Holt Elements of Language
English 7
Chapter 25:
Convincing Others
Name: ________________________
Class Period: ___________
Unit Learning Goal: _____________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
WRITING WORKSHOP, PAGES 697-712
Due Date: __________________________
for CHAPTER 25: PREVIEW page 687
Journal Warm-up: Persuasive Essay
Our school needs an alternative to study hall. Some kids do not understand why
they are in study hall. They talk and make it impossible for others to concentrate.
Why not let kids who do not want to study gather somewhere else?
The local soccer team needs business sponsors to provide new equipment and
uniforms. This way, families would not feel pressured to “shell out” money so
their kids could play. Team sponsorship offers advertising opportunities and a
chance to show community spirit.
JOURNAL STARTERS
Write persuasively for five minutes, using one of these prompts.
Do you think science fiction books are worth reading? Why or why not?
Should students volunteer at soup kitchens? Why or why not?
Persuade a teacher to give you more time to complete an assignment.
Persuade your parents or guardians to let you try out for a team or a school play.
You think hip-hop music is good, and your band director does not. Should hip-hop
music be included in the school music program? Why or why not?
KEY CONCEPTS
Choose an Issue, page 697
An issue is a _______________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Focus on issues that _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
State Your Opinion, page 698
State your point of view ______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Consider Your Audience, page 700
Focus on members of that group who ____________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
PAGE
Due Date: __________________________
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 4 page 699
Prewriting: Choose an Issue/State Your Opinion
DIRECTIONS Use the graphic organizer below to help you choose an issue and state your
opinion.
 Brainstorm several issues about which you have strong opinions, or use the quickwrite
sentences provided:
If I were president, the first thing I’d change is _____.
One thing that really bothers me about _____ is _____.
 List the issues along with your point of view on each. Circle the issue that you want to
address in your essay.
PAGE
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 4 page 698
Due Date: __________________________
State Your Opinion
Issue: ____________________________________________________________
+
Point of View: _____________________________________________________
=
Opinion Statement: _________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 5 page 699
Prewriting: Identifying Your General Audience
DIRECTIONS Use the organizer below to help you identify your general audience.
 Think of at least two groups interested in your issue.
 Choose a group to address. State the reason or reasons you chose that group in complete
sentences.
Who is interested in this issue?
Group one: ___________________________________________________________
Group two:____________________________________________________________
For which group do I want to write?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Why did you choose this group?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
PAGE
Due Date: __________________________
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 6 page 700
Prewriting: Identifying Your Specific Audience
DIRECTIONS Use the organizer below to help you zero in on your audience.
PAGE
Due Date: __________________________
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 7 page 702
Prewriting: Gathering Support
DIRECTIONS Use the chart below to help you gather support for your essay.
 Identify at least two reasons, along with supporting evidence, that will persuade your specific
audience to agree with your opinion statement.
 In the last column, rate the overall strength of each piece of evidence as “okay,” “good,” or
“best.”
 After evaluating your supporting evidence, replace any evidence that you decide is too weak
to convince your specific audience.
Reasons for my
opinion
What supporting
evidence will help
me make this
point?
How strong or
weak is this
supporting
evidence? Why?
Rating
1.
 okay
 good
 best
2.
 okay
 good
 best
3.
 okay
 good
 best
PAGE
for CRITICAL THINKING MINI-LESSON page 703
Due Date: __________________________
Telling the Difference Between Fact and Opinion
DIRECTIONS Identify each of the following statements as either a fact or an opinion.
 Circle Fact after each statement that can be proved true. Circle Opinion after each statement that
expresses a personal belief and cannot be proved true.
 Briefly explain your answers on the lines provided.
1. Our city’s population increases every year.
Fact or Opinion
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. The $21 million renovation plan for Lane Middle School includes a new gymnasium.
Fact or Opinion
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. The Ledger ’s story about Mr. Martinez, the basketball coach, was the best article in the whole
newspaper.
Fact or Opinion
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. The Olympic games are held every four years.
Fact or Opinion
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. For three years in a row, the school swim team won the state championship.
Fact or Opinion
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
6. I think our community places too much emphasis on sports and not enough on the arts.
Fact or Opinion
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PAGE
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 8 page 704
Due Date: __________________________
Writing: Drafting Your Persuasive Essay
DIRECTIONS Complete the graphic organizer below about the framework of your essay. Use
the information provided on page 704.
Framework
Introduction
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
Body
Reason #1
(_____________ for reason #1)
Reason #2
(evidence for reason #2)
Reason #3
(evidence for reason #3)
Here is one effective way to
organize your reasons:
 Start with your
_______________ strongest
reason.
 Leave your audience with a
strong impression by using
your _______________
reason last.
