Friday, December 5, 2008

AGENDA 12/5

Healthy Kids Survey

Handout: Sample Researched Argument Paper #1 on Gun Control
This paper is well-researched and wonderfully readable--it includes a number of rhetorical techniques and stylistic devices, handles statistics and paraphrased information well, and incorporates the writer's unique voice. It DOES include a few grammatical errors, but despite those minor flaws, the paper is an excellent example of a researched argument paper because it synthesizes information from a variety of sources, and uses those examples and quotations to advance the writer's argument--it doesn't read like a book report on the subject but is truly a persuasive piece.

Handout: Sample Researched Argument Paper #2 on Recreation in National Parks
This paper is a little more traditional--it also received an A and includes terrific examples of how to embed direct quotations using meaningful half-sentences and how to open body paragraphs with clear, persuasive claims. This student also does an excellent job of transitioning between paragraphs and moving on to new ideas. She, too, includes a number of stylistic techniques, and handles a great deal of background information in a way that is intriguing and advances her argument.

**The key idea to take from these samples is that your persuasive papers should be just that--persuasive. Although they must refer to a number of sources, your papers should NOT be dull and boring, but should make a plea, exhortation, convincing case, or demand of some sort--combining appeals to logos AND pathos to win over your audience to your way of thinking. Your paper MUST contain a lot of facts...but do so in a fun-to-read, compelling, mature, sophisticated, stylish, entertaining, passionate way.

Handout: Researched Argument Paper Final Checklist
This handout includes all of the requirements for the FINAL draft. We'll be working on various portions of this over the next two weeks.

HW: Due Monday--Working Bibliography of 20 sources & first quarter of indie reading book read
Due Wednesday--2 rhetorical terms entries (one from "The World House" and one from "What Really Ails America") and "down draft" of researched argument paper (this can be a total disaster--it just needs to be something "down" on paper...preferably 2-3 pages worth--an intro and a handful of body paragraphs...)

No comments: