Lesson Plan form for  Paul Rombough/
Chateauguay Valley High School  (Tower University Grade 8 Site)
Date:    April 14th, period 3, Wednesday.
Class:          English
Objective: 
to write a persuasive essay in order to persuade one another that a city in their "home country" is the best place to visit.
Materials: 
Opening Motivational Set: 
Role play trying to convince Jean Marc that a Ferrari is better than a Porsche, using the technique below displayed on the over head behind Jean Marc but not visible to him.
Procedure:

1.   Remind students of basic essay form using older overheads 1 and 2.
      Take down notes on Elements of a Persuasive Essay

2.   Students meet in groups of 5 which have been chosen such that nobody is with their "home" group.   (Remember, the students are trying to persuade one another that a city in their "home country" is the best place to visit.)

Students state some of the general things they are going to say about their city, but not necessarily the "unique aspect"

3.  Students are then asked to use 15 minutes of the period to begin a first draft of their essay, or to read silently.

4.  In the final 10-15 minutes, a few students volunteer to play the "stay in the balloon" game, where 5 students start, each makes a statement as to why their city is the best, then the class votes on who to throw out.......
 
Followup/ Evaluation:   After next period's library visit, the persuasive essay will be  on Monday.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Elements of a Persuasive Essay
(one example)

Thesis statement: The part of your introduction which states the opinion you will try to prove in your essay.

Paragraph 1:    a general overview of commonly accepted facts
(in our case, obvious good points about that city in a descriptive paragraph)

Paragraph 2:    focus on one fact which you support completely
(in our case, focus on one unique aspect of your city)

Paragraph 3:    anticipates the arguments of others, and counters them with positive examples of how your point is better.
(try meeting with other students and see what they are going to say)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

At present, the source for this image is unknown, but I do remember it is one of the essay sites accessed from the english section of our web team's store house site.