Subject Area: K-10 English

Author: Catherine Burman

 Description

This activity was conducted as a whole class activity over three lessons. The aim of the first lesson was focused on reviewing the organisation and structure of persuasive texts. As a whole class, students studied examples of persuasive writing and analysed each element of a persuasive text framework. Attention was placed on identifying arguments and how evidence drawn from personal experience and external sources is used to support these arguments. The teacher then modelled (with input from the students) how to plan a persuasive text using a concept map and then used a planner to organise the ideas and identify arguments to support the position taken. Students were then organised into pairs and choose one topic from a list of eight, of which one person in the pair took the affirmative position and the other the negative. The audience for their persuasive texts were their peers. Students then commenced planning their essay. The teacher assisted individual students. In the second lesson, students studied one example of a persuasive text specifically investigating how external evidence is used to support the arguments. The teacher modelled how to conduct an internet search for evidence and how to use the information found to support the argument. Students then finished planning their essay and were asked to identify three arguments that supported their position. They then reflected on reasons that could be used to back up the arguments. Students had access to the internet to conduct research for external evidence. The teacher assisted individual students. In the third lesson, students studied an example of persuasive text and analysed the language features specifically looking at the language used, maintaining cohesion and using persuasive devices. The teacher and students then reviewed a handout of a table of language features in persuasive texts and examples of how they are used. Students were able to refer to the table when writing their essays. Students then used their planning documents to write their essays. At the end, students proof read their essays to correct punctuation, spelling and grammar. The teacher assisted individual students. Students then submitted their essays for review.

Curriculum Links

Domain: English Strand: Writing Sub-strand: Language & Literacy – Draft a persuasive text, choosing text structures & language features appropriate to purpose and audience

Purpose

Consolidation of prior learning

Rubrics

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persuasivetext