Writing Workshop We must clean up toxic waste now! Vote for me! My client is innocent! When an issue affects you deeply, you want to convince others to agree with you. Expressing your thoughts on a topic that is significant to you, as writers in this unit have done, can change your life and your community. To learn how to persuade others effectively, take a look at the Writer s Road Map. writer s road map writing prompt 1 Writing for the Real World Choose an issue you feel strongly about. Write a persuasive essay in which you explain the issue and attempt to convince readers to support your position. Issues to Explore new restrictions on teenage drivers discrimination in various forms censorship of student newspapers writing prompt 2 Writing from Literature Sometimes reading a work of literature can give you a whole new perspective on an issue. Using something you have read as a springboard, write a persuasive essay about an issue that is meaningful to you. Issues to Explore medical treatment of children (Angela s Ashes) racial discrimination ( Blues Ain t No Mockin Bird and American History ) preserving the sacred places of different cultures ( Revisiting Sacred Ground ) writing tools For prewriting, revision, and editing tools, visit the Writing Center at ClassZone.com. key traits 1. ideas Presents a thesis statement that makes a claim, or takes a position, on a clearly identified issue Uses relevant and convincing reasons and evidence to support the position Anticipates and addresses opposing arguments and objections 2. organization Describes the issue in a strong introduction Uses transitions to create a consistent organizational pattern Concludes by summarizing the position or issuing a call to action 3. voice Reflects the writer s commitment to his or her opinion Addresses the audience directly 4. word choice Uses persuasive language effectively 5. sentence fluency Varies sentence beginnings 6. conventions Employs correct grammar and usage 908 unit 9: history, culture, and the author
Writing Workshop Part 2: Apply the Writing Process prewriting 1. Analyze the prompt. Study the prompt you chose on page 908. Circle the part of the prompt that tells you what you will be writing. Then underline words and phrases in the prompt that help you focus your thoughts. writing prompt Choose an issue you feel strongly about. Write a persuasive essay in which you explain the issue and attempt to convince readers to support your position. The key here is to find an issue I really care about so that my passion for my position comes through loud and clear. 2. Think about what really matters to you. List some questions that explore your current state of mind. Think of issues in your school, neighborhood, community, state, or region. Place a star next to any issue that might make a suitable topic for your persuasive essay. Remember, to be effective, your argument must have two sides to it. 1. What s bothering me at school? geometry class, Richie Franklin, * backpack searches, rising cafeteria prices 2. What s been happening in the community lately? vandalism, * proposed curfew law, new community center 3. Develop a working thesis statement. Spend some time crafting a thesis that includes a claim a forceful statement of your position. Your thesis should reflect the tone and point of view of the rest of the essay. The writer of the student model wanted to concentrate on two main points, so he built his thesis around them. The proposed curfew law is a terrible idea. 1. The people proposing the law are basing it on their feelings about young people and crime, not the facts. 2. The law would violate our rights and our parents rights. 4. Gather support material. You re going to need strong reasons and solid evidence to support your position. If you need facts and statistics, you might try using an Internet search engine. Possible Sources Article in Concord Clarion Ask school librarian for research tips. Internet search keywords: curfew, teen curfew, juvenile crime, Constitutional rights of juveniles writing workshop 911
drafting 1. Plan your organization. Two common ways to organize the body of a persuasive essay are shown here. In both cases, the writer places his strongest argument last. Pattern 1 Present all opposing arguments, then refute them with counterarguments. Pattern 2 Raise one opposing argument and immediately counter it, then raise another opposing argument and counter it. pattern 1 pattern 2 Introduction and Thesis Opposing Arguments: Deters juvenile crime No need for teens to be out Government must keep citizens safe. Counterarguments: Facts show curfews don t deter juvenile crime. Many good reasons for teens to be out Curfews violate citizens rights. Conclusion Introduction and Thesis Opposing Argument 1: Deters juvenile crime Counterargument 1: Facts say otherwise. Opposing Argument 2: No need for teens to be out Counterargument 2: Many good reasons Opposing Argument 3: Government must keep citizens safe. Counterargument 