Persuasive)Writing)and)Essay)

Structure)

Characteristics)of)Persuasive)Writing)and)Argument)

Persuasion Argument O Convince the reader

O Rethink the position

O Take an action

O Believe or show something new

O Reasons

O Details

O Facts

O Use all of these to support your side

Definitions)Important)for)Persuasive)Writing)

O Assertion: A statement that you’re trying to prove with an argument

O Reasoning: The “because” part of your argument, offering support for you assertion

O Evidence: Support for your reasoning, using contemporary or historical examples, statistical or scientific information

It’s)Important)because…)

O Guides an audience through your reasoning process

O Offers a clear explanation of each argued point

O Demonstrates the credibility of the writer

O Proper MLA Heading O Name, Teacher, Class, Date O Page Number O Creative Title

O Intro O Hook O Thesis O List of main ideas/arguments O Transition

  O Body Paragraphs (Need at least 2

paragraphs) O At least 3 arguments

O Use plenty of details, facts, statistics,

O Counter Argument Paragraph

O List an argument for the other side, but then prove why you are right in your position and the other side is wrong

O Be careful here! You want to make sure you don’t confuse the reader of your position.

  O Conclusion

O Repeat 3 arguments O Summarize your best points O Your last thoughts on the topic

Basic Information to Essay’s Structure

Title—Why*Do*I*Need*One?)

O Introduces the topic of discussion to the audience

O Generates interest in the argument O Writers title their work

Creating*a*Title)O Try to grab attention by:

O Offering a provoking image O Picking up on words or

examples offered in the essay itself

O Asking a question O Avoid titles that are too general or

lack pizzazz

Considering**titles…)

O Image you wrote a paper offering solution to the problem of road rage. Which do you consider he best title?

Road Rage Can’t Drive 55

Road Rage: Curing our Highway Epidemic

Introductory)Paragraph)

O It NEEDS to be H.O.T. O HOOK your audience O State your OPINION

O Think about your thesis sentence O Introduce your TOPIC and arguments

Steps)to)a)GREAT)introduction:))O The key to an effective persuasive essay is it’s introduction

O YOU NEED TO: O Get the readers attention and convince them to keep reading

O Hopefully get them to agree to your views

O Write a thesis statement that states your position on the topic

O List the arguments on the topic

O Write a few sentences that explain why this topic is important to the reader, people will be reading if you convince them that they will benefit from what you are about to tell them

Setup)of)the)INTRO)paragraph))O Hook

O Interesting quote or statement related to the topic O Startling fact related to the topic O Ancedote (real or hypothetical story) O Rhetorical question O Quotation O Striking image

O Moves into thesis

O List off your arguments O Either list them or generally imply your arguments

O Transitional statement into body of essay

Thesis*Statements)O THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE IN YOUR PAPER.

O Let’s the reader know the main idea of the paper O Answers the question: “What am I trying to prove?” O Not a factual statement, but a claim that has to be

proven throughout the paper O It’s Role

O It should guide your reader through your argument. O Located in the introduction to provide your readers

with a roadmap.

Types)of)Thesis)Statements:)Situation/Stance)Topic)Sentences)

)O Although some parents buy cell phones for their children, this

is a serious mistake.

O Many teenagers believe that a cell phone are a necessity, these devices cause many problems.

O If your school adopts a uniform policy, school climate will improve immediately.

O Even though my allowance has remained the same for the last couple of years, I believe it needs to be increased.

Types)of)Thesis)Statements:))

FAN*BOYS*(For,)And,)Nor,)But,)Or,)Yet,)So)))

O Many children carry cellphones, BUT it is a big mistake.

O Teenagers need cell phones, so parents should purchase phones for them immediately

O Our school adopted a uniform dress code, but the school climate has not improved significantly

O A small allowance is a thing of the past, so my allowance must be increased.

Types)of)Thesis)Statements:)Semicolon)Thesis)Sentences)

)O Elementary school children want to carry cell phones; however, it is a bad idea.

O Many parents wonder why their child needs a cell phone; however, from a teen’s point of view, it’s necessity

O Our school adopted a uniform dress code; as a result, the school climate significantly improved.

