This eight-week course will introduce middle school writers to the most challenging type of writing -- persuasion. Through the lesson content, students will review various types of appeal, the basics of logic and persuasion, and concepts like tone and credibility. We will help students avoid the problem of stating the obvious and discuss some commonly confused words. In addition to a diagnostic assignment to begin the course, students in this course will complete two expository papers in three drafts each.

Note: The assignments and lesson content of this course significantly overlap Middle School Writing 2 and 3. We therefore do not recommend this course for students who have completed Middle School Composition 2 or 3.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students who complete the course will be able to…

• write effective persuasive papers.

• respond to coach feedback on their writing through revising and proofreading.

• understand and apply concepts like varied appeals, sound logic, and effective tone to their writing.

• identify and avoid confusing terms and stating the obvious.

• engage the writing process by employing the following five steps in composing every paper: prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading, publishing.

• improve their persuasive writing across a wide range of broad evaluative areas, including content, style and form.