Persuasive writing 9th grade

1. Persuasive
Writing
9th Grade English
Mr. Suarez
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/persuading-principal-writing-persuasive-1137.html?tab=1#tabs

2. INTRODUCTION
 We are going to write a persuasive letter to our
principal suggesting something we think would
make our school even better than it is. Use
proper business letter format. (See sample.) You
may ask for an activity, equipment, a change in
rules or procedures, or anything else you can
think of that would be an improvement. Keep it
reasonable! If your letter is very convincing, the
principal just might do what you ask!

3. Persuasive Writing
 In persuasive writing, a writer takes a position
FOR or AGAINST an issue and writes to
convince the reader to BELIEVE or DO
something.

4. Where do you find Persuasive
Writing?
 In advertisements to get the reader to buy a product
 In newspapers, magazines, essays and other texts to
get the reader to accept a point of view
 In speeches, petitions, and political cartoons to convince
readers to believe a certain political viewpoint
 On blogs, webpages, and social media sites to convince
the reader to subscribe to or follow the author

5. Examples of Persuasive Writing
 Editorials
 Essays
 Advertisements
 Speeches
 Petitions
 Political Cartoons
 Editorial Letters
 Blogs
 Tweets
 Facebook
 Advice Columns

6. EXPLORE
 Let’s brainstorm reasons why
people write letters.
Remember that we write
letters to influence someone's
opinion or effect change in the
community.

7. Elements of Effective Persuasive
Writing

8. Elements of Effective Persuasive Writing
 Position: Writers need to clearly state their positions on their topics in order to persuade their
readers. If a writer is not clear about his/her beliefs on the topic, s/he stands little chance of
convincing someone else to make a change. In addition, when writers collaborate on a
persuasive piece of writing, all involved must agree to support the same position. Sometimes
writers even take a position they do not personally agree with and work to explain that position.
You should emphasize this last point as students will be working in groups to develop their own
persuasive letters. All students in a group must agree to adopt one single position in their letter.
 Attention to Audience: Writers need to adjust their writing based on their audience. This is
especially true when the goal of the writing is to persuade the reader to take action. The writing
style will be formal when the audience is a person in a position of authority and casual when the
audience is a friend or family member. Illustrate the differences in formal and casual writing by
asking students to consider the differences in the ways that they write notes (or emails) to their
friends versus the way they would write a letter (or email) to the President of the United States.

9. Elements of Effective Persuasive Writing
 Factual Support: In order to be convincing, a persuasive piece of writing needs to include factual
details. Provide students with examples of factual support (i.e., data, anecdotes, interviews,
information from other sources such as newspapers and books, and so forth). Students will be
using their own experiences and observations as factual support for their persuasive letters. (If
you are interested in having your students practice this aspect of effective persuasive writing
further, please see the extension activity focusing on Internet research following the lesson.)
 Effective Word Choice: Persuasive language is strong but appropriate. Writers need to choose
words that are also descriptive and specific. An excellent example of effective word choice is
Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech.
 Ethos: Ethos is the credibility to write. Discuss what gives a particular writer credibility to write a
persuasive piece of writing. Give students examples of people who would be considered credible
sources on particular topics (i.e., a doctor on health issues, a teacher on education, a
government official on local political issues). Ask students to consider what gives them credibility
to write about school issues.

10. Persuasive Writing Topic Exploration

11. Letter to the Principal Rubric

12. PROPER BUSINESS LETTER FORMAT
April 2, 2009
 Dawn Scannapieco, Principal
Catskill Elementary School
770 Embought Road
Catskill, NY 12414
Dear Mrs. Scannapieco:
 PARAGRAPH 1: A statement of what you want and a description of what
you want.
 PARAGRAPH 2: One reason why the principal should grant your request
and at least 3 details, explanations and/or examples to support your reason.
 PARAGRAPH 3: Another reason why the principal should grant your
request and at least 3 details, explanations and/or examples to support your
reason
 PARAGRAPH 4: Restate your request in the conclusion and specify how
and when you hope to hear the decision.
 Sincerely,
 Marietta P. Student, Goup 4K

13. What are some topics that you
make argue or debate over?
 Examples:
 Students should be required to go to school
all year.
 The United States troops should leave Iraq.
 Come up with at least 5 topics that have
opposing views that interest you.

14. Persuasive Arguments
Should have the following:
 A claim
 Evidence Supporting the claim (reasons)
 An opposing viewpoint with counter-
arguments
 A conclusion

15. Claim Opposing Viewpoints
School should start
later in the day.
FOR Starting later will allow more
sleep for students. Rested
students are good students.
AGAINS
T
Starting later will take away time
from after-school activities.
Example: