Welcome to this Lesson:
A Persuasive Essay Assignment
Where is the Love?

exploring real voice and real ideas in a persuasive argument

This lesson was created by Nevada teacher Abby Olde during the NNWP's iPods Across the Curriculum Workshop. You can access all of Abby's online lessons at her portfolio.

This writing prompt inspired by

"Where Is The Love?" sung by the Black Eyed Peas

Click here to do a Google search for the lyrics.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

Teachers: Using the song Where is the Love by the Black-Eyed Peas (and Excuse Me Mr. by Ben Harper) students will begin to think about injustices that exist in our world. Ultimately, student writers will compose an essay based on a persuasive argument. This lesson will hopefully help ignite a passion in students to stand up for change in their own persuasive essays. Click here to see the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait for this activity is idea development; students’ published pieces will be a persuasive essay that is organized around a single message or argument against an injustice they feel passionate about, and they will use a balance of factual, telling details and showing, as well as persuasive arguments that support the thesis of their essays. The support trait is voice; students will appeal to their audiences by writing with emotion and passion to capture a specific mood or tone – or even better, the urge to make change. .