This document provides instructions on how to write a persuasive essay. It explains that a persuasive essay attempts to convince the reader of a particular position on a topic. The document outlines the key components of a persuasive essay, including an introduction with a hook or grabber, a three-part thesis statement, three body paragraphs providing evidence and support for each part of the thesis, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and calls the reader to action. Transition words and avoiding weak "STOP" words are also addressed. An example prompt and outline is provided to demonstrate how to structure a persuasive essay.
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This document provides instructions on how to write a persuasive essay. It explains that a persuasive essay attempts to convince the reader of a particular position on a topic. The document outlines the key components of a persuasive essay, including an introduction with a hook or grabber, a three-part thesis statement, three body paragraphs providing evidence and support for each part of the thesis, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and calls the reader to action. Transition words and avoiding weak "STOP" words are also addressed. An example prompt and outline is provided to demonstrate how to structure a persuasive essay.
This document provides instructions on how to write a persuasive essay. It explains that a persuasive essay attempts to convince the reader of a particular position on a topic. The document outlines the key components of a persuasive essay, including an introduction with a hook or grabber, a three-part thesis statement, three body paragraphs providing evidence and support for each part of the thesis, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and calls the reader to action. Transition words and avoiding weak "STOP" words are also addressed. An example prompt and outline is provided to demonstrate how to structure a persuasive essay.
Copyright:
Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
This document provides instructions on how to write a persuasive essay. It explains that a persuasive essay attempts to convince the reader of a particular position on a topic. The document outlines the key components of a persuasive essay, including an introduction with a hook or grabber, a three-part thesis statement, three body paragraphs providing evidence and support for each part of the thesis, and a conclusion that restates the thesis and calls the reader to action. Transition words and avoiding weak "STOP" words are also addressed. An example prompt and outline is provided to demonstrate how to structure a persuasive essay.
Copyright:
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
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How to Write a Persuasive Essay
You noticed that Patrick Henrys Speech to the Virginia Convention is a persuasive speech. In other words, he wished to make people feel and believe the way he did about a topic he considered important. Today, you will be writing a persuasive essay, one in which you will attempt to get people to feel the way you do. Its important to practice writing persuasive essays because when you are a junior, you will have to write a persuasive essay on the ACT. ACT graders will be looking for specific things in your essay, so today well take some notes on how to effectively structure a persuasive essay. Transition Words STOP Words I think I feel I believe It seems
Firstly, Secondly, Lastly
Another reason, However, Also, In addition, Therefore, In Conclusion
If you find yourself wanting to use a STOP word^^ just take it out of the sentence. Without a stop word, your sentence will be much stronger. Practice Prompt (This will NOT be the topic your essay is about, this is just an example to do as a class): Should students go to high school year round? Why or why not? Offer specific details to support your position. Well start by taking a position. Write our position in a complete sentence.
Position: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Now that we have our position, we can write our introduction. Our introductory paragraph should begin with a hook or grabber that catches the readers attention. Grabbers include: -Opening with an unusual detail. (A snail can sleep for up to three years) -Opening with a strong statement. (Cigarettes are the number one cause of lighter sales in Canada).
-Opening with a Quotation. (Vince Lombardi, a legendary coach of the Green
Bay Packers, once said, The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.) -Opening with an anecdote. ONLY IF its short and to the point. Never use I in a persuasive essay. (Thomas Edison once designed a helicopter that would work with gunpowder. The helicopter ended up blowing up and also blew up his factory.) -Opening with a statistic or fact. It might be wise to include the statistics source. (According to the American Cancer Society, one out of every three people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their life.) -Opening with a question. (Have you ever considered how many more books we would read if not for television?) -Opening with an exaggeration or outrageous statement. (The entire American nation was glued to their televisions as news teams covered the attacks on the World Trade Center.) Your first sentence of your essay is your hook.
Hook/Grabber: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ After our hook comes our thesis statement! Your thesis is your statement of purpose and should be one sentence in length. This is the foundation of your essay and will guide the rest of your paragraphs. This sentence will tell your reader Ive thought about this topic, I know what I believe about it, and I know how to organize it. To help with organization were going to write what is called a three part thesis. First we state our position and then offer three reasons why our position is right.
Thesis: Students __________ have to go to high school year round
because (1)________________________________________, (2refutation)__________________________________________ and (3)___________________________________________________. Now youre ready to start your body paragraphs. Your body paragraphs provide evidence to support the opinion offered in your thesis. Your body will consist of THREE paragraphs. Each paragraph is based on a solid reason, referring back to your thesis. This is why were using a three part thesis. Each body paragraph will refer to one part of your thesis.
Body Paragraph 1
Your Body Paragraphs will start with a transition, then have a topic sentence, and then two to three supporting details. In the essay youll be writing, at least one of these supporting details in each paragraph will need to be a citation from an article. When we use quotes we need to introduce the citation, cite the material, and then explain how it relates to your topic sentence. Why is it important? How does this citation prove your argument?
statement) ________________________________________________ because, (First part/reason of thesis) ___________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Supporting Detail: ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ Body Paragraph 2 (Refutation): Our second point is going to be our refutation. Strong arguments acknowledge the opposing viewpoint. Without acknowledging the opposing side, you can only hope to score a 6 out of 12 on the ACT. Place yourself in the shoes of the opposing side, offer what they might argue and then offer why your position is better.
Conclusion: In our conclusion, we want to begin with a transition and restate our thesis. We also want to make a call to action. Now that someone has read your essay, what should they do?
