Writing a Persuasive Essay Following the Formula.

Writing a Persuasive EssayFollowing the Formula

What is a persuasive essay?•Takes a position on a topic (you state your opinion)

•Provides evidence to support your position

Facts, statistics, anecdotes

•Written to persuade your reader

Step 1 - TOFA•Actually write out all four parts of the prompt before you begin prewriting.

Topic

Opinion

Format

Audience

Step 2 - Prewriting•Use a chart (pros and cons list) to determine your position (opinion).

•Choose which opinion will be most effective.

•Brainstorm a list of evidence (facts, statistics, & anecdotes) to support your opinion (3-4 for your essay).

Step 3 – Thesis Statement•Thesis = Opinion statement

•Determine which reasons or arguments are strongest (3-4).

•Take your opinion and add these reasons or arguments to develop a thesis statement.

•Remember, your thesis statement is the LAST sentence in your introduction paragraph.

Step 4 – Organizational Plan• Use a graphic organizer or an outline to create a plan for your essay.

Persuasion map

Outline

Other graphic organizer

• Include evidence on your organizational plan.

Anecdotes

Facts

Statistics

Step 5 – Introduction Paragraph• Attention Grabber (1-2 sentences)

• Information about the topic (2-3 sentences)

• Thesis Statement (1 sentence)

Attention Grabber

•An interesting fact

•A quote from a famous person or from someone you know

•A related anecdote

•A sensory rich description

Attention Grabber - NOTS

Do not begin your essay with any version of:

• Your opinion

• The topic / prompt

• A generic statement or question

Examples: Most people have faced challenges in their life.

Everyone should volunteer.

Have you ever failed at something?

• In this essay, I am going to tell you about…

Information About the Topic

• No more than 2-3 sentences

• Include any background information about the subject

• Explain the topic / prompt

• Use words from the prompt

• Assume the reader doesn’t know what the

prompt is.

Step 6 – Body Paragraphs

• Each paragraph needs to include

Main idea sentence – one argument / reason

Supporting sentences that include your evidence (facts,

statistics, & anecdotes)

• Need to address counterclaims

Within each body paragraph OR

As a separate body paragraph

Evidence

• Strong evidence (facts, statistics, anecdotes) creates a

strong argument.

• Do not use hypotheticals – “Ifs”

Hypotheticals are not strong arguments.

Create a story out of the hypothetical to make it stronger.

• Avoid generalizations.

• Use personal anecdotes whenever possible.

Counterclaims

• Imagine someone who disagrees with you. Address

that point-of-view and give reasons why someone

might hold that view.

• Do not dismiss the opposite view as being stupid.

• Tell why they are wrong using specific evidence.

Make sure you restate why your point-of-view is

correct.

Step 7 – Conclusion Paragraph

• Do not restate your thesis word-for-word.

• Include

A call to action

A solution to the problem, and/or

A final appeal

• Do not just summarize your essay.

• Leave the reader with a strong impression.

Step 8 – Revise, Edit, Proofread

• Check for & mark out the word “you”.

• Eliminate any unnecessary information.

• Underline your thesis statement. Check for all four

parts.

• Underline the main idea sentence in each body

paragraph.

• Make sure your evidence is specific & personal.

Modeling & Practice

Modeling & PracticePrompt 38

In his book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, Robert Fulghum lists these simple lessons: put things back where you found them, play and work some every day, hold hands and stick together. Do you agree or disagree that these lessons apply to life today? Or is life too complicated for such simplicity? Take a position on the issue. Support your response with reasons and examples.

PracticeStep 1 – TOFA

T – Simple lessons for life

O – Do the simple lessons we learned in kindergarten apply to life today, or is life too complicated for

these lessons?

F – Persuasive essay

A – Hidden

ModelingStep 2 – Prewriting - ChartSimple lessons Life is too complicated

Put things back where you found them

It’s not always that easy – environment, feelings, health.

Play and work some every day

Most adults (and teenagers, too) have too much work to do to to be able to play some every day.

Hold hands and stick together

Sometimes, the best thing you can do is to let go of someone.

PracticeStep 2 – Prewriting - ChartSimple lessons Life is too complicated

Put things back where you found them

Play and work some every day

Hold hands and stick together

ModelingStep 2 – Prewriting - Evidence1. Reason 1 - Put things back where you found them

Everyone - Recycling My family around the house Students / myself at school

2. Reason 2 - Play and work some every day Good balance When I have too much work or when I don’t work at all My dad – too much work / stress

3. Reason 3 - Hold hands and stick together Taking care of my friends and family When my friends and family supported me through cancer (or

another challenge)

PracticeStep 2 – Prewriting - Evidence1. Reason 1 -

Anecdote 1 Anecdote 2 Anecdote 3

2. Reason 2 - Anecdote 1 Anecdote 2 Anecdote 3

3. Reason 3 - Anecdote 1 Anecdote 2 Anecdote 3

ModelingStep 3 – Thesis Statement• DO NOT include “I think,” “I feel,” or “I believe.”

• Opinion + reason 1, reason 2, and reason 3.

Although life is very complicated these days, I believe people

can apply these simple lessons to life today because we

should always put things back where they belong, we should

work and play every day for good balance, and we should take

care of one another.

