Increasing Rigor – Preparing Students for College Level Writing

Ms. Kimberley Daly

Afternoon Session 1:30-3:45

August 3, 2010

Session Objectives To understand the importance of persuasive

writing at the high school level

To understand how the practice of annotation is often connected to persuasive writing

To develop a unit or set of plans that increase student proficiency in persuasive writing

The Big Picture If you can have an opinion, with practice, you

can write a persuasive essay.

It is not enough to say, “I believe this”. You must prove your points using PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES.

Create a need Appeal to social needs

Use loaded words Appeal to intelligence

Appeal to emotion

Some Strategies I Use:

Engaging texts that immediately evoke a response

Toolbox of persuasive techniques Time for peer review and discussion Comprehensive feedback to ensure future

improvement

Engaging Texts

Choose texts that are high interest for students.

Provide a mix of non-fiction and fiction pieces. Require students to annotate texts as pre-

writing --- getting their thoughts down on paper is a prelude to developing an opinion about the issue, the subject or the writing.

Allow students time to discuss and process the text.

Toolbox of Persuasive Techniques

Teach techniques slowly Provide for guided and independent practice Showcase examples of techniques in texts

read in class Video Clip:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-Sjld5yy3Q&NR=1

Questions for participants: Why is this ad persuasive? Why it is appealing to students?

Peer Review and Discussion

Allow students time to share essays and undertake guided peer review

Provide time for whole class discussion for general issues

Facilitate and guide small writing groups

Comprehensive Feedback

After writing is completed, allow time for student reflection on process.

Provide timely feedback using rubric. Identify areas for future improvement.

For More Information

Please contact session presenter:Ms. Kimberley Daly

IB English Teacher, Thomas A. Edison High School

kbdaly@fcps.edu / kdaly1@gmu.edu