DISSECTING A PROMPT

Tuesday, March 1st

Objective

Today, I will develop main ideas and content fully focused on a prompt by dissecting a practice prompt and composing a well-developed paragraph.

Persuasive Writing Prompt

How can I persuade people?

Rhetorical Appeals

•Ways to persuade people

•Ethos•Pathos•Logos

Ethos •Trust

•Demonstration of experience or expertise in something

•Persuades by showing you have experience and can therefore be trusted as reliable and knowledgeable

Ethos •Michael Jordan has experience in basketball, so I would TRUST him if he gave me tips on how to improve my free throw shot.

•I would not trust Ms. Harkness because she has no experience in this.

Ethos •A person is trying to persuade you to donate money to a non-profit that helps people pay for organ transplants. The article is written by a person who received an organ transplant because of this organization.Underline the

ETHOS

Pathos •Emotion

•Persuades by creating an emotional connection with the reader

•Uses image (printed or created through writing)

•Frequently used by non-profits and charities

From an ad asking for donations after the earthquake in Haiti

Pathos •The hurt infant makes me feel sad because the child cannot help that he was in Haiti at the time. To help him, I will donate.

Pathos •Describe the pathos of the following public service announcement.

Logos •Logic

•Facts and statistics•NUMBERS!!!

•Persuades by presenting facts

Logos •4 out of 5 dentists recommend using Crest.

Logos •Verizon has cell towers in all 50 states. AT & T does not.

Underline the LOGOS.What are you being

persuaded to do?

•Identify the following in the commercial:

-Purpose of commercial (what is it persuading you to do?)-Examples of ethos-Examples of pathos-Examples of logos Commercial

Why dissect a prompt?

Make sure you answer all parts Make sure you understand what the

prompt is asking Make sure you know what the end

product will be

Sample Prompt

Your school board is considering extending the school day to 5:00 p.m. Write to the school board stating your opinion on extending the school day to 5:00 p.m.

Step 1: Read the prompt carefully and underline important parts

Your school board is considering extending the school day to 5:00 p.m. Write to the school board stating your opinion on extending the school day to 5:00 p.m.

Step 2: Identify your task Write to the school board Tell my opinion on extending the

school day Provide reasons I feel this way

Step 3: Figure out what your final product will look like Letter to the school board Should be formal Include my opinion Include support for my opinion

Step 4: Plan

YOU MUST PLAN. YOU MUST PLAN. YOU MUST PLAN. YOU MUST PLAN.

This will guide your writing, make sure you stay on topic, and ensure that you answer all parts of the prompt.

Step 4: Plan Outline

Introduction Introduce myself and state my position on

the extended school day Ethos

My experience supporting my opinion Logos

Any facts I know supporting my opinion Pathos

Emotional connection supporting my opinionConclude

Restate my opinion

Step 5: Write the draft

On the extended response, you will have time to plan, write a rough draft, edit the draft, and write your final draft.

Complete it all.

Step 6: EditStep 7: Write the final draftStep 8: Breathe.

Try it with your neighbor! Complete the steps below for Prompt

#2

Step 1: Read the prompt and underline

Step 2: Identify your task Step 3: Figure out what your final

product will look like Step 4: Plan

Try it on your own!

Complete the steps below for Prompt #3

Step 1: Read the prompt and underline

Step 2: Identify your task Step 3: Figure out what your final

product will look like Step 4: Plan