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LOST TOOLS OF WRITING – THE PERSUASIVE ESSAYFIRST SEMESTER for DUMMIES - FROM ISSUE TO PROOFSStep # I: How to Create an “Issue” after reading your assigned book1. Compose your own issue using these three easy steps:a. Write down three characters from your assigned book. Our Examples are based on The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe b. Write 3 things that each of your characters did. For example, if one of your chosen characters is Edmund, you might say something like:- Edmund followed Lucy into an old wardrobe- Edmund denied he had been to Narnia- Edmund followed the White Witch Repeat this step for each of your three characters.c. From your three characters, Choose one specific character. d. Then, choose one of the three actions you listed that your character did.e. Next, change that one thing your chosen character did from a statement to a question that begins with the word “should.” Example: “Edmund followed the White Witch” would become “Should Edmund have followed the White Witch?”f. Finally, convert your “should question” into a “whether question.” Example: The question “Should Edmund have followed the White Witch?” might change to something like: Whether Edmund should have followed the White Witch.” It is that easy. This “whether” question is your issue for your persuasive essay.Step 2: How to Create a Basic ANI Chart is listed on the following pageStep II: How to Create a Basic ANI Chart1. Get a blank ANI chart from Page 3 of the Student Workbook, or use the blank ANI chart on the next page.2. ANI is an acronym for: A= Affirmative, N=Negative and I=Interesting.-The first column is the Affirmative; this column should contain 15 reasons why your character should have done your issue. (Example: Why Edmund should have followed the White Witch)-The second column is the Negative column; this column should contain 15 reasons why your character should not have done your issue. (Example: Why Edmund should NOT have followed the White Witch)- The third column is the Interesting column; this column should contain 15 interesting facts about the story. For example: Edmund was sent to live with the Professor for his safety during the war in London... or, “There was no Christmas in Narnia for over ten years.Fill the columns with your own thoughts about the book that apply to your issue… or are just interesting facts about the people or story Step 3: Improving your ANI Chart is on the following pageStep III: Improving Your basic ANI Chart (this is important… it will not only improve your ANI chart, but it really improves your essay as well. )1. “Invention” means “finding something to say” for your essay. There are Five Topics of Invention that we can use to help us find something to say. Using the techniques below, add information onto your ANI chart in the appropriate column. If a piece of information affirms your issue, place it in the “A” column. If it denies the issue, place it in the “N” column. If it is simply interesting, place it in the “I” column. The following Topics of Invention and their questions can be powerful tools for filling out an ANI chart and discovering ideas and thinking of things to say.2. Five Topics of ic 1 is called Definition I. Here we will define a term by identifying the group to which it belongs. If your issue is “Should Edmund have followed the White Witch?” you could pick Edmund and the White Witch to define. Here’s how: Define the term(s) in your issue by identifying the group to which it belongs. Example:1. The term is Edmund2. What kind of thing is the term? To what group does it belong: List 3 or 4 groups to which Edmund belongs. For example:- boy-brother- citizen of England- son3. Pick the group most helpful for you as you think about the term.- boy4. List other members of the group (doesn’t have to be from the book)- Peter- Tom Sawyer- Harry Potter- The boy who cried wolf- Telemachus (son of Odysseus)- Tom Thumb- Huck Finn- Jack from Jack and the Bean Stalk5. Ask yourself why each member of the list above is a member of the same group… in other words, what, do they all share that makes them a part of that group?- They are all young men and they are not yet adults.6. What makes your term (Edmund) different from every other member of the group? - only Edmund was motivated by envy7. Write the definition. It should include the term, state the group to which it belongs, and state its difference.- example: Edmund was a boy motivated by envy. This sentence can easily be used to describe Edmund in your essay.8. Add your definition to your ANI chart in the appropriate columnDefinition 2 – Define by identifying the parts of your termThere is another way to define your term. We will now define by identifying the parts of the term. The parts of a term are the qualities, attributes, and physical characteristics associated with the term. For example, if our term is Edmund, we would list the parts of Edmund. An easy way to do this is to ask yourself what does Edmund “have.” Some answers might be: Edmund has…- a brother-head, shoulders, knees, toes- a strong will-curiosity- English citizenship- envy- resentment- temperPick the characteristics you want and add them to your ANI chart. They include physical characteristics such as: Bear has a burly chest and a deep voice. You will use some of these terms as you write your essay. Add to the sentence you created by using Definition 1. Now your sentences might look something like:Edmund, a young English boy, was motivated by envy. A sentence similar to this might be useful in your essay.There are more Topics of Conversation that we will learn during the second semester. They are simply mentioned here. The student is not yet expected to understand or use these:- Circumstance – ask questions such as “what was happening in the place with which the issue is concerned?” and “what was happening at the time of your issue. Put this info on your ANI chart. For example: Edmund was sent away from his parents because there was a war going on in London.