Writing a Persuasive Essay

Transcription

1 Writing a Persuasive Essay

2 First Steps Develop essential questions surrounding your topic! Research! Articles from credible Internet sources, books, journals, magazines, etc.

3 Evidence Evidence should support your reasons. (At least one piece of evidence for every reason.) Analogies Anecdotes Case studies Commonly accepted beliefs Examples Expert opinions Facts

4 Thesis (opinion) statement Clearly state your opinion on the issue! Use your thesis statement to help you focus your ideas as you plan and draft your essay! Clearly state the issue answer your essential questions!

5 Reasons Your reasons need to tell us/support why your position/thesis is correct! Logical appeal (LOGOS) speaks to readers commonsense and logic. Emotional appeal (PATHOS) speaks to readers hearts. Ethical appeal (ETHOS) speaks to readers sense of right and wrong.

6 Speaker and Context Paraphrasing or quotations should be offered with speaker and context before the paraphrase or quote! Brenda Platt of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance says, Studies have concluded that recycling costs less than traditional trash collection and disposal when communities achieve high levels of recycling. Romeo believes that fate, and not free will, is responsible for his situation; he screams, Damn thee stars! to curse his ill-fated love with Juliet.

7 SAID is dead! --- When USING a quote, avoid using says. Instead try one of these: offers allows comments argues articulates asserts utters conveys declares expresses vents shouts states affirms alleges negates avows holds

8 Audience: Your purpose when writing a persuasive essay is to convince the reader to share your opinion and/or to take the action you suggest. Things to think about to make your essay interesting to read. 1. What will make my audience care about the issue? 2. What concerns might my audience have? What might be their bias? 3. What solid information will my audience expect me to include in the essay?

9 Counterclaims Sometimes called counterarguments An objection to your argument Include at least one counterclaim in your essay! (Counterclaim) Example: People often object to recycling by saying that it costs too much. (evidence) Brenda Platt of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance says, Studies have concluded that recycling costs less than traditional trash collection and disposal when communities achieve high levels of recycling. (context) Therefore, people should understand that recycling actually saves money by reducing waste and by eliminating the costs that go along with solid-waste disposal and landfill cleanup.

10 Introduction Start with something that captures the theme and subject of your essay. A quote from the text, magazine, or a piece of literature, an interesting fact, statistic, historical event surrounding A personal connection to the topic be specific. Give specific details Tell a short story Give a startling statistic Ask a question Offer definitions, further explanation of the topics you will introduce later Offer your thesis--- THE LAST SENTENCE OF YOUR INTRO. PARAGRAPH!

11 Conclusion Restate thesis Explain final, concluding ideas (briefly summarize your points/beliefs) Offer brief concluding statement what we should learn or do (call to action) Offer personal insight, what you learned from this Do not bring up a new topic

12 Organization & Clarity Reread to make sure your paper: reads smoothly follows in a logical order from one idea to the next supports your thesis statement Uses transitions (for example, furthermore, for instance ) provides evidence that is relevant and clearly related to your issue has a call to action (optional, usually used in a persuasive essay) Edited for errors, and mizpeled wurdz, etc.