Essay Organizer The Introduction The Hook (How will you grab your reader’s attention and/or establish credibility?) Background/Context Reference Counterargument Thesis/Argument (What you believe, think, or want to argue) 1

II. The Body (Will be composed of several paragraphs, each arranged thusly) Claim Evidence Interpretation *Repeat E-I as many times as you need. Concluding sentence/transition III. Conclusion Transition to conclusion Reference to Thesis/Ideas Reference to Counterargument Call to Action (What should we believe, do, or conclude as a result of your argument?) 2

Suggestions for Writing your Outline Write claim (position) State at least 3 reasons to support your statement (position) Write three details for each reason Choose one detail on which to elaborate (with further examples, quotes, statistics, anecdotes) State your counterargument Choose transition words for each paragraph Write a paragraph for each reason and counterargument Develop introduction paragraph Develop conclusion paragraph 3

Handout – Sample Prompt Writing Situation: Many cities are requiring children under the age of 16 to wear helmets while biking, scooting, skateboarding, rollerblading, and skiing. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of wearing helmets. Directions for Writing: Write a persuasive essay stating whether children under the age of 16 should be required wear helmets. Give reasons to support your position arguing in such a convincing manner that others will agree with you. 4

Write a Thesis/Argument (position) Children under the age of 16 should be required to wear helmets while biking, scooting, skateboarding, rollerblading, and skiing. 3 reasons to support 1.Not using a helmet can cause more traffic fatalities. 2.Children under the age of 16 feel invincible. 3.Physical injury from these types of accidents make demands on our health care system. 5

Add support (details/reasons/ideas) for each Claim 1.Not using a helmet can cause more traffic fatalities. – Head injuries, reckless behavior, cause unnecessary grief 2.Children under the age of 16 feel invincible. – Lack of maturity, don’t understand consequences 3.Physical injury from these types of accidents make demands on our health care system. – Long term care, health care expenses, nursing home care 6

Suggestions on How to Elaborate Use statistics (only when you can cite!) or research, real-life experiences, or example Generate a hypothetical instance: “Suppose that…,” “what if…” Clarify a position: Think about what needs to be explained and what can be assumed Thinking through a process: Think through the procedure from start to finish. Provide background information a reader may need. Illustrate whenever appropriate. Define special terms used. Use cues for the reader. “First, second, next, then, etc.” 7

Suggestions on How to Elaborate Drawing comparisons: Choose something similar to what is being explained. Making an Analysis: You can analyze a problem by looking at the parts and therefore help the reader to understand Drawing an Analogy: Use an analogy to explain or elaborate an idea by identifying significant likeness between two objects or ideas when otherwise they are quite different. This helpful when the comparison is made to something that is familiar to the reader 8

Use this Structure for Analysis? Argument/Thesis Claim + Evidence + Interpretation + Concluding sentence/transition into next paragraph = C-E-I 9

Claim Statement that supports the argument/thesis or part of it Must be arguable – Pollution is harmful to the environment. – NO – The federal government should focus a significant part of its budget on anti- pollution efforts. – YES – Hamlet seeks revenge in the play. – NO – Hamlet experiences internal conflict because he is in love with his mother. – YES First sentence of your body or support paragraph 10 Persuasive Writing → Facts or statistics Expert opinion Direct quotes from a text Anecdotes It must support your claim. Without support (evidence), your claim will go unproven and your paragraph will fall flat.

Interpretation Interprets the evidence and how it supports your claim (explains why and how the evidence proves the claim) A reasonable interpretation and analysis of the facts Does not assume more than the evidence supports You should explain (give context and/or define anything that might need defining) It should be explaining how evidence proves the claim true 11

General Suggestions for Persuasive Essay Have a firm opinion that you want your reader to accept. Begin with a hook to get the readers’ attention and make them want to read more Establish credibility (ethos) Offer reasonable evidence to support your opinion (logos) Make your audience feel the same way you do (pathos) Don’t create statistics Conclude with a restatement of what you want the reader to do or believe 12