Unit Three: Persuasive Rhetoric in the Real World

Rationale:
Establishing a strong sense of authors voice is a key component of effective
narrative and persuasive communication. By rooting this unit in real-world
applications of these skills, students will be able to see how their persuasive
communication skills can be used for career and college applications. This
unit focuses on the creation of a personal narrative. The narrative will be
crafted under the context of a college application essay. The narrative will
not only give students the chance to develop authors voice and utilize
persuasive writing skills, but will facilitate in the construction of identity. A
persons narrative is their story, and my students will be able to see
narratives inform identity. It is also an important chance for students to have
their voices heard. Additionally, this skill serves as a foundation for college
and career readiness.
In addition to the college application person narrative essay, students will
work on professional development skills such as resume building and cover
letter craftsmanship. These skills highlight one of the primary means through
which effective persuasive rhetoric is utilized.
Texts
1. The Alchemist- Paulo Coehlo (Novel)
2. Harrison Bergeron- Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. (short story)
3. Song of Myself- Walt Whitman (Poem)
Goals
A. Students will be able to craft a narrative that expresses their authors voice
and communicates a sense of identity within the setting of a practice college
application essay prompt.
B. Students will be able to build a resume and/or cover letter for themselves
and understand the elements of effective persuasive resume and cover letter
writing.
Standards:
Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective
technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences. (CCSS:
W.8.3)
i. Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and

introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that

unfolds naturally and logically. (CCSS: W.8.3a)
ii. Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, description, and reflection, to
develop experiences, events, and/or characters. (CCSS: W.8.3b)
iii. Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence,
signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another, and show the
relationships among experiences and events. (CCSS: W.8.3c)
iv. Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory
language to capture the action and convey experiences and events. (CCSS:
W.8.3d)
v. Establish and maintain a controlling idea appropriate to audience and purpose
vi. Integrate the use of organizing techniques that break up sequential presentation
of chronology in a story (use of foreshadowing; starting in the middle of the
action, then filling in background information using flashbacks)
vii. Write using poetic techniques (alliteration, onomatopoeia); figurative language
(simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole); and graphic elements (capital
letters, line length, word position) for intended effect
viii. Express voice and tone and influence readers perceptions by varying vocabulary,
sentence structure, and descriptive details
ix. Use mentor text/authors to help craft appropriate technique
x. Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or
events. (CCSS: W.8.3e)

Final Project: College Personal Narrative Essay

The purpose of the college essay is to show a side of you that your
transcripts, letters of recommendation and resume do not. It is your chance
to highlight what makes you unique, to tell your story thus far. Whether you
intend to go to college or not, being able to tell your story is a valuable life
skill.
For this project you will be crafting a personal narrative essay in response to
one of the four common college essay prompts below. We will be going over
what each prompt entails in more detail in class.
1. The Personal Statement
2. Your Favorite Activity
3. Why [insert school name]?
4. Intellectual Curiosity
College Essay Rubric
CATEGORY
Introduction

4
The introduction is
inviting. It grabs the

3
2
The introduction clearly
The introduction
states the main topic and states the main

1
There is no clear
introduction of the

reader's attention
and compels
him/her to read
further. Engaging
lead/hook.

Content

There is one clear,

well-focused
conflict/problem to
be resolved. Author
uses dialogue,
action, and
description to show
not tell the story.

Organization

Details are placed in

a logical order and
the way they are
presented effectively
keeps the interest of
the reader.
The reader's
questions are
anticipated and
answered
thoroughly and
completely.
The writer seems to
be writing from
knowledge or
experience. The
author develops his
voice through word
choice and sentence
structure creating
interest for the
reader. Author
successfully "stalks
her dragon!"
All sentences sound
natural and are
easy-on-the-ear
when read aloud.
Each sentence is
clear and has an
obvious emphasis.

Recognition of
audience

Voice

Fluency

Conventions

Writer makes no
errors in
capitalization or

previews the structure of

the paper, but is not
particularly inviting to the
reader.

topic, but does not

adequately
preview the
structure of the
paper nor is it
particularly inviting
to the reader.
Main idea is clear but the Main idea is
supporting information is somewhat clear
general. More detail
but there is a need
needed to "show not tell" for more
the story.
supporting
information. Author
mostly tells the
story instead of
showing it.
Details are placed in a
Some details are
logical order, but the way not in a logical or
in which they are
expected order,
presented/introduced
and this distracts
sometimes makes the
the reader.
writing less interesting.
The reader's questions
The reader is left
are anticipated and
with one or two
answered to some
questions. More
extent.
information is
needed to "fill in
the blanks".
The writer seems to be
The writer relates
drawing on knowledge or some of his own
experience, but there is
knowledge or
some lack of ownership
experience, but it
of the topic. Evidence of adds no personal
emerging voice engaging interest to the
the reader.
topic through word
choice or sentence
structure.

main topic or
structure of the
paper.

