Persuasive Writing
Steps in the Writing Process
Steps in the Writing Process
Steps in the Writing Process
Steps in the Writing Process
Steps in the Writing Process
Add a Frame of Reference
Why are all of these steps
necessary for good writing?
Vocabulary
 persuade
argument
 audience
topic
 support
opinion
 writing prompt solution
 position
 claims
 rough draft
warrants
 organize
evidence
agree
counterclaim
controlling idea rebuttal
Essay #1: Group Essay
Building Background
Knowledge
GROUP A
 What do you know about basketball?
What qualities make a basketball
player a good team member?
GROUP B
 What are the qualifications for getting
into college? What do admissions
officers look for when selecting
students for college admission?
Group Work: Lesson 3
Read the descriptions of 3 students
who want to get into college and
play on the basketball team.
Discuss each applicant’s
qualifications & complete the
chart with your group.
Choose one applicant who you
think should be chosen (your
claim), and list 3 reasons why he is
the best choice (evidence).
Making a Claim & Giving
Evidence: Sentence Starters
 Student ___ is the best choice because
he ___________________________________ .
 Another reason to choose Student ____ is
______________________________________ .
 The student with the best qualifications is
______________, because he ____________
______________________________________ .
 The student we select is __________. He is
the best choice because _____________
______________________________________ .
Explaining Evidence in
Writing
The Director of Admissions needs your
recommendation in writing. Write one
paragraph in which you state your claim, and
explain your evidence.
Write 4-6 sentences with your group.
Sample Paragraph
The student with the best qualification is Student
A. Student A’s coaches say he is a “team player” who
“knows when to shoot and when to pass.” The ability
to work and play well with others is an important skill,
especially when teamwork is required for success.
Another reason to choose Student A is that he
averages 5.6 assists per game, a higher average than
either of the other two athletes. Those statistics and
reports suggest he is more interested in winning than in
getting individual attention for himself. Finally, Student
A is academically talented. His 3.2 GPA and is class
rank demonstrate that he is ready for difficult college
classwork.
Counterclaims & Rebuttals
Counterclaim: An argument that
disagrees with another argument
Example:
Claim – Nikes are the best kind of shoe,
because they are comfortable and stylish.
Counterclaim – Adidas are better than
Nikes, because Nikes are too expensive.
Counterclaims & Rebuttals
Rebuttal: A statement that gives
reasons why a counterclaim is not
true or should be ignored.
Example:
Claim – Nikes are the best kind of shoe,
because they are comfortable and stylish.
Counterclaim – Adidas are better than
Nikes, because Nikes are too expensive.
Rebuttal – Nikes are more expensive than
Adidas, but it’s worth paying a lot of
money for a good quality shoe.
Using Counterclaims &
Rebuttals in Writing
 Look at the reasons other groups
made for their decisions. Which are
different than yours?
 Identify 1 counterclaim from another
group.
 Write a rebuttal – Explain why their
counterclaim is not important or
should be ignored.
Rebuttals: Sentence Starters
Although Student ____ has the best
__________ , that is not as important
as ______________________________ .
While Student ____ is very good at
______________ , we believe it is
more important to _______________.
All the students are good at ______
______________ , but Student ____ is
the best at ______________________ .
On our team / At our university, we
need someone like Student ____,
who can _______________________ .
Steps in the Writing Process
Steps in the Writing Process
Work Period:
Complete Drafting
 With your group, review the paragraphs you
have written with your group. Your paragraphs
should explain your claim, provide evidence,
present a counterclaim, and give a rebuttal.
 Now, you are going to write a conclusion.
Conclusions
 In writing, your conclusion is your final
decision.
 In your conclusion, you summarize the
evidence supporting your decision
and restate your claim.
Conclusions:
Sentence Starters
 In conclusion, …
 We have seen that …
 I believe … for the following reasons: First…
Second… Finally…
 After examining the evidence, it is clear that…
 The evidence shows that …
Steps in the Writing Process
Group Work: Revision
 Re-read your whole essay: Introduction, Body
Paragraphs, Conclusion
 Use the “Peer Editing” handout to check your
writing
 Make changes to your essay: Change confusing
parts. Add more details to make your ideas clear.
 You must make at least 3 changes!!!
Exit Ticket:
Which stages of the Writing Process
have we completed?
Essay #2: Individual Essay
Building Background –
Conversation Questions
Warm-Up:
Discuss the conversation questions with a
group of 3-4 people. Be prepared to
share the answer to one question with
the class.
Reading a Writing Situation
Read the Writing Situation, then answer
the two questions below.
 Identify the question: What are you
supposed to choose?
 Identify your audience: Who are you
trying to convince?
Step 1: Pre-Writing
 Make a Tree Map to organize your ideas.
 Give your opinion and 3 reasons why you believe this
_____My favorite piece of clothing is…___
____________
_____________
____________
Turn Your Tree Map into a
Thesis Statement
 Thesis statement = The sentence that tells your readers
exactly what your essay will be about. The thesis
statement should be the last sentence of your
introduction (first) paragraph.
 Use parallelism to write a thesis statement.
 Ex: I believe that tobacco should be against the law
because tobacco endangers everyone’s health,
pollutes the environment, and wastes valuable
energy.
Provide Evidence
 Finish your Tree Maps by adding evidence under
each reason you listed yesterday. Ask yourself:
 Why is this important?
 How can I prove this is true?
 What can I say that will help someone else understand
why I am right about this?
Use your Tree Map to write 1-3 Body Paragraphs –
each “branch” of your Tree Map should be its own
paragraph.
Add a Counterclaim &
Rebuttal
 Explain your claim, reasons, and evidence to your
group.
 Work together to brainstorm a counterclaim.
My favorite piece of clothing is…
I choose this because…
What do you think other people would say to disagree
with me?
Write one counterclaim & your rebuttal.
Adding a Hook
 The first sentence of your introduction should catch
your readers’ attention.
Step #2: Drafting
 Put it all together: Write your introduction,
body, and conclusion paragraphs.
 Use Sentence Starters to help you
 Write in pencil so you can make changes
later
 Don’t worry about spelling, punctuation,
or confusing parts – you will fix it when
you revise and proofread.
Step #3: Revision
 Use the “Self Revisions” handout to
identify things you need to change.
 Make at least 3 changes to your essay.
Make it
 More interesting for the reader!
 Easier to understand!
 More complete!
 A stronger argument – add more or
better evidence!
Step #4: Proofreading
 After you type your essay, re-read it and
check for mistakes in spelling,
punctuation, and grammar.
 You may trade essays with a classmate
to help each other find mistakes if you
like.
 When you are done, submit your final
version to Ms. Jaret via First Class.