Hands-on Persuasion

Hands-on Persuasion

Stage One:Prewriting for ideas

Stage Two:Prewriting for and developing layered elaboration

Stage Three:Designing the argument

Materials Needed:

• Butcher paper or newsprint• Red, green, and white index cards

or construction paper cut to index card size

• Small Post-its• Tape or glue sticks• Markers

Stage One:Prewriting for

Ideas

1. Brainstorm group of topics

1. Brainstorm things you would like to see changed.

2. Choose one topic, discuss your position, and write your position statement on top of the butcher paper.

3. Each group will share your topic and position statement with class.

We believe that a dress code is needed at EWMS.

Example:

2. Prewriting for Ideas

1. Brainstorm 6-8 reasons supporting their position and record on notebook paper.

2. Discuss and choose the strongest 3-4 reasons and circle them.

3. Write these selected reasons on the GREEN cards.

Brainstorming• Distracts from learning• Discipline problems• Teasing/harassment from peers• Hard to manage style without much effort that

could be used for other more important issues• Can be seen as way to separate kids in a negative

manner• Kids with extreme looks desire attention, and

negative attention is better than none, they think

3. Brainstorm Opposition Viewpoint

1. Consider the other side and brainstorm 3-4 reasons that might support their point of view.

2. Choose the top 1 or 2 and write on RED cards.

• It is nobody’s business how we dress

• Hard to manage/hold accountable

• Takes too much class time to deal with

Brainstorming for Opposition

Stage Two:Developing

Layered Elaboration

Where’s the Beef?Many times we believe that adding adjectives and

adverbs is the way to teach elaboration; however, that is like adding lettuce to a Happy Meal hamburger – there is still little or no meat! We still want the lettuce and tomatoes but on a Bub’s burger rather than that sad excuse of a hamburger you get in a Happy Meal. In fact, there is nothing “happy” about that meal except for the toy and the french fries!

What we need to focus on is the skill of prewriting for elaboration as well as for ideas, hence the use of the CRS chart.

C -- CLAIMYour claims are written on the GREEN

cards. They are your supporting reasons for your argument. Claims are potentially arguable.

Example:One reason why there should be a dress

code is that many of the styles are too distracting and can cause discipline issues.

R -- ReasonNow it is time to give a specific example of your

claim. Reasons are statements that support a given claim. Reasons can be linked to claims with the word “because”. Use adjectives, adverbs, similes, and metaphors to make your examples “show” and not “tell.”

Example: For instance, some of the hair styles that are

fashionable today call for extreme looks like the spiked Mohawk, where the hair is gelled into colored spikes that radiate down the midpoint of the hair. There are usually six to seven spikes with each one extending two to four inches outward!

S -- SupportNow the challenge is to extend your Reason by

answering the question how? Or why? Some form of evidence such as a personal anecdote, extended explanation, facts, or statistics is more effective here.

Example:In my English class, there is a kid named Justin who

has a Mohawk. Everyday, he colors it a different color and Mr. Ybarra always has to stop class and send him to the office. We are guaranteed a least a ten-minute interruption when Justin and Mr. Ybarra argue about his hair. If there was a dress code, then Justin would either have to change his hair style or move to a different school.

The Complete CRS Example

Applying CRS Chart: Use of Index Cards

Applying CRS Chart: Use of Index Cards

Look at our CRSPrewriting!

Stage 3:Designing

the Argument

Organizing Your Argument

Decisions to make:What reasons should I use?Do I use any opposition

reasons? If so, where? What order should I put them

in?Are they all equal in strength

or are some stronger than others?Which one do I want to begin

with? To end with? Why?

Creating Your Argument

1. Once you’ve answered those questions, you are ready to create your argument by taping the elaborated claims in order on the butcher paper.

Adding Transitions

Transitions are key words that show order and importance.

Using the small Post-its, add appropriate transitions words between reasons, between opposing viewpoints, and also to show importance.

On the other hand…

First of all…

First and most importantly…

Finally…

Additionally…

For example…

Finally and most importantly…

Conclusion:Orally

Present Your Argument