Lesson Plan for Grade 8 - Language Arts - Writing (analytical, persuasive)

### Lesson Plan: Writing (Analytical, Persuasive) **Grade:** 8 **Subject:** Language Arts --- **Objective:** Students will understand the differences between analytical and persuasive writing. They will develop skills to write an analytical essay and a persuasive essay on a given topic. --- **Materials Needed:** - Whiteboard and markers - Projector and screen - Handouts of sample analytical and persuasive essays - Laptops/tablets (optional) - Writing paper and pens --- **Standards:** - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.1 - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.2 - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.8.4 --- **Lesson Duration:** Two 45-minute periods --- ### Day 1: Understanding Analytical and Persuasive Writing **Warm-up:** (10 minutes) 1. **Quick Write:** Have students spend 5 minutes writing their views on a topic, for example, "Should school uniforms be mandatory?" **Introduction:** (10 minutes) 1. Explain the objectives of the lesson. 2. Introduce analytical vs. persuasive writing: - **Analytical Writing:** Focuses on breaking down a subject into its components to understand it better. Objective and fact-based. - **Persuasive Writing:** Aims to convince the reader to adopt a certain viewpoint. Subjective and opinion-based. **Activity 1: Analyzing Samples** (15 minutes) 1. Divide students into small groups and give each group an example of an analytical essay and a persuasive essay on the same topic. 2. Ask groups to identify the key characteristics of each type of writing (e.g., use of evidence, tone, structure). 3. Groups share their findings with the class. **Direct Instruction:** (10 minutes) 1. Go over a brief PowerPoint presentation or lecture highlighting: - The structure of an analytical essay (introduction, thesis, body paragraphs analyzing evidence, conclusion). - The structure of a persuasive essay (introduction, thesis, body paragraphs with arguments and counterarguments, conclusion). **Homework Assignment:** (5 minutes) 1. Choose a topic from a provided list. 2. Write an analytical thesis statement and a persuasive thesis statement on the topic. --- ### Day 2: Writing Analytical and Persuasive Essays **Warm-up:** (5 minutes) 1. Share and discuss a few examples of students' homework thesis statements. **Activity 2: Writing Analytical Essays** (15 minutes) 1. Walk students through the process of writing an analytical essay: - Selecting evidence - Organizing evidence logically - Writing a coherent analysis 2. Students start drafting the body paragraphs of their analytical essay in class. **Activity 3: Writing Persuasive Essays** (15 minutes) 1. Walk students through the process of writing a persuasive essay: - Stating arguments clearly - Supporting arguments with evidence - Addressing counterarguments 2. Students start drafting the body paragraphs of their persuasive essay in class. **Peer Review:** (10 minutes) 1. Pair up students and have them exchange drafts. 2. Pairs should give feedback focusing on whether the draft meets the criteria for an analytical or persuasive essay. **Conclusion:** (5 minutes) 1. Recap the key differences between analytical and persuasive writing. 2. Remind students to bring their completed drafts for the next class for further review and editing. --- **Assessment:** 1. Completion and quality of the thesis statements (homework). 2. Participation in group activities and peer review. 3. Drafts of analytical and persuasive essays, evaluated using a rubric focusing on organization, coherence, use of evidence, and adherence to essay structure. **Extensions/Modifications:** - For advanced students: Encourage deeper analysis or more complex argumentation. - For struggling students: Offer additional graphic organizers to help with essay structure. **Closing Note:** Encourage students to explore writing beyond the classroom and to keep practicing expressing their thoughts analytically and persuasively.