Writing Task

Describe your ideal holiday (15 minutes)

GO!

STOP!

• Please read aloud your opening line…

Section B – Two lessons on

writing to argue and persuade (Question 6)…

An engaging introductionDid you have an interesting opening to the holiday question?!

Imagine that you have to respond to one of these questions in your exam and write an engaging opening - say two-three lines.

The difference here is you have a choice whereas the examiner will set your actual question for you! Choose one now!

Write an article for a magazine aimed at teenagers in which you argue either for or against the idea that violence in films has a negative effect on young people.

or

Write a letter to your local councillor, which persuades him to put more money into local projects to improve your community.

or

Write a speech to be delivered to parents persuading them to protect their children whilst they are online.

As an extension to really challenge yourself, use the paint palette sheets on your desk and make note of three devices you would take from this to put in

your writing and then practise using them

Writing to argue and persuade – the devices

Our focus for today is to explore writing to argue and writing to persuade since these make up the focus for the second question in Section , worth the most marks.

Before we explore some writing, we need to decide on the difference between the two...

ARGUE PERSUADE

Writing to ARGUE• Presents different points of view• Can be a) Balanced or b) PersuasiveBalanced = Exploring different points of view equallyPersuasive = Exploring both but supporting one view• Structure and organisation very importantThis means particularly connectives (However, furthermore etc), topic sentences, intros and conclusions• Uses evidenceARGUMENT IS A BRAIN AND LOGIC BASED ACTIVITY

Find and colour-code:

• Intro• Conclusion• Contrasting connectives• Developing connectives• Topic sentences• Use of evidence

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Writing to PERSUADE

• Forces people to think or feel a particular way• Language is very importantThis means particularly rhetorical devices – those that help you persuade. Arguing also uses these…

PERSUASION IS A HEART AND EMOTIONBASED ACTIVITY

Rhetorical Devices/Persuasive Techniquesmatch the technique to the definition

1. Cluster of three2. Alliteration3. Forceful phrases4. Personal pronouns5. Figurative Language6. Anecdotes7. Emotive Language8. Using facts and

figures9. Rhetorical Questions10. Short sentences11. Metaphor

A. Using metaphors or similes to illustrate your point

B. Gets your audience to stop and thinkC. Using words such as

demand/urge/wantD. Little stories to create sympathyE. Using words such as ‘you’, ‘we’, ‘us’ or

‘I’F. Two or more words starting with the

same letterG. Three words or phrases to emphasize a

point H. Using language to create sympathy toI. Using a professional opinion to back

up facts and figures

J. A figurative comparison or statement that is not literally true

K. Questions that can not be answered

Writing to argue

The word argument suggests an animated disagreement - but a written argument is rather different. It requires that you...

put forward a succinctly stated and well-considered point of view; use a direct address to your audience and support your ideas with evidence

provide support for this view; repetition can make your writing forceful – be lively and imaginative

create a sense of balance by referring to other equally valid points of view; always counter opposing views politely.

tactfully counter these; use puns and humour to engage the reader

appeal to the reader; rhetorical questions, emotive language, rule of three...the list goes on!

There are three areas we should attempt to appeal to when trying to get our audience on side in both types of writing:

APPEAL TO REASONMost people believe themselves to be reasonable, so appealing to a person's sense of reason is the most effective means of convincing them to change their way of thinking ('If we don't do this... then... ).

APPEAL TO CHARACTERWe all share certain common ideas of what is just and fair! Appealing your audience’s sense of what is right and fair can be a powerful persuasive device, e.g. 'Like you, I share a sense of horror and repulsion at what is happening...'.

APPEAL TO EMOTIONSPersuasion often succeeds by the careful and considered use of emotion - especially showing how passionate you feel for your point of view.

Exploring some real examplesOn the placemat provided is a mixture of some writing to persuade and some writing to argue. These are all real examples from real students and therefore, range quite significantly in complexity.

Your job is to read each response and with the help of the mark scheme, give feedback to the candidates if you were the examiner and set them a target.

You must then rank the responses in the appropriate section of the placemat and provide a brief rationale for your choices.

Use the appropriate box on the placemat to improve one of the pieces – ideally, the one that you feel is least successful.

Writing carouselIn your groups, you have been given four typical topics you could be asked to write on for Section B – a mixture of writing to argue and writing to persuade tasks.

Each of you must assume a role here and I will number you.

Number 1s- write an engaging opening to your topic (two-three lines)

Number 2s and 3s- work together to consider and write two important elements of your argument if you received this task. Fill in one box each and write two-three lines.

Number 4s – write a convincing closing to your response

Pass these around on a carousel so that you all have a try at writing on the different topics as this is will give you a flavour of what you will be expected to do in the exam.

Which key skills will you use?

As a group, you must now decide on which of the questions from the last few years you want to do more on now.

You will be provided with your very own group ‘canvas’ and as a four, you must study the paint palette skills sheet and become an artist with words.

Imagining that you will write a long response on your topic, you must each decide on two techniques you want to take from the palette and write these in your paint splodge on the canvas. Then practise using this device and write all of your ideas in your space.

For example.....

CLUSTER OF THREE:

Take a moment, make a difference, improve someone’s life.

METAPHOR:The world has a

heart beat which is

stalling more and more every day...

Bringing this all together...You are now equipped with all of the skills to write a fantastic question 6 response. Using the notes you prepared with the carousel task and the ideas on your group canvas, you must now write the opening paragraphs to a full response.

After doing this, time permitting, we will conduct a peer assessment task where you will comment on two strengths of your partner’s work and then set one target.

Section B: Question 6Writing to persuade or argue

Try this task.

6. Write a letter to a Film studio persuading them to stop making long films.

• In your groups, thought shower all of your ideas on sugar paper.

Think about:1. Which films are too long? What are the disadvantages of

a long film?2. What are the advantages of a short film? Can you give

examples?3. Which techniques will you use to be persuasive?

Over 150 mins Under 90 mins

A persuasive writer’s techniques: can you use…Word Choice1. Use of pronouns2. Use of humour and understatement3. Making opinion seem like fact4. Imperative verbs; command verbs5. Nouns – good examples of films

Grammar6. Occasional uses of imperatives and interrogatives7. Some simple sentences following complex sentences8. Use of rhetorical questions9. Use of ellipsis – when you leave a sentence feeling

unfinished…

Add to your group’s sugar paper plan

Write for 10 minutes

6. Write a letter to a Film studio persuading them to stop making long films.

Read and annotate for 5 minutes

Focus on the successes of your work. What makes you most proud?

2. Varied sentences

1. Clear paragraphs 3. Structural features

4. Range of punctuation

5. Unusual vocab

6. Persuasive features

Shade your palettes to show confidence – Writing is an art

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