1. Persuasive Writing Identify Issue/ State the Issue Audience
What type of people make up your audience?
How does this group feel about the issue?
What objections might this group have to my opinion?

2. Thesis Statement Should include both the issue and your point of view.
Thesis must be well-defined, coherent, and clear.
Thesis must present a focused and consistent opinion.
Formula:
Issue
+ Point of View
= Thesis Statement

3. Formula:
Issue
+ Point of View
= Thesis Statement
Example:
Issue: Starting a paper- recycling program
at our school.
+ Point of view: We need to start one.
= We should start a paper-recycling program at our school.

4. Evaluate and Support Reasons
Support – logical appeal (mind) or emotional appeal (heart); both may be necessary in persuasive writing
Reasons – support your thesis/opinion
* tells why a writer has a particular point of view
* strong reasons with explanations show the writer has made a knowledgeable judgment about the issue
* A writer who fails to provide good reasons fails to convince the reader

5. * To be convincing, each reason must appeal to your audience
Reasons cont.
* To be convincing, each reason must appeal to your audience
Evidence – helps the audience make a decision
Forms of Evidence
Facts
Statistics
Examples
Anecdotes
Analogies
Comparisons
Expert Opinion

6. Thesis Reason Evidence Elaboration
Elaboration – explains how the evidence supports the reason
Acronym: TREE
Thesis
Reason
Evidence
Elaboration

7. Organizing Your Support
Controlling Impressions
Must organize reasons and evidence effectively
Often, each paragraph presents, supports, and elaborates on one reason
One effective way to organize is by Order of Importance

8. Counterarguments
Must address counterarguments and work them into your reasons effectively
Begin a paragraph in which you discuss a reason with a statement of counterargument.
Example:
“Although some people believe paper recycling is too much trouble and too expensive, it is actually easy and inexpensive.”

9. Evaluate and Support Reasons

10. Organizing Your Support

11. Persuasive Essay Introduction Body Attention grabbing statement
Thesis Statement
Body
Reason #1
Evidence & Elaboration
Reason #2
And so on

12. Conclusion Restatement of opinion Summary of reasons
Call to action or closing statement