OUTLINE FOR PERSUASIVE ESSAY

I. Introductory Paragraph

A. State your subject and your intention in writing about it. Identify
yourself and the audience you’re addressing.
B. Give three reasons that support your argument.
 1. ________________________________________
 2. ________________________________________
 3. ________________________________________
C. State your opinion in just a sentence or two.

II. Development Paragraph

A. Restate the first reason that supports your point of view.

Reason 1. _________________________________
B. Write sentences that give examples and details that support this
reason.
 1. ________________________________________
 2. ________________________________________
 3. ________________________________________
 4. ________________________________________
 5. ________________________________________
 6. ________________________________________

III. Development Paragraph

A. Restate the second reason that supports your point of view.

Reason 2. _________________________________
B. Write sentences that give examples and details that support this
reason.
 1. ________________________________________
 2. ________________________________________
 3. ________________________________________
 4. ________________________________________
 5. ________________________________________
 6. ________________________________________
IV. Development Paragraph

A. Restate the first reason that supports your point of view.

Reason 3. _________________________________
B. Write sentences that give examples and details that support this
reason.
 1. ________________________________________
 2. ________________________________________
 3. ________________________________________
 4. ________________________________________
 5. ________________________________________
 6. ________________________________________

V. Concluding Paragraph

A. Restate the subject of your essay.

B. Summarize how your reasons support your point of view.

C. Conclude with a summary of your opinion.

 PERSUASIVE ESSAY TECHNIQUES

Order of Information

Decide which of your arguments is most important. Then, begin with a clearly
defined statement of opinion, support that statement with convincing facts, and
end with your strongest ideas. Saving the best for last will create a more lasting
impact on your reader.

Analyze Facts and Examples

When writing a persuasive essay, include only the facts that support your
opinion. Omit facts that do not strengthen your argument.

Loaded Words

Always state your opinions and facts honestly, but look for ways to add impact to
your words. Loaded words carry an emotional impact and create a sense of
urgency. For example, Pollution is poisoning our planet.

Answer Objections

Think of objections that someone might raise against your ideas and provide
facts that refute these objections or tell how they can be overcome.
Grading Criteria
- Is your opinion clearly stated?
- Do you effectively persuade the reader?
- Is your opinion supported by specific details from the movie?
- Did you use strong writing skills?
- Did you include the required elements?
- Did you turn in a rough draft with evidence of revising and editing?
 PERSUASIVE WRITING

When you want your readers to agree with your opinion and to take actions that
you suggest, your writing should be persuasive. The guidelines below will help
you write to persuade others.

1. Identify what you want to persuade others to agree with.

2. Make a plan.

a. Write a sentence that tells your opinion.

b. List strong reasons and examples to support that opinion.
c. Think of arguments that your readers might make. Include
reasons that will overcome those objections.
d. Number your reasons in the order in which you will present them.
You can start with your strongest reason and end with the
least important one. Or you may decide to write the least
important reason first and build up to the most important one.
e. Write the suggested action your readers should take.

3. As you write and revise your work, ask yourself the following questions.

a. Did I state my opinion clearly at the start?

b. Did I give strong reasons and examples?
c. Are my reasons stated in an order that makes sense?
d. Did I stick to the topic?
e. Are my sentences clear and polite?
f. Have I ended with a sentence that sums up my position?

Houghton Mifflin Company, 1989

 EXAMPLE OF PERSUASIVE WRITING PLAN

OPINION: Students should participate in planning school lunch

menus.

REASONS: 1 Some meals are not popular.

- fish stew, brussel sprouts, custard
2 Some meals are repeated too often.
- macaroni and cheese every three days
3 Students pay for meals, so they should have some
say.
4 If students like something, they will eat it and
therefore get better nutrition.
5 A dietitian will supervise students’ choices to make
sure that food is still nutritious.

ACTION: Raise issue at next school board meeting. Us

Purpose: To write a paper to convince the reader he/she needs your
useless item.

Directions:
1. Decide on a topic (ex. a comb without teeth, an elevator that only goes
down, a piano without keys, etc.)

2. Make a list of 3 uses for this item. In other words, you are a salesperson
and you are trying to convince me to believe that I need this item. Order
the uses from the most convincing to the least convincing.

