Escritura persuasiva (retórica)

In this 8-week course, the content builds as kids learn to write persuasively. We'll meet twice a week, and the lessons will be as follows:

Week of March 3: 
Lesson 1: Introduction to Persuasive Writing
Students will get an overview of persuasive writing and learn why it matters. We'll talk about the different types of writing students will do in this course. We will also read a famous persuasive speech: Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream." This is one of the most famous and best examples of rhetorical writing in all of history. We will talk about the setting for this speech and what makes it such a good example of persuasive writing.

Lesson 2: Examining the "I Have a Dream" Speech
We will take a deeper dive into the elements that make this speech a great example of a rhetorical piece of writing. We'll talk about the tone, main argument, format of the speech, what literary devices were used and what point of view it was written from. I will annotate on the written speech as kids identify rhetorical elements.
Homework:
Write 2-3 paragraphs examining why the "I Have a Dream" speech is a good example of a persuasive piece of writing.

Week of March 10: 
Lesson 3: Planning an Argumentative Essay
Students will begin planning a 5-paragraph argumentative essay. We will talk about the format of this type of essay and read an example ("On Women's Right to Vote" by Susan B Anthony). Kids will choose a topic and identify the audience, tone, and point of view for this essay. Kids will find an outside source to support their claim, research, and take notes.

Lesson 4: Writing the Rough Draft of an Argumentative Essay
Kids will write an outline of their essay. Some class time will be spent on starting the rough draft. Special focus will be on logos, ethos, and pathos, what they are, and how to incorporate those into the essay. I will have kids send me their introduction paragraph in the chat and give them immediate feedback. The rough draft will be due by Sunday. 

Week of March 10:
Lesson 5: Why Opposing Viewpoints Are Important
- Kids will have an opportunity to read their argumentative essay draft to the class.
 - We'll discuss opposing viewpoints and read some examples in famous essays. We'll discuss adding opposing viewpoints and rebuttals and how they strengthen an argument. 
 - Kids will add an opposing viewpoint paragraph with a rebuttal to their essay.

Lesson 6: Editing and Writing/Typing the Final Copy of Argumentative Essay
 - We will discuss self-editing techniques and kids will make an editing checklist.
 - Kids will have the rest of class time to edit and write/type their final copy. They will be able to finish it as homework.

Week of March 17:
Lesson 7: Introduction to an Opinion (Op-Ed) Piece
 - Kids will learn what an opinion (op-ed) piece is. This is more in the category of journalistic writing. We will read an example and discuss the audience, what was new or interesting about the topic at the time it was written, and the persuasive elements used in the piece.
 - Kids will choose a topic, identify their audience, and begin planning and outlining an op-ed piece of their own.

Lesson 8: Writing an Op-Ed Piece
- Kids will review the elements of an op-ed piece and begin writing their rough draft. I'll have them send me their introduction paragraph in the chat and give immediate feedback. 
 - Homework will be to write a 600-800 word opinion piece.

Week of March 24: 
Lesson 9: Planning and Writing an Advertising Piece
 - Kids will look at and read several examples of advertising pieces. We will discuss how they are persuasive. This can include product descriptions, TV commercials, radio ads, print ads, online banner ads, and social media ads. We'll discuss the specific characteristics of each type.
 - Kids will choose a type of advertising piece and write one. If they want to include visual elements they can.

Lesson 10: Writing an Advertising Piece
 - Kids will share their advertising piece with the class.
 - Kids will choose another type of advertising piece and write one.

Week of March 31:
Lesson 11: **Writing a Cover Letter
- Kids will learn how to write a cover letter for themselves. This will include information about their own skills and qualifications. They will learn to write it persuasively. We'll read some examples and examine how they are persuasive. 
 - The homework will be to write a cover letter.

**Note: Even younger kids can benefit from learning to write a cover letter because it prepares them for future writing and helps them understand how persuasive writing can apply to their own lives.

Lesson 12: Writing a Public Service Announcement
- Kids will learn the elements of a public service announcement and when and how they are written. They'll read an example and examine the persuasive elements.
 - The homework will be to write a public service announcement.

Week of April 7: 
Lesson 13: Planning a Speech
 - For the next two weeks, we will focus on kids planning, writing, and reading a speech. This will be considered the final project for this class, and quite an accomplishment. 
 - We will read some famous speeches such as "The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln and "Quit India" by Mahatma Ghandi. We'll examine them for persuasive elements and have a class discussion about this.
 - Kids will decide the topic of their speech and start planning the outline. The outline is due by the next class.

Lesson 14: Writing a Speech
- We will talk about how kids can read their own speech confidently and listen to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream." 
 - We'll review the key elements of a persuasive speech, and kids will begin writing theirs. They will edit and write their own final copy based on what they have learned in this class. The exact due date for the final written speech to be turned in will be announced during class.

Week of April 14: No class because Monday is a US holiday (Easter Monday).

Week of April 21:
Lesson 15: Kids Read Their Speeches
Kids will start reading their speeches out loud to the class. The speeches do not have to be memorized, and kids can leave their camera off if that makes them more comfortable. All kids are required to read their speeches, but special exceptions can be made if parents contact me.

Lesson 16: Kids Read Their Speeches
This day is reserved for kids to read their speeches if they didn't get a chance to read during the last lesson.