Steps for Writing a STAAR Persuasive Essay Mrs. McHale English III

STEP #1 READ the prompt. Circle the most important word in the prompt (the subject). Should school librarians ban inappropriate books from the school library?

Brainstorm a list of reasons for and against the issue or position. STEP #2 Brainstorm a list of reasons for and against the issue or position. Against banning books: --the Constitution allows us the freedom of speech, freedom of press --students need to learn to make responsible choices about what they read --students should not be sheltered from controversial world news --students can find inappropriate material on the Internet --the question of appropriate reading is debatable, it cannot be determined by one individual For banning books: --students are too young to make decisions about what they read --librarians don’t want parents mad at them --students should only read about pleasant and non-controversial topics

STEP #3 Choose the position you want to argue. Either “Yes, school libraries should censor books” OR “No, school libraries should not censor books.”

Choose the two “reasons” for which you can write the best argument. STEP #4 Choose the two “reasons” for which you can write the best argument. --One “reason” for each body paragraph

STEP #5 Before you write anything else, focus on answering the prompt by writing a position statement, also known as a thesis statement. Rearrange words from the prompt into a statement, then follow it with “because” and then add two reasons. (This is the road map for the rest of your essay!) School librarians should not ban books from the school library because students need to learn to choose for themselves and it goes against the American Constitution.

STEP #6 Now go back and create the introductory paragraph and plug the thesis statement into the end. The first sentence is the “hook.” Re-read the information before the prompt to find the general subject. Think general and broad. How does this topic affect “the world” or “life”? Question what would happen “without”… --What would the world be like without books? The second sentence must “draw a line” from the hook to the thesis. Think of what the two have in common, which is usually the end of the hook. --While books are very important, it can be easy to overlook the value of books that have disagreeable or inappropriate subjects. Put the three sentences together to make the Intro Paragraph.

Introductory Paragraph Hook: What would the world be like without….___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Line: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sinker (Position/Thesis Statement): State your position on the argument *because* <<reason 1>> and <<reason 2>>.

Include these phrases to ensure the persuasive nature of your essay: Persuasive Phrases Include these phrases to ensure the persuasive nature of your essay: It is certain that… The logical conclusion is… The fact is… The truth is… The correct perspective is… Common sense reveals that… The bottom line is… In reality,… The essential idea is… With certainty, a person can say that… In the majority of cases…

Topic Sentence: <<Reason 1>>. Body Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: <<Reason 1>>. The truth is, students need to learn to think independently and make decisions for themselves and if libraries ban objectionable books, students will not be able to do so.

Example and Commentary for <<Reason 1>>: Imagine that a young girl reads The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and is outraged at the treatment of slaves in the novel. Because of reading this objectionable material, she decides to become a human rights activist and influences society in a profound way. If a librarian had taken away this option, the young girl might not have made that important decision about her life’s work.

Topic sentence: <<Reason 2>>. Body Paragraph 2 Topic sentence: <<Reason 2>>. Also, an essential idea is that limiting students’ access to controversial writing is a breach of their freedom under the Constitution.

Example and Commentary for <<Reason 2>>: For example, the Constitution of the United States of America proclaims certain “inalienable rights” for its citizens that include freedom of speech and freedom of press. If a student (who is, in fact, a citizen) is not allowed to pursue certain information banned by a library, that is limiting his or her freedom. It is also suppressing the freedom that authors have to distribute their ideas, beliefs, and philosophies.

Restate your position/thesis statement in a different way. Conclusion Paragraph Restate your position/thesis statement in a different way.

Counterargument: A Counterargument states what the other side would argue in response to your thesis. Other side responds with reasons that your argument is not persuasive. Example: Your argument: Banning books from school libraries for any reason violates a student’s rights under The United States Constitution. Those in favor of banning books might say that children are not yet old enough to understand their rights under the Constitution, and therefore do not have the capacity to claim them. However, age and capacity do not determine citizenship. Therefore, regardless of a student’s age or capacity, that student is entitled to all freedoms afforded them by The Constitution.

Call to Action: Word or phrase which calls a reader to take immediate action to do/act in the way the writer is trying to persuade them to Should be located in your conclusion paragraph after your restatement of your thesis. Example: Therefore, it is imperative that students rise up against the establishment and rebel against anyone who attempts to censor literature in public schools.

Last Prompt: State your position on whether it is better to travel by car or by bus. Support your answer with examples.