In 6th grade, students are expected to take a stance on a topic and support their opinion with evidence from multiple sources. This writing piece must demonstrate the student's ability to produce an organized, evidence-filled essay that uses both direct quotes and paraphrased sentences. Also required are citations after each body paragraph and transitional phrases to create cohesion.
Download the student sample below for a general idea of a persuasive writing piece:
student_example.pdf | |
File Size: | 194 kb |
File Type: |
What to do / What NOT to do
Do…
...use passionate language
Don’t…
....use weak qualifiers like "I believe," "I feel", or "I think"---just tell us!
Do...
…cite experts who agree with you
Don't...
…claim to be an expert if you’re not one
Do...
…provide facts, evidence, and statistics to support your position
Don't...
…use strictly moral or religious claims as support for your argument
Do...
…provide reasons to support your claim
Don't...
…assume the audience will agree with you about any aspect of your argument
Do...
…address the opposing side’s argument and refute their claims
Don't...
…attempt to make others look bad (i.e. Mr. Smith is ignorant—don’t listen to him!)
Do…
...use passionate language
Don’t…
....use weak qualifiers like "I believe," "I feel", or "I think"---just tell us!
Do...
…cite experts who agree with you
Don't...
…claim to be an expert if you’re not one
Do...
…provide facts, evidence, and statistics to support your position
Don't...
…use strictly moral or religious claims as support for your argument
Do...
…provide reasons to support your claim
Don't...
…assume the audience will agree with you about any aspect of your argument
Do...
…address the opposing side’s argument and refute their claims
Don't...
…attempt to make others look bad (i.e. Mr. Smith is ignorant—don’t listen to him!)
Download the writing claims practice below.
claims_claims__cutnpaste.pdf | |
File Size: | 160 kb |
File Type: |
Click here to watch a quick video on making claims.
Click here to watch a video about claims/evidence/reasoning.
Learn how to quote and use in-text citations! Click here.
Paraphrasing vs. Quoting
Practice your skills by selecting a topic to research from the document below.
Persuasive Topics to Research | |
File Size: | 152 kb |
File Type: |
STEPS to writing your essay:
1. Read articles on your topic
2. Decide what you believe and make a CLAIM
- Write a debatable statement that shows your opinion that can be supported with evidence
- Use key words
- Do not use "I think", "I believe", "yes/no"
4. Reread your articles to identify evidence
5. Begin drafting your ideas
- Introduction
- Hook (sentence that grabs reader)
- Background information (give background/history on your topic)
- Claim
- Body paragraph 1
- Topic sentence / Reason #1
- Evidence from articles
- Explanation of evidence
- Body paragraph 2
- Transition / Reason #2
- Evidence from articles
- Explanation of evidence
- Body paragraph 3 (optional)
- Transition / Counter argument
- Evidence from articles that knocks out counter argument
- Explanation of evidence
- Conclusion paragraph
- Restate claim
- Summarize main points
- Wrap up sentence