1. Persuasive Essay What We Know…..

2. Goal
TO PERSUADE/
CONVINCE

3. PERSUASIVE WRITING
THE AUTHOR’S PURPOSE IS TO PERSUADE OR CONVINCE THE AUDIENCE TO THINK AS THE AUTHOR THINKS

4. INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH
NO MORE THAN 5 LINES
BEGINS WITH A DESCRIPTIVE SEGMENT (ANECDOTE, EMBRACE A HIGH IDEAL, BANDWAGON STATEMENT, EXPLANATION OF TOPIC IN GENERAL)
ACKNOWLEDGE OPPOSING OPINION/ PRESENT BOTH SIDES OF THE CONTROVERSY
ADD A THESIS – THIS IS WHERE YOU DIRECTLY STATE YOUR POSITION -- LAST SENTENCE IN INTRO

5. Thesis YOUR THESIS WILL BE YOUR CLAIM (YOUR POSITION ON THE TOPIC)
YOUR THESIS STATEMENT SHOULD BE SPECIFIC. IT SHOULD COVER ONLY WHAT YOU WILL DISCUSS IN YOUR PAPER.
FACT/OPINION

6. BODY PARAGRAPH 1 POINT ONE – DIRECT SENTENCE/EXAMPLE FOLLOWED BY
DETAIL
YOUR BODY PARAGRAPH SHOULD DISCUSS ONE GENERAL IDEA. IT SHOULD SUPPORT YOUR THESIS.
YOU MUST HAVE ACCURATE INFORMATION IN YOUR BODY PARAGRAPHS.
YOU CAN ADD REAL FACTS AS WELL AS OPINIONS

7. BODY PARAGRAPH 2
POINT 2
DETAIL

8. BODY PARAGRAPH 3
POINT 3– DIRECT SENTENCE/EXAMPLE
DETAIL

9. Transitions
Meaningful transitions and strong sentence-to- sentence connections enhance the flow of the essay by clearly showing the relationships among ideas, making the writer’s train of thought easy to follow.

10. Sentence Variety
Sentences are purposeful, varied, and well controlled, enhancing the effectiveness of the essay.
Use some simple, some compound, some complex sentences. Change the way you begin sentences. Some should begin with nouns, some with “ing” words, some with adjectives or adverbs, etc.

11. Grammar and Conventions
The writer demonstrates a consistent command of sentence boundaries (complete sentences) and spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and usage conventions.

12. CONCLUSION NO MORE THAN FIVE LINES
TELL THE READER WHAT YOU WANT FROM HIM/HER WITH A CALL TO ACTION
DO NOT INTRODUCE NEW INFORMATION
RESTATE WHY THE TOPIC IS IMPORTANT
REVIEW THE MAIN POINTS
REVIEW YOUR THESIS
REFOCUS ON YOUR MAIN ARGUMENT TO “NAIL” YOUR MAJOR ARGUMENT

13. OVERALL PREPLANNING IS VERY IMPORTANT MUST BRAINSTORM BEFORE YOU WRITE
GO WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT IS THE EASIEST FOR YOU TO ARGUE…THE ONE THAT YOU CAN FIND THE BEST EXAMPLES/DETAILS TO PROVE THE POINT THE BEST

14. NOW GET IN GROUPS OF 4 REVIEW THE SAMPLE ESSAYS/TOPIC
LOOK AT 10 ESSAYS
ON A SHEET OF NOTEBOOK PAPER LIST THE FOLLOWING FOR EACH ESSAY:
THESIS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF OPPOSING IDEAS
EACH MAIN ARGUMENT IN THE BODY PARAGRAPHS
IF LOGOS, PATHOS OR ETHOS WAS USED