2. How to Write an Effective Five Paragraph Persuasive Essay Yvonne Smith IDT - 7062 Click here to get started

3. Have you ever had to write a persuasive essay and you were not sure where to start? Are you tired of not getting a good grade on your essays? Writing an essay is not easy. Often times, students are asked to write persuasive essays and they do know how. In this tutorial, you will learn how to write a good persuasive essay that is sure to earn you an excellent grade. You will find step by step instructions on how to complete a 4 Square Graphic Organizer that can help you write a good first draft. Upon the completion of this tutorial, you should feel much more comfortable about writing persuasive essays. So, Let’s Get Started! Introduction Throughout this tutorial you will see navigation buttons to help you find your way. Use the following buttons to help you get around: Use this button to return to the beginning of the tutorial Use this button to return to the previous page of the tutorial Use this button to go to the next page of the tutorial Use this button to go directly to the Brainstorming Web

4. In order to write a good persuasive essay, you need an idea or topic. For the purposes of this tutorial, you will pretend that you are writing about cell phone usage at school. Here is your Writing Prompt: We live in a world where almost everyone has a cell phone. Even though cell phones are used by children and adults, children are not allowed to have them in school. Some people believe that cell phones should not be allowed in schools. Still others believe that cell phones can be used to help teach some curriculum standards. Do you have a cell phone? Do you believe you should be allowed to have your cell phone in school? Would you use your cell phone responsibly at school if given the opportunity? Use this topic to write a rough draft of a five paragraph persuasive essay. But first, Click on the movie reel below to watch a short video on cell phone usage in schools in Oklahoma. This video can help you take a stance on the issue. Now, take a stance on the topic. Are you for or against cell phone use at school?

5. Brainstorming The first step in writing a good persuasive essay is brainstorming. Brainstorming can help you come up with a bunch of ideas that you can choose from for your essay. You will need to come up with three reasons why you believe what you do. Completing a Brainstorming Web can help you get your ideas down on paper. Your teacher has given you a brainstorming graphic organizer. It looks like this. Let’s complete it. If you would like to listen to a teacher provide instructions on how to write a persuasive essay, click the video reel above!

6. First, write the position you took on cell phone usage at school in the “Topic” bubble in the middle of the page. Next, try to come up with five reasons why you believe in your topic statement. If you cannot think of five, make sure you at least come up with three. Please refer to the example on the left. Some of your ideas might be better than others. Take some time to look over your brainstorming web and think about which three are your strongest points. You should use the three strongest points to complete the next step. Use the information that you have gained from the brainstorming web to complete your 4 square graphic organizer on the next page. Students should not have cell phones at school. They could be used for cyber bullying They could get stolen They could distract you from doing your work They could be used to exchange inappropriate pictures They could be used to cheat.

7. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Now that you have some general ideas for writing your persuasive essay, the 4 Square Graphic Organizer on the left will help you with your prewriting and organization. This graphic organizer is an aid that can help you focus your writing. It can also help you with details and word choices. You should have a sheet that looks just like this one. Let’s complete it. Just like the Brainstorming Web, write your topic sentence (thesis statement) in the box in the middle of the page. Students should not have cell phones at school.

8. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. When completing the 4 squares, you should be writing in complete sentences. Write your first reason in the Reason #1 box. EXAMPLE: Students should not have cell phones at school because cell phones could distract you from doing your work.

9. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Write your second reason in the Reason #2 box. EXAMPLE: Students should not have cell phones at school because cell phones could be used for cyber bullying.

10. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Write your third reason in the Reason #3 box. EXAMPLE: Students should not have cell phones at school because cell phones can get stolen.

11. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. In the fourth box, you will summarize your three reasons. EXAMPLE: Cell phones in schools is a very controversial issue. Some people believe that cell phones should be allowed in school, but there are many bad things that can happen having cell phones at school. Having a cell phone at school could distract you from doing your work and your grades might suffer. Cell phones can also be used to cyber bully someone by sending inappropriate pictures or text messages. Cell phones can also get stolen at school and cost parents the unnecessary expense of buying another one.

12. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Next, you will need to write three details about each reason. When you finish writing details for each reason, chose one of the details from each box to elaborate on. EXAMPLE: Cell phones can be distracting and prevent you from completing assignments in class. Incomplete assignments can lead to dropped grades. Completing Assignments Teacher Instruction Class Participation

13. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Completing Assignments Teacher Instruction Class Participation Now that you have all of your reasons and have added the necessary details, it is time to choose transition words. Transition words will help your essay flow from one paragraph to the next. Some examples of Transitions words include: FOR EXAMPLE, DURING, BEFORE, EVEN THOUGH, FINALLY, NEXT, AS SOON AS. Draw a circle above each square and write your Transition word in it.

14. Now that you have your thesis statement, reasons, details, and transition words, it is now time to write your persuasive essay rough draft. Each square, including the thesis statement square in the middle will now become a separate paragraph. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Completing Assignments Teacher Instruction Class Participation

15. The Thesis Statement box should be used for the Introductory Paragraph. Don’t forget to use a hook to get the reader interested in reading your essay! The Reason #1 box should be used to write the second paragraph of your essay. Don’t forget to use your transition word! NOW BEGIN WRITING YOUR FIRST TWO PARAGRAPHS. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Completing Assignments Teacher Instruction Class Participation

16. The Reason #2 box should be used to write the third paragraph. Again, don’t forget your transition word. Next, the Reason #3 box should be used to write the fourth paragraph. Transition word please! NOW BEGIN WRITING THE THIRD AND FOURTH PARAGRAPHS. Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Completing Assignments Teacher Instruction Class Participation

17. The Summarize box will become the fifth and final paragraph of your persuasive essay. Don’t forget to add a final PUNCH to really persuade the reader to take your side! Reason #1Reason #2 Reason #3Summarize your 3 reasons Students should not have cell phones at school. Completing Assignments Teacher Instruction Class Participation

18. Rough Draft CONGRATULATIONS! You should now have a completed, rough draft of a five paragraph persuasive essay. Take a few minutes to reread your essay and make any necessary vocabulary, spelling and grammar changes. Make sure that you have taken a stand on the topic and that you have given your reasons in the introductory paragraph. Check paragraphs 2, 3 & 4 to make sure they support each reason you stated and check to see if you elaborated on a reason in each paragraph. Finally, make sure that your summary paragraph restates your reasons and that you began each paragraph with a transition word. Introductory Paragraph Second ParagraphThird paragraphFourth paragraphSummary paragraph