Argumentation and Persuasion Essays

Today - we will discuss persuasive essays.  You will also look at a powerpoint on Edmodo about persuasive essays and take notes from it.

For a list of "possible" controversial topics go HERE

OR:


Resolved: In the United States, students should be guaranteed two years of free tuition to a community or technical college.

Resolved: On balance, economic globalization benefits worldwide poverty reduction.

Resolved: United Nations peacekeepers should have the power to engage in offensive operations.

Resolved: For-profit prisons in the United States should be banned.

Resolved: On balance, the benefits of genetically modified foods outweigh the harms.

Resolved: On balance, public subsidies for professional athletic organizations in the United States benefit their local communities.
   
Argumentation and Persuasive Essays

The purpose of this unit is help students think about persuasive arguments and how to defend a position.  We will explore the basic structure of a debate and develop affirmative and negative arguments with constructive points and rebuttals.  Students will learn how to write thesis statements with an order of development to outline the structure of their essay.  We will talk about the six traits of writing, about transitions, about conclusions, about research and MLA citation.  We will look at controversial topics in the news and discuss how to argue one side or another, and we will write and revise, and finally share with the class.  The persuasion essays is perhaps the most important essay form to learn as far as it helps students explore topics, think about evidence, develop research methods, and prepare a paper and speech.  It is also a paper that they will reencounter in college.

OBJECTIVES:  By the end of this unit students will be able to

1) Define the following terms: Logos, Ethos, Pathos, Thesis Statement, Order of Development, Conclusion, Transition, Audience, Hook, Purpose, Evidence
2) List the six traits of writing and the six steps in the writing process.
3) Properly outline the constructive for a debate and rebut opponents points/arguments
4) Choose a topic about a controversial issues and take one side of argument
5) List the Do’s and Don’ts of persuasive argument
6) Write a clear and precise thesis statement with an order of development
7) Properly cite sources both in-text and on a works cited page
8) Find evidence from a variety of different sources including Print Sources, Internet Sources, Media Sources, and Personal Sources
9) Use the Internet to properly to conduct research
10) cite passages from sources
11) Use evidence to back up your position
12) Use your order of development as an organizational tool
13) Use transitions to connect points of argument
14) Use Standard Edited American English
15) Use Proper College Composition Format
16) Use the six steps of the writing process to draft and revise a paper
17) Write three drafts of a persuasive essay using at least three sources of evidence
18) Present the final draft of your essay as an oration to class

Activities will include: group work, debates, notes and note taking, research, writing, watching videos about composition, reading, and practicing oral presentation skills.

You will be graded in the following ways: quizzes, worksheets, debate practices, revision guides and by rubrics for your essay and oration, and a final.

NOW I WANTED YOU TO - LOOK AT THESE VIDEOS

1st go HERE and then watch SHMOOP below.

Remember the PowerPoint on Edmodo - go HERE