1. Persuasive Writing Independent Reading -15 minutes
Essay Writing-Notes and Lesson-25minutes
Brainstorming-20 minutes

2. Writing Persuasively
Most persuasive writing has at least these five key parts:
A hook to grab the reader’s attention.  (Common in all forms of writing.)
A thesis in which the writer states his belief about the topic.
Supporting arguments to convince the reader that the thesis is correct.
Counter arguments which offer answers to potential objections.   (Not always necessary.)
A conclusion that restates the thesis.

3. When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you've never met one like this before. As he pleads, and begs his way through the book, you will love being able to answer back and decide his fate.
How to Use the Books
Besides simply reading through the books as examples of persuasive writing, I sometimes use bits and pieces of them as mini-lessons to help hone particular skills.
We might talk about what makes a good hook and read the beginning sentences of a few of these books to see how published authors begin their writing.
I might read and reread the thesis from one or more books so we can discuss how important it is to define a clear and concise thesis.
We might analyze one of the books to see how many supporting arguments the author used and how those arguments were presented.
We might talk about the difference(s) in something they have written vs. the master writer. The purpose of this is usually to help my children learn to turn boring, factual writing into more creative writing that someone actually wants to read.

4. Thesis Writing

8. Examples to help decide on what
You will write about.

9. Does Facebook (or other forms of social media) create isolation?
Facebook lets people stay connected and meet new friends, yet some argue people spend so much time on social media that they lose contact with real life.
Is society too dependent on technology?
Technology creates great opportunities, yet some feel people can no longer function without a smart phone by their sides at all times.

10. Does the school day start too early?
While some simply say kids should go to bed earlier in order to be alert during the school day, others argue teens require more sleep and need to sleep later in order to function properly.
Are security cameras an invasion of privacy?
Security cameras are in place to protect both businesses and the general public, but some argue cameras have gone too far and actually invade privacy because people are constantly under surveillance.

11. Should minors be allowed to get tattoos (if they have parental permission)?
Some feel parents should be allowed to give permission for their minor children to get tattoos, as they are making the decision for their own children. On the other hand, because tattoos are essentially permanent, some feel only adults should be able to get tattoos.
Should a college education be free for everyone?
Though people believe education is a right and will make society, on the whole, a better place for everyone, others feel there is no true way to offer a free college education as colleges would still need to be funded (likely through tax dollars).

12. Complete a persuasion map