Convince Me! Persuasive Essays and PowerPoint Presentations
Students will cooperatively investigate six semi-hot topics (Organic Produce, Internet Filters, Dress Code, Electric Cars, Animal Testing, and Vegetarianism). Together, they will write a persuasive essay arguing for or against one of the hot topics. In small groups, they will highlight key points in a complementary PowerPoint presentation.

Convince Me! Persuasive Essays and PowerPoint Presentations

Lesson Plan Attachments

• "Handout: Lead and Concluding Paragraphs"
• "Worksheet: Revision Response Guidelines"
• "Five-Paragraph Persuasive Essay Rubric"
• "PowerPoint Slide Designs – A PowerPoint Presentation"
• "Handout: Persuasive PowerPoint Presentation
  Requirements" (PowerPoint)
• "Worksheet: Hot Topic Analysis and Reflection"
• "PowerPoint Presentation Rubric"
• "Step Sheet: Using a Projection Device"
• "Step Sheet: Creating a PowerPoint Presentation"
• "Step Sheet: Putting the Slide Show Together"
• "Step Sheet: Creating a Template in PowerPoint"
• "Step Sheet: Gathering and Inserting Electronic Images"
• "Step Sheet: Inserting Hyperlinks in a PowerPoint Slideshow"
• "Step Sheet: Inserting Text and Clip Art or Graphics"
• "Step Sheet: Recording Sound into the Presentation"
• "Step Sheet: Starting a PowerPoint Project"
• "Step Sheet: Teacher-Directed Demonstrations"

On-line Resources

• Organic Consumers Association
  The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) promotes organic farming and sustainable agricultural practices in the U.S. and internationally. OCA serves as a watchdog group to monitor biotech and irradiated foods.
• The Center for Food Safety
  The CFS addresses the impact of food production systems on human health, animal welfare, and the environment.
• Don't Panic, Eat Organic
  An organic growers homepage complete with a site-search feature.
• Graig Farm Organics
  What is Organic Food?  This site offers mail order organic food as well as information about organic produce, meats, and farming.
• Sustainable Development Information Service
  The World Resources Institute provides information on the expanding world food supplies.
• Alliance for Better Foods
  The Alliance for Better Foods advocates for biotechnology to fight world hunger with quality, nutritious foods.
• FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
  This site provides information regarding national food safety programs as well as federal regulations.
  American Library Association: Resolution on the Use of Filterin
• Software in Libraries
  Adopted in 1997, the resolution states that "The American Library Association affirms that the use of filtering software by libraries to block access to constitutionally protected speech violates the Library Bill of Rights."

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