3. Write a title for your paper. Remember, you are a salesperson!!

4. Your job is to persuade me to really want this item. You have to make
me believe I cannot live without this good.

5. Introduction - Remember the ways we learned to write introductions.

When you are trying to persuade your parents to buy you something, or
let you do something, what tactics do you use?! Perhaps a question or a
series of adjectives would be a good way to start.

6. Body - Each use is a paragraph. You should elaborate on each use. Your
paper should be no less than 5 paragraphs!! Each paragraph in the
body should start with a question or a statement based on the use
you are about to reveal to the reader. Each paragraph should also have
an example.

7. Conclusion - You should review your uses. Tell the reader ,once again,
why they must have this item. Price is NOT part of this paper.

8. Your good copy must be typed and double spaced. In addition, you must
turn in your rough draft with evidence of thorough revising and editing.

9. You will need graphics to go with this piece. You could also use words to
decorate the page. Note: Your graphics can be hand drawn, from the
computer or cut out of magazines.
 Possible Student Teacher
Introduction:
- Introduces your topic 5 _______ _____

- Grabs our attention 5 _______ _____

Body:
- Minimum of 3 paragraphs 3 _______ _____

- Each use is a paragraph 3 _______ _____

- Each paragraph begins with a question 3 _______ _____

or statement based on use

- Each paragraph has an example 3 _______ _____

- Each paragraph describes the use 3 _______ _____

Conclusion:
- Review of uses for item 5 _______ _____

- Reminds the readers why they must

have this item 5 ______ _____

General:
- Title appropriate and attention getting? 3 _______ _____

- Includes graphics (art) 3 _______ _____

- Brainstorming 3 _______ _____

- Rough draft with revising and editing 5 _______ _____

- Teacher initialed before taking home to type 3 _______ _____

- Good copy typed, double spaced 5 _______ _____

- Name on paper (not as an afterthought) 3 _______ _____

- Used class time wisely 5 _______ _____

- Complete sentences and accurate spelling, 15 _______ _____

grammar, punctuation, punctuation

- PSSA rubric score 20 _______ _____

Total 100
NAME: ____________________________

GUIDELINES FOR PERSUASIVE WRITING

S State your subject

A Know your audience
Y Identify yourself

I Know your intention. Why are you writing?

T Decide on the tone.

Read the paragraph below.

A NAME OF YOUR OWN

If you don’t like your name, you should have the right to choose a new one. As
a child who at birth was named Ebeneezer Cratchinottom Pelonious
Smithwhithers, I can attest to the importance of this right. If all of us who do
not like our names form a committee, we may be able to convince lawmakers to
make Name Change a guaranteed right of kids over the age of eight.

Answer the following questions about the paragraph, in order to determine if the
paragraph adheres to the guidelines at the top of the paper:

S What is the subject?

A Who is the audience?
Y Writer, identify yourself!
I What is the writer’s intention?
T What is the tone?
Name: __________________________

Directions: Read the paragraph below. Note that the first

sentence states the writer’s opinion, but the other
sentences are out of order; that is, they don’t
follow logical sequence.

Rearrange the sentences in the order you believe

makes the most logical paragraph.

(1) Animal shelters are overcrowded because many pet owners are
irresponsible. (2) They bring these animals to the shelter. (3) For example, a
family may buy a cat or dog without thinking ahead of time about the care the
animal requires. (4) Many abandoned pets have to be put to sleep there
because of the thoughtlessness of their original owners. (5) Or the owner may
fail to get the pet neutered and then become upset by an unwelcome litter of
kittens or puppies.
Name:_______________________

Directions:

1. Choose a partner.
2. Each partner lists, on one profile page, what she or he considers her or
his own talents and best qualities, and on the second profile page, the
partner’s talents and best qualities.
3. Give your partner the profile page you wrote about him/her.
4. Skim and then discuss the following with your partner:
- What two points of view do the two profiles present?
- What’s different about the profiles? What’s the same?
- Is there anything that surprises you in your partner’s profile of you? Is
there anything that you disagree with?
- What do you learn by studying another person’s view of you?
5. Write two paragraphs. In the first one, use the details from your self-
profile. In the second paragraph, use the details from your partner’s
profile of you. The title for your piece should be “All About Me”.
6. Write a third paragraph from the point of view of someone else, such as
that of a pet, a parent, or a neighbor.
7. Share your pieces in small groups.
Name: ____________________________

Directions:

1. Fill in the profile sheet about your partner.

2. Choose one profile item (for example: Lucinda helps other kids) and put
it in the center of a cluster. If the profile item is a fact, you will be able to
supply several supporting examples.

