11-15/11-16 2006 Persuasive writing

Lesson:

We had a silent discussion
If absent answer three of these questions with a paragraph for each.

Silent discussion:

What way is the more effective way to tell the story of Rabbit Proof Fence? The book or the movie?
Who was the tracker (in the movie) really working for?
What do you see as the best approaches to healing the scars of the Stolen Generation and helping all Australians move forward in harmony?
What do you see as the best approaches to healing the scars of our own country and helping all Americans move forward in harmony?
What can you do here, as a student at our school, to become part of the reconciliation movement here or in Australia?
How would you judge Neville? Can he be a seen as a product of his society and its values, or are the decisions he made universally wrong?
Many Australians support the notion of an official apology for the removal of children, while others resist the idea.
Make a list of arguments in support of an apology and those against the idea.
Australia adopted the official policy of assimilating the aboriginal population. What are some reasons Aboriginal people would want to fully assimilating, not assimilating at all, or partially assimilating (live between two worlds).



How do we turn these opinions into a persuasive paper?

Answer: TAD

What’s TAD?

Answer: Thesis, Assertions, Development

* Thesis
Main idea of your argument. This is your opinion. However, take the “I think” out.

Opinion example:

I think the Tracker in the movie is working for both the escaped girls and his daughter’s freedom.

Thesis example:

The Tracker in the movie is working for both the escaped girls and his daughter’s freedom.

* Assertions

These are the reasons you use to support your opinion. Most arguments have at least three really strong supports. The persuasive papers you write in this class should almost always have three assertions.

Example:

Although the tracker has caught all the girls before he is only catching them to earn the freedom of his daughter

Although the Tracker works very hard at finding the girls he seems to overlook them when he is just about to catch them because he wants them to succeed.

The Tracker sides with the girls because he seems to sympathize with the girls and does not protest when they give up the search.

* Support

This is the final piece to the magical triangle of persuasion. Without it, your argument is not persuasive. When writing about novels, quotes are some of the best pieces of support. You can say the author used symbolism to make his point and then give a quote that shows him/her using that symbolism…..how persuasive is that?

Answer…..very.


Here is an example of adding support to one of my assertions.

The Tracker sides with the girls because he seems to sympathize with the girls and does not protest when the police give up the search. The Tracker, although doing his job so his daughter may go free, has respect for the girls and wants them to make it home. The Tracker makes a comment to the police officer near the end of the movie. “She’s a clever girl. She wants to go home” After making this comment he looks longingly in the distance. You can tell by this look and his tone that he is thinking about his own daughter and their own home which they are unable to return to due to the unfair laws removing half-castes. You can also see him give a half smile and he does not protest when the police officer tells him they are giving up the search. Although these emotions are subtle, they say a lot about where he stands. The Tracker is unable to protest this situation vocally for fear of repercussions from Mr. Neville, however, we can tell that he stands against the man who is holding his daughter hostage. Even with this silence we know the Tracker sides with the girls who are successful in doing what him and his daughter have failed to do, escape from Moore River.

Once I have this all together I can add a blueprint to my thesis to outline my argument for my reader.


Although, through his actions of tracking down runaways, the Tracker appears to be working for Mr. Neville, the Tracker in the movie is working for both the escaped girls and his daughter’s freedom. By holding the Tracker’s daughter captive, Mr. Neville tries to control the Tracker but we can see his true colors with his lackluster searching when he closes in on the girls, his vocal admiration and sympathy for them, and his failure to protest when they give up their search.

Now let’s try it ourselves….

Choose one of the topics that you would like to write about:

You are charged with educating Australians about the history of Aboriginal people in their country. You are given $1,000 to buy supplies. Would you choose to buy the book or the movie to use to accomplish your goal? Why? Write a persuasive paper justifying your choice.


What elements do the author and director use to make their version a stronger telling? Think about what is more important: the true story or the emotional response of your audience. Use specific examples from the movie and book to back up your opinion. Your decision should be your thesis statement.



OR

You work for a non-profit agency in Australia working with Australian and Aboriginal youth. Your agency’s goal is to heal the wounds of the country’s past experience with the Stolen Generations. You have been assigned to write a grant to get funding for your program. You will have a limited budget, so you need to create realistic solutions. Write a persuasive paper to explain what you will do with your program and how it will help Australia heal from it’s past. Use specific examples from the UNICEF movie, Rabbit Proof Fence, class lectures, and class discussions to back up your thesis.

Homework

Write a complete outline for a paper about one of the two topics.

Use the outline sheet handed out in class. Use complete sentences. Add extra sheets if you need to.

You will be using this to write an in-class essay next class.