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Writing ACT Persuasive
Essays
Step 1: Analyze the Prompt
First, the writer must understand the requirements of
the prompt
You may use RAFT to do this
Role
Audience
Format
Topic
Step 1: Analyze the Prompt
• Prompt:
The death penalty has been one of the longest used forms of punishment in human history. To some,
this is a sign of its success and to others it is a sign of mans on going inhumanity to man. Write a proposal to
support or abolish the death penalty in North Carolina. Be sure to include specific examples to support your
opinion.
Because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious - and therefore immoral - I no longer shall tinker with the
machinery of death.
George Ryan
For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to hold crime in check; yet crime
persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not, as the law claims, constant forces in a state of equilibrium.
Albert Camus
I believe that more people would be alive today if there were a death penalty.
Nancy Reagan
Your Turn:
Break down the prompt:
The death penalty has been one of the longest used forms of punishment in human history. To some, this is a
sign of its success and to others it is a sign of mans on going inhumanity to man. Write a proposal to support or
abolish the death penalty in North Carolina. Be sure to include specific examples to support your opinion.
Because the Illinois death penalty system is arbitrary and capricious - and therefore immoral - I no
longer shall tinker with the machinery of death.
George Ryan
For centuries the death penalty, often accompanied by barbarous refinements, has been trying to
hold crime in check; yet crime persists. Why? Because the instincts that are warring in man are not,
as the law claims, constant forces in a state of equilibrium.
Albert Camus
I believe that more people would be alive today if there were a death penalty.
Nancy Reagan
What your broken down prompt
might look like: • Key Sentence: Write a proposal to support or abolish
the death penalty in North Carolina
Role: None given (Assumed General Citizen)
Audience: General
Format: Proposal/Essay
Topic: Support or abolish the death penalty in North
Carolina
Step 2: T Chart
Insert your positives
and negatives of the
death penalty
Step 2: This is what it might
look like when you’re done.
Plus: Argument For Delta: Argument Against
Ensures criminals cannot commit more
crimes Family of criminal suffers
Need strong consequence for murder inhumane (violates 8th Amendment)
Closure for the victim’s family Does not deter crime
More favorable image of
America
Fill out the following T-Chart
Step 3: Outline
Choose whether you are for or against the death
penalty. Then choose the two strongest arguments to
support your opinion.
State the main idea of your essay by adding the topic
to your two main arguments.
Capital punishment should/should not be abolished
in North Carolina because ___________and
___________.
WARNING: Pick one side or the other. Do not
waver back and forth!!!!!!
Step 3: This is what a sample
outline looks like. Introduction
Hook:
Bridge:
Thesis:
Reason 1:
Reason 2:
Reason 3:
Conclusion
Example:
__________________
Elaboration
__________________
Example
__________________
Elaboration
___________________
Example:
__________________
Elaboration
__________________
Example
__________________
Elaboration
___________________
Example:
__________________
Elaboration
__________________
Example
__________________
Elaboration
___________________
Counterargument
Transition:
Transition:
Transition:
Transition:
Step 3: This is what a sample
outline looks like:
Introduction
Hook: George Ryan Quote
Bridge: Explain Quote
Thesis: Capital punishment should be
abolished because it is inhumane and
devastates families.
Reason 1: Inhumane
Reason 2:
Devastates
families
Reason 3:
Conclusion Restate thesis
Sum up thoughts
Example:
Violates the 8th
Amendment
Elaboration:
No cruel and unusual
punishment
Example:
Death is most cruel
punishment
Elaboration:
Death is not a
punishment one can
recover from
Example:
Taking another life does not
bring the victim back, etc.
Elaboration:
Simply causes more pain
Example: Retaliation
Elaboration:
Criminals family feels need
to retaliate
Example:
Elaboration
Example
Elaboration
Transition:
Transition:
Furthermore,
Transition:
Transition:
Therefore
Outline on your own:
We will go over the rest of the
process next due to time
constraints.
Step 4: Write the First Draft
Begin with the introduction.
Your introduction should:
Introduce the topic.
Capture the reader’s attention.
State the main idea.
Introduce your position on the topic.
Step 4:Write the First Draft
Next, write clear body paragraphs based on the
reasons, examples, and elaboration in the outline.
Be sure to include:
Topic Sentence- One specific reason for or against the topic
Examples- Specific facts, quotes, etc.
Elaboration- Explain how the example backs up your topic sentence
Closing/Transitional Sentence- Sum up ideas of this paragraph or provide a
transition to the next topic
Step 4: Write the first Draft
Types of Examples:
Scientific Facts- Statements that can be proven
Studies have shown that homicide increases around the time of an execution (“Brutalization Effect” )
Statistics- Facts that involve numbers
At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods, making it the
deadliest U.S. hurricane since the 1928.
Historical/Current Events
Martin Luther King, Jr., fought segregation through civil disobedience.
Literature- Brief anecdotes about a personal experience, or the experience of a character in a book, play, or
movie
“Indian Dog,” by M. Scott Mommaday, included a dog that could not be tamed despite the efforts of the
young narrator.
Direct Quote- Statements form experts that illustrate an idea
“Give me liberty, or give me death!” Patrick Henry.
Step 4: Write a first draft
Add a conclusion
Restate your thesis.
Sum up your thoughts.
Emphasize the importance of the topic.
Step 5: Revise first Draft
Edit you essay carefully for grammar spelling,
wording, vocabulary, organization, and sufficient
examples and elaboration.