3. Organize a fact-example cluster, with a minimum of 3 examples for the

fact. See example below:

4. Create a persuasive paragraph about your partner, using your fact-

example cluster.

1st sentence: State the fact at the center of your cluster.

Sentences 2,3,4,5 (etc.): State the supporting examples.
Final Sentence: State how your fact is supported by your
examples.

Sample paragraph:

Lucinda helps other kids. For example, she made a new student, Yves,
feel welcome in our classroom. When Clara was sick, Lucinda kept her up-to-
date with what was going on at school. On another occasion, Lucinda took time
out to help me rescue my cat. Finally, when Jana lost her lunch, Lucinda was
the first to say, “Share my lunch!” All of these are examples of how Lucinda is
always quick to help other people.

5. Have another student look at your paragraph and discuss the following
with him/her:

- Is the fact stated clearly?

- Do the examples support the fact?
- Do the examples tell about events or situations that can be
verified, or checked, by other people?
A persuasive speech expresses an opinion and tries to convince the listener that
his/her opinion is correct. The objective of this speech is to convince the listener
to think or act in the same manner as yourself.

When you speak to persuade, you should choose a topic or an issue which truly
interests you and your audience. You need to have a definite opinion about the
topic. This is so that you can convince the listener to feel the same as yourself.
You must make the issue clear to your listeners and include specific facts and
reasons that will give strong support to your opinion.

Topic Due: ____________

Library research dates: ____________ ____________

____________ ____________

Classroom work dates: ____________ ____________

____________ ____________

____________

Speech Due: ____________

Parent/Guardian Signature: ____________________________

Student Signature: _________________________

Directions:

1. Choose a topic of interest to you.

2. List at least 5 reasons which will be the basis of your speech.

Each reason should be broad enough so that you can develop an entire
paragraph to support it. It will be written in the format below. If you
can not come up with 5 reasons, then you need to pick a new topic.

3. Research your topic. You will need to gather facts or statistics

from books, credible people, AOL, WWW, newspapers, personal
experience, etc. You may choose to gather statistics from taking a poll of
the class. You must include specific examples in your speech.

4. You must include a bibliography. Attached is the format required for

various resources. This must be a separate page, organized alphabetically
by author, attached at the back of your speech.

5. Think of arguments that your audience might make. Include

reasons that will overcome those objections.

6. Write out your speech.

Introduction: - Grab our attention Make it interesting

- Introduce your topic.
 Body: - Includes at least 5 paragraphs.
- Each reason stated needs to be written as
a paragraph with effective topic sentence.
- Within each paragraph, you must have a
statistic, fact or quote.
- You also need to state your opinion.
- Feel free to make comparisons to another
similar item or topic, but never mention
information that opposes your viewpoint.

Conclusion: - When you end your speech, be sure your

closing is interesting, relates to your
topic and finishes with a strong point. -
Don’t forget that you want your audience to
remember your points and believe that your
opinion is correct.

7. Check the organization of your speech. You can start

with your strongest reason and end with the least important one, or
you may decide to write the least important reason first and build up to
the most important one, because people tend to remember the last
reason they heard.

8. As you write and revise your work, ask yourself the following
questions:

a. Did I state my opinion clearly at the start?

b. Did I give strong reasons and examples?
c. Are my reasons stated in an order that makes
sense?
d. Did I stick to my topic?
e. Are my sentences clear?
f. Have I ended with a sentence that sums up my
position?

9. Good copy should be typed. If this is a problem, see the teacher to

schedule time at lunch or advisory. Remember to include your name,
section and a title on the top of the speech.

10. Make up index cards, in outline format for your speech. Only the
first and last sentences may be written out. You may choose to memorize
your speech, but you must still have notecards in phrases.

11. Creativity counts. You should use props to spice up your speech. You
can earn up to 5 extra credit points for the extra effort you put into
creativity.

