|
Persuasive TextPopulation Growth
Recycling at school
Water Pollution/ Water Quality
Computers in the Classroom
Online schools
School Uniforms
Small schools
Sixth Grade in elementary or middle school
Selling sodas at school
Affirmative Action
Animal Rights
Censorship
Cloning
Education
Emigration and Immigration
Employment
Feminism
Gambling
Health Care Reform
Internet
Iraq
Race Relations
Racism
Smoking
Social Security
Working Women
Youth
EVALUATE
Which sources do you trust? Can you find reasons or examples to support
your
argument?
Persuasive text (essays, advertisements, editorials, letters to editor)
Organizational structure
• A clear position or proposal (thesis)
• Reasons and examples in support of the position
• Readers’ concerns and counter-arguments
• Conclusion that summarizes main points and includes a final appeal
USE
Here are examples of winning persuasive writing by San Diego students.
Winners are also online at nie.uniontribune.com
March 19, 2004
EDITORIALS
True 'Cat in the Hat' is dead; what would Dr. Seuss think?
By Bonnie Alexander
For a long time, Dr. Seuss and "The Cat in the Hat" have been a symbol of
literacy and wholesome humor for all ages. Parents have read Dr. Seuss' cute
and often rhyming stories to their youngsters for ages. The children enjoy
the tales and take away valuable lessons. Who can forget "The Lorax," nobly
struggling for his environment; "The Sneetches," with their Star-bellies
promoting tolerance; and what better depiction of the tragic nuclear arms
race than "The Butter Battle Book"?
Recently, producer Brian Grazer came out with the movie, "The Cat in the
Hat," directed by Bo Welch and starring Mike Myers. This movie was a
shameful
display of crude humor and a poor example of Dr. Seuss' legacy. It's
doubtful
Theodor Geisel would appreciate the Asian baby sitter as the brunt of many
racial jokes, given his messages on acceptance of diversity. Certainly, the
Cat exposing his rear end or spelling out a swear word does not reflect Dr.
Seuss' clean, fun literature. Although "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" came
out as a movie and used many of the same elements as "The Cat in the Hat,"
the Grinch isn't Geisel's family-friendly symbol for literacy. Is the Grinch
printed on the side of all Dr. Seuss' books?
The fact that everyone's favorite childhood book has been turned into a
movie
rated PG is bad enough, but the whole thing has been commercialized to no
end. Would the great Ted Geisel really want his "Cat in the Hat," the symbol
for literacy, posted all over boxes of Oreos, cereal or toothpaste? He
didn't
create the Cat to get kids to eat a certain brand of cereal; he created the
Cat to get kids to read. The commercialism diminishes his purpose for the
Cat. Poor Dr. Seuss must be turning in his grave! To quote the anguished
fish
in "The Cat in the Hat," "No, I do not like it, not one little bit!"
Bonnie is a seventh-grader at Spring Valley Middle School. Her teacher is
Dianne El-Hajj.
LETTERS
Safety in the school zone
I am an eight-year-old, third-grader at Sunset Hills Elementary School in
Rancho Pe×asquitos.
The traffic light on Oviedo and Black Mountain Road, one block away from my
elementary school and a middle school, is switching very fast. The light
only
lets a few cars pass at a time. The people who have the power to change the
traffic light need to set the timer longer.
When the warning lights are flashing, warning drivers that they are entering
a school zone, drivers are going faster than the posted speed limit, which
is
25 mph when children are in the area. Kids crossing the street don't have
much time to cross.
Is the person who is in charge of the traffic light waiting for an accident
to happen? Then will he or she set the timer longer? I am not sure that they
will switch the timer longer. But if an accident doesn't happen, traffic
will
be the same.
There is heavy traffic at that intersection every day. It is hard for kids
leaving school to cross the street safely even with their parents. When
people are almost across the street, the red hand signal starts flashing.
I hope they will fix the walking light and the traffic light. I want my
friends and neighbors to be safe when they walk across the street.
I am also concerned about the daily construction going on because it makes
the traffic a lot worse. I hope they fix the traffic lights because people
need more time to cross the street.
Adam Chao
third-grader
Sunset Hills Elementary School Teacher: Diane Tettamble
Hunter should face felony charge in Cedar fire
The October Cedar fire here in San Diego was supposedly set by a hunter who
was lost and sent up a flare to let people know where he was. He was
arrested, cited and released on mere misdemeanor charges.
As a result, a number of people lost their lives, hundreds of homes were
lost
and thousands of acres were burned. This type of conduct cries out for
felony
charges where people convicted of such crimes can be sent to prison! Hard
time in prison is necessary punishment for this type of criminal conduct
which has resulted in such widespread disaster.
Legislators should introduce bills immediately to make such conduct a felony
rather than a misdemeanor (where the maximum punishment is only one year in
jail). If legislators are not willing to introduce such legislation, the
public must take it upon itself to put such measures on the ballot through
the initiative process.
If we pass such a law, the next time a person is lost in the woods they will
be more careful about setting signal fires.
Liana Hernandez
eighth-grader
Bonita Vista Middle School
Teacher: Jerelyn Johnson
MORE POSSIBLE TOPICS
Ideas for students from
http://www.fws.gov/endangered/Kids/resources/endanger.html
Persuade people to take action to save an endangered species.
Persuade people to take action to to restore habitats and conserve a native
plant.
Persuade people to slow down along highways where wildlife may be present.
Persuade people to take action to plant a garden on your school grounds to
attract wildlife, birds, and butterflies.
Persuade people to take action to create and distribute a stream or
watershed
protection guide.
Persuade people to take action to monitor water quality and plant and animal
distribution, and to distribute findings.
Persuade people to take action to participate in the Christmas bird count, a
birdathon, or in a Feeder Watch!
Persuade people to take action to brainstorm ways the school could lower
energy use.
Conduct a waste audit at school and identify materials that can be recycled
or re-used.
Educate yourself about endangered species and wildlife conservation issues.
Go to your public library or bookstore and read up on the subject. Spend
time
exploring the Fish and Wildlife Service's Endangered Species Home Page and
learn more about endangered species.
Persuade people to take action to visit one of the more than 500 National
Wildlife Refuges near you. Become a volunteer or help out on special
projects
at a refuge near your home.
Persuade people to take action to join a conservation group and get
involved;
many have local chapters.
Persuade people to not to buy exotic or wild animals as pets, or plants not
of cultivated origin.
They are often very difficult to keep, and may be protected species.
Persuade people to take action to report violations of wildlife laws to your
local game warden. Many States
have a special "hotline" number for this.
Persuade people to take action to check the law before buying wildlife
products.
Persuade people to take action to minimize your impact on wildlife by
recycling.
Persuade people to take action to avoid the unnecessary use of pesticides
and herbicides.
Persuade people not to waste electricity or water, or to dispose of trash
and
household chemicals and paint properly.
Show your friends and neighbors how they can be more environmentally
friendly. |
|