- Relationship – Ask “what happened immediately before and after your issue.” Put this info on your ANI chart.- Authority – Ask “what do experts and witnesses say about the issue?” Put this info on your ANI chart.c) Definition II – Define your character by listing the parts of your character. You do this by asking: What does my character have? Example: My character has a mustache, big muscles, kind heart and big feet. Step IV – Sorting Your ANI Chart to create a thesis statement (next page)Step # 4 - Sorting Your ANI Chart and Creating a Thesis StatementStep 1. Now that you have your ANI Chart filled in with lots of observations and facts, it is time to sort your Affirmative and Negative Columns. Group similar items from the Affirmative Column of your ANI chart by using color highlighters. Then write the items you highlighted in yellow in the yellow box of the Sorting Worksheet. Re-check and be sure the items belong together; some will not be a perfect match, but if they are loosely connected, it counts. Step 2. Repeat the process using different color highlighters until all the words on the ANI chart are on the Sorting Worksheet in the appropriately colored box. Step 3. Now that your Sorting Worksheet is all filled in, add a title to each colored group on the chart. Here’s how: If you are sorting the A Column, say your thesis in the affirmative and add the word “because” at the end. Then finish the sentence with a clause that best summarizes the words on that particular list. Example: Edmund should have followed the White Witch… because… the White Witch promised him good things. Put a title on each color-coded list by repeating this process Step 4. Repeat these steps for the Negative Column. Fill out another Sorting Worksheet for the Negative Column. When finished, state your issue in the negative: Example:Edmund should not have followed the White Witch… because… she was a witch and witches are evil. Use the answers to your because as titles to your color-coded groups.Step 5. Now you should have 4-5 groups in both the Affirmative Sorting Worksheet and in theNegative Sorting Worksheet. Reflect on the titles given for each side of the argument and choose the group that has the strongest points that support your position, either affirmative or negative.This will help you decide which side you will defend in your essay, the affirmative or negative.Step 6. Once you decide if you support the issue or oppose the issue, it’s time to convert the issue (your whether question) to a thesis statement. If you decide to take the affirmative side of your issue, your thesis statement would state something like this: Edmund should have followed the White Witch. If you are taking the negative side of your issue, your thesis statement would state: Edmund should not have followed the White Witch. Step 5: Selecting Your Proofs. Whether your thesis statement is in the affirmative or the negative, you must provide proofs to support your position. This is easy. Your proofs are already on the Sorting Worksheet you just created. Pick the best three that support your position. Example: Edmund should not have followed the White Witch for three reasons. The first reason Edmund should not have followed the White Witch was because she was a witch and witches are evil. The second reason Edmund should not have followedThe White Witch was because she was nice to him only when she wanted something. The third reason Edmund should not have followed the White Witch was because she was cruel to the reindeer.Step VI - How to Arrange your Essay is on the following pageStep VI. How to Arrange Your Essay. You follow a simple outline. During the first semester we learned four outlines, each one adding a new feature that we learned during that lesson. All four outlines are attached. Use your outline to give you “hints” or “clues” to remind you what you want to write. This is similar – but not the same as – our key word outlines we learned in Essentials. There should be only one sentence on the outline. It is your thesis statement. Every other field just contains a hint. Example:Rudimentary Persuasive Essay # 1I. IntroductionA. Thesis (write your thesis statement here)B. Enumeration – 3 (this is how many reasons will support your thesis)1. Proof 1 – (write a clue to remind yourself of your first proof)2. Proof 2 – (write a clue to remind yourself of your second proof)3. Proof 3 – (write a clue to remind yourself of your third proof)II. ProofA. Proof 1 (write the same hint from above to remind yourself of your 1st proof)B. Proof 2 (write the same hint from above to remind yourself of your 2nd proof)C. Proof 3 (write the same hint from above to remind your self of your 3rd proof)III. Conclusion in one sentenceA. Thesis (write your full thesis statement here)B Summary of Proof1. Proof 1 – (write a clue to remind yourself of your first proof)2. Proof 2 – (write a clue to remind yourself of your second proof)3. Proof 3 – (write a clue to remind yourself of your third proof) ................
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