Canned Lesson Persuasive Writing

Step 1: Read the prompt carefully before you begin. Writing Situation: Many eighteen year olds who are old enough to vote, choose not to register, not participating in elections. Do you think it is important to register and exercise your right to vote? Consider the reasons one would want to register and participate in elections. Directions for Writing: Now write a persuasive essay stating whether or not eighteen year old should register and participate in elections. Give reasons to support your position arguing in such a convincing manner that others will agree with you.

Step 2: Take a stand. Think about the stand that will provide three reasons for argument.

Step 3: Prepare the graphic organizer. Now fold your paper into 4 squares.

Step 4: Complete the graphic organizer. Unfold the paper and draw a box in the center. In the center box write a sentence to convey your stand.

Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Write one reason you think 18-year olds should vote. Example: Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Example: Every vote counts and is important. Write another reason you think 18-year olds should vote. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Some argue that 18 years olds are not intellectually or emotionally mature enough to vote and therefore do not want them to take advantage of this opportunity. Example: Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Write another reason you think 18-year olds should vote. State and refute a counter argument

Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Example: Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Write 3 details about this reason. Example: Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Write 3 details about this reason Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Example: Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy State and refute the counter-argument Write 3 details about this reason.

Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Example: Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Elaborate on one detail. ELABORATE Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old.

Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Example: Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. Elaborate on one detail. ELABORATE Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old.

Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children Step 3: Complete the graphic organizer. Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Example: Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation. Elaborate on one detail. ELABORATE

A list of transition words is online! Step 5: Add transitions. For example, Moreover, Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. A list of transition words is online! Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children In other words, For these reasons, Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy It is important to exercise the right to vote. Through this process our beliefs and concerns are conveyed. Although many election contests are won by comfortable margins, some have been so close that a single vote has made the difference. We must show the world the importance of voting in a democracy. 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation.

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. For example, Moreover, Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. Each square will become a paragraph. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children For these reasons, In other words, Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy It is important to exercise the right to vote. Through this process our beliefs and concerns are conveyed. Although many election contests are won by comfortable margins, some have been so close that a single vote has made the difference. We must show the world the importance of voting in a democracy. 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation.

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. The introductory paragraph (the center box) sums up each reason. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Voting is the way to tell politicians and government officials what is important to us. Through voting we exercise democracy, an act that others cannot experience without great loss.

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Begin the introductory paragraph with a hook. Samples of hooks can be found online. Don’t like the way things are now? Well there is something you can do about it. Vote. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Voting is the way to tell politicians and government officials what is important to us. Through voting we exercise democracy, an act that others cannot experience without great loss.

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Begin the introductory paragraph with a hook. Samples of hooks can be found online. Don’t like the way things are now? Well there is something you can do about it. Vote. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Voting is the way to tell politicians and government officials what is important to us. Through voting we exercise democracy, an act that others cannot experience without great loss.

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy It is important to exercise the right to vote. Through this process our beliefs and concerns are conveyed. Although many election contests are won by comfortable margins, some have been so close that a single vote has made the difference. We must show the world the importance of voting in a democracy. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation. For example, Moreover, In other words, For these reasons, Next Paragraph

Step 5: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Next Paragraph For example, voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. How do you feel about raising taxes? What is important in the way of education for your children or your family? Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children. Your vote leads Congress in making those decisions. What signal do you want to send your representatives about the war?

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy It is important to exercise the right to vote. Through this process our beliefs and concerns are conveyed. Although many election contests are won by comfortable margins, some have been so close that a single vote has made the difference. We must show the world the importance of voting in a democracy. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation. For example, Moreover, In other words, For these reasons, Next Paragraph

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Next Paragraph Moreover, every vote counts and is important. There have been many close elections for political office. Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. Your vote could impact a close election for a change in laws or a local decision. Through exercising your vote you send mandates to the government.

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy You address and refute the most important counter argument Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation. For example, Moreover, In other words, Although, Next Paragraph

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Next Paragraph In other words, through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Through registering to vote we set an example of our belief and demonstration of democracy. Voting shows a respect for the lives being lost protecting democracy for others, particularly in Iraq. 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation.

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Voting is your way to state your concerns and beliefs. Taxes Education War Every vote counts and is important. Close elections for office Close elections for laws/decisions Send mandates to the government. Through voting we practice "democracy“ which we are trying to bring to others. Example being set Demonstrate belief in democracy Respect for lives being lost protecting democracy It is important to exercise the right to vote. Through this process our beliefs and concerns are conveyed. Although many election contests are won by comfortable margins, some have been so close that a single vote has made the difference. We must show the world the importance of voting in a democracy. Voting is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every 18 year-old. Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children Everyone remembers the 2000 election between Bush and Gore that was too close to call for weeks. 2,000 American Troops that have lost their lives in Iraq trying to bring democracy and the right to vote to that nation. For example, Moreover, In other words, For these reasons, Summary Paragraph

Step 6: From the graphic organizer to the paper. Summary Paragraph For these reasons, it is important to exercise the right to vote. Through this process our beliefs and concerns are conveyed. Although many election contests are won by comfortable margins, some have been so close that a single vote has made the difference. We must show the world the importance of voting in a democracy. So if you don’t like the way things are going now, there is something you can do about it. VOTE. Ending PUNCH

Step 7: Vocabulary Review your paragraphs. Can you add adjectives (describing words) and interesting adverbs (describing action words)? ADJECTIVES ADVERBS

Step 7: Vocabulary BEFORE: Congress can help or hinder families trying to raise their children. AFTER: Congress can help or hinder hardworking families trying to raise their children.

Step 7: Vocabulary BEFORE: There have been many close elections for political office. AFTER: There have been many crucially close elections for political office.

Step 7: Vocabulary bad dreadful Remember: The more sophisticated vocabulary you use…the higher your score. bad dreadful

Step 8: Visual Expression Use metaphors and similes to give your essay more visual expression. There have been many political elections that have been as close as a barber’s shave. There have been many close elections for political office.

Step 9: Reread Your Work Reread your work to make sure you have: Taken a stand and stay on the topic Given your reasons in the introductory paragraph Have paragraphs that support each reason Elaborate on a reason in each paragraph Have a summary paragraph that restates your reasons Begin each paragraph with a transition word Include adjectives, adverbs, similes, and metaphors