for organizations involved in networking technologies, like internet service providers.

My sources: myself and my college degree and http://www.ivcc.edu/stylebooks/stylebook6.aspx?id=14724

Payment for Grades

http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1871528,00.html

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-good-life/201004/paying-students-good-grades

http://responsibility-project.libertymutual.com/articles/what-are-good-grades-worth-?src=keyword_s=ggl_K=paying%20children%20for%20grades_C=Education_G=GoodGradesWorth_Pay_M=b&K_CLICKID=006ad6f4-c118-34a9-0b32-00006e75282f#fbid=NHwuX-725K2&src=keyword_s


Unhealthy Food

http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/junk-food-facts


Cell Phones in School

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2011/08/why-schools-should-stop-banning-cell-phones-and-use-them-for-learning241.html

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.

Holiday Story Writing

For this assignment, everyone will create a story related to the holiday season. You may choose one of the topics or story starters listed below. With my permission, you can make up your own as well.

Click here for the requirements!



Peer edits will be completed on Monday, February 4th.
Final drafts will be due on Tuesday February 5th.


Story Ideas

Write a persuasive piece to convince a skeptic that Santa Claus really does exist.

Write a personal narrative describing the best Christmas you have ever had.

Write a story that illustrates your favorite parts of the holiday season. 

Rewrite a classic holiday story, like "'Twas the Night."


Holiday Story Starters

(Name) struggled to keep his eyes open as he sat under the night sky watching his father's sheep. Suddenly, a bright light split the night sky. ...

Grandmother pulled the last tray of gingerbread men from the oven. Suddenly ...

"Ho - ho - help me!" came the voice from the chimney ...

Johnny shook the last coin from his piggy bank. $5.67 - that was all the money he had to buy holiday gifts for his mother, father, sister, and grandmother ...

All the elves were hard at work in Santa's workshop ... all but one, that is ...

Grandpa Joe sat all alone in his living room. For the first time in 70 years, he hadn't bothered with a Christmas tree ...

I woke with a start. Something red shone through the window. Why, it looked like a reindeer nose! ...

Off in the distance, I heard the sound of sleigh bells. ...

Class on 11/20/12

Instructions:

• Click on any of the following links about Thanksgiving. 

KidsKonnect.com

History.com

NationalGeographic.com

• Read any of the articles about Thanksgiving. 

• After you have finished reading, please write one paragraph about something you learned, and/or found interesting. I would like you to write your paragraph in the comment section below this post. 
• Make sure you write at least three sentences, and double-check your grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization. Sign your name at the end, and remember to cite your source (copy the url under your post.)
• If you wish, you may choose another educational website to do your Thanksgiving research, but you will need to cite your source.  If you do this, you must be certain that it is a reliable source (i.e. not Wikipedia).

   

Grammar Sites

If you arrive early to class and have all of the daily materials with you, you may use any of the following links to practice grammar with! Once again, some of these may seem juvenile, but they do contain 6th grade Language Arts topics and content.

Caution: If you are disruptive (i.e. your voice or computer volume is too loud) with these, you will not be permitted to use them when I am not present!

• Grammar Tutorial Activity

• Noun Explorer

• Adjective Adventure

• Verbs in Space

• Comma Chameleon

• Magical Capitals

• Sentence Clubhouse