Persuasive Writing

We are now into our unit on persuasive writing...I like to start with what I call 'hamburger' outlines. This is an outlining process that mimiks a hamburger:

intro to your argument = top bun,
 3 substantial paragraphs of points/proof = 3 BIG beef patties,
 conclusion/connections to your argument = bottom bun.

I like this outline because it is easy to visualize and its fun. Also, it means I can say things like "Where's the  beef?" when students submit weak paragraphs/patties--which, like in any good burger, should be the predominate flavour and bursting with substance/proof/support for one's argueent. (Of course, we have looked at the old Wendy's Where's the beef? ad to explore this analogy).

I like to incorporate media into writing and to voice our opinions about certain matters we have used these vids to create hamburger outlines.

a) TED TALK by Kevin Alloca "Why Video's Go Viral"...which is a perfectly crafted hamburger/oral essay if ever there was one! We used this talk to define the quintessential hamburger outline, using his argruments, his points/proofs, and his conclusions. This is now an anchor chart hanging in the classroom.

b) Winter Attack Ad. We studied this argument of 'Don't Vote For Winter because..." listing the ones we noticed in this 'ad' and adding our own. We also explored the other seasons and crafted argument 'ads' for fall, spring and summer.... Don't vote for summer! First of all, it is too hot! For example, some days it can reach 30 degrees or higher, which makes it too hot to go outside! It is boring if you can't enjoy the outdoors...

c) Lady Ga Ga's meat dress (posted at the bottom of my media page). Ok, this isn't a video...but the picture caused quite a debate...if you were Lady Ga Ga's advisor, would you suggest she wear this dress? Why or why not?

Here are some other arguments we looked at for outlines:

d) Beckham kick...real or fake?

e) Is this a time travellor from the future talking on a cell phone in 19128? Or no?

Of course, students eventually will be moving on from outlines to substantial persuasive essays of their own as they craft a review of a book/game/movie of their choice. Before that, though, we are going to work whole class at defining the criteria for judgeing the worth of a book/game or movie so that they have substantial criteria to base their arguments on... I'm looking for more in those beef patty sections than just 'because 'you should watch/play/read it because it's fun/funny!' or "because I liked it!".