Small Moment
Writing Workshop - Research Based Argument Essay - Self Selected Topic - Lesson 7
Writing Workshop - Research Based Argument Essay - Self Selected Topic - Lesson 7
Today, you will learn that it can be helpful to use a small moment to bring an issue to life. Small moments may add emotion to a piece, and helps it to be relatable to your audience. Also, you will finish your essay pillar and start your rough draft.
Add something relatable and personal to the reader in your argument essay to add feeling to your claim. The secret to changing someone's viewpoint on an issue is to have them become personally invested. Tell them how it will affect their life. Giving the reader facts is important, but when you can make them feel emotion that is when you can change their mind.
Think about this:
If a parent read your chocolate milk essay and you informed them about this fact...
Chocolate milk has added sugar.
This is important to parents, but it might not persuade them. They could just think, what is a little bit of sugar? At least they are drinking milk.
But what if you tried to make it personal and add emotion by including a small moment...
Chocolate milk has added sugar. Picture this, you take your child to the doctor because they are not feeling well, and you find out they have diabetes. You ask the doctor if it could be from all the extra sugar. You wonder, what if I had not allowed him to consume all that sugar. Do you want your child to become overweight and possible get diabetes? Don't you want to do what is best for your kid's health?
What parent is going to answer no to those questions? The reader is now thinking about the health of their own kid. You made them feel emotion. They are more likely to agree with your argument because you made it personal.
Let's look at another example:
One reason that teachers should be allowed to bring well-behaved dogs into school is because the dogs can help children focus. For instance, at Pathfinder School, young Sadie finds her reading partner, Fletcher, an eight-year-old black Labrador. "Settle down," Sadie says, "it's time to read." And Fletcher does. First, he waits for Sadie to choose her book. Then, he waits for Sadie to lean against him. Then, for the next hour, dog and child read together. "This story is sad," Sadie says at one point, tears running down her cheeks. Fletcher licks her face. Sadie keeps reading. Fletcher helps her to focus. With Fletcher as her partner, Sadie could read forever.
Do you see how the italicized part added emotion?
Good starters to include
For instance...
For example...
Once when...
Picture this...
Finish filling out your essay pillar. You should have 100% of it done today. Next, start writing your rough draft. Start a new Google Doc.
When you are finished with the assignment, here is what you can do:
Just keep writing.
Keep adding seeds.
Add to a already started seed.
Decide to take a seed through the writer’s process.
Reread your writing.
Edit your writing.
Work with a writing partner (with permission).
NEVER say "I am finished"
You need to be writing for a minimum of 30 minutes.