Persuasive Writing

1. Persuasive Writing English Language Arts GHSWT

2. Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT) • Identifies students who may need additional instruction • Used to measure Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) • Must pass GHSGT in 4 content areas and Georgia High School Writing Assessment to receive high school diploma • Writing Assessment in fall of 11th grade • Core Assessments in spring of 11th grade

3. Georgia High School Writing Assessment • Measures student mastery of essential writing skills • Must write persuasive essay on assigned topic • Essay independently judged on 4 “domains” of effective writing

4. Georgia High School Writing Test Content/Organization Style Conventions Sentence Formation New Georgia High School Writing Test Ideas Organization Style Conventions Changes in Scoring: Domains

5. Four score points in each scoring domain Score of “4” represents highest level of competence in each domain Five score points in each scoring domain Score of “5” represents the highest level of competence in each domain. Changes in Score Scale

6. Georgia High School Writing Test Content/Organization 4 Style 2 Conventions 2 Sentence Formation 2 New Georgia High School Writing Test Ideas 2 Organization 1 Style 1 Conventions 1 Changes in how Domains Weighted

7. Clearly establishes position on issue Fully develops argument with specific details and examples Defends position with relevant evidence Identifies appropriate audience Anticipates and counters audience’s position Uses facts, personal experience and knowledge to support position Appeals to logic and/or emotion Structure appropriate for persuasion Multi-paragraph writing supports specific side Engages the reader Effective persuasive composition

8. Uses precise language and varied sentences Introduces issue, fully develops position, and provides sense of closure May contain a short narrative in introduction or skillful extended narrative that supports position Correct sentences, usage, grammar, and spelling make ideas understandable Effective Persuasive Composition continued

9. Pre-assessment Prompt Writing Situation Two of your high school friends are thinking about dropping out of school. They are juniors, and they tell you they are tired of books, rules, and useless classes. They want to get full-time jobs, so they can buy a car, get an apartment, and live the good life. Some students in your class think your friends are doing the right thing while others disagree. What do you think? Directions for Writing Write a letter to your friends explaining why you support or oppose their decision to leave school. Include reasons and evidence for your opinion.

10. Prewriting StageGrouping Options • Whole group instruction to explain writing assignment requirements • Question/Answer period to clarify misunderstandings • Individual work with freedom to confer with peers or teacher • Cultural Needs: Collaborative work with peers or teacher • Linguistic Needs: Collaborative work with peers, teacher, or migrant ed. teacher • Developmental Needs: Equal access to thesaurus, spell check, the internet, and other on-line resources through individual computer use

11. Prewriting StageAccommodations/modifications • Developmental: Equal access to computer and its resources • Cultural: Collaborative work as well as conferencing with teacher individually • Linguistic: Collaborative work with peers as well as classroom teacher and migrant ed. teacher assistance

12. Prewriting Stage • Read topic carefully • Determine your purpose • Identify your audience • Gather necessary information to substantiate your stance • Decide on your organizational plan • Complete your graphic organizer

13. Prewriting StageInstructional Procedures • Write an essay either defending or criticizing a person who, like Gatsby, focuses all attention on a particular goal. • Using the Persuasive Essay Organizer, identify the advantages/disadvantages of a single focus • Arrange ideas in order of importance • Use your double-entry journals to refresh your knowledge of advantages/disadvantages of a single focus in one’s life • Use citations to document textual information

15. Drafting Stage • Engage the interest of the reader • Clearly state your position in a coherent thesis • Base your point of view on sound reasoning and logic • Use specific details to support position • Address only one issue • Organize logically from beginning to end • Identify counter arguments and evidence to rebut

16. Persuasive Essay Checklist • Persuasive Essay Checklist • Name _______________________________________ Date _____________ • Introduction: _______ Creative opening • (1st Paragraph) _______ State your problem (What are you trying to achieve?) _______ Summarize Points 1,2, and 3 (from graphic organizer) • _______ State your goal/thesis (from graphic organizer) • Point # 1: ________ State Point # 1 (from graphic organizer) • (2nd Paragraph) ________ 2-3 reasons “Why?” (from graphic organizer) • Point #2: ________ State Point # 2 (from graphic organizer) • (3rd Paragraph) ________ 2-3 reasons “Why?’ (from graphic organizer) • Point # 3 ________ State Point # 3 (from graphic organizer) • ________ 2-3 reasons “Why?” (from graphic organizer) • Conclusion: ________ Restate your goal/thesis (from graphic organizer) • ________ Summarize Points 1,2, and 3 (from graphic organizer) • ________ Creative Closing • Traylor, M. (2007). Persuasive essay checklist. Unpublished document. Colquitt County • High School. Moultrie, GA.

17. DRAFT COVER SHEET Name: _________________________________ Date_________________________ Essay’s working title: _______________________________________ What aspect of this draft still needs work? ________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Where would you like me to focus my attention? Is there a section of the paper that you feel is particularly weak? ______________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ Do you have questions about the assignment or about what you’ve written so far that you need answers to? Please ask away!_____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ How can I help you improve this draft? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Jago, C. (2005). Papers, papers, papers. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

18. Revising Stage • Work in collaborative pairs • Read your paper aloud to your partner for sense and clarity • Use “The Sweet Sixteen” revision guide to make revisions in your persuasive essay • Follow all16 steps • Remember - Introductions engage the reader • Conclusions make the reader think and link the text to broader issues

19. Sweet Sixteen Revision Ideas 1. Unity: You have one clear thesis that responds to theassigned task, and all the ideas in your essay help to support that thesis. 2. Insight: Your ideas are thoughtful and stimulating, yet reasonable and true to the material. 3. Argument: You prove your ideas clearly, logically, and completely. You fully prepare the reader to understand each sentence and its purpose in your paper. 4. Evidence: The quality and quantity of evidence strongly supports your ideas and shows thorough knowledge of the material. Organization 5. Introduction: Your first paragraph engages the reader andintroduces a clear thesis or purpose. 6. Paragraphing: Each body paragraph sticks to one idea, and each idea is discussed in only one body paragraph. 7. Flow: Your main ideas are presented in a logical and effective order, made clear via topic sentences, paragraph conclusions, and transitions. 8. Conclusion: You conclude with a graceful reminder of your thesis. Style 9. Conciseness: You express ideas simply and clearly without wasted words or unnecessary repetition. 10. Vocabulary: Your choice of words is interesting and precise but not pretentious. 11. Sentence Structure: Your sentences are strong, graceful, and suitably varied in length and structure. 12. Vividness: You enliven your writing with concrete language, fresh and specific detail, and metaphor without cliché. Grammar 13.Sentence Sense: Your writing is free of run-on sentences and fragments. 14.Grammar and Usage: You follow the rules of Standard English. 15.Mechanics: Your spelling, capitalization, and punctuation are accurate. 16. Format: You follow the conventions of documentation • Jago, Carol. (2005). Papers, papers, papers. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann.

20. Editing Stage • Collaborative pairs • Read paper aloud slowly • Check word for word • Eliminate spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and errors in mechanics • Refer to ENG 1001 Web site:Understanding editing marks inessays. Retrieved May 14,2007, from http://www.ivcc.edu/eng1001/handout_errors_marks.htm

21. Publishing Stage • Correct all mistakes found in editing • Type a final draft to be scored • Publish work on Meets the StandardBulletin Board

22. Persuasive Essay Scoring Guide