Almost all sentences

sound natural and are
easy-on-the-ear when
read aloud, but 1 or 2 are
stiff and awkward or
difficult to understand.

The sentences are

difficult to read
aloud because
they sound
awkward, are
distractingly
repetitive, or
difficult to
understand.
Writer makes
several errors in
capitalization

Writer makes 1 or 2
errors in capitalization or
punctuation, but the

Most sentences
sound natural and
are easy-on-theear when read
aloud, but several
are stiff and
awkward or are
difficult to
understand.
Writer makes a
few errors in
capitalization

The main idea is

not clear. There is
a seemingly
random collection
of information.

Many details are

not in a logical or
expected order.
There is little sense
that the writing is
organized.
The reader is left
with several
questions.

The writer has not

tried to transform
the information in a
personal way. The
ideas and the way
they are expressed
seem to belong to
someone else.

punctuation, so the
paper is
exceptionally easy
to read.

paper is still easy to

read.

and/or punctuation
that catch the
reader's attention
and interrupt the
flow.

and/or punctuation
that catch the
reader's attention
and greatly
interrupt the flow.

Word Choice

Writer uses vivid

words and
phrases that linger
or draw pictures in
the reader's mind,
and the choice
and placement of
the words seems
accurate, natural
and not forced.

Writer uses vivid

words and phrases
that linger or draw
pictures in the reader's
mind, but occasionally
the words are used
inaccurately or seem
overdone.

Writer uses
words that
communicate
clearly, but the
writing lacks
variety, punch or
flair.

Conclusion
(Organization)

The conclusion is
strong and leaves
the reader with a
feeling that they
understand what
the writer is
"getting at." The
"so what" of the
narrative is
creative and
original.

The conclusion is
recognizable and ties
up almost all the loose
ends. The "so what" a
bit cliche.

The conclusion
is recognizable,
but does not tie
up several loose
ends.

Writer uses a
limited
vocabulary that
does not
communicate
strongly or
capture the
reader's interest.
Jargon or cliches
may be present
and detract from
the meaning.
There is no clear
conclusion, the
paper just ends.

Activities:
Practice dream resumes For this assignment, you will design and create a dream resume for your
future self OR the person who has your dream job. The resume must be completed based on
research that you will do on the biography of other people who have had or currently hold your
dream job.
Cover letter- Write a sample cover letter for your dream job. How will you convince your
potential future boss that you are right for the job?
Interest Surveys- In light of our readings in The Alchemist, we will be exploring the idea of our
own personal legend. What is it that we were born to do? We will be taking interest surveys and
viewing guest lectures from professionals living their legends. This will also serve to help
prepare you for our hero unit. http://www.yourfreecareertest.com/

Writers Notebook personal journal writing- Students will be asked to respond to different
prompts in their personal writing notebooks. Responses can remain private but will be checked
for completion. Sample prompts: (from journalbuddies.com)
1. Create your own holiday. What would you celebrate? How could you get others to join in the
fun?
2. Would you rather hang out by yourself after school or with friends?
3. If you could end any one problem in the world, what would it be? Why?
4. What does it feel like to be wrong?
5. Write about three values that are important to your family.
6. Could you ever be a vegetarian? Why or why not?
7. If someone wrote a book about you, what would it be about?
8. What does it mean to be a feminist?
9. Write a poem about your favorite activity or hobby.
10. Write about the best vacation you ever took.
11. Write about a time when someone helped you. How did you feel afterward?
12. Do you prefer to read books that are parts of series or standalone books? Why?
13. Would you rather jump out of a plane or go scuba diving? Why?
14. Write a poem about lovewhat does it mean?
15. What is your favorite TV show? What do you like about it?
Choose your own adventure- With a partner, you will come up with alternate endings to The
Alchemist or Harrison Bergeron. What would have happened if Harrison or the boy gave up at
different points in the story? What alternative narratives are possible in the worlds created by
these texts?