 Sandwich any other reasons
in the _______________.
Conclusion
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
Now it’s your turn to write a persuasive essay. As you write,
 keep your ___________________ in mind
 use the strongest reasons and _____________________ from your party fold
 refer to the framework above and the Writer’s Model on page 705
PAGE
for TEST-TAKING MINI-LESSON page 707
Due Date: __________________________
Writing a Position Paper
DIRECTIONS Use the graphic organizer below to help you organize thoughts for a position
paper.
 Choose one of the writing prompts below, and take a position on the issue.
 Identify the issue, the two options, the purpose, and the audience.
 List the benefits of two options related to the issue, using the memory strategy THEMES:
time, health, education, money, environment, safety.
 Decide which option you support. Then, list the drawbacks of the option you do not support,
again using the memory strategy THEMES.
PROMPTS
 Noise and loitering have become problems at the public library in your community. The city
council is considering whether to keep the library open to all or to limit its use to people with
library cards. Which option do you support? What are the benefits and drawbacks of the
option you support?
 All seventh-grade students at your middle school have the same lunch period. Next semester,
however, lunch periods may be mixed, with students from all three grades eating together.
Which option do you support? What are the benefits and drawbacks of the option you
support?
Issue:
Two options:
Purpose:
Audience:
OPTION #1
OPTION #2
Benefits
(time, health,
education, money,
environment, safety)
Option I support: ___________________________________________________
OPTION I DO NOT SUPPORT
Drawbacks
(time, health, education,
money, environment, safety)
PAGE
for GRAMMAR LINK page 711
Due Date: __________________________
ADDITIONAL PRACTICE
Proofreading: Using Comparatives
DIRECTIONS Proofread the following passage.
 Underline the incorrectly used modifiers, and give the correct form of the modifier.
 After you have completed this exercise, proofread your persuasive essay for errors in
comparatives as directed in Your Turn 10.
If Principal Hughes and the PTG (Parents Teachers Group) have their way, Carter Middle
School students will have to wear uniforms next year. The more I think about it, the more clearer
the picture is in my mind. Everybody will wear dark blue pants or skirts, white shirts, and green
sweaters. We will all kind of blend together, like melted crayons. Nothing could be more scarier!
Since how I dress expresses who I am, I think that we students should not be forced to wear
uniforms. Uniforms are much more bad than a strict dress code.
At assembly last week Mr. Hughes said that students will have a more easy time focusing on
schoolwork if they don’t have to worry about what to wear. In other words, uniforms will make
the school a gooder environment for learning. Uniforms aren’t going to change how we feel
about one another. Even with uniforms on, we’ll still get along weller with some kids than
others. I think Mr. Hughes underestimates us by suggesting that we judge one another by our
clothes. Some students may think that way, but most of us are more smart than that.
Write letters to Mr. Hughes and the PTG to explain why uniforms are a less good idea than a
dress code. Ask your families to attend the PTG meeting and vote against the school uniform
proposal. Let’s stand up for what we want: No uniforms!
PAGE
for FOCUS ON WORD CHOICE page 710
Due Date: __________________________
Clichés
DIRECTIONS Revise each of the following passages by replacing the clichés with original,
forceful words or phrases.
 Cross out the words you need to replace, and write new phrases above them.
 After you have completed this exercise, revise your essay to eliminate clichés as directed in
Your Turn 9.
PASSAGE A The Leeville Town Council is trying to decide whether the town should continue
to support the Weekend Youth Recreation Program. Without this program, many kids in this
town would be bored stiff. Why would the town council want to take away a sure thing? The
town council members obviously don’t have a clue about how we feel.
PASSAGE B For a while, it seemed that Americans were like eager beavers trying to save the
planet. Everywhere you went, the message was clear as a bell.
“Don’t waste energy.” “Recycle.” “Don’t litter.” I think the message has been lost in the shuffle.
For example, has anyone else noticed how much paper and plastic we throw away at lunch in the
cafeteria? It’s time for a wake-up call.
PASSAGE C Membership in student organizations should not depend on grades.
This school policy should be changed. The idea behind the policy is that if students want
something, they’ll work like crazy to get it. The idea is not totally off base. However, there are
some kids who work like horses but still get poor grades. These students need a place where they
can be the cream of the crop.
PAGE
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 9 page 710
Due Date: __________________________
PEER- AND SELF-EVALUATION FORM
Revising: Evaluating Persuasive Essays
DIRECTIONS Use the following questions to evaluate your persuasive essay or that of one of
your classmates.
 Answer the questions.
 Rate the parts of the essay. The lowest score is 1, and the highest is 4.
 Make at least three suggestions for improving the essay.
1. How does the introduction grab the audience’s
attention?