O As my age and responsibilities increase; sadly my allowance does not, this needs to change

How)to)Construct)a)Thesis)Statement)

As you work on your research and begin your essay, your thesis statement might need to be tweaked. THIS IS A TYPICAL AND EXPECTED PIECE OF THE PUZZLE.

BODY)PARAGRAPHS)O Writers set the stage for the main body of the essay in the

introduction

O Clearly list, in order, the intro that topics that will be discussed in the essay.

O Follow that order in the rest of the essay

O Various Organizational Styles to Use O General to specific information O Most important to least important point O Weakest claim to strongest claim

BODY)PARAGRAPHS)CONTINUED)O TOPIC SENTENCE: first sentence of each paragraph tells reader what

that paragraph is about

O State your argument, this is what the paragraph will be about O THIS IS CALLED YOUR ASSERTION

O Next couple of sentences should give reasoning, or the “because part” of the sentence/paragraph, offering support for your argument

O Remaining sentences in the paragraph should include: O Details

O Scientific information O Expert example

O Descriptions of that paragraph’s main idea O Current and/or historial examples

O DON’T FORGET TO USE MLA IN-TEXT CITATIONS FOR THE SOURCES USED

COUNTERARGUMENT)PARAGRAPH)O Addressing the claim of the opposition is important in building

a strong argument.

O It demonstrates your credibility as a writer—you will have researched multiple sides to help you come up with an informed decision.

O Don’t forget to use appropriate language. No name calling or bullying towards the opposition.

O Make sure you state what the other side, the opposition, might argue. O This can be stated in the very first sentence of the

paragraph.

COUNTERARGUEMENTS)CONTINUED))

O The rest of the paragraph you will use the details and examples to prove your side right.

O You state what the other side might say, then prove them wrong.

O Pick one argument that you researched from the opposite side

O Use a fact from your research to prove that argument wrong.

O DON’T SUPPORT THE OTHER SIDE! O STICK TO YOUR SIDE OF THE TOPIC

Conclusion)O Restate your thesis from the intro.

O Summarize your main important parts of the essay (your main arguments).

O Use some of the same key words from your intro in the conclusion as well.

O It should include a lot of the same information as the intro.

O It should be several sentences: O Not only should the conclusion be it’s own paragraph but

it should also be about 4-5 sentences in length!

Persuasive)Words)in)Support)of…)O  Accurate

O Advantage

O Always/Never

O Best

O Certain

O Confident

O Convenient

O Definitely

O Effective

O Emphasize

O Expect

O Interesting

O Magnificent

O Most

O Most important

O Popular

O Profitable

O Should

O Strongly

Recommend

O Superb

O Superior

O Tremendous

O Truly

O Trustworthy

O Workable

O Worthwhile

Persuasive)Words)Against…)O Aggravate

O Agony

O Atrocious

O Confusing

O Cruel

O Damaging

O Disadvantages

O Displeased

O Dreadful

O Harmful

O Harsh

O Horrible

O Inconsiderate

O Inferior

O Irritate

O Offend

O Ordeal

O Outrageousness

O Provoke

O Repulsive

O Severe

O Shameful

O Shocking

O Terrible

O Unreliable

O Unstable

HOW*TO*CITE*YOUR*SOURCES)

O General guidelines O The information you need to know from the source

depends on the type of source (website, database, magazine, book, etc.)

O More information to follow after we discuss researching.

InRText)Citations)O Most sources are web-based, follow these general rules:

O EXAMPLE of a sentence with an author listed

O Gary Smith stated that teenagers with cell phones “tend to stay in contact with their parents throughout the day” (2).

OR O Teenagers with a cell phone “tend to stay in contact with their

parents throughout the day” (Smith, 2).

InRText)Citations)

O EXAMPLE of a sentence without an author’s name:

O According to the frequently asked questions page on Verizon’s website currently 78% of teenagers in the United States own a cell phone (2).

OR O 78% of teenagers in the United States own a cell phone

(“Verizon FAQ”).