Persuasive Writing Inside Out
This month’s lessons are about teaching persuasive writing from the
inside out. We often we teach the form before the meaning, especially when it comes to
persuasive writing. Students often end up writing mechanical sounding, passionless
arguments, a list of details dangling from a topic sentence.
The lessons this month come from my forthcoming book with teacher Gretchen
Bernabei, Why We Run with Scissors. If you are interested in submitting student
writing for this book click HERE.
Make sure you include the student’s home address.
K-2 Reasons Why
One of the best ways to teach young writers about persuasion is to ask them to back up an
argument with facts or details. It’s always best to present these arguments in a real
context. Is there something your students need or want. Can they make an argument to
persuade you?
1) What is persuasion? Talk about all the real persuasion we do in life. Perhaps your
class once persuaded you or their parents to do something recently. List a few of these
things
I persuaded my mom to take us to the movies on a school night
I persuaded my dad that I could have a friend over
I persuaded my brother to eat mud.
How did you do it? You gave good reasons. Lets practice making our arguments come alive
with good reasons.
2) Lets make up reasons to make our own arguments.
Reasons why we need recess .
Reasons why war should end
Why I love my mother
Why I love my father
3-8 Dig Under Positions to Interests
Great persuaders know how to move beyond entrenched positions to the common interests of
both parties. This is a simple activity to show your class this movement.
1) Tell your students that all great persuaders know how to dig beneath conflicted
positions to the interests which lay beneath. Make a diagram
Strong Positions = Conflict
strong argument=
Common interests= Agreement
Think of a time you persuaded somebody. You moved them from conflicted positions to see
what you could agree on.
2) Act out an example in front of the class.
Dad: No kids over today, I’m working.
Kid: I want a friend over.
How does the child move the parent from in frozen position to the common interest?
3) Write up a play where one party persuades another.
Click
HERE to submit it.
9-12 Persuasive Parodies
Parody is a fun way to experiment with the principles of persuasion. Here’s a playful
way to elaborate an argument.
1) Get a copy of the school handbook and look at the rules section. Try inventing some
crazy rules based on rules in the book.
Example: Dress code: All students will wear their underwear on the outside.
2) Now, have students elaborate the reasons for the rule. If you want, ask them to pretend
they are trying to institute this rule and need to make a case for it.
Example: Most people change their underwear each day. Worn on the outside, we could get
away with changing the underwear only once a week. This would save valuable resources.
3) Ask your students to persuade the US Congress to adopt the same law. Talk about how all
persuasion , even funny persuasion, depends on a keen awareness of the audience.
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