Rating 1 2 3 4
Suggestion:
2. What is the writer’s opinion statement?
Rating 1 2 3 4
Suggestion:
3. What reasons does the writer use to support the
opinion statement?
Rating 1 2 3 4
Suggestion:
4. What evidence supports each reason?
Rating 1 2 3 4
Suggestion:
5. How does the conclusion restate the opinion?
Rating 1 2 3 4
Suggestion:
6. What summary of reasons or call to action is given in Rating 1 2 3 4
the conclusion?
Suggestion:
Peer reviewer: ____________________________________
PAGE
for CHAPTER 25: YOUR TURN 9 page 710
Due Date: __________________________
Revising: Persuasive Essay
DIRECTIONS Use this chart to help you improve your persuasive essay.
QUESTIONS
DO THIS
1. Does the introduction grab
the audience’s attention?
 Put stars next to
interesting information.
2. Does the introduction have
a clear opinion statement?
 Underline the opinion
statement.
3. Does the essay include at
least two reasons that
logically support the opinion
statement?
 With a colored marker,
highlight the reasons.
4. Does at least one piece of
evidence support each
reason?
 Circle the evidence.
CHANGES YOU
MADE
 Draw a line from the
evidence to the reason it
supports.
5. Does the conclusion include  Put a check mark next
a restatement of the
to the restatement.
opinion?
6. Does the conclusion include  Draw a wavy line under
a summary of reasons or a
the summary of reasons
call to action?
or call to action.
PAGE
READING WORKSHOP, PAGES 687-696
Due Date: __________________________
for YOUR TURN 2 page 692
Point of View
DIRECTIONS Use the steps outlined below to figure out the author’s point of view in “A Veto
on Video Games.”
STEP 1:
Scan the title and the first few
sentences. Look for positive and
negative words and comments related
to the issue.
Positive:
Negative:
STEP 2:
Look for patterns. Are the words and
comments you identified mostly positive
or mostly negative?
They are mostly  positive  negative
Examples:
STEP 3:
Based on what you have found, identify
the author’s point of view.
The author’s point of view is
PAGE
for YOUR TURN 2 page 692
Due Date: __________________________
ADDITIONAL PRACTICE
Point of View
DIRECTIONS Use the steps outlined below to figure out the author’s point of view in the
following passage.
The New Teen Center: Doomed for Failure?
“There’s nowhere to go and nothing to do.” “Don’t they have anything better to do than hang
out around town?” Sound familiar? Complaints like these from teens and about teens have been
heard around our community for some time. That is what makes the new teen center such
welcome news for everyone. Teens will finally have a place to get together after school and on
weekends.
There is just one problem. The town plans to charge a fee to get into the center. We might
just as well put a sign on the door that says “Closed.” A fee will doom the new center to failure.
Many teens have very little money for entertainment. If they did have money to go places
and do things, no one would complain. It is not going to make sense for young people to pay to
go to a teen center when they can get together elsewhere for free.
That’s why the new teen center has to be free. If it is going to succeed, it needs to be a place
where teens—all teens—can gather anytime it is open, not just when they happen to have some
money in their pocket.
STEP 1
Look for positive and negative words
and comments related to the issue.
STEP 2
Determine whether the words
are mostly positive or mostly
negative.
STEP 3
Identify the author’s point of
view.
Positive:
They are mostly
 positive  negative
The author’s point of view
is:
Examples:
Negative:
PAGE
for YOUR TURN 3 page 694
Due Date: __________________________
Logical Support
DIRECTIONS Use the graphic organizer below to map the author’s support for “A Veto on
Video Games.”
 Re-read “A Veto on Video Games,” and write the issue and author’s point of view in the first
circle.
 Fill in the rest of the map with reasons and evidence, labeling each piece of evidence as a fact
(F), an anecdote (A), or an expert opinion (EO).
 On a separate sheet of paper, explain why you agree or disagree with the author’s views on
video games in a sentence or two.
PAGE
for YOUR TURN 3 page 694
Due Date: __________________________
ADDITIONAL PRACTICE
Logical Support
DIRECTIONS Use the graphic organizer below to identify the issue, the author’s point of view,
and the reasons and evidence supporting the point of view in the following passage. Label each
piece of evidence as fact (F), anecdote (A), or expert opinion (EO).
Starting Right
Eating breakfast is a great way to begin the day! Although many of us are tempted to catch a
few extra minutes of sleep instead of taking time for breakfast, this strategy works against us.
Ten minutes of sleep cannot provide the energy of a well-balanced meal.
Not eating breakfast can lead to physical problems and a lack of concentration. My cousin
experienced nausea, stomach pains, and headaches because she went to work without first
providing her body with fuel. Some of my friends have been easily upset or unable to
concentrate on their studies because they are hungry.
