Persuasive Writing

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Canned Lesson

• Persuasive Writing

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Step 1 Read the prompt carefully before you
begin.

• Writing Situation Parents, schools, and society
  all impose rules, but schools especially have a
  set of rules that must be followed. Think of one
  school rule that you really dislike. What are
  some arguments against having this rule at your
  school?
• Consider the reasons this rule should be removed.
• Directions for Writing Now write a persuasive
  essay to convince your principal and teachers to
  abandon this particular rule. Remember your
  audience!

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Step 2 Take a stand.

• Think about the stand that will provide three
  reasons for argument.

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Step 3 Prepare the graphic organizer.

• Now fold your paper into 4 squares.

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Step 4 Complete the graphic organizer.

• Unfold the paper and draw a box in the center.
  In the center box write a sentence to convey your
  stand.

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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Write one reason you think the rule should be
abolished.
Example Students express their personalities
with hats.
Example Hats can hide bad hair days.
Write another reason you think students should be
able to wear hats at school.

• Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats
  or other head gear in school.

Example Hats keep us comfortable, even inside
the building.
Write another reason hats should be allowed at
school.
Summarize your 3 reasons.
Hats serve many purposes. Wearing hats in school
would prevent bad hair days, enable us to be
ourselves, and protect us from the climate, even
inside the building.
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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.

• Example Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• fashionista
• Political statement

Write 3 details about this reason.

• Example Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

Write 3 details about this reason

• Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats
  or other head gear at school.

• Example Hats keep us comfortable, even inside
  the building.
• Warm in winter
• Cool in spring or summer
• Having to put hats away might damage them.

Summarize your 3 reasons.
Write 3 details about this reason.
Hats serve many purposes. Wearing hats in school
would prevent bad hair days, enable us to be
ourselves, and protect us from the climate, even
inside the building.
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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Elaborate on one detail.

• Example
• Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

ELABORATE

• Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats
  or other head gear in school.

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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.

• Example
• Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• Fashionista
• Political statement

I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.
Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
Elaborate on one detail.
ELABORATE

Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats or
other head gear in school.
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Step 3 Complete the graphic organizer.
Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.

• Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats
  or other head gear in school.

When we have recess outside on sunny days, it
helps to have a hat to protect from the
scorching rays of the sun. Having to put my hat
away in my locker may damage it.
Example Hats keep us comfortable, even inside
the building. Warm in winter Cool in spring or
summer Having to put hats away might damage them.
Elaborate on one detail.
ELABORATE
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Step 5 Add transitions.
First,
Moreover,

• Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

• Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• Fashionista
• Political statement

A list of transition words is online!
Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.
In addition,
For these reasons,
Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats or
other head gear in school.

• Hats keep us comfortable, even inside the
  building.
• Warm in winter
• Cool in spring or summer
• Having to put hats away might damage them.

Hats serve many purposes. Wearing hats in school
would prevent bad hair days, enable us to be
ourselves, and protect us from the climate,
inside and outside the building.
When we have recess outside on sunny days, it
helps to have a hat to protect from the
scorching rays of the sun. Having to put my hat
away in my locker after recess may damage it.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
First,
Moreover,

• Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

• Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• Fashionista
• Political statement

Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
Each square will become a paragraph.
I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.
In addition,
For these reasons,
Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats or
other head gear in school.

• Hats keep us comfortable, even inside the
  building.
• Warm in winter
• Cool in spring or summer
• Having to put hats away might damage them.

I believe students should be able to wear hats in
school. Hats are one more way we can show our
interests, like sports and fashion, and they keep
our heads safer too.
When we have recess outside on sunny days, it
helps to have a hat to protect from the
scorching rays of the sun. Having to put my hat
away in my locker after recess may damage it.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.

• The introductory paragraph (the center box) sums
  up each reason.

At River Bend Middle School, there is a
rule which says we cannot wear hats inside the
building. This rule should be changed, because
hats cover up hair-do mistakes, express our
uniqueness, and protect our tender heads.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.

• Begin the introductory paragraph with a hook.
  Samples of hooks can be found online.

Have you worn a hat lately? If so, you
have much in common with 75 of our population.
However, at River Bend Middle School, there is a
rule which says we cannot wear hats inside the
building. This rule should be changed, because
hats cover up hair do mistakes, express our
uniqueness, and protect our tender heads.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
First,
Moreover,

• Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

• Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• Fashionista
• Political statement

Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.
Next Paragraph
In addition,
For these reasons,
Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats or
other head gear in school.

• Hats keep us comfortable, even inside the
  building.
• Warm in winter
• Cool in spring or summer
• Having to put hats away might damage them.

