Olympic torch protesters disrupt Paris relay

Ben Amato | Educational consultant

ELA Multimedia Program--Lesson 29 Persuasive Writing--ELA Standards 1, 3 and 4

"The Olympics are a wonderful metaphor for world cooperation, the kind of international competition that's wholesome and healthy, an interplay between countries that represents the best in all of us." John Williams--American composer

The Olympics have grown from a sporting event to a global symbol, focusing the world's media attention upon not only the athletes but the nations which play host to the games. Today's lesson looks at the world-wide protests that have marred China's attempts to shine upon the Olympic stage.

TV Component The CW 11 News at Ten had the story of the protests that met the Olympic Torch relay in Paris and San Francisco. View the video clip twice, the first time jotting down notes on its content and theme. The second time, refine those notes and use them to answer the LISTENING QUIZ about the news clip.

Newspaper Component Today's edition of Newsday had an article titled "Olympic torch protesters disrupt Paris relay." Read the article and then using the facts and details within, complete the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle.

Language Arts Component Critical Lens

"I wanted no part of politics. And I wasn't in Berlin to compete against any one athlete. The purpose of the Olympics, anyway, was to do your best. As I'd learned long ago from Charles Riley, the only victory that counts is the one over yourself." --Jesse Owens (American Athlete, 4 time Gold Medalist in Track and Field at the 1936 Olympic Games, 1913-1980

Olympic history has been marred by politics, racism and violence. In the past Hitler, Middle Eastern terrorists, war and racism have discolored the goals the Olympics were meant to celebrate. Now protests face the Chinese, as their Torch Relay has sparked global criticism of their human rights and political policies.

Situation Write a PERSUASIVE ESSAY about your feelings on the Olympics, the hosting of the Games in China and the protests that have already erupted.

The Nature and Structure of a Persuasive Essay The goal of a PERSUASIVE ESSAY is to sway the reader to your opinion. Using facts and details, an argument is presented, designed to change your reader's mind and convince them of your interpretation. It is usually framed in three sections.

INTRODUCTION This paragraph begins the essay and starts off with a STATEMENT OF TOPIC. In the opening sentence establish WHAT the essay will be about. Then describe WHO should be concerned about this topic and WHY it matters to this audience. End this introduction with your own OPINION about the Olympics and the global protests facing its host, China.

BODY This section concerns the actual SPECIFIC FACTS about the latest facts about these topics. Arrange the details according to an ORDER OF IMPORTANCE, where the most significant information comes first, with the less significant details later in the paragraph.

This section may be longer than just one paragraph, depending on how many facts and details you gather from the article and television news story. Use the Comprehension Crossword Puzzle and the answers to the Multiple-Choice Quiz as a RUBRIC, so you can see if all the important facts have been included and described.

CONCLUSION This section of persuasive writing is your final attempt to sway your audience, so restate the TOPIC and your OPINION about the issue. Select the one most important detail which might sway your readers to feel the way you do. Your final sentences should look towards the future. What faces the Olympic Torch, as it is carried across the planet? Do politics have a place at the world's games? Will you watch the coming Olympics? What do the Games mean to you?