Lesson 41: Argument Essay, Drafting Body Paragraphs, Part 2

Turn and Talk

Tell students to take out their introduction paragraph and previously drafted body paragraphs. Instruct students to discuss with a partner the following questions:

• Ask: How do your introduction and body paragraphs help guide what you will write next?

  • It sets up my claim and first idea, so I now need to add another reason that supports my argument and figure out how to talk about propaganda and rhetorical techniques.

Say these Directions: Today, you will build on your previous writing by adding a new body paragraph that analyzes how persuasive language influences belief and action.

• Ask: What propaganda and rhetorical techniques do the pigs use throughout the novel to influence the other animals’ beliefs and actions?

  • They repeat slogans, appealing to idealism, to make certain ideas seem true.

  • They use fear appeal, like threatening the return of Jones.

  • They use scapegoating to make some animals seem like enemies.

Connection to Today’s Learning

• Say: Today, you will write another body paragraph focusing on how propaganda and rhetorical techniques were used in Animal Farm to either uphold or corrupt the ideals of the revolution. Your goal is to explain not just what the pigs do, but how their use of propaganda influences the animals’ thinking and actions.

Mini-Lesson: Analyzing a Persuasive Technique in a Body Paragraph

• Say: In your previous body paragraph development, you explained how events support your claim. In this paragraph, your focus is different. You will explain how the characters use propaganda and a specific rhetorical technique to influence belief and action, and how that propaganda either upholds or corrupts the ideals of the revolution or both.

Project the following steps for students to review as you discuss the process for analyzing propaganda and rhetorical techniques in a body paragraph.

Step 1: Identify the Technique and Focus

• Say: This kind of strong body paragraph begins with a clear focus on one element of propaganda or rhetorical technique used.

Display and read aloud the following example: The pigs use the rhetorical technique of fear appeal to control the animals and maintain power.

• Ask: What is the technique being analyzed here?

  • Fear appeal

Step 2: Select and Explain the Evidence

• Say: Next, we select text evidence that clearly shows this technique in use by the characters.

Display and read aloud the following example: Napoleon uses the threat of Jones returning and the presence of the dogs to frighten the animals into obedience. For example, after Napoleon’s expulsion of Snowball, Squealer says to the animals, “One false step, and our enemies would be upon us. Surely, comrades, you do not want Jones back?” (p. 56).

Step 3: Model Reasoning

• Say: Now we explain how the technique works to support our claim, not just what happens.

Display and read aloud the following example: This fear appeal works because fear prevents the animals from questioning authority. When they are afraid, they are more likely to accept decisions without evidence or discussion.

Step 4: Connect Back to the Claim

• Say: Finally, we connect this idea back to the argument.

Display and read aloud the following example: This use of fear appeal demonstrates that revolutions can betray their ideals when leaders use fear to silence opposition and maintain control.

Step 5: Make the Structure Explicit

• Say: Notice the structure I used to plan this paragraph.

  • Identified the rhetorical technique

  • Provided evidence from the novel of the technique in use

  • Explained how the evidence supports my claim

  • Connected the rhetorical technique back to the claim

Say these Directions: Now look at your own notes and previous body paragraphs. Choose one rhetorical technique you plan to analyze. Write one or two sentences that begin your paragraph by naming the technique and explaining how it influences belief or action. Be prepared to share how your sentence moves beyond describing events to explaining how the technique works.

Part A: Drafting Body Paragraphs for Persuasive Techniques (W.8.1.a-d, W.8.4, W.8.9.a) (20 minutes)

Students continue to draft their body paragraphs and focus on developing a body paragraph to explain how propaganda and rhetorical techniques are used by characters in the novel to either uphold or corrupt the ideals of the revolution.

Tell students to take out their journals, their introduction paragraph, body paragraphs, and their notes and writing from previous lessons.

Say these Directions: You will now continue to draft the body paragraphs for your argument essay. Today’s focus should be on the paragraph that explains how propaganda or a rhetorical technique in Animal Farm influences belief and action and supports your overall argument claim.

Instruct students to use the steps that were outlined in the Literacy Lab to support their paragraph development. Remind students not just to describe what happens, but to explain how the technique influences the actions and beliefs of the other animals. After each example, have students ask themselves: How does this propaganda or rhetorical technique affect what the animals believe or do?

• Say: Remember, this paragraph should build directly on your claim and the previous paragraph. Do not introduce unrelated ideas—each paragraph should strengthen your overall argument.

Students begin drafting their paragraphs.

As students write, circulate and support students using the following strategies if necessary.

• If students are summarizing, prompt: “What technique is being used here?”

• If reasoning is weak, prompt: “How does this change what the animals believe or do?”

• If cohesion is weak, prompt: “Can you add a connector to show how this idea links to your previous sentence?”

• If writing is informal, prompt: “How can you revise this to sound more precise and academic?”

Check for Understanding

While students are working, look for clear identification of a persuasive technique, explanation of how the technique works (not just what happens), logical connections between ideas, and clear and formal sentence structure.

Provide students with a confidence continuum (i.e., 1–5). As needed, model how to demonstrate a level of confidence using the continuum.

Part B: Peer Feedback (W.8.5) (10 minutes)

Students will now engage in peer feedback to receive guidance on the drafts of their body paragraphs.

Peer Review Protocol

Organize students into pairs to engage in peer feedback.

Say these Directions: Swap your newly drafted body paragraph with a partner. Read your partner’s paragraph carefully. Then use the checklist below to guide your feedback. Focus on how clearly the paragraph explains how propaganda or the rhetorical techniques work and how effectively it supports the overall claim.

Display the Peer Review Checklist.

Peer Review Checklist

✔ The topic sentence clearly connects to the argument’s position (claim) and introduces a rhetorical technique.

✔ Evidence from Animal Farm is specific, accurate, and relevant.

✔ The paragraph explains how the rhetorical technique is used by the animals to influence belief and action.

✔ Ideas are logically connected using transitions (e.g., because, as a result, therefore).

✔ The paragraph flows clearly from one idea to the next.

✔ Sentences are complete and clear.

✔ Quotations are embedded correctly.

✔ Language is formal and precise.

Transition students into giving feedback to their partners using the Peer Review Checklist.

Say these Directions: Give your partner one glow (something they did well) and one grow (one specific suggestion to improve the paragraph).

• Say: After receiving feedback, revise at least one part of your paragraph. Make at least one specific improvement to how clearly you explain the rhetorical technique or how effectively your evidence connects to your claim. Focus on improving:

  • how clearly you explain the persuasive technique

  • how well your ideas are connected

Turn and Talk

Have students reread their introduction paragraph and then examine what they have written for their body paragraph. Have students consider how well the two fit together in a reader-friendly way.

Say these Directions: Reread your introduction paragraph and body paragraphs. Then, turn and talk with a partner about the following questions:

• How clearly does your body paragraph explain how a persuasive technique influences belief and action?

• How well does your paragraph connect to your overall claim?

• What is one strength in your reasoning or clarity? What is one area you need to improve?

Instruct students to revise and complete their body paragraphs for the argument essay. Remind students to ensure each paragraph includes a clear topic sentence, relevant evidence, and reasoning that explains how the rhetorical technique supports their claim.