I believe students should be able to wear hats in
school. Hats are one more way we can show our
interests, like sports and fashion, and they keep
our heads safer too.
When we have recess outside on sunny days, it
helps to have a hat to protect from the
scorching rays of the sun. Having to put my hat
away in my locker after recess may damage it.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
Next Paragraph
For example, wearing a hat or scarf can
hide a bad hair day problem. Sometimes when you
have slept on your hair all night, you get
bed-hair. On rainy or humid days, some
people have issues with frizzy locks as well.
Plus, we all have those mornings when we are
running late and cant wash our hair. Being able
to wear a hat would make all of these situations
better.
Body paragraph 1
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
First,
Moreover,

• Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

• Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• Fashionista
• Political statement

Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
Next Paragraph
I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.
In addition,
For these reasons,
Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats or
other head gear in school.

• Hats keep us comfortable, even inside the
  building.
• Warm in winter
• Cool in spring or summer
• Having to put hats away might damage them.

I believe students should be able to wear hats in
school. Hats are one more way we can show our
interests, like sports and fashion, and they keep
our heads safer too.
When we have recess outside on sunny days, it
helps to have a hat to protect from the
scorching rays of the sun. Having to put my hat
away in my locker after recess may damage it.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
Moreover, hats allow us to express our
personalities and uniqueness. Among the many
hats I own are a Carolina Panthers cap, an
Atlanta Braves hat, and a Pittsburgh Steelers
hat. These hats proclaim my loyalty to my
favorite sports teams. For girls, hats and
scarves can make a fashion statement and add to
their outfits. Finally, many people wear hats
with slogans like Vote for Pedro or Save the
whales. In this way they can make cultural or
political statements. Wearing a hat gives us one
more way to voice our opinions.
Next Paragraph
Body paragraph 2
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
First,
Moreover,

• Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

• Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• Fashionista
• Political statement

Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.
In addition,
For these reasons,
Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats or
other head gear in school.

• Hats keep us comfortable, even inside the
  building.
• Warm in winter
• Cool in spring or summer
• Having to put hats away might damage them.

Hats serve many purposes. Wearing hats in school
would prevent bad hair days, enable us to be
ourselves, and protect us from the climate,
inside and outside the building.
Next Paragraph
When we have recess outside on sunny days, it
helps to have a hat to protect from the
scorching rays of the sun. Having to put my hat
away in my locker after recess may damage it.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
In addition, hats protect our tender
heads. Although we are inside the building most
of the day, we do go outside for PE and recess
sometimes. In the winter, it can be cold and
windy, and a hat can keep us warm. In the
spring, the sun can be hot, making a hat more
than just an accessory or piece of clothing. It
helps keep our brains from getting cooked! When
we come in from outside now, we have to put our
hats away in our lockers, and sometimes they get
damaged. Being able to wear a hat all day would
prevent this wear and tear. As you can see, hats
are practical as well as good-looking!
Next Paragraph
Body paragraph 3
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
First,
Moreover,

• Hats can prevent bad hair days.
• Bed hair
• Frizz
• No time to shower

• Hats let us express our personalities.
• Sports nut
• Fashionista
• Political statement

Many girls enjoy matching their hats or scarves
to their trendy outfits.
I am often running late and dont have time to
wash my hair.
In addition,
For these reasons,
Students at RBMS should be able to wear hats or
other head gear in school.

• Hats keep us comfortable, even inside the
  building.
• Warm in winter
• Cool in spring or summer
• Having to put hats away might damage them.

I believe students should be able to wear hats in
school. Hats are one more way we can show our
interests, like sports and fashion, and they keep
our heads safer too.
Summary Paragraph
When we have recess outside on sunny days, it
helps to have a hat to protect from the
scorching rays of the sun. Having to put my hat
away in my locker after recess may damage it.
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Step 6 From the graphic organizer to the paper.
For these reasons, I believe students
should be able to wear hats in school. Hats are
one more way we can show our interests, like
sports and fashion, and they keep our heads safer
too. All in all, changing the rule so that we
can wear hats would be beneficial in many ways.
Our heads will thank you!
Summary Paragraph
Ending PUNCH
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Step 7 Vocabulary
Review your paragraphs. Can you add adjectives
(describing words) and interesting adverbs
(describing action words)?
ADJECTIVES
ADVERBS
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Step 7 Vocabulary
BEFORE In the spring, the sun can be hot,
making a hat more Than just an accessory
AFTER In the spring, the sun can be blistering,
making a hat more than just an Accessory
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Step 7 Vocabulary
BEFORE For girls, hats and scarves can make a
fashion statement and add to their outfits.
AFTER For girls, hats and scarves can make a
fashion statement and add to their trendy
outfits.
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Step 7 Vocabulary
Remember The more sophisticated vocabulary you
usethe higher your score.
bad
dreadful
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Step 8 Visual Expression
Use metaphors and similes to give your essay more
visual expression.
There have been many political elections that
have been as close as a barbers shave.
There have been many close elections for
political office.
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Step 9 Reread Your Work
Reread your work to make sure you have

• Taken a stand and stay on the topic
• Given your reasons in the introductory paragraph
• Have paragraphs that support each reason
• Elaborate on a reason in each paragraph
• Have a summary paragraph that restates your
  reasons
• Begin each paragraph with a transition word
• Include adjectives, adverbs, similes, and
  metaphors