Day 5: Writing a Persuasive Essay
Lesson Overview and Objectives
In this week's final lesson, students begin drafting a persuasive essay either for or against requiring uniforms in school. Students should be able to evaluate which of their arguments are strongest, and be able predict their opposition's arguments in order to incorporate concessions and counterarguments into their essays.
Lesson Plan
- Play the YouTube video "Writing a Hook" and inform students that they will be expected to incorporate a "hook" into their persuasive essay. (15 minutes)
- Students will then return to the outline they created in the previous lesson, and begin drafting an essay. This could be a one-day assignment where students write 2-3 paragraphs, or a longer multi-day essay that includes a peer-revision stage. (60-90 minutes)
- When finished, students submit their essays in Google Classroom.
Extension Activity: Conduct an informal debate about whether or not implementing school uniforms would be a good idea at your school. Use a "talking stick" so that only one student at a time is allowed to talk.
Instructions to post in Google Classroom:
Should students have to wear uniforms in school?
1. Review your notes and outline on the school uniform debate.
2. Using tips from the video, think of a hook that will draw your reader in.
3. Create a new Google Document and begin writing your persuasive essay.