Results of a Minnesota study demonstrated that students who ate breakfast scored higher on
both reading and math tests. Clearly, students who eat breakfast have an academic advantage.
Skipping breakfast has been identified as one of seven critical factors in increased health risk.
A study by Dr. Lester Breslow indicates that not eating breakfast could signal not paying
attention to one’s general well-being. Dr. Breslow links a frantic lifestyle, which keeps some
people from eating breakfast, with damaging stress levels.
Let’s begin each day by treating ourselves well. Let’s make time for a healthful breakfast.
PAGE
for VOCABULARY MINI-LESSON page 695
Due Date: __________________________
ADDITIONAL PRACTICE
Wordbusting Strategy (CSSD)
DIRECTIONS Determine the meanings of the italicized words below.
 In the chart, check off the step or steps of CSSD (Context, Structure, Sound, Dictionary)
that you use.
 Show how you used the step or steps to define each word.
Strategy
How I Used the Strategy
Meaning
1. Her voice was barely audible on the telephone.
CSSD
2. It is hard to enter the building because so many people congregate in front of the door.
CSSD
3. He was so eloquent that a hush came over the room when he spoke.
CSSD
4. An idea began to germinate in her mind.
CSSD
5. The teacher tried to answer the inquisitive student’s questions.
CSSD
6. Her luminous smile lit up the room.
CSSD
7. Some advertisements promise so much that it is difficult to think the manufacturer is
credible.
CSSD
8. I bought a new computer because my old one had become obsolete.
CSSD
9. Her time in the preliminary race determined her starting position in the afternoon event.
CSSD
10. After being in the city, they found the countryside tranquil.
CSSD
PAGE
for TEST-TAKING MINI-LESSON page 696
Due Date: __________________________
Identifying Author’s Purpose and Point of View
DIRECTIONS Read each passage carefully, and then answer the questions. Use the steps in
Thinking It Through on page 696.
PASSAGE A
GUIDED PRACTICE
Eating Well on the Go
We have all heard the expression “You are what you eat.” That’s a pretty uncomfortable
thought when you’re about to indulge in fast food. Do you really think of yourself as a doubledecker hamburger with creamy dressing, accompanied by a mountain of greasy french fries and a
fat-filled milkshake?
People should eat to stay healthy. They should eat healthful foods. Does that mean that you
have to give up eating out with your friends after a soccer game or a movie? No. If you’re
careful, you can find good nutrition even at a fast-food restaurant.
For example, you could order a plain muffin and juice, and you can even have pancakes. Just
go lightly on the high-fat, high-cholesterol butter spread. Better yet, skip the butter and use only
syrup.
If you really want a burger, go to a restaurant that grills rather than fries its hamburger
patties. Drink water or milk, and stay away from the jumbo-size meals with huge portions of
french fries and fried onion rings. These meals are loaded with fat, cholesterol, and sodium.
Eating at a fast-food restaurant doesn’t have to be bad for you. All it takes is a little
knowledge and some wise choices.
ANALYZE
The author probably wrote this passage to —
A explain the benefits of eating out
B tell a story about eating at a fast-food restaurant
C inform readers about the nutritional value of a meatless diet
D convince readers that fast-food restaurants offer some healthful choices
Why did you choose this answer? _________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
PAGE
for ANALYZING AN EDITORIAL CARTOON, page 714
Due Date:___________________
Discussion Guide: Comparing Cartoonists
DIRECTIONS Complete this guide to help you and your group discuss the editorial cartoons
each member chose.
1. What are the topics of the cartoons? How many are political? How many are about social issues?
Does more than one cartoon cover the same issue?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Which techniques—symbolism, exaggeration, caricature, and analogy—do each of the
cartoonists use? List the techniques used by each cartoonist below.
 ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________

3. Which cartoonists use the most similar techniques? Which techniques did you find most
effective? Why?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
4. What attitudes do the cartoonists seem to have toward their subjects? Which cartoonists’
attitudes are most similar?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
5. Do certain techniques seem to reflect certain attitudes? If so, which techniques seem to reflect
which attitudes?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
PAGE
Due Date: __________________________
for ANALYZING AN EDITORIAL CARTOON, CHAPTER 25 page 714
Guide to Analyzing an Editorial Cartoon
DIRECTIONS Answer the following questions about the editorial cartoon you have selected.
1. What issue or topic does the cartoon address?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
2. What symbols, if any, are used in the cartoon?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. What exaggerations or caricatures, if any, are used in the cartoon?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. What effect do the exaggerations or caricatures have?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
5. What analogies, if any, are used in the cartoon? How do the analogies help tell the story?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
6. What do you think is the cartoonist’s opinion on the issue or current event?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
PAGE