This document provides instructions for writing a persuasive essay about The Giver by Lois Lowry. Students must choose one of several topics to write about, include all elements of a persuasive essay such as a clear thesis statement and reasons supported by evidence from the text. Students are also instructed to anticipate and refute any counterarguments, and write in a clear, concise manner that grabs the reader's attention and leads them to see things differently. Sample paragraphs are provided as examples.

1. Persuade Me About The Giver Essay
Directions: You will write a persuasive essay using the following directions:
1. Select one (1) of the following subjects to respond to.
a. Is the Community in The Giver a utopian society?
b. Which is a better place to live, the Community in The Giver or Rensselaer?
c. Is Utopia possible? (Please include evidence from outside the novel also.)
d. Did Jonas and Gabriel live or die at the end of the novel?
e. Genetic engineering is the scientific alteration of the DNA molecules of living organisms. It
is normally used to increase yields in both animal and crop production. Many ethical questions
abound about this barely explored area of science. Should humans use genetic engineering?
f. Some say that the Earth is already overpopulated and its resources taxed. This is one reason
to argue for population control. A con for population control would be that people are an
important resource to keep building up.
2. Include all of the elements of a persuasive essay.
a. Thesis Statement (clear statement of opinion) in the first paragraph
b. Reasons (that formed this opinion)
c. Evidence (from the text and other sources that support your reasons)
d. Refute the Opposition (anticipate at least one objection and prove it wrong)
3. Support your opinion with evidence from The Giver.
a. Introduce the book as your main resource—include title and author.
b. Find passages from the text that support your reasons.
c. Insert the passage into your essay directly before or after your reason. Explain how the
passage supports your reason.
d. Include page number for all passages included in your essay -- in parentheses after the
insertion.
Here’s an example:
Although Jonas doesn’t like to think about his light eyes, Lily points out how that he is different.
“And he has funny eyes like yours, Jonas” (p. 20).
4. Your writing should reflect your best effort.
a. Keep your writing clear and concise, quality is more important than quantity.
b. Use examples from the text to support your reasons. Also, EXPLAIN how your
examples support your reasons.
c. Include an attention-grabbing opening, making the reader WANT to read your essay.
d. Effectively conclude your essay by helping the reader see things differently or
appreciate your topic in personally relevant ways.

2. Sample Introduction with a Thesis Statement and one Objection
Can you imagine a world without pain, warfare, poverty, hunger, or terror? Sounds
pretty good so far, right? Now, take away feelings, love, diversity, choices, and even the
ability to see colors. It doesn't sound so great anymore, does it? Some people may
consider such a place a utopia, shielding its inhabitants from all evil; others would say it
is a dystopia, in which no one has the right to speak out, have choices, or to love one
another. In the novel, The Giver, by Lois Lowry, a twelve-year-old boy, Jonas, finds
himself in a dystopia when he realizes that there is more to life outside of his sheltered
community. Although the people of Jonas' community do not know anything different
than their way of life, the society is a dystopia, rather than a utopia .

