Persuasive Essay Notes #1

Persuasive Essay Notes-- #1

Overview:

· A persuasive essay attempts to convince readers to agree with the author’s position on an issue.

· As an author, you will convince readers by presenting at least 3 reasons why your position is the right one – you will explain each reason in a separate body paragraph.

· To truly convince readers, the author (you!) cannot simply state his or her own reasons. The author must also address the (at least partial) validity of an opposing view on the issue. This is called making a concession. (Ex: Granted, ice cream does contain an abundance of calories and fat, which, over time, can lead to increased rates of heart failure.)

· After making the concession, however, the author must swiftly oppose it. This opposition is called a rebuttal. (Ex: Despite this fact, ice cream is clearly delicious; it brings pleasure the lives of its consumers, a benefit beyond measure.)

· For our essay, your concession and rebuttal will appear in the 3rd body paragraph in conjunction with your third supporting reason.

· When writing a persuasive essay, the 1st person (I, me, my) should be used only when delivering a personal anecdote (a brief personal story). The 2nd person (you) should be avoided at all times!

Planning to Write a Persuasive Essay:

· Step 1: Read the prompt and decide what the issue in question is.

· Step 2: Create a T-chart. List arguments in support of the issue on one side and arguments against the issue on the other side, regardless of your initial feelings.

o REMEMBER: These arguments must be specific and DIFFERENT!

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· Step 3: Choose your position based on which side you have listed more strong arguments. (Remember, you will need at least 3!

· Step 4: Look at the other side of the chart. Choose which argument you will use to make a concession and rebuttal in your third paragraph and circle it. (Remember: it has to link up with one of the three reasons you chose in step 3.)

· Step 5: Order the arguments logically. Place number 1, 2, and 3 next to your arguments. Remember that 3 will have to go with the concession and rebuttal.

Sample Persuasive Essay -- Plan:

PROMPT: Uniforms have gained popularity in public schools across the United States. Should public schools require uniforms for all students?
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Persuasive Essay #1 -- Plan:

1. On a separate sheet of paper, rewrite the following prompt:

PROMPT: Over the past few decades, more and more women – even women with partners who earn a significant income – have pursued high-paying, demanding, professional careers. Should women who can afford to stay home with children pursue professional careers?

2. Using steps 1-5, create a complete T-chart plan (like the sample above) for the prompt.

Name: ______

Persuasive Essay Notes #2 – “Hooks” for Introductions

#1. Backing Up: Yesterday’s Assignment and Plan

PROMPT: Uniforms have gained popularity in public schools across the United States. Should public schools require uniforms for all students?

Uniforms – Yes! / Uniforms – No!
· maintains equality between students/ teachers and students
· safety from gangs and outsiders
· creates professional environment/ less distractions
· saves time for students in morning / · take away self-expression
· cost more (2 sets of clothing)
· reinforces school rivalries

#2. Introductions – Writing an Effective “Hook” : Five Strategies

1. Discuss a relevant anecdote (a brief story). To ease your reader into your topic, provide a short story about a personal experience or a general situation relevant to your topic. This is one of the few times that writing in the 1st person is acceptable.

*WARNING: Make sure your story is clearly linked to the topic you will discuss and is quite brief (about 2-4 sentences), otherwise your reader will become confused or distracted from the main topic.

Example:

My mother looked around in astonishment the first time we visited Mastery Charter High

School; the students were dressed exactly the same. At first she was nervous that I might have a hard time distinguishing myself, but it was not long before my achievements, attitude, and opinions set me apart from the rest.

2. Begin with a simile or metaphor. Use a comparison to connect your topic to another event or issue that the reader might have knowledge of. Make sure that the simile or metaphor you create is clearly linked to the topic.

*WARNING: Make sure to provide a brief explanation of the simile or metaphor that connects it to your argument.

Examples:

Uniforms are like national flags; they unite a group of people under a set of common beliefs and rules, and they display loyalty to a particular group.

Like national flags, uniforms signal a group’s loyalty and respect for a common set of beliefs and rules.

In schools, hospitals, and businesses across the country, workers and students wear uniforms, flags denoting their loyalty to a particular set of rules, values, or standards.

3. Provide a definition for a term that will be important to your argument. There is no need to use a dictionary – your own words will be more powerful.

*WARNING: Choose the term you define carefully. It should be clearly linked to your argument.

Examples:

The term “uniform” brings to mind negative associations for many teenagers, but in reality, “uniform” is a positive word that suggests consistency and equality.

Regardless of the context in which it is used, the word “uniform” denotes consistency and equality.

4. Provide imagery – carefully describe a specific image (like an object, person, scene or place) that is closely tied to your argument. Use sensory details – describe how the image looks, sounds, tastes, smells, and feels – and strong verbs and adjectives. You can build suspense by leaving the actual identity of the place/object/person/scene a mystery until the very end of the description.

*WARNING: Choose the image carefully – use it to gain the reader’s support for your argument.

Examples:

Young people walking the halls in clean, crisp white cotton shirts embossed with a tidy logo in blue lettering tucked into sleek dark pants that meet neatly laced black shoes: Mastery Charter School students embody professionalism everyday.

Eyes dart from shoes to headbands as young people swarm the hallways, sizing up the styles and worth of their peers’ outfits. Cliques form and cluster in separate areas – they don’t wear uniforms, but each group is easily identifiable based on their appearance.

5. Ask a rhetorical question ( and provide an ______linked to your argument). This question should NOT contain the word “you, and should NOT simply reword the prompt into a question. Use the question to steer your reader toward your argument.

