image

Learning Target - students will write a persuasive writing piece about a social injustice, like higher rates of health problems of citizen’s living in Louisville’s West End. A social injustice is a situation when some unfair practices are being carried in the society. Whatever unjust is happening is usually against the law and it might not be something that is considered a moral practice. The student must research a social injustice and state the facts about it and if anything is being done to change it. If nothing is being done to change it, then why?


Students will find a social injustice that used Science, Chemistry, or Physics to prove the problem was immoral or wrong and should be corrected. The writer should provide different options that are better than the current method producing the social injustice. Moreover, make case that the issue has been solved or still needs

image

fixing. If the case has been solved, the article would be addressing the money spent. Overspending on a problem can lead to other problems. Students do their best writing when they are interested in the topic. Students should understand that just because they address the topic once in a persuasive writing piece and it is published in the news does not mean the problem will be fixed. Often the problem will require multiple articles to show the problem's importance at being fixed and not overlooked.


Examples:

Flint, Michigan: Like dumping hazardous chemicals in wastewater like lead that can make its way back to drinking water like the following: https://www.nrdc.org/stories/flint-water-crisis-everything-you-need-know


Louisville, Kentucky:

Rubbertown is host to 11 large chemical plants, the largest source of industrial emissions in the Jefferson County area. The Rubbertown area accounts for 42% of air emissions in Jefferson County.[1]

Since the area is a potential health issue to residents, in recent years it has come under attack by various organizations in the community. As a result of increasing pollution the Rubbertown Emergency Action (REACT) group was established in April 2003 as a campaign of the Justice Resource Center. The group consists of Rubbertown residents who believe that clean air is a human right and use legislative, judicial and political action to improve air conditions. REACT became an independent grassroots organization later that year. REACT is fighting for:


Persuasive writing is a form of nonfiction this means it is truthful writing that encourages careful word choice, the development of logical arguments, and a cohesive summary. Young children can be guided through a series of simple steps in an effort to develop their persuasive writing skills.


Persuasive writing intends to convince readers to believe in an idea or opinion and to do an action. Many writings such as criticisms, reviews, reaction papers, editorials, proposals, advertisements, and brochures use different ways of persuasion to influence readers.


Most Science is a form of persuasive writing and the following will help you organize your research:


When you read an article, it’s important to clarify the issue being debated. When you’re identifying the issue, phrasing something as a question can often help clearly state what is being argued over.



Tone refers to the overall feeling of a piece of writing. Here are some useful words to help you describe tone.


Logical: rational, reasonable, analytical, cogent. Neutral: impartial, balanced, objective, unbiased. Informed: knowledgeable, well-read.

Passionate: emotional, emotive, ardent, vehement. Witty: humorous, satirical, lighthearted, tongue-in-cheek. PERSUASIVE TECHNIQUES

Writers can use a range of techniques to persuade. When you’re reading persuasive writing—or

writing persuasively yourself—you need to think carefully about how techniques like these are used to position the reader to accept a particular point of view.


Adjective. Describing words, often used to make the reader feel a particular way about an issue.

e.g. “Reality shows allow us to feel a bland, artificial version of that incredible thrill you get from having a crack and chasing your ambitions.”


Adverbs. Adverbs are words that modify adjectives or verbs. Like adjectives, they are selected to make a reader think or feel about something in a particular way.

e.g. “In a recent article, I wrote about my dogs, a kelpie and a blue heeler, dying from 1080 fox bait. They had eaten it during a weekend trip to the high country and died horribly.”


Alliteration. The repetition of words starting with the same to create emphasis.

e.g. ”And I can tell you it is distressing beyond words to watch an animal suffer like that and not be able to alleviate its agony.”


Appeals. Writers often appeal to different emotions, such as a reader’s sense of fairness, justice or patriotism.

Anecdotes. Short, personal stories that help to illustrate a point.

e.g. “For my three most recent books, on motherhood, cancer and nursing, I interviewed more than 300 people about the nuts and bolts of what our incredibly short time on this planet is really about – life, death, family and love. If there is one thing I can guarantee, it’s that there will never be a person who lies on their deathbed, shaking with rage, sobbing, ‘Dear God, I wish I’d spent more time watching MasterChef.'”

Everyday language. Writers will often use everyday language, sometimes called colloquial language, to make themselves seem down-to-earth.

e.g. “Fairness is the cornerstone of our constitution and our national identity. But as we head into an election year, I think we need to ask ourselves whether we really believe in a fair go for all.” Cliches. An overused expression. Although they should be avoided, cliches give writers an opportunity to express an idea to their readers quickly.

Here are some examples of cliches: