The Persuasive Essay

By: Gina Finelli

What is a Persuasive Essay?

An argumentPersuades a point of view or issue to the audience

Uses reasoning, facts, examples,

and quotes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cThuaPUD_Q&feature=PlayList&p=16B069ABF7F24A36&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=15

In an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond,” Marie writes a persuasive letter to the FBI interviewer whom is interviewing Robert (her son)…

What is the issue that Marie is arguing to

the FBI boss?

What reasons/examples

does she use in her letter to persuade the

boss?

Persuasive Essay Plan 3. Structure the order of

the essay

2. Analyze the reader and

research your topic

1. Pick your position- which side of the problem/issue are

you on?

Persuasive Essay Format Example

5 Persuasive Essay Steps

Stand Your Ground!1. Pick your position- which side of the

problem/issue are you on?

• Phillies

• Blackberry

• Yankees

• iphone

Getting To Know Your Audience2. Analyze the audience in which you are writing your persuasive essay to.

Topic Example:ESU has asked for your opinion on what type of food should be sold at the newly

renovated union..

Audience: the student senate Use relatable

language

Will your essay STAND OUT to your audience?

Audience: ESU President of ESU or Aramark: Use

professional language

Audience is undecided, so make them believe your

views!

Facts, Facts, Facts…3. Use evidence to convince your audience: Statistics,

facts, quotes, ect…

* You argue to increase the number of healthy food choices that are sold in the Union:

"Most incoming college students don't have mom to pick out their foods for them anymore or pack their lunches, and so (the students) start making unwise choices," including in the campus cafeterias and grills, where fast-food fare abounds” Dr. Janet Colson, professor of human sciences and a registered dietitian.

Calorie Counter:

• Chicken Ceasar Wrap: 590

• Pepperoni Pizza (1 slice): 338

• 12” Italian Hoagie : 1004

• Cheeseburger: 359

Get to Know Your Enemy!4. Explain and refute the opposite view within your essay…

CONAN O’BRIEN VS. JAY LENO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJQLdRNrPE

If you were arguing to keep Conan’s spot on NBC, how would

your refute Leno’s opposite

view on the situation?

Final Thoughts…5. Wrap up your final thoughts, and restate your

opinions in the last paragraph on the essay

Restate (in a creative way) the

important points/mai

n idea in the essay

Regain your audience’s interest in your ideas

Address your audience with a call of action or

question

Most important part of the

essay: Spend time editing and

planning your

conclusion carefully!!

Conclusion

Reasons to Know How to Write a Persuasive Essay…

• Emphasizes critical thinking and analysis skills

• Preparation for Standardized Testing

• Relativity: Writing to a newspaper on a local/national issue that

concerns you

• Or to sway a institution/company’s decision

• Provides practice for college admissions/cover letter writing

Have you ever wrote a persuasive letter?

References

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cThuaPUD_Q

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/51043.php

http://caloriecount.about.com/

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8neJpsFmzQg/0.jpg

www.janaedwards.com (Persuasive Essay format Word doc.)

http://scrapetv.com/News/News%20Pages/Entertainment/images-5/conan-obrien-and-jay-leno.jpg

http://www.writeexpress.com/writing-a-conclusion-for-an-essay.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FpJQLdRNrPE

http://www.derii.org/images/phillies1.jpg

http://www.bronxbabe.com/yankees.jpg