3. Giver Persuasive Final Draft Rubric
5
4
3
2
0
Writing X 2
Thesis
Statement:
States a clear
position or
perspective in
support of a
proposition or
proposal
Reasons:
Describes the
points in support
of the proposition
Evidence &
Examples:
employing wellarticulated,
relevant evidence
Opposition:
Anticipates and
addresses readers’
concerns and
counter-arguments.
Thesis statement
clearly states opinion
about the topic.
Thesis statement
give opinion about
the topic.
Thesis statement is
unfocused and does
not give a clear
opinion
Thesis statement is
missing.
Essay includes
several reasons in
support of thesis
statement.
Essay includes some
reasons in support of
thesis statement.
Essay includes reasons
in support of thesis
statement.
Essay includes few/no
reasons in support of
thesis statement.
Reasons are clear and
relevant to the topic.
Reasons are unclear or
irrelevant to the topic.
Reasons are unclear or
irrelevant to the topic.
Essay includes
clear, relevant
evidence from the
text in support of
most reasons.
Essay anticipates
at least one
opposition
arugument.
Essay includes
evidence from the
text in support of
most reasons.
Essay includes no
evidence from the
text to support
reasons.
Essay anticipates
at least one
opposition
arugument.
Essay does not
aticipate or refute
opposition
arguments.
Essay refutes at
least one oppostion
argument.
Essay does not
refute oppostion
argument.
Reasons are clear and
relevant to the topic.
Essay includes clear,
relevant evidence
from the text in
support of each
reason.
Essay anticipates
at least one
opposition
arugument.
Essay refutes at
least one
oppostion
argument using
evidence from the
text.
Did not
complete
assignment
Conventions
S-V and P-A
Agreement
Spelling,
Punctuation,
Capitalization
No errors in
subject-verb or
pronounantecedent
agreement
Demonstrates
accurate spelling
and the correct
use of punctuation
and capitalization
Few errors in
subject-verb or
pronoun-antecedent
agreement
Demonstrates
mostly accurate
spelling and the
correct use of
punctuation and
capitalization
Some errors in
subject-verb
and/or pronoun
antecedent
agreement
Demonstrates some
accurate spelling
and/or the correct
use of punctuation
and capitalization
Several errors in
subject-verb
and/or pronounantecedent
agreement
Demonstrates little
accurate spelling
and/or the correct
use of punctuation
and capitalization
Persuade Me About The Giver Essay Checklist
Directions:
Complete all items on this list.
DUE DATE: Wednesday, December 19, 2007

4. I have a completed a 4-square graphic organizer for my persuasive essay.
I have included a clear thesis statement.
I have included several reasons to support my thesis statement.
I have included evidence from the text to support/explain my reasons.
I have anticipated at least 1 opposing argument to my thesis.
I have refuted the opposing argument using evidence from the text.
I have grabbed the attention of my readers at the beginning of my essay by using a quote,
anecdote, question or wake-up call.
______I have concluded my essay by showing why my opinion is important.
______I have revised my essay so that each reason and it’s supporting evidence is clear.
______I have edited my essay so that there are no errors in s-v or p-a agreement and all of the spelling
and punctuation are correct.
I am proud of this essay because it reflects my opinion about a topic, my understanding of the
structure of persuasive writing, and it is an example of my best work.
Persuade Me About The Giver Final Draft Requirements
Please include all items listed below combined into a single packet.
Checklist/Requirements/Rubrics
Clean, typed copy of Final Draft
Original hand-written Draft
4-Square graphic organizer
Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement
A thesis statement is basically a short statement, usually a 15 to 25 word sentence, that summarizes the

5. main point or claim of an essay, search paper, etc., and is developed, supported, and explained in the text
by means of examples and evidence.
Your thesis statement should not be a factual statement but a declarative statement that can be argued.
Otherwise, using a factual statement for your thesis statement leaves no room for intellectual discourse
since a factual statement is generally accepted and is most likely proven to be true.
1.
A persuasive/ argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with
specific evidence. The goal of the persuasive/argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the
claim is true based on the evidence provided.
2.
Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper
and should be supported with specific evidence.
3.
The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.
4.
Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect
exactly what you have discussed in the paper.
Thesis Statement Example
•
Sample Assignment: Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students
should pursue community projects before entering college
•
Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before
entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.

6. main point or claim of an essay, search paper, etc., and is developed, supported, and explained in the text
by means of examples and evidence.
Your thesis statement should not be a factual statement but a declarative statement that can be argued.
Otherwise, using a factual statement for your thesis statement leaves no room for intellectual discourse
since a factual statement is generally accepted and is most likely proven to be true.
1.
A persuasive/ argumentative paper makes a claim about a topic and justifies this claim with
specific evidence. The goal of the persuasive/argumentative paper is to convince the audience that the
claim is true based on the evidence provided.
2.
Your thesis statement should be specific—it should cover only what you will discuss in your paper
and should be supported with specific evidence.
3.
The thesis statement usually appears at the end of the first paragraph of a paper.
4.
Your topic may change as you write, so you may need to revise your thesis statement to reflect
exactly what you have discussed in the paper.
Thesis Statement Example
•
Sample Assignment: Present an argument and give evidence to support the claim that students
should pursue community projects before entering college
•
Example of an argumentative thesis statement:
High school graduates should be required to take a year off to pursue community service projects before
entering college in order to increase their maturity and global awareness.