Week 1: Build Skills
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Principles of Persuasion:
1. View the "Secrets from the Science of Persuasion" by Cialdini & Martin. 2. As you watch, take notes on the six principles of persuasion in your journal. (You'll need them for the prompt.) 3. Using as many of the principles as you can, please address the following prompt: Because of devastating air pollution, society has moved underground. Everyone is registered and tracked carefully because of the limited resources. That is, except for a few who are not registered. A small group live off the grid. You are a stranger, approaching an off-the-grid settlement, and you must convince the community to let you stay with them. You have been rehearsing what you will say all day. What do you say to convince them? |
Please follow each of the links below to the Purdue OWL website. Read the notes on introduction paragraphs and the notes on body paragraphs. For each page of notes, please write a paragraph to summarize the most important points.
Brainstorm at least five topics that you could use for the subject of your argument essay. Make sure your topics are: 1. Debatable, and 2. Narrow |
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Philosophy of Argument:
1. View "For Argument's Sake" TED Talk. 2. Take notes in your journal as you watch the video. 3. Write a paragraph summary of the speaker's perspective and your reactions to his ideas. 4. Compose a short fictional narrative of an "Argument as War" argument. Use mostly dialogue to tell your story. |
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Argument and Justice: Sandel cites Aristotle's definition of justice as follows:
"People should get what they deserve." With this definition in mind, please answer the following questions about the topic you have chosen to address in your argument essay: *What is the essential nature of the activity in question? *What qualities related to that activity are worthy of honor and recognition? |
Dream Vacation, Part 2: Choose one location from your brainstormed list of vacation spots to focus on. Your job is to write a letter to your parents/ guardians explaining why they should take you on this vacation this summer. Your parents are very analytical (they appreciate specific research and a well-reasoned argument.) Your job is to write a letter relying almost completely on ethos and logos.
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Dream Vacation, Part 3: Using the same vacation destination from the previous journal entry, write another letter to your parents/ guardians persuading them to take you on vacation this summer. Your parents are very emotional, and they will make their decision based on their sympathy for you and your needs. Your job is to write a letter relying almost completely on pathos.
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Ethos, Pathos & Logos
1. View the video introduction to Ethos, Pathos & Logos. 2. Generate an example for each: Describe a scenario when someone has used ethos, pathos or logos to try and persuade you. What did they say or do? Was it effective? |
"A Modest Proposal":
Please click the button to be taken to Johnathan Swift's "A Modest Proposal." Read the essay--it is four pages long--and then answer the quiz questions in your journal. |
Persuasive Argument Quick Write: Spend about a half hour and write a short persuasive argument essay on one of the topics we brainstormed in class. Please include the following things:
--Choose a side of the topic to argue. --Cite at least two pieces of evidence/ examples that support your perspective. --Cite at least one piece of evidence that supports the opposing perspective. --Rebut the opposing perspective. |
Week 2: Pre-Write & Rough Draft
Dramatic Dialogue Brainstorm
Please brainstorm three ideas for your dramatic dialogue. For each of the three ideas, please include the following:
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Character Profile: Who is the character that will deliver the persuasive monologue for your main assignment this writing cycle? Is it a fictional character, someone you know, or is it you?Please create a character profile for the character by answering as many questions as you can can about his/ her physical/ mental/ emotional and/ or spiritual characteristics. Use questions from the Character Profile Worksheet and/or create your own. The character that emerges from this character profile will inform your writing process as you proceed.
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Set Up the Monologue: Please address both description and exposition. You may add narration if you wish This journal assignment may be included with your persuasive monologue in addition to the 6oo required words:
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