1. Persuasive Essays GHSWT Style

2. Organization Intro (general) Body (specific) Conclusion (general)

3. Introduction Broad, no specific details First paragraph can be short (3-4 sentences) First sentence should be catchy Do not start with rhetorical question Use a startling fact, a joke, or an interesting observation Thesis statement must be clear and concise

4. Thesis Statement Do not use “I think/feel/believe…” State your opinion as fact Answer the question or address the prompt specifically

5. Thesis statement examples Good: The recent cyberbullying trend has become a major problem that needs to be addressed in schools. Bad: I think cyberbullying is a big deal. Good: Cyberbullying has become increasingly popular, but it is not the responsibility of schools to stop it. Bad: Schools shouldn’t tell kids not to be bullies because the parents aren’t doing their job to stop it.

6. Body Paragraphs These do not have to be organized by subtopics Your essay needs more than one body paragraph Each body paragraph is shaped like a mini- essay (topic sentence, details, transition)

7. Body Paragraphs Topic sent. Details Transition

8. Body Paragraphs It’s all about the details This is where you provide evidence Logical and/or factual Concrete is better than abstract Use a variety of sources

9. Body Paragraphs Anecdotes (real or fictional) Personal experience Famous quotations Historical events/people Books/movies Current events DO NOT MAKE UP FACTUAL INFO

10. Transitions The end of each body paragraph should flow into the topic sentence of the next Within paragraphs, use transitions between sentences (not necessarily all of them) Transitions make your essay more cohesive, rather than just a list of ideas strung together

11. Conclusion No need for a long paragraph, 2-3 sentences will work Refer to (but do not repeat) introduction Example: Cyberbullying has become an issue that schools have no choice but to address. Broad, no longer specific Do not introduce new ideas/info