Lesson Handouts

By Classroom Resources
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Persuasive Writing Introduction

We encounter persuasive writing everyday. All different types of writers use persuasive writing to
convince others of their outlook on various issues or ideas. List examples of where we see persuasive
writing in our everyday lives.
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Persuasive Writing Introduction

There are many purposes for persuasive writing. Create a new statement to go with each purpose
below.

Purpose Statement

Support a cause

Create change

Call people to action

Get someone to agree with you

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Is Google making us less intelligent?

We use search engines everyday to find quick
information. Are they making us less smart? Read these
two works of persuasive writing on both sides of the
argument.

As you read:
1. Draw a box around the introduction and
conclusion.
2. Highlight the main reason given for each body
paragraph.
3. Underline the one supporting example or detail
that supports each reason.
Yes!

Who doesn't love Google? In the blink of an eye, the search engine delivers useful information
about pretty much any subject imaginable. I use it all the time, and I'm guessing you do too.
Using Google limits the need for higher level thinking. What really makes us intelligent isn't our
ability to find lots of information quickly. It's our ability to think deeply about that information. And
deep thinking, brain scientists have discovered, happens only when our minds are calm and attentive.
The greater our concentration, the richer our thoughts.
You'll never think deeply without distraction if you're always Googling, texting, and surfing. If we're
distracted, we understand less, remember less, and learn less. That's the problem with Google—and
with the Internet in general. When we use our computers and our cellphones all the time, we're
always distracted. The Net bombards us with messages and other bits of data, and every one of those
interruptions breaks our train of thought. We end up scatterbrained.
Even as Google is giving us all that useful information, it's also encouraging us to think superficially.
It's making us shallow. Google doesn't want us to slow down. The faster we zip across the Web,
clicking links and skimming words and pictures, the more ads Google is able to show us and the more
money it makes.
If you're really interested in developing your mind, you should turn off your computer and your
cellphone—and start thinking. Really thinking. You can Google all the facts you want, but you'll never
Google your way to brilliance.
Nicholas Carr, Author
The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
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Is Google making us less intelligent?

NO!

Any new information technology has both advocates and critics. More than 2,000 years ago, the
classical Greek philosopher Socrates complained that the new technology of writing "will create
forgetfulness in the learners' souls because they will not use their memories."
Today, Google is the new technology.
The Internet contains the world's best writing, images, and ideas; Google lets us find the relevant
pieces instantly. This has been proven to be extremely useful in all sorts of ways. These easily found
images, writing pieces, and ideas improve our own projects and works.
Google allows people to find information on obscure topics that might not be found elsewhere.
Suppose I'm interested in the guidance computers on Apollo spacecraft in the 1960s. My local library
has no books on that specific subject—just 18 books about the Apollo missions in general. I could hunt
through those or turn to Google, which returns 45,000 pages, including a definitive encyclopedia
article and instructions for building a unit.
Just as a car allows us to move faster and a telescope lets us see farther, access to the Internet's
information lets us think better and faster. By considering a wide range of information, we can arrive
at more creative and informed solutions. Internet users are more likely to be exposed to a diversity of
ideas. In politics, for example, they are likely to see ideas from left and right, and see how news is
reported in other countries.
For the internet, opportunities outweigh the distractions. Socrates was wrong to fear the coming of
the written word: Writing has improved our law, science, arts, culture, and our memory. When the
history of our current age is written, it will say that Google has made us smarter—both individually
and collectively—because we have ready and free access to information.
Peter Norvig, Director of Research
Google Inc.
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What do you think?
Is Google making us less intelligent?
Explain your opinion on whether Google is making us less intelligent. Write one paragraph.

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Persuasive Essay Checklist

This checklist will guide you through the writing process as you
create your persuasive essay. Check off each step as you complete
them.

1 Before Writing
q Choose an effective topic that you are comfortable writing about and interested in.
q Create three main reasons that support your viewpoint.

2 Introduction Paragraph
q Write a thesis statement stating your viewpoint and your three reasons.
q Write an effective hook that draws the reader in.
q Draft your complete introduction paragraph including your hook and thesis
statement.

3 Body Paragraph 1
q Write a topic sentence that introduces the first reason.
q Provide at least three supporting examples with 1-3 details for each example.
q Write a concluding sentence.

4 Body Paragraph 2
q Write a topic sentence that introduces the first reason.
q Provide at least three supporting examples with 1-3 details for each example.
q Write a concluding sentence.

5 Body Paragraph 3
q Write a topic sentence that introduces the first reason.
q Provide at least three supporting examples with 1-3 details for each example.
q Write a concluding sentence.

6 Conclusion Paragraph
q Restate thesis in a different way, including your viewpoint and your three reasons.
q Explain why its important.
q End with a statement to make the reader think.
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Choosing a Topic

Brainstorm at least six different topics that you would be interested in writing a persuasive essay
about. You can use examples provided as well as your own topic ideas.

Some Examples…
1.
• Should students wear uniforms to school?

2. • Should students be paid for their grades?

• Should smartphones be allowed class?

3.
• How much homework should be given daily?

• Should smoking be banned in public?

4.
• Is eating healthy important?

5. • Is exercising important?

• Should students be given more reading time

6. throughout the school day?

• Should students be given more recess or free time

during the school day?
7.
• Should students be able to attend college without
having to pay tuition?
8.
• Should students take foreign language courses?
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Choosing a Topic
After discussion with your teacher, narrow down your potential topics to the two you are most
interested in writing about.

Topic 1:______________________________________________________

Topic 2:______________________________________________________

Write one paragraph explaining your viewpoint on topic one. Don’t worry about editing, organizing,
or revising. Just get your thoughts into words.
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Now draft three main reasons to support your viewpoint on topic one.

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2.___________________________________________________________
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3.___________________________________________________________
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Choosing a Topic
Write one paragraph explaining your viewpoint on topic two. Don’t worry about editing, organizing,
or revising. Just get your thoughts into words.
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Now draft three main reasons to support your viewpoint on topic two.

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2._____________________________________________________________
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My topic choice is:

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Thanks for sampling this unit!
The complete unit is available here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Persuasive-Writing-Unit-Step-
By-Step-2200153