We all know, by reading Harry Potter, that Hagrid is a very special character in the story.  A half blood wizard/giant who is the keeper of grounds at Hogwarts.  He was once a student there himself, but was expelled after another student, Tom Riddle, accused him of opening the Chamber of Secrets, and releasing a monster that killed a girl.  

 (NOTE: Because it was asked by parents to have a little more time writing, there will be a week in between the second and third class so that students can have more time to write - so please double check the end date on your section to see if there is a week in between.)

We know that he is allowed back at Hogwarts as a professor, after his innocence is proven during the book 'The Chamber of Secrets', however, your task is to act before he is expelled for good as a student.   

Your assignment is to persuade professors at Hogwarts that either expelling Hagrid is unjust, or that he is the culprit.  Use the information that you already know about the events to prove his innocence/guilt.  In your essays, you need to use showing words to suck your reader in.  You need to describe the scenes, describe his character as a person, and describe all of the reasons he could/could not possibly be guilty for Myrtle's death or really responsible for it.  Where did your evidence come from? Who did you talk to?  What drew you to the conclusion of his innocence/guilt? 

Using persuasive writing techniques that we will learn in class, you will develop an essay that will either save Hagrid as a student, or get him expelled for good.  

In class topics will include the structure of a 5 paragraph essay, a review on showing vs telling words, and the key components to writing a persuasive response.  

Our final class will consist of each student presenting their persuasive essay.   We will set it up like a mock trial for each student to present their evidence and argue for or against Hagrid's expulsion. In the end, the class will vote for/against Hagrid's future at Hogwarts based on each student's essay's persuasion on the topic. 

Day 1: Talk about persuasive writing, showing words, and what our arguments will be.  Draw a picture of your argumentative points for homework. 
Day 2: Talk more on persuasive writing, making an outline, and how we argue our points putting our words into 5 paragraphs.  Homework: Write your essay, submit rough draft for review, and complete the final paper on your topic [For or against]  Hagrid's future at Hogwarts. 
Day 3: We will have a mock trial to present our arguments for or against Hagrid's Expulsion.  Will he be saved? Will he be expelled? Who will come up with the best argument?