3: Curfews violate citizens rights. Conclusion 2. Use persuasive language. Don t be hesitant or vague. Use language that shows your commitment to and strong feelings about your argument. The city government has no business telling parents when their children must be home. That s a decision for parents to make. See page 596: Persuasive Techniques 3. Support key ideas. If you want your audience to be truly persuaded, you must offer convincing support for what you say. Back up your arguments with strong reasons and convincing facts, statistics, and expert opinions. Before revising, consult the key traits on page 908 and the rubric and peer-reader questions on page 914. Her argument sounds good, but unfortunately, the facts do not support it. A study by two university professors, William Ruefle and Kenneth Mike Reynolds, showed there is almost no evidence that curfews lowered crime rates. Key idea Supporting evidence (expert opinion) 912 unit 9: history, culture, and the author
Writing Workshop revising and editing 1. Be alert for errors in reasoning. Put [brackets] around statements that are not based on sound reasoning. Watch out for statements that are too broad to prove. These often include words and phrases such as everyone, every time, no one, and none. See page 914: Errors in Reasoning Juvenile crime is a problem in many areas, including Concord, but curfews are not the solution. [Everyone knows that curfews are a bad idea.] The proper response to juvenile crime is to arrest the criminals, not to put law-abiding young people under house arrest. 2. Fully develop supporting material. Underline the key idea in each paragraph. Reread the material supporting each key idea. Add reasons, facts, or statistics if needed. This writer supported his idea with three specific reasons. Teenagers have many good reasons to be out at night. Why should teens have to risk being arrested and fined just for living their lives? Some have part-time jobs that don t end until 9:00 or 10:00. Some participate in activities sponsored by youth groups or church groups. Some may be responding to family emergencies. 3. Use precise vocabulary. Read your essay aloud. Circle words and phrases that seem vague or overused. Replace circled words and phrases with language that is precise and reflects your strong feelings about the subject. arrest the criminals, The proper response to juvenile crime is to look law-abiding young people for the bad ones, not to put the rest of us under house arrest. 4. Write a strong conclusion. Have a peer reader draw a wavy line under parts of your conclusion that are weak or that need details. Revise the conclusion to make sure it includes a call to action. Most conclusions also include a concise restatement of the position. See page 914: Ask a Peer Reader, including Concord, but curfews are not the solution. Juvenile crime is a problem in many places. The proper response to juvenile crime is to arrest the criminals, not to put law-abiding young people under house arrest. I encourage those of you who believe the curfew law is unfair and distorts the facts to write to your city supervisors and make your opinions known. writing workshop 913
Preparing to Publish Apply the Rubric A strong persuasive essay... has an attention-getting introduction states the issue and the writer s opinion in a thesis statement is sensibly organized supports opinions with reasons and evidence raises and refutes opposing arguments and objections addresses the audience directly uses persuasive language that shows the writer s commitment concludes with a summary or a call to action Ask a Peer Reader Did my argument convince you? Why or why not? Which point is strongest? Did I use it in the right place? Does my essay seem biased? If so, could you explain how and why? How can I improve my conclusion? Errors in Reasoning Circular Reasoning trying to prove a statement by repeating it using different words ( Curfew laws are unnecessary because we don t need them. ) Overgeneralization a statement that is too broad or general to prove ( Nobody supports curfews. ) Either/Or Fallacy claiming there is one possible outcome to an action when there may be several ( Either this law passes or there will be no safety. ) False Cause assuming that one event led to another just because the second event followed the first ( Merrillville passed a curfew law, and there hasn t been a burglary there in months. ) See page R24: Identifying Faulty Reasoning Check Your Grammar Use who as the subject of a sentence. Who is responsible for making laws? Who is the subject of the verb is. Use whom as an object in a sentence. For whom is this law intended? Whom is the object of the preposition for. See page R54: Interrogative Pronouns publishing options For publishing options, visit the Writing Center at ClassZone.com. assessment preparation For writing and grammar assessment practice, go to the Assessment Center at ClassZone.com. 914 unit 9: history, culture, and the author