12. Remember to Practice!!

 POSSIBLE TOPICS

Topics:

1. Don’t allow in-line skaters to use sidewalks

2. Go on a vacation somewhere
3. Participate in an event
4. Give money to charity
5. Wear a seatbelt
6. Don’t ride with someone who drinks
7. Follow bike safety rules
8. Don’t hunt endangered animals
9. Support gun control
10. Stay in school
11. Satellite (or cable) is better
12. Eat healthy
13. Stay in shape
14. Use public transportation
15. Adopt a dog
16. Change lunch menu
17. Take care of our teeth
18. Don’t smoke
19. Convince us to hire you to do a job
20. Fine parents when their children skip school
21. Weekend curfews for teenagers
22. Use of beepers or cell phones by students in school
23. Require students to learn a second language
24. School dress code
25. Cell phone use when driving a car
26. Convince us to let you do something
27. Create a product and convince us to buy it
29. Convince us that a product is the best
(ex. coke vs. pepsi)
30. Don’t hunt deer.
31. Vote for a certain candidate
32. Topic of your choice - must be approved by teacher
Name: ________________________________ Rotation: ______________

Topic: ________________________________

Persuasive Speech Rubric

Possible Points

5 Excellent 4 Very Good 3 Good 2 Fair 1 Poor

A. Introduction

- Interesting/ 5 4 3 2 1
Captures attention

- Introduces topic 5 4 3 2 1

B. Body

- Each paragraph has 5 __________

an effective topic sentence
introducing the reason

- Each paragraph has 1 5 __________

different fact

- Each paragraph has 1 opinion 5 __________

- Demonstrates topic 5 __________

understanding by including
different supporting details
(does not mention opposing positions)

- Told in orderly fashion 5 __________

(sentences and paragraphs
flow from 1 point to next)

C. Closing
- Interesting & relates to topic 5 4 3 2 1

- Ends with a strong & convincing 5 4 3 2 1

final statement

D. Delivery 5 4 3 2 1
 (eye contact, volume, inflection and pace)

E. Prepared - practiced 5 4 3 2 1

F. Time limit (1 - 5 minutes) 5 4 3 2 1

(minus 1 point for each 30 seconds under or over)

G. Writing process used

- 2 typed good copies 5 4 3 2 1

- Rough draft 5 4 3 2 1
(revised and edited)

- Included proper heading 5 4 3 2 1

and title.

Loss of points for:

lateness (one letter grade for each day late) and misuse of class time
 EXAMPLE TOPIC
Don’t Try Smoking
6 reasons: costly lose friends
health hazard illegal
addictive affect your appearance

Sample introductory paragraph:

Smoking is a bad habit that everyone should try to avoid. There are a
number of reasons why you should never try smoking. They range from the
obvious reasons, such as the cost, health hazards, and the addictiveness of
the drug to how it will affect your personal life. We must also remember one
very simple fact; it is illegal for anyone under 18.

Information on topic #3:

Statistic: 1988 report by the American Cancer Society

found smoking to be as addictive a drug as other
addictive substances in its ability to induce
dependence.

Opinion: I know many people who know that smoking is

harmful, and would like to quit but just don’t
seem to be able to quit. It is quite obvious that
they are addicted to the drug - nicotine.

Sample body paragraph:

The third reason children should never try smoking is the fact that it
is a highly addictive drug. The desire for a cigarette can seem to take over
your life. In a 1988 report by the American Cancer Society, nicotine was
found to be as addictive a drug as other addictive substances in its ability to
induce dependence. Never underestimate the power of nicotine! Many
children start with the idea that if they just try it a few times, they will be
able to stop anytime they want. I personally know many people who want to
quit, realize it is bad for them, but just don’t seem to be able to stop. In my
opinion, the best defense against smoking is to never start.
Worksheet

Reason One

statement:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

fact, figure, or statistic: (remember to record resource information for bibliography)

_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

opinion:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Reason Two

statement:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

fact, figure, or statistic: (remember to record resource information for bibliography)

______________________________________________________[______

__________________________________________________________

opinion:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________
 Worksheet

Reason Three

statement:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

fact, figure, or statistic:(remember to record resource information for bibliography)

_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

opinion:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

Reason Four

statement:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

fact, figure, or statistic:(remember to record resource information for bibliography)

_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

opinion:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________
Reason Five

statement:

_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

fact, figure, or statistic:(remember to record resource information for bibliography)

_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________

opinion:
_____________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________