This Week in Language Arts: An Introduction to Persuasive Writing

This week in language arts, we'll begin an extensive unit in persuasive writing.  Over the course of the unit, students will analyze and compose persuasive pieces.  As in past years, our classroom will continue a partnership with the Capital City Weekly to publish selected student writing from the Persuasive Writing Unit.  A Student Editorial Board will select essays for publication, so this is an exciting opportunity for students to get their writing out in the world.  Here are links to a few essays published in the past: one about study halls, one about gun safety classes in schools, one about building an ice rink in the valley, and one about laptops in the classroom.

We'll be working on a persuasive essay, using this packet as a guide.  Before we start writing and researching, we'll analyze and discuss a variety of persuasive pieces and topics.  We'll analyze a persuasive piece about the Bill of Rights by Howard Zinn (link to the analysis questions, link to article) and a persuasive essay by Grace Llewellyn (link to analysis questions).  We'll also analyze and discuss something we recite every day: The Pledge of Allegiance (link to analysis questions).

I look forward to the lively discussions and debates ahead!