1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. b_persd.txt File Contents

b_persd.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

Name: <  >
Class: <  >
Date: <  >



Persuasive Writing

There's more to persuasive writing than the TV commercials that bark at you to buy Boodles dog food. In fact, much of the writing that ordinary people do every day could be labeled persuasive. You are trying to persuade the employer to hire you when you write the paragraph explaining why you think you are qualified for the prospective job. You are trying to persuade the university to give you the scholarship when you write the personal essay about yourself. You are trying to persuade the company that it has wronged you when you write the letter of complaint. You are trying to persuade the general population when you write a letter to the editor. You are even trying to persuade when you write the note to the cute person across the aisle in history.

Think of some piece of writing you did recently that could be called persuasive. Then answer the following questions about it.


Who was the audience for this piece of writing?


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What were you trying to persuade that audience to think or do?


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What reasons or examples did you give in order to persuade?


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Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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To persuade someone to agree with you, you normally have to offer reasons why they should. Give a reason for each of the following opinion statements, even if you don't agree.

You think you should have gotten an A in a specific class last semester. Why?


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You think you should be able to stay out all night on Saturday nights. Why?


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You think you deserve a raise in pay at your job flipping burgers. Why?


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You think women should also register for the draft when they turn eighteen. Why?


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You think students should determine which teachers keep their jobs. Why?


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You think the President should be elected for one six-year term. Why?


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You think vulgar language should/should not be banned from the radio. Support your choice.


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Make a copy of one of the opinion statements from above, along with your reason, at the angle brackets below. Then come up with three brief reasons why the reader should agree with you.


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My Three Reasons

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Persuasive writing is opinions supported by facts and logic. And that's one of the reasons why writing is one of the most difficult tasks there is; you have opinions, but then you have to think about why you have those opinions. The thinking part may give you a headache, but you have to think. The teacher can't say, "You failed just because." The teacher has to know specifically why you failed: "You turned in less than half of the assignments, and you missed a third of the class periods."

What is another reason a teacher might give to explain a student's failure?


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What do you think about this statement?

The school year should be lengthened by twenty days.

One reason is already listed below. Add three more reasons why you think as you do. Then, after discussing this with your partners, delete the one reason you think is least convincing.


1.  American students need more school to compete with the rest of the world.


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3.  <  >


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Now, write a concluding sentence. A good concluding sentence restates the first sentence (the topic sentence), but states it in a different way. One possible way is this:

If the school year is not lengthened, America will continue to fall further and further behind the rest of the industrial world.


Concluding Sentence:

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Now you can try the whole process.

Think of three topics that you have an opinion on. These topics can range from something global to something very local. They can be taken from the list provided earlier (scroll back to find it), or they may be original ones. Write each in a sentence.

A Note of Caution: There are not many topics that can be covered in five sentences, the one above included. It is important to limit the topic as much as possible, or you will find yourself unable to persuade anyone of anything. Topics like nuclear war, abortion, child abuse, capital punishment, or a savings and loan scandal just can't be covered in short papers, or even in long papers. Think about this type of topic when you are ready to write a book! Please keep this advice in mind as you're choosing a topic.



* * * Begin * * *

 
Three Persuasive Topics

Topic Sentence #1:

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Topic Sentence #2:

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Topic Sentence #3:

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* * * End * * *



Now scroll back to your list of three topic sentences and write three persuasive sentences following each topic sentence. Then, write a concluding sentence for each topic.




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You have just written three paragraphs, each five sentences long, and each a piece of persuasive writing. Not bad! Pat yourself on the back; the next time someone hassles you, tell that person, "Back off! I'm a Writer!"



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My Essay

This file is meant to be worked on with another file--L_ESSAY--which your teacher should've placed in the File 2 workspace. Copy your Three Persuasive Topics paragraphs into the File 2 workspace. Copy everything between the "Begin" and "End" labels. You will work on these topics again in the L_ESSAY file.





If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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end of activity
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