Examples:

What does it take to create unity in a school with students from a wide variety of backgrounds? Effective uniform policies.

What is the key to student achievement? This is a question that administrators and teachers have asked themselves for decades. Ranking on their list of responses is student confidence; when students feel comfortable and safe in their environment, they are free to focus on academics.

Persuasive Essay Homework #2 – On a separate sheet of paper, write five different opening “hooks” for the essay prompt you planned for yesterday. Number and label each hook.

Name: ______

Persuasive Essay Notes #3 – Effective Introductions

A. An effective introduction should contain the following 4 components:

1. Hook

2. Background information

3. Thesis statement

4. Subtopics

B. Options and ideas for each component:

1. Hook

· Discuss a relevant anecdote

· Begin with a simile or metaphor

· Provide a definition for a word that will be important to your argument

· Provide a detailed description of an image

· Ask a rhetorical question

2. Background information

· Consider explaining one or more of the following:

o How your hook is linked to your argument (elaborate on your hook to lead into your argument)

o When/how the issue in question is, became, or is becoming important to discuss

o To which people is the issue in question important, and why

o How/whether the public’s view of the issue changed over the years, and why

o The primary opinions held by people – describe the two sides of the argument and who is usually on each side

3. Thesis Statement

· Clearly state your position on the issue

· DO NOT say “I believe” or “I think”

· DO NOT use the same exact words that were used in the prompt (avoid REP)

4. Subtopics

· List the 3-4 primary reasons that you will use to support the issue

· List them in the same order that you will discuss them in your essay

· Stay general – save specific examples for body paragraphs

· May use example and/or addition transitions to introduce subtopics

· May include a reference to your concession/rebuttal

Sample:

Plan:

PROMPT: Uniforms have gained popularity in public schools across the United States. Should public schools require uniforms for all students?

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makes low-income students comfortable
less $ for parents to spend
safety from gangs and outsiders
teach personal responsibility to students
less distractions
force students to self-express in new ways
creates professional environment / take away self-expression
makes diversity seem negative
less comfortable

Introduction: Label the parts…

Uniforms are like national flags; they unite a group of people under a set of common beliefs and rules, and they display loyalty to a particular group. They promote the type of unity that all students should benefit from. Historically, uniforms were usually only required by private schools – schools that only wealthy or highly exceptional students had the opportunity to attend. However, in recent years, they have gained popularity within public school systems. Uniforms are a strong addition to any school because of the benefits they bring to students, teachers, and administrators. Specifically, uniforms work to maintain equality between students and promote a higher level of safety within schools. Moreover, although many students complain that uniform policies hurt individuality, uniforms actually encourage students to express themselves in new ways.

Independent Practice:

· Re-work your plan (if necessary).

· Using your prompt, your plan, and your practice hooks, write an effective introduction that contains all 4 components.

· Submit your plan (the most updated version) and your introduction together on Monday.

Name: ______

Persuasive Essay Notes -- #4

Body Paragraph #1 Requirements:

Ø Topic statement

· May begin with sequence transition: first, primarily, to begin

· Restate subtopic #1 using different words

Ø Example #1 + Brief Elaboration

· Begin with example transition

· State example – reason, fact, statistic, anecdote

· Elaborate on example – discuss significance

Ø Example #2 + Brief Elaboration

· Begin with appropriate transition (may be: addition, comparison, contrast, effect)

· State example - reason, fact, statistic, anecdote

· Elaborate on example – discuss significance

Ø Commentary

· Begin with commentary transition (must refer to both)

· Explain how examples support topic statement AND thesis statement – make the link clear!

Backing Up:

Plan:

PROMPT: Uniforms have gained popularity in public schools across the United States. Should public schools require uniforms for all students?

Introduction:

Uniforms are like national flags; they unite a group of people under a set of common beliefs and rules, and they display loyalty to a particular group. In the past, uniforms were usually only required by private schools. However, in recent years, they have gained popularity within public schools. Uniforms are a strong addition to any school because they bring several benefits to students, teachers, and administrators. Specifically, uniforms benefit low-income students, guarantee a higher level of safety within the school, and encourage students to express themselves in new ways.

Body Paragraph #1: Label the parts…

To begin, uniforms help low-income students feel more comfortable in school. For example, low-income students may not be able to afford the latest styles, which are often quite expensive. Because a fashionable appearance is important to so many teenagers, high school students in particular, these students may feel less confident in school. Moreover, extremely low-income students who are forced to repeat outfits throughout the school week may get ridiculed by their peers, leaving them feeling isolated and sad. In both cases, low-income students may suffer lowered self-esteem, which certainly may impact their academic performance and their ability to make friends. Clearly, school uniform requirements would benefit these students by creating equality between them and their wealthier classmates.

Independent Practice:

· Continuing on from the plan and introduction you have already written, write the first body paragraph.

· Include all of the necessary components.

Name: ______

Persuasive Essay Notes -- #5

Body Paragraph #2 Requirements:

Ø Topic statement

· Provide a transition that builds on/links to the 1st body paragraph

Ø Not only…, but also… In addition to…

· Restate subtopic #2 using different words

Ø Example #1 + Brief Elaboration

· Begin with example transition

· State example – reason, fact, approximate statistic, anecdote

· Elaborate on example – discuss significance

Ø Example #2 + Brief Elaboration

· Begin with appropriate transition (may be: addition, comparison, contrast, effect)

· State example – reason, fact, approximate statistic, anecdote

· Elaborate on example – discuss significance

Ø Commentary

· Begin with commentary or conclusion transition – should be plural

· Explain how examples support topic statement and thesis statement

Backing Up…

Introduction: