Persuasive Persuasive Essay:Essay:

writing to convince writing to convince

others of your opinion.others of your opinion.

Determine Your Purpose Determine Your Purpose

Decide on your purpose: What will Decide on your purpose: What will you convince the readers to believe you convince the readers to believe or to do? or to do?

Pre-write to discover your purpose. Pre-write to discover your purpose. Your purpose determines your thesis Your purpose determines your thesis

statement. statement.

Prompt #1Prompt #1

Do You Want Fame?Do You Want Fame? Some people spend their entire lives Some people spend their entire lives

seeking the rewards of fame and fortune. seeking the rewards of fame and fortune. Others shy away from the spotlight due to Others shy away from the spotlight due to the downsides of celebrity. If you had the the downsides of celebrity. If you had the opportunity, would you want to be opportunity, would you want to be famous? Why or why not?famous? Why or why not?

Write a five-paragraph persuasive essay Write a five-paragraph persuasive essay taking a stand on whether or not fame is taking a stand on whether or not fame is really a good thing.really a good thing.

Prompt #2Prompt #2 Is Lying Always Bad?Is Lying Always Bad? Many people believe that lying is one of the worst Many people believe that lying is one of the worst

things a person can do. They view it as something that things a person can do. They view it as something that hurts everyone and eventually destroys the person hurts everyone and eventually destroys the person that lies. Others believe that lying can sometimes be that lies. Others believe that lying can sometimes be the best way to handle a situation. They view it as the best way to handle a situation. They view it as protecting someone's feelings or calming a difficult protecting someone's feelings or calming a difficult situation. Many people in our lives share the belief situation. Many people in our lives share the belief that sometimes the truth is not in everyone's best that sometimes the truth is not in everyone's best interest. Have you ever been in a situation in which interest. Have you ever been in a situation in which the truth was harmful? Is it sometimes in everyone's the truth was harmful? Is it sometimes in everyone's best interest to tell a lie?best interest to tell a lie?

Decide whether or not you believe that sometimes it is Decide whether or not you believe that sometimes it is in everyone's best interest to lie. Then, in a five-in everyone's best interest to lie. Then, in a five-paragraph persuasive essay, defend your position. paragraph persuasive essay, defend your position. Include facts and examples for support.Include facts and examples for support.

Prompt #3Prompt #3 Petitioning Your Parents for a PrivilegePetitioning Your Parents for a Privilege What child has not asked his or her parents What child has not asked his or her parents

for a special privilege at one time or another? for a special privilege at one time or another? Think about a privilege you want that your Think about a privilege you want that your parents are able to grant you. It may be parents are able to grant you. It may be their permission for you to stay up later, get their permission for you to stay up later, get a cell phone, or go to a special event, etc.a cell phone, or go to a special event, etc.

Now, write a five-paragraph persuasive essay Now, write a five-paragraph persuasive essay in which you request this special privilege in which you request this special privilege from your parents. Be sure to use reasons from your parents. Be sure to use reasons and arguments to convince your parents to and arguments to convince your parents to grant your request.grant your request.

Remember Your Audience Remember Your Audience

Your topic will determine who your Your topic will determine who your intended audience is.intended audience is.

Keep this audience in mind as you Keep this audience in mind as you write. (You don’t have to address write. (You don’t have to address them by name.) them by name.)

Present your arguments in a way Present your arguments in a way that will impress this audience. that will impress this audience.

Name calling and angry tirades won’t Name calling and angry tirades won’t work. work.

Pre-writingPre-writing

Our pre-writing for this assignment Our pre-writing for this assignment will be an outline. will be an outline.

Using the form I gave you, fill in your Using the form I gave you, fill in your ideas as we go through the structure ideas as we go through the structure of the essay.of the essay.

Start by writing your topic on the first Start by writing your topic on the first line.line.

Opening Paragraph Opening Paragraph Capture Attention Capture Attention

Start with a hook! The first sentence in your Start with a hook! The first sentence in your essay should capture the attention of your reader. essay should capture the attention of your reader.

Your attention-getter must relate to the topic in Your attention-getter must relate to the topic in some way. some way.

Ways to capture attention: Ways to capture attention: Startling situation or statistic Startling situation or statistic Intriguing question Intriguing question Powerful descriptionPowerful description

Example:Example: Imagine opening your closet to find something to wear to

school, and all you can find are khaki pants and white shirts. Does that sound like a nightmare? Well, for many public school students in America, it is a reality!

Some Ways NOT to Begin Some Ways NOT to Begin

I am going to tell you about… I am going to tell you about… Once upon a time… Once upon a time… This is an essay about… This is an essay about… The assignment says I have to write The assignment says I have to write

about… about… Fire! Now that I have your attention… Fire! Now that I have your attention…

(Attention-getter has to relate to (Attention-getter has to relate to thesis.) thesis.)

My first main idea is…My first main idea is…

Opening ParagraphOpening ParagraphClearly State Your Thesis Clearly State Your Thesis

Thesis = a complete sentence that Thesis = a complete sentence that gives your opinion regarding the issue gives your opinion regarding the issue and what you think should be done. and what you think should be done.

A good thesis is short and clear. A good thesis is short and clear. The thesis is what the rest of your The thesis is what the rest of your

paper will prove. paper will prove. Example: Example:

In America’s schools, students should not be forced to wear uniforms.

Opening ParagraphOpening ParagraphMain Points Main Points

After stating your thesis, briefly and After stating your thesis, briefly and clearly mention your three main clearly mention your three main arguments (these are your sub-topics). arguments (these are your sub-topics).

There should be no question about what There should be no question about what you will prove in your essay. you will prove in your essay.

Example: Example: Uniforms Uniforms take away a student’s sense of

individuality, they do not allow for self-expression, and they absolutely do not save families any money.

Opening ParagraphOpening ParagraphConclusion/Transition Statement Conclusion/Transition Statement

At the end of your first paragraph, At the end of your first paragraph, make a statement that either moves make a statement that either moves the reader smoothly into the next the reader smoothly into the next paragraph or restates your thesis in paragraph or restates your thesis in different words. different words.

Example: Example: Mandatory school uniforms create more Mandatory school uniforms create more

problems than they solve.problems than they solve.

Second ParagraphSecond ParagraphTopic Sentence Topic Sentence

Begin the second paragraph with a Begin the second paragraph with a topic sentence that topic sentence that clearly statesclearly states your first main point. your first main point.

Example: Example: First of all, students should not wear

uniforms because they take away a student’s sense of individuality.

Second ParagraphSecond ParagraphSpecific Supporting Examples Specific Supporting Examples

Support your topic sentence with specific (not general) Support your topic sentence with specific (not general) examples and details. examples and details.

Include explanations about Include explanations about howhow your examples support the your examples support the topic sentence. topic sentence.

Address the opposing argument: Explain why it is wrong or Address the opposing argument: Explain why it is wrong or why your idea is better. why your idea is better.

Example:Example: Imagine this: thirty students sit in desks in a small classroom.

Each student wears tan pants and a white shirt. They sit with their school books and papers in front of them. They all look exactly alike. Does this seem right? Of course not! We are all individuals! We are unique in many different ways. Why try to make all students look alike? This idea is supported by testimony from a 17-year-old student forced to wear uniforms. Her story was reported in National Catholic Reporter of March, 2002, and she said, "Everyone hated it. It completely killed any sense of individuality any one of us had. Everyone looked the same. It was sad to watch". Clearly, students with experience in wearing uniforms feel that they take away a sense of individuality.

Transition Transition

Either at the end of the second Either at the end of the second paragraph or the beginning of the paragraph or the beginning of the third paragraph, include a transition third paragraph, include a transition sentence. sentence.

Example: Example: Not only do uniforms take away Not only do uniforms take away

individuality, they also prevent students individuality, they also prevent students from expressing themselves.from expressing themselves.

Common Transition Words Common Transition Words

First,… First,… Furthermore,… Furthermore,… Another… Another… Besides… Besides… Although… Although… Consequently,… Consequently,… Additionally,… Additionally,… Next,...Next,...

In addition to… In addition to… Instead of… Instead of… Rather than… Rather than… Similarly,… Similarly,… Therefore… Therefore… On the other hand,On the other hand,

… … However, However, Finally,...Finally,...

Third ParagraphThird ParagraphTopic Sentence Topic Sentence

The topic sentence that The topic sentence that clearly statesclearly states your second main point should either your second main point should either be at the very beginning of the be at the very beginning of the paragraph or immediately after your paragraph or immediately after your transition statement. transition statement.

Example: Example: Teenagers are at an age where they are

trying to establish their identity.

Third ParagraphThird ParagraphSpecific Supporting Examples Specific Supporting Examples

Support your topic sentence with specific (not general) Support your topic sentence with specific (not general) examples and details. examples and details.

Include explanations about Include explanations about howhow your examples support the your examples support the topic sentence. topic sentence.

Address the opposing argument: Explain why it is wrong or Address the opposing argument: Explain why it is wrong or why your idea is better. why your idea is better.

Example:Example: Is it fair to prevent students from exploring self-expression by

making them wear uniforms? By taking away a student’s right to choose what to wear, we also take away the opportunity to express oneself. For example, if a young woman is very interested in becoming a fashion designer, she may begin to take home economics classes and train herself to make clothes and create patterns. She would definitely want to wear her own creations to school; this would allow her to show off her achievements and gauge her peers’ responses to her newly created clothes. However, if she were a student who was forced to wear uniforms, she would not be able to express herself in this manner.

Transition Transition

Either at the end of the third Either at the end of the third paragraph or the beginning of the paragraph or the beginning of the fourth paragraph, include a transition fourth paragraph, include a transition sentence.sentence.

Example: Example: To take that right away from America’s

youth is an injustice.

Fourth ParagraphFourth ParagraphTopic Sentence Topic Sentence

The topic sentence that The topic sentence that clearly statesclearly states your third main point should either be your third main point should either be at the very beginning of the paragraph at the very beginning of the paragraph or immediately after your transition or immediately after your transition statement. statement.

Example: Example: Finally, some schools tell parents that

uniforms are a good idea because they save families money. This is not necessarily true.

Fourth ParagraphFourth ParagraphSpecific Supporting Examples Specific Supporting Examples

Support your topic sentence with specific (not general) Support your topic sentence with specific (not general) examples and details. examples and details.

Include explanations about Include explanations about howhow your examples support the your examples support the topic sentence. topic sentence.

Address the opposing argument: Explain why it is wrong or Address the opposing argument: Explain why it is wrong or why your idea is better. why your idea is better.

Example: Example: It is logical to say that when teenagers come home from

school, they want to change out of the clothes that they were forced to wear to school. Well, what are they going to change into? They will want clothes of their own choice, of course. This means that parents would still have to provide their children with clothes that fit current trends, plus they would have to buy a separate set of clothes for their children to wear to school each day. While it is possible that some teenagers may not want designer clothes in addition to their school uniforms, it is very unlikely.

Fourth ParagraphFourth ParagraphConclusion Sentence Conclusion Sentence

End your fourth paragraph with a End your fourth paragraph with a sentence that concludes your third sentence that concludes your third main point. main point.

Example: Example: Because of these reasons, most families Because of these reasons, most families

will end up spending more on clothing will end up spending more on clothing for their students if the school adopts a for their students if the school adopts a mandatory uniform policy.mandatory uniform policy.

Closing ParagraphClosing ParagraphRestate Your Thesis Restate Your Thesis

Begin your final paragraph with a Begin your final paragraph with a concluding phrase and then restate concluding phrase and then restate your thesis. your thesis.

(Don’t use exactly the same wording (Don’t use exactly the same wording you did in the opening paragraph.) you did in the opening paragraph.)

Example: Example: In conclusion, in our public schools,

students should not be forced to wear uniforms.

Common Concluding Phrases Common Concluding Phrases

In conclusion,… In conclusion,… As you can see,… As you can see,… To summarize,… To summarize,… It is clear that… It is clear that… Obviously,… Obviously,… For these reasons,… For these reasons,… As I said,… As I said,… Clearly,...Clearly,...

Closing ParagraphClosing ParagraphRestate Your Main Points Restate Your Main Points

Restate the main points in different Restate the main points in different words than you used in the opening words than you used in the opening paragraph. paragraph.

Example: Example: They take away a student’s sense of

individuality, they do not allow for self expression, and they do not save families any money.

Closing ParagraphClosing ParagraphClincher: Powerful Closing Clincher: Powerful Closing

Conclude your paper with a powerful and Conclude your paper with a powerful and memorable final sentence (“clincher”). memorable final sentence (“clincher”).

You may refer back to the opening of your You may refer back to the opening of your paper if you used a good example to paper if you used a good example to capture attention. capture attention.

You may end with an intriguing question or You may end with an intriguing question or a provocative idea. a provocative idea.

Leave the reader Leave the reader thinkingthinking!! Example:Example:

Let us keep color in our closets! Let us stand Let us keep color in our closets! Let us stand out in a crowd. America, don’t lose your youth out in a crowd. America, don’t lose your youth in a sea of khaki!in a sea of khaki!

Remember!!!!!Remember!!!!!

Don’t use phrases like these: Don’t use phrases like these: This essay is about . . .This essay is about . . . I am going to tell you about . . .I am going to tell you about . . . I am writing about . . .I am writing about . . .This is where I talk about . . .This is where I talk about . . . In this paragraph, I will write about… In this paragraph, I will write about…

In the last paragraph I wrote about...In the last paragraph I wrote about...

Remember!!Remember!!

Do not use blanket arguments such Do not use blanket arguments such as:as: The last time I checked, it was a free The last time I checked, it was a free

country!country! Everybody is doing it.Everybody is doing it. Everybody knows . . .Everybody knows . . . Nobody wants . . .Nobody wants . . .

The Rest is Up to YOU!The Rest is Up to YOU!

We will continue to follow the writing We will continue to follow the writing process for this writing assignment.process for this writing assignment.

Now that you have an outline, the next Now that you have an outline, the next step is to draft--write your essay in step is to draft--write your essay in sentences and paragraphs (how many??)sentences and paragraphs (how many??)

Tomorrow we will be typing our drafts on Tomorrow we will be typing our drafts on www.myaccess.comwww.myaccess.com in the computer lab. in the computer lab.

We will revise and edit in the lab tomorrowWe will revise and edit in the lab tomorrow—I want at least two submissions.—I want at least two submissions.

Your final submission will be your final Your final submission will be your final draft.draft.