Persuasive compositions

According to the Indiana Department of Education's Academic Standards for English 9,

9.5.4 Write persuasive compositions that:

• organize ideas and appeals in a sustained and effective fashion with the strongest emotional appeal first and the least powerful one last.
• use specific rhetorical (communication) devices to support assertions, such as appealing to logic through reasoning; appealing to emotion or ethical belief; or relating a personal anecdote, case study, or analogy.
• clarify and defend positions with precise and relevant evidence, including facts, expert opinions, quotations, expressions of commonly accepted beliefs, and logical reasoning.
• address readers’ concerns, counterclaims, biases, and expectations.

Example:

Write a letter to the principal or the president of the school board to persuade that person to support your views on some educational policy that has been adopted by the local school district, such as a dress code policy, a change to or from block scheduling, or a decision about grade requirements to participate in extracurricular activities.