E L L A R O Y
Portfolio 2015/2016
Grade 10
Persuasion
Unit overview
This quarter’s main focus was on analyzing and identifying persuasive techniques as well as how stories can be persuasive. We analyzed several persuasive texts such as “Doing Nothing is Something” by Anna Quindlen’s and Peter Gray’s Ted Talk “The Decline of Play” both talking about the effects of children having less and less unscheduled time. We finished writing an analysis comparing both texts. Furthermore, we took a look at online discussions and practiced writing our own responses. Lastly, we analysed the power of stories and how they can be a lot more persuasive than facts, and practiced writing our own, that were then included in an argumentative essay.
Analysing an argument:
Claim: The write's position on the issue.
Evidence / support: Evidence such as facts, statistics or reasons to justify the claim.
Counterargument: A brief passage that negates any arguments against the claim.
Persuasion Techniques:
Emotional Appeal: Appealing to the reader's emotions to persuade.
Loaded Language (word choice): Strong words with positive or negative connotations accentuating the message.
Ethical Appeal: Appealing to the reader's ethical values and moral standards.
What persuades me?
Personally, I am best persuaded by Emotional and Ethical appeal rather than by facts and statistics. Telling me a sad story in order to make me understand the seriousness of an issue or to gain my support always works. I become very emotional very quickly and things that appeal to any of my emotions immediately make me listen up and make me believe. Although I know this doesn't always apply, hearing a 'real' story makes me believe every single word of what I am being told.
Reflection on MOY (Middle of the Year) Assesment
Strength
Organisation and Content
Explanation
After taking a look at my beginning of the year and middle of the year writing assessments, I can clearly see that my strength in writing is my organisation and content. My essays tend to be well crafted and the MOY assignment had very clear points and ideas supporting my thesis.
Weakness
Word Choice and errors
Plan for Improvement
The weakest aspect of my writing, however, often tends to be my overall word choice (although it improved since the first assessment) and spelling / punctuation errors. In order to improve this, I should take more time and care in re-reading essays and check more thoroughly, also to find vocabulary that could be replaced.