Wednesday, Feb. 29, 2012

• Please gather: • Journal• Choice Reading Book• HSPE Packet #2 (on front table)• Ethos, Pathos, Logos Handout

Persuasive Essays

You need your journal and something to write with…

Persuasion

– All persuasive essays, speeches and language have three specific elements—

Ethos, Pathos and Logos

Ethos

• Means “Ethics”

• You must make your reader believe you are trustworthy.

Pathos

• “Emotion”

Use emotional language to appeal to your reader’s emotions, sympathy and empathy

Logos

• Means “Logic”

• Your argument HAS to make sense

Persuasive Strategies PRE-Test

• Let’s see what you know…

Journal Write

• Post Persuasive Strategies Pre-Test Reflection:1. List any strategies that you used in your

essay that you forgot to mention earlier…2. Do ANY of the strategies on the pre-test

at least sound familiar?3. Are any of the strategies totally new?

Persuasive Essay Elaboration Strategies

Introductory, Body, & Concluding Paragraphs

Persuasive Essay Introductions

– Taking a Stand: STATE YOUR POSITION. This is your thesis statement that includes your WHY.

– Scenario/Anecdote: Provide hypothetical or personal examples to illustrate your topic and argument.

– Inquiry/Questioning: Ask thought-provoking, edgy, questions to capture the reader’s interest. (careful with this one…)

– Preparatory Information/Overview: Define or explain the subject before discussing it in detail.

Starting with a Question: to do or not to do…

• Ask yourself, isn’t there a better, more creative, more interesting way to start my writing?

• If the above is actually “no” or you are just plain stumped (like during the HSPE), make sure that your question can’t be answered with a “yes” or a “no.”

• If your reader can say “no,” then you’ve lost them.

Persuasive Intros

Why NOT start with a question?

Question: Have you ever wondered…?Answer: No.

Question: Have you ever been…?Answer: No.

Question: Have you ever thought…?Answer: No.

Question: Do you like…?Answer: Yeah. What’s it to you?

Persuasive Intros

Strategy ICONS?

• Brainstorm visual ICONS we can use for the persuasive intro strategies:

–Taking a Stand–Scenario/Anecdote–Inquiry/Question–Prep Info/Overview

Persuasive Intros

5th Period Journal Write

• Get your YELLOW sheet back from me…

• What would be a good ICON (visual symbol) for the second persuasive intro strategy, Scenario/Anecdote???

• SKETCH AN IDEA IN YOUR JOURNAL…

Persuasive Essay Body Paragraphs• Persuasive Language: Using strong words,

feeling/emotion words, and repeated phrases to draw your reader into your point-of-view.

• Expert Testimony: Using Voices of authority and more than 1 argument to support your position.

• House that Jack Built: Illustrating/describing the cause and effect of one or both sides of your argument (A leads to B, which leads to C, etc.).

• Concession/Rebuttal: Acknowledge/Anticipate & Refute opposing arguments.

• Compromise/Problem Solving: A solution that meets in the middle or an “ah-ha!” solution.

• Facts/Statistics: Facts, numbers, percents, (citation), etc. to support your argument.

• Anecdotes: Including a personal story or specific experience to give emotional appeal to your argument.

Persuasive Essay Body Paragraphs Continued…

Strategy ICONS?

• Brainstorm visual ICONS we can use for the persuasive body paragraph strategies:

–Persuasive Language–Expert Testimony–House that Jack Built–Concession/Rebuttal–Compromise/Problem Solving–Facts/Statistics–Anecdotes

Persuasive Bodies

Persuasive Essay Conclusions

–Call to Action: Implore the audience to change or take action.–Offer a Solution: Suggests some possibilities

to resolve the problem posed.–Make a Prediction: Similar to a startling

statement, this can be a warning or an encouragement.

Strategy ICONS?

• Brainstorm visual ICONS we can use for the persuasive intro strategies:

–Call to Action–Offer a Solution–Make a Prediction

Persuasive Conclusions

Persuasive Essays Back (AGAIN)

• While you wait, look at all the strategies we’ve discussed so far…make a little mark next to ones you might like to try…

Learning Targets (Goals)

• Using your new YELLOW list of persuasive writing strategies, look at your essay again.

• Choose THREE strategies that you want to focus on working into a revision of your essay.

• You will also TRACK your PROGRESS in using these same three strategies in other assignments over the next 2-3 weeks (see the other side of the yellow sheet)…