Persuasive Writing Assignment

NAME: _________________________________

You are struggling in school. You feel your marks are okay, but your parents feel differently. They have provided a bribe: if you can bring your grades up by 10% before the report cards come out, they will provide you with the last $500 you need to buy the vehicle you have been eying up on kijiji. Problem: you dont have the time or the energy to increase your grades. You are wandering the halls of the school and you end up down a hallway that leads to the abandoned music room. There hasnt been a music program in this school for years. No one ever comes down here. As you walk past a tattered bulletin board, you notice that there is a paper pinned up that seems relatively new. Every other paper is torn and covered in dust, but this one is clean and crisp. You pull it down from the bulletin board and begin to read:

Need some quick cash? Feeling like no matter how hard you try you just cant get the marks in school that your parents would be happy with. I have the solution! My colleagues and I are beginning a selection process for human trials of a new scientific experiment. The experiment has shown an ability to increase intelligence. We anticipate an increase in school grades starting at 10%. The procedures include pre-screening tests. If you are the final selection you would have to undergo a very minor surgery. You would be provided a monetary compensation of $500. If interested, please prepare a letter that is meant to persuade my colleagues and I to consider you for our experiment. Deadline for applications: Thursday, March 20, 2014 Turn in to Room 202 by 10:15am. Address letters to Mrs. Coffee

Write a persuasive letter explaining why you would be a candidate for this experiment. This is a personal essay, so you may write in the first person (use I). You must provide a list of all research sources (if you use any) and technology sources (netbooks, cell phones, etc.) used in preparing your writing. This includes using a cell phone to look up words. Use the attached organizer to help you plan your essay. Remember, you will be writing an essay, but it is also a letter. Punctuation is important in addressing the letter. Remember, you are writing to an important person in a respectful way Use the rubric to ensure you have not missed anything.

2 pages (give or take 5 lines) 12 point font Double space with NO extra space between paragraphs 2cm margins Time New Roman

Persuasive Writing Assignment Rubric 4 3

Organization
The introduction is inviting, states the goal or thesis, and provides an overview of the issue. Information is presented in a logical order and maintains the interest of the audience. The conclusion strongly states a personal opinion. The introduction includes the goal or the thesis and provides an overview of the issue. Information is presented in a logical order but does not always maintain the interest of the audience. A conclusion states a personal opinion There is one goal or thesis that states a personal opinion and identifies the issue.

2
The introduction includes the main goal or thesis. Most information is presented in a logical order. A conclusion in included but is does not clearly state a personal opinion.

1
There is no clear introduction, structure, or conclusion.

Goal or Thesis

There is one goal or thesis that strongly and clearly states a personal opinion and identifies the issue.

A personal opinion is not clearly stated. There is little reference to the issue.

The personal opinion is not easily understood. There is little or no reference to the issue. Arguments are weak or missing. Less than two reasons are provided. Argument does not seem to target any particular audience.

Reasons and Support Attention to Audience: Argument & Word Choices Delivery

Three or more excellent reasons are stated with good support. It is evident that a lot of thought has been put into this assignment. Argument demonstrates a clear understanding of the potential audience. Word choices are made to be convincing to the intended argument.

Three or more reasons are stated, but the arguments are somewhat weak in places. Argument demonstrates an understanding of the potential audience, but word choices are not made to be convincing to the intended audience.

Two reasons are made with weak arguments.

Arguments demonstrate some understanding of the potential audience. Word choices do not reflect understanding of audience

Creative, strong transitions are used to move between ideas, concepts, and paragraphs. You have used a variety of sentence structures.

Less creative words are used to transition through the concepts, ideas, and paragraphs. You have, once or twice, gone beyond using simple sentences.

The same transition words seem to be repeated through the essay. You have not been able to correctly insert any interesting sentence structures.

No creativity has been put into transition words. You have not attempted to use creative sentence structures.

Correctness

Sources

Proofreading has successfully brought your essay to a point where there are no spelling, capitalization, comma, colon, or semicolon issues A sources list has been provided.

There are many errors regarding spelling, capitalization, commas, colons, and/or semicolons. A sources list has not been provided.