1. Persuasive Synthesis Essay
A Guide to writing

2. Your essay is a response to this question:
In your opinion, how much control should the government exercise over an individual’s rights regarding vaccines?

3. Sources TOTAL AMOUNT = 4 SOURCES
Required: 1 current event from a credible news source that relates to the topic for your opener.
3 outside sources in the body ¶s. Module packet List:
Pg. 9 “Mom of Teen Not Vaccinated”
Pg. 15 excerpts from The Supreme Court decision of Jacobson v. Massachusetts
Pg. 21 “Government Vaccines—Bad Policy, Bad Medicine” by Ron Paul
Pg. 25 “On Immunity” by Eula Biss
Pg. 30 “The Speckled Monster” by jennermuseum.com
Pg. 35 “Measles: A Dangerous Illness” by Roald Dahl
Pg. 39 “ Mandatory Vaccination is Not the Answer to the Measles” by Bob Sears
PBS Frontline documentary: “The Vaccine War”
infographics in The College Board Module: NIH, WHO, Gillray’s satrical cartoon
TOTAL AMOUNT = 4 SOURCES

4. Must cite your sources, so record publishing information
Additional sources
For current events news stories or for more evidence, go to…
National Public Radio (NPR):
ABC News:
New York Times:
Washington Post:
Center for Disease Control (supports vaccines)
American Academy of Pediatrics (supports vaccines)
National Vaccine Information Center (questions vaccines)
Must cite your sources, so record publishing information

5. 3-PART INTRODUCTION
Opener: Start with a current event connected to the topic.
Connecting sentence(s): Overview of the topic and objective description of the multiple viewpoints of this debate.
Thesis statement: Answer the question on Slide 2.

6. Help with Introduction
Connecting Sentence Stems:
In discussions of ______________, one controversial issue has been _______________.
Many maintain that _______________, while others maintain ____________.
On the one hand, _________________ argues. On the other hand, _____________ contends ________________.
Thesis Statement Stem:
My own opinion is _________________, because _______________.

7. 3 BODY PARAGRAPHS 1 Paragraph (with 2 sources)
Important
Order: You determine logical order for paragraphing. One idea should feed into the next.
Evidence: apply at least 3 different sources in the body paragraphs. In-text citations!
1 Paragraph (with 2 sources)
1main idea that supports the thesis
1quote from an outside source to support this ¶’s idea
1 paraphrasing/summarizing from an 2nd outside source
1 Paragraph (with 1 source)
2nd main idea that is mutually exclusive from the other main idea
1 Paragraph (addressing/attacking counterclaim)
TACTIC: Directly refute a specific source
“Call out” an author, expert, spokesperson, or entity on the opposite team
of the paragraph: Why are they inaccurate, illogical, untrustworthy, or unethical?
Use logic and/or evidence to directly disprove them.
1 quote and/or paraphrasing/summarizing the “ source you are directly refuted
Feel free to add empirical or anecdotal evidence from a source to support your viewpoint

8. 5-sentence Conclusion Restate your thesis
Create a comparison to add logic: Think of another instance where the government can or cannot regulate citizens according to the constitution
“Similarly, if the supreme court rules that the government can ______________________________, then _____________________.
“In comparison, if it is unconstitutional for the government to ____________________________, then _______________________.
Evaluate: Answer the reader’s “So What?” question. Why is this issue important?
Create your own unique call to action based on your essay.
End on a zinger

9. FormaT MLA: Proper header Title: Catchy and headline-worthy
12-size font
Calibri or Times New Roman
Double Space Entire Document
Indent paragraphs
Intext citations w/ author’s last name and page number or website
Blended quotations that are grammatically correct
Works Cited Page according to MLA guidelines

10. IN-Text Citations Use in-text citations for quotations and citations
In-text citation should follow directly after the quote.
In-text citations should match with the Works Cited Page.
Candy confesses to George and Lennie that he “should have shot that dog” (Steinbeck 27) himself, and further notes that he regrets allowing a stranger to do it.

12. Citing module packet

13. Citing web sources