APPENDIX CForms of WritingPersuasion Overview Critical thinking and organizational development are necessary cognitive processes for persuasion. The reading component encourages the student to distinguish fact from opinion, to recognize the relevancy of details, and to investigate the author’s purpose. The power of words, their emotional impact, and their ability to persuade the reader is stressed. The writing component emphasizes the necessity for supporting generalizations with facts or reasons. In general, the process of persuasive writing requires the student to think critically, choose words deliberately, and carefully organize ideas in order to convince the reader. Types of Persuasion: 1. Editorial 2. Grant Proposal 3. Persuasive Speech 4. Persuasive Essay (logical reasons and statistics, examples, etc.) 5. Letter to the Editor 6. Position Paper 7. Advertisement 8. Letter Defending a ViewpointExposition Overview The transmission of information is the foundation of exposition. Exposition defines, explains, reports, analyzes, evaluates, and judges through the patterns of process, comparison and contrast, classification, definition, and cause and effect. Exposition requires an understanding of sequential order, and it requires the comprehension and management of elements to form an intelligent whole. The major consideration of exposition is an increased awareness of process and the ability to define and explain the why’s and how’s of the world. Types of Expository Writing: 1. Consumer Report 2. Cause/Effect Essay 3. How to Essay 4. Summary or Synopsis 5. Comparison/Contrast EssayNarration Overview A narrative tells a story. The story, either fiction or non-fiction, is told through the recounting of an incident or series of incidents. A narrative generally has a beginning, middle, and end. It utilizes setting, mood, and point of view to develop the plot and make it live. Narrative writing can take many forms: simple anecdote, fable, tall tale, short story, journal, biography, autobiography, or news story. Narratives encourage the student to broaden comprehension by making inferences, drawing conclusions, predicting outcomes, and summarizing. Types of Narratives: 1. Personal Narrative 2. Short Story 3. 1st Biography 4. Historical Narrative 5. Sequel or PresequelDescription Overview Descriptive writing evolves from careful observations of the environment and a response to those observations with imaginative language. Good description includes a mixture of sensory details, as the person, places, and objects in our lives usually appeal to more than one sense. The descriptive mode emphasizes the use of precise language to express perceptions. An understanding of the concept of description broadens the students’ awareness of figurative language in both speech and writing, and alerts them to the importance of sensory images. Types of Description: · Description of an emotion · Description of a place · Observation · Character Profile · Reflective essayWriter’s Prompt Description: Think of a family member, a personal friend, or a famous person you like and/or admire very much. Write a paper describing him/her. Tell as much as you can about the person’s physical appearance, personality, behavior, and habits. Describe a scary place. It may be a real place, a setting for a movie, or a scene from a nightmare. Try to include details that will recreate that scary feeling. Suppose you have just watched a sports event, have seen or heard a musical group, or have attended a performance by an outstanding performer. You enjoyed it so much that you want to share the experience with others. Describe your experience in a way that will make others want to share it. Everyone has a favorite place – a home, a friend’s basement, a teenage gathering place, your room. Describe your favorite place. Write a paragraph describing a time when you felt strong emotions about something. It might have been when you were happy, or it might have been when you were very sad. First describe the situation, and then describe how and why you felt as you did. Exposition: You are teaching someone you know how to do something. It can be simple, such as how to boil an egg, or something difficult, such as how to repair a leak in the kitchen sink. Write a composition teaching someone how to do something. Proceed in such a way that the reader will understand the order in which the steps occur. Pretend that you have been assigned to help a new student become accustomed to the school. Explain what you think are the most important rule or customs that the student should know. You have already learned that high school is quite different from grade school. Write a paragraph in which you contrast high school and grade school. Try to include at least three differences. Think of your wardrobe and try to classify all your clothes in three different groups. Think of a good basis for your division. Then write a paragraph telling about your three groups of clothing.You like to use slang. You feel it is an important part of your speaking vocabulary and necessary for communication. Choose a current or favorite slang term you use, define it, and give at least to examples of its use. Narration: Think about your favorite holiday experience. Perhaps you received a surprise or present. Perhaps some outstanding event occurred. Identify the holiday, give a step-bystep account of what happened, and tell why it was special to you. You have returned home from your first day at your new high school. You have been asked by your family what it was like. Write a paper describing your first day. Think about how you spend Sundays during the school year. Pick out one Sunday, tell what happened (details), and tell why it was good or bad. The school cafeteria is a place with constant activity. Tell about an experience you had in the lunchroom, or tell about an occurrence that you witnessed. If possible, include some dialogue in your composition. Think of a television program you always watch. Identify the program, state step-by-step the events in the last program you watched, and tell why you enjoyed it, giving at least two supporting reasons. Persuasion: Your parents have finally agreed to consider whether or not you may have a car for your birthday. Write an essay to persuade your parents that a car would be good for you and your family. Also, persuade them that you are willing to take care of the car. Your principal has decided to extend the school day longer because he/she feels that students can learn better with an extended day. Write an essay or personal letter to your principal in which you agree or disagree with this plan. The principal feels that new students or freshman are not made to feel welcome in your school. What can be done to make them feel a part of your school? Write a letter to your principal describing the problem and offering solutions. Your high school principal has been interviewed and has stated that the high school students should be in bed by 7:00 p.m. in order for them to learn well in school. He/she suggests that all televisions, radios, and lights be turned off by this hour so that students can get a full night’s rest. Your parents are considering doing what the principal suggests. Write a letter or essay to your parents in which you agree or disagree with the principal.The student council of your high school believes that bringing food into a classroom results in a problem. You agree with this statement. State the problems, give background information, and offer solutions. You have returned home from a store and have discovered that the article you bought is broken. Write a business letter of complaint to the manager of the store persuading him to either refund your money or exchange the article. You have heard a record or seen a movie that has affected you greatly. You want others to share in your excitement. Identify the movie or record, give background, and reasons to convince others to share this experience.