Persuasive Writing Menu Choices

Here is a menu of choices for the second persuasive writing project we will be working on this year.  We have already done some writing to convince an audience with a group of friends, but now we will work individually to develop positions and create an argument.  Students were asked to peruse this menu of choices in class today.  They were asked to select their choice and copy it into their notebook before brainstorming with a partner.  Students are welcome to begin pre-writing at home over the long weekend, but they should not begin a draft until we learn more about the elements of persuasive writing in class.  Pre-writing is optional, not required.

Pretend you are a Christmas tree at a Christmas Tree Farm.  You really want a family to choose you.  Here comes the family now.  Create an advertisement that would convince them to choose you for their tree this year.

Imagine that you are a turkey…gobble, gobble!  You DO NOT want to be eaten this Thanksgiving.  Convince the hunter who has captured you to release you and eat other foods instead.

Write a letter to your parents convincing them to get you a pet.

Write a letter to Santa convincing him that you’ve been good and deserve a certain gift this Christmas.

Write a letter to the lunch lady convincing her that she should serve your favorite foods more often.

Pretend a litter problem has developed on your school’s campus.  Students are throwing trash on the ground, leaving empty soda cans and bottles outside on benches, and dropping napkins and other trash on the cafeteria floor rather than carrying them to the trash can.  Your principal has reacted by cancelling all outdoor recess until the problem is taken care of.  What is your position on this issue?  Make a poster convincing your classmates to stop littering.

Think about where people live.  People live in small towns, large towns, or even big cities.  Some people live on farms or in houses in the country.  Some people live inland and some live at the beach along the coast.  Think about where it is best to live and why.  Choose the one place where you would like to live and give reasons why you think it is the best.

Because of budget cuts, your school district is thinking of getting rid of resource classes for next year.  Write a letter to the school board that states your position and convinces them to change their minds.

We all know what happened to the gingerbread man when he rode on the foxes’ back to cross the river.  Write a conversation between you and the gingerbread man, where you convince him to use another method to cross the river.

P.S. Don't panic.  Fantastic Fables will be posted in time for you to share with your family on Thanksgiving.  But beware...they're so good, you won't even be able to eat your turkey dinner because you'll be so busy signing autographs for all your adoring fans!!!