Monday, December 1 - Persuasion / Ferguson Case

Objective: By the end of class, students will examine emotional, logical and ethical appeals in the Michael Brown case in order to write a persuasive letter using all three appeals. Students will improve literal and interpretive comprehension skills, evaluate effects of their own research and persuasive abilities and make real world connections.

DO NOW

What do you know of the Michael Brown  / Ferguson case?

Direct Instruction

Discuss the case. 
View clips. clip 1  clip 2  clip 3 clip 4
Identify logical appeals - What are the FACTS that we know?

Analyze the ETHICAL CONDUCT of the grand jury.

Identify emotional appeals - of family, friends, community.

Guided / Independent

Here are some more links to articles:

 “Op-Ed by a 23 year-old”
 “Young, Black and Male in America”
 “Have You Ever Interacted with the Police?”
 “When The Media Treats White Suspects And Killers Better Than Black Victims ” 
 “How We’d Cover Ferguson if it Happened in Another Country”
 Melissa Harris Perry – “Tribute to Black Men Killed by Police”
 “12 Things White People Can Do Now Because Ferguson”

 “Teaching Ferguson: Current events in the Social Studies Classroom”

Write a persuasive letter using LOGICAL and EMOTIONAL appeals either in support of Michael Brown or of Darren Wilson. The purpose of your letter is to PERSUADE:
1. the courts to send Darren Wilson to trial for the murder of Michael Brown so he can be tried by a jury of his peers....
2.  or to justify that he was acquitted by the grand jury for lack of sufficient evidence to go to trial.

1. Be clear. State your purpose in your opening paragraph.
2. Ensure that you include FACTS - don't just focus on how you personally feel about it. Use sources to find facts (logical appeals).
3. Use emotional appeals - how do you and/or much of the public feels and why.
4. Conclude with a summarizing statement that restates your purpose (thesis).

I WILL SEND THESE LETTERS. 

Closure 

Review aspects of persuasive argument.

Exit Pass

After researching, has your opinion changed at all? Why or why not?