English, Ms. Andrea, Block 2
DCS Montessori Middle School
Persuasion: The Art of Transforming People’s Minds
How does one effectively sway another’s viewpoint?
Who transforms my thinking and how do I know they are doing it?
Every day, especially during this election season, we are constantly bombarded with
messages and advertising. Before watching our favorite YouTube videos, an ad pops
up. While driving, we pass lawn signs in favor of a candidate and advertising billboards.
Political speeches are on our airwaves, and we use persuasion to convince our friends
and family members to understand and act on our ideas and wishes.
During the historic Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, many groups found
ways to persuade others that the way the world was, the status quo, was no longer
acceptable. They used many different techniques to sway the public to make changes
to society in order to gain their civil rights.
We will be exploring this important time period and our current theme of transformation
through the lens of persuasion. We will also examine modern day concerns and
address these concerns through ​“Letters to the Next President 2.0​”.
“Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the
world, for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a
personal one.”
Marianne Williamson
Grading:
Assignment
Socratic Seminar prep for “I Have
a Dream”
Total points
5 points
20 points
10 points
October 19th
October 28th
November 4th
November 9th
November 2nd
10 points
November 9th
5 points
10 points
5 points
20 points
November 2nd
November 10th (in Social Studies)
In class assignment
Ongoing
Shelf Work (4)
Letters to the Next President 2.0
Rough Draft
Letters to the Next President 2.0
Final product
Capstone Rough Draft
Capstone Persuasive Project
Block 2 Reflection
Active Participation- lessons &
work time
Due Date
October 27th
English, Ms. Andrea, Block 2
National History Day Shelf Work
DCS Montessori Middle School
15 points
October 21st
October 28th
November 4th
Guiding Questions:
❏ What are the traits of a strong claim/thesis statement?
❏ What persuasive techniques best bend another person’s thoughts towards my
ideas?
❏ How can I convince a reader to believe the evidence I present is relevant to my
claim ​and​ proves my thinking is correct?
Participation:
Students are expected to be prepared for and participate in each lesson. Points
awarded based on the guide’s evaluation of the student’s timeliness, engagement, and
contribution to the class.
Daily Agenda (​link​)
Capstone Persuasive Project (interdisciplinary project with Social Studies):
“Why was ___________a transformational person in the Civil Rights era?”
Students will complete persuasive project on a person they believe was a
transformational figure of the Civil Rights movement. Students will research the
contributions of the specific individual and explain why this individual is important to
the Civil Rights movement. ​ ​As always, you are free (and encouraged) to choose
other individuals but you must get teacher approval prior to beginning your project.
It is required to include a works cited page as well as a rough draft with edits from
two people. There will be three options for submission:
●
●
●
a speech​ (with a written script)
a video (with a written script)
a persuasive essay
Socratic Seminar:
Students will participate in two formal Socratic Seminars in Social Studies. Points will
be awarded for preparation of discussion questions and annotations of readings.
Shelf Work:
Students will complete shelf work activities to reinforce the week’s topic.
National History Day Work:
Students will continue to participate in lessons and work on their own National History
Day project.
English, Ms. Andrea, Block 2
DCS Montessori Middle School
English Shelf Work Options:
Week 2
October 17 October 21
Week 3
October 24 October 28
Identifying Claims and Evidence of Research
For each option, annotate the text by labeling claim/restated claim,
evidence of research, any vague statements, and the connotation of
loaded words.
➢ Option 1: “Summer: 15 Days or 2 ½ months?”
➢ Option 2: “Letter to the School Board”
➢ Option 3: “Games”
➢ Option 4: Find a position paper (newspaper, ​Letters to the
Next President​, and Ms. Andrea has other resources)
Persuasive Language Technique Exercises
➢ Option 1
○ Complete “Identifying Persuasive Techniques in
advertising”, “Identifying Persuasive Techniques in a
political speech”, and “Using Persuasive Techniques”
➢ Option 2
○ Complete “Persuasive Technique Writing Examples”,
“Using Persuasive Language in Advertising” worksheet,
and two (2) “Writing to Persuade Activities”
➢ Option 3
○ Create a “Persuasion Scrapbook” in your notebook.
On each page, have the technique, and several
examples from speeches, magazines, newspapers, etc.
➢ Option 4 - ​due Wednesday October 26th​ so copies of the strongest ads
can go home in the Friday Folders
○ Create an advertising campaign (many, many ads) for
next week’s Book Fair
○ Write a reflection about why you selected images,
slogans, colors, and identifying incorporated strategies
Week 4
Critical Thinking Worksheet D - Evaluating Evidence - PROP
October 31 November 4
Week 5
November 7 November 11
Complete at least two Peer Review Sheets for your Social Studies
Capstone AND for your “Letter to the Next President”
English, Ms. Andrea, Block 2
DCS Montessori Middle School
National History Day
Week 2
October 17 October 21
Week 3
October 24 October 28
Week 4
October 31 November 4
Week 5
November 7 November 11
➢ Informational Text: The Story of Rosa Parks
○ Read the background information about the
Montgomery Bus Boycott, plus the four sources (both
primary and secondary)
○ Annotate the text as you read, paying attention to the
connotations (the way the words ​feel)
○ Answer the questions
Annotate “Three Ways to Take Notes” and select the option you
want to complete; bring necessary materials to class
Annotated Bibliography for three sources with notecards - A
minimum of 30 notes (30 facts)
Annotated Bibliography for an additional sources with notecards - A
minimum of 5 additional notes
Overview of Lessons (​daily agenda​)
Week 2
October 17 October 21
Week 3
October 24 October 28
Week 4
October 31 November 4
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
17th
Two group lessons
19th - ​Shelf work due at start of class
Whole group lesson and introduce
Letter to Next President, then​ ​finish
coding; as you finish, small group
lessons about editorials
21st
NHD work due
28th
Shelf work due
NHD work due
Logos, Pathos, Ethos
26th
Whole group lesson, then release to
complete
“I Have a Dream” Analysis
31st
Two group lessons
2nd
Two group lessons
Sources and Evidence
“Letter from Birmingham Jail” analysis
4th
Shelf work due
NHD annotated
bibliography
and notecards
Annotate model, looking for
claim/thesis, evidence, and
tone
24th
Two group lessons
Rough Draft for Letters to Next
President due
Week 5
November 7 November 11
7th
WORK DAY
Be sure to label your
techniques used in your
CAPSTONE
9th - CAREER EXPO
Reflection
Letter to Next President with peer
reviews due
11th
Peer reviews
due with
Capstone