Persuasive Essay Format: Introduction

Fishing! a.k.a. HOOK OPENERa. QUOTEb. QUESTIONc. FACT or STATISTIC

WHAT are we talking about here?Also called the topic sentence.

WHO are you writing this for, and why would they care?This is your audience.

Write a thesis that TAKES SIDES and identify at least 3 MAIN POINTS that prove your side.

Persuasive Essay Format: BODY –

(should be 4 paragraphs total)

3 paragraphs:Each one has a TOPIC SENTENCE.

Find several REASONS supporting thesis and write one paragraph on EACH ONE.

Support them with detailed EXAMPLES and EXPLANATIONS.

1 paragraph:Reader COUNTERARGUMENTS.

Why are they wrong?also known as the REBUTTAL.

Persuasive Essay Format: Conclusion

Echo thesis (RESTATE IT, STILL TAKING SIDES)

Re-mention the three main points you made, the counterarguments, and your rebuttal.

Include a SO-WHAT, a sense of closure and why this matters.

Movie ending – FEEL IT! – powerful!

CAPITALIZATIONeach sentence begins with a capitalall names begin with a capitaleach important name in the title begins with a capital

ORGANIZATIONhandwriting is neatorder of events is easy to followbeginning and ending make senseall sentences are complete with subject and verbtransitional words and phrases are used correctly

PUNCTUATIONquotation marks are used when endedcommas are used when necessary (pause, list, quotations)sentences end with a period or another type of punctuation

SPELLING words are spelled correctly

When you finish, double check:

Supporting Arguments with Facts

Creating a successful persuasive essay requires that you use FACTS, not opinions. In order to write a convincing paper, you must first TAKE SIDES and then USE EVIDENCE.

•Fact: Something that is TRUE. A fact is based on direct evidence, actual experience, or observation.

•Opinion: Statement of BELIEF. It shows one’s feelings about a subject.

Read the two columns on your paper with a partner!

One side is FACT and the other OPINION. Which is which? Discuss how you

know.

Here are a few examples of FACTS WITH SUPPORT:

1. Jessie loves to read. Her favorite authors are Beverly Clearly and Louis Sachar. She likes to read for at least an hour every night after dinner. 2. It is important to read to young children. Research shows that children who are read to from birth until they reach school age score significantly higher in all academic areas.

Note: It is important to make sure that your evidence SUPPORTS YOUR ARGUMENT clearly. Make sure they MAKE SENSE and FIT together.

Transitional words are used to show HOW IDEAS ARE CONNECTED. Transitions take your reader FROM ONE THOUGHT TO ANOTHER. More importantly, if you don’t make connections between your ideas, the reader will probably insert their own thoughts – not always a good idea. In persuasive writing, it’s important that you LEAD the reader in the DIRECTION YOU WANT them to go – don’t allow them to make their own connections.

The following is a list of commonly used TRANSITIONS.

Transitions

and to sum up but because or in conclusion while consequently although first unlike next while sometimes however surely in other words on the other hand

Common Transitions

Transitional words are very useful in persuasive writing because they help you show BOTH SIDES of the arguments.

Let’s say that you’ve just finished reading about the Iditarod Alaskan Dog Sled Race and want to use that race as a focus for your persuasive writing. In particular, you plan to focus on how some people think that the animals are treated cruelly.

One of the first things you need to do is STATE BOTH SIDES OF THE ARGUMENT.

“Animal rights groups say the Iditarod race is cruel to dogs and should be discontinued. Mushers, ON THE OTHER HAND, say their dogs are treated better than most animals and are bred to race.”

In this example, on the other hand is the TRANSITIONAL PHRASE.

You should try to use AT LEAST TWO transitional phrases PER PARAGRAPH to start.