December | 2011 | Kirkucopia

Dear 5th Year,

Just a quickie! If you would like a gander at an exemplar Persuasive Essay I have lobbed together, try here.

Also, here is the list of techniques you could try to utilise in your essays. See how many I have used in mine!

1. Rhetorical question

Can we really expect the school to keep paying from its limited resources?

2. Emotive language

Imagine being cast out into the street, cold, lonely and frightened.

3. Parallel structures

To show kindness is praiseworthy; to show hatred is evil.

4. Sound patterns

Alliteration: Callous, calculating cruelty – is this what we must expect?

Assonance: A fine time we all had, too.

5. Contrast

Sometimes we have to be cruel to be kind.

6. Description and Imagery (i.e. using metaphor, simile and personification)

While we wait and do nothing, we must not forget that the fuse is already burning.

7. The ‘rule of three’

I ask you, is this fair, is it right, is it just?

8. Repetition

Evil minds will use evil means.

9. Hyperbole (using exaggeration for effect)

While we await your decision, the whole school holds its breath.

10. Anecdote

Using a story from your experience to illustrate a point or idea.

And while I’m at it, what about some Transition Words?

Cheers!

Mr K.

My delicious 5th Year,

Here is your homework. It is to be done by Monday 5th December 2012. It shouldn’t take long. All I want you to do is to read this article and then consider how it can link to The Handmaid’s Tale. You will need to have at least one idea on it ready to come to class with on Monday morning.

The article is very difficult, so don’t get your knickers in a twist if you don’t completely get it – try to work out something. The whole process should take no longer than 15 minutes – unless you want it to.

Here’s a clue: contrast how the Aunts say they are trying to protect women with the ways in which characters , such as Offred’s mum and friend Moira, tried to protect women in the pre-Gilead period. What is the difference?

By the way – please bring in the essay plans you produced using the “Ms. H. Method” on Monday as well. You are good!

We begin a new two week writing block on Monday. This is so you can have another go at your Writing NAB, if you need to, and/or complete a second piece for your Writing Folio. You’ll be working on producing a persuasive essay, in which you will have to give your views on an issue of your choice. If you want to get ahead of the game and, perhaps, choose a topic before Monday, have a look at the various Topic Guides here on a site called Debating Matters.

Oh, and well done those of you who completed your essays on Friday. I was really pleased with the level of analysis and understanding you managed to produce in your work. I’m like a proud father!

Good luck,
Mr K.

Kirkucopia

Monthly Archives: December 2011

Persuasive Essay – An Exemplar

5th Year – Homework For Mon 4th December 2012