PracticeStep 3 – Thesis StatementDO NOT include “I think,” “I feel,” or “I believe.”

If you include any of these, make sure you delete them before you put it in your introduction paragraph.

Your opinion because reason 1, reason 2, and

reason 3.

ModelingStep 4 – Organizational Plan

persuasion map example.pdf

PracticeStep 4 – Organizational Plan

Complete an organizational plan using either the persuasion map or the persuasive essay diagram.

ModelingStep 5 – Introduction ParagraphAttention grabber -

I only remember a few things from kindergarten. The

most vivid memory I have is hitting my head on the toilet

paper holder and having to get stitches. Another vivid

memory I have is getting out my blanket and pillow from my

cubby to take a nap. I miss those naps. Life was much more

simple back then.

ModelingStep 5 – Introduction ParagraphInformation about the topic -

Robert Fulghum wrote his book All I Really Need to Know I

Learned in Kindergarten about how the simple lessons we

learned as children can be applied to life today. As I grow

older, life seems to get more complicated.

ModelingStep 5 – Introduction ParagraphThesis Statement -

However, people can apply these simple lessons to life

today because we should always put things back where

they belong, work and play every day for good balance, and

take care of one another.

PracticeStep 5 – Introduction Paragraph

Write your own introduction paragraph using all three parts:

•Attention grabber

• Information about the topic

•Thesis statement

ModelingStep 6 – Body Paragraph 1

Life would be so much easier if everyone put things back where

they found them. At home, I often find clean clothes in the dirty clothes

hamper, games in the living room floor, or dirty dishes on the end table

in the living room. I am just as guilty as my kids and my husband; I do

not always put my shoes back in my closet or clean up the bathroom

sink after I get ready in the mornings. However, if everyone at home

took care to put everything back in its proper place, our home would be

much neater, and we would not have as many arguments. Since we are

constantly looking for lost keys or shoes or coats, we might even be

able to get places on time if we all put things back where they belong.

ModelingStep 6 – Body Paragraph 2

The stress in our lives would be greatly reduced if we all strived

for a good balance between work and play. As a working mother, I

find it difficult to find time for things I enjoy, like playing with my kids,

reading, or photography. Most days, I spend most of my time going

from one task to another. However, this schedule is not good for my

mental well-being, and I am not a good teacher or mother when I am

too stressed. I get frustrated very easily and will yell or snap at

anyone who adds to my stress. If I took time every day to relax and

do something I enjoy, I could be a better mother, wife, teacher, and

friend.

ModelingStep 6 – Body Paragraph 3

We would all be happier and healthier if we looked out for one

another and stuck together. I have endured many challenges in my

life, and my family and true friends have supported me through

them all. When I had cancer, for example, several of my friends got

together and coordinated meals for my family. Once or twice a

week, one of my friends brought over a full meal for my family.

Because I was undergoing radiation, I was tired all of the time.

These meals gave me a night to just relax when I got home. This

simple rule, hold hands and stick together, has helped me through

some difficult times.

PracticeStep 6 – Body Paragraphs

Write your own body paragraphs.

• Make sure your first sentence is your reason stated as the main idea for the paragraph.

• Make sure your supporting sentences contain evidence (anecdotes) that is specific and personal.

ModelingStep 6 – Body Paragraph 4 - Counterclaim

To some, these lessons may seem too simple for today’s

complicated world. As I have grown older, life has gotten more

difficult, to be sure. We live in a selfish, fast-paced society where we

are pressured to be doing something every minute of every day. It

seems there is not enough time in the day to worry about putting

things back where they belong or to take the time to relax or even to

take care of each other beyond sending a brief text message.

However, it is important to slow down each day and remember why

we exist. Focusing on these simple lessons will help my family do just

that.

PracticeStep 6 – Body Paragraph - Counterclaim

Write your own counterclaim paragraph.

• Make sure to include a main idea sentence.

• Make sure to address the opposite opinion and tell why it is incorrect.

ModelingStep 7 – Conclusion

I want to teach my children to have respect for their

belongings, for their own health, and for one another. To

help in this quest, these simple lessons, putting things back

where they belong, working and playing some every day,

and holding hands and sticking together, will guide my kids

on their journey through life.

PracticeStep 7 – Conclusion

Write your own conclusion paragraph.

• Make sure to include one of the following: Call to action Final appeal Solution to the problem

• Make sure to restate your opinion.

Editing & Revising

Addressing the ReaderDo not use “you” in your essays, unless it is used in dialogue or in creative writing. You don’t know your reader.

You Your You’re Y’all

Do Not Use

•Contractions

•Abbreviations

•Slang – Teen-speak

•Colloquialisms

Words to Avoid•Things

•A lot / lots

•Stuff

•Anyway

•Everything / Nothing

•Fine

•So

•Nice

•Good / Bad

•Many

•Really

•Very

•Love / Hate

•Always / Never

Non-Words

•Ain’t

•Kinda

•Gonna / Gunna

•Coulda

•Wanna

•Alot

•Hafta / Half to

•Shoulda

Sentence Starters to Avoid•Well,

•So,

•First,

•Second,

•Third,

• In my opinion,

•Also,

•And also,

•Lastly,

•Finally,

• In conclusion,

• I think, I feel, I believe