Persuasive EssaysPersuasive Essays

HookHook: Beginning your essay: Beginning your essay Think about the purpose of your opening.Think about the purpose of your opening.

An opening needs to serve several purposes:An opening needs to serve several purposes:*It lets the reader know what your topic is, in a *It lets the reader know what your topic is, in a general way.general way.*It *It cancan let the reader know what you have to say let the reader know what you have to say about that topic.about that topic.*It "hooks" the reader into your essay, intriguing *It "hooks" the reader into your essay, intriguing the reader, drawing the reader onward.the reader, drawing the reader onward.

Writing a Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is a sentence that states your arguable claim on a certain topic and the reasons you plan to use to support your claim.

It offers your readers a quick and easy to follow summary of what the paper will be discussing and what you as a writer are setting out to tell them.

A thesis statement is a very specific statement -- it should cover only what you want to discuss in your paper, and must be supported with specific evidence in the body of the essay.

Trained readers will expect to see your thesis at the end of the first paragraph of an essay. This placement makes your thesis easy to find and will give your readers a clear idea of what to expect.

HookHook Begin with an example.Begin with an example. Specific things intrigue us; general Specific things intrigue us; general

things bore us. An illustration that you might ordinarily use things bore us. An illustration that you might ordinarily use as evidence elsewhere in a paper might make a good, as evidence elsewhere in a paper might make a good, intriguing lead. Follow this up with the more general intriguing lead. Follow this up with the more general statements, and you've got as "one-two punch" opening that statements, and you've got as "one-two punch" opening that serves your purposes.serves your purposes.

Ex: Last year I received the most memorable gift of my Ex: Last year I received the most memorable gift of my life. When I unwrapped the silver bow Christmas life. When I unwrapped the silver bow Christmas morning I was astonished to find a whimpering, cuddly morning I was astonished to find a whimpering, cuddly new puppy. The smile on my face was as wide as the new puppy. The smile on my face was as wide as the ocean. ocean.

Begin with a quote.Begin with a quote. Works the same way. Works the same way. Ex: Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store Ex: Remember, the greatest gift is not found in a store

nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends.nor under a tree, but in the hearts of true friends. Ex: A book is a gift you can open again and again.Ex: A book is a gift you can open again and again.

Tell ‘em what your gonna tell Tell ‘em what your gonna tell ‘em‘em

(INTODUCTORY PARAGRAPH/ Thesis)(INTODUCTORY PARAGRAPH/ Thesis) Topic SentenceTopic SentenceThe topic sentence introduces your essayThe topic sentence introduces your essay.. A. Supporting detail sentence # 1A. Supporting detail sentence # 1(first reason)(first reason) B. Supporting Detail Sentence # 2B. Supporting Detail Sentence # 2(second reason)(second reason) C. Supporting Detail Sentence # 3C. Supporting Detail Sentence # 3(third reason)(third reason)

Hint: pay attention to the colors.Hint: pay attention to the colors.

If I could choose to be any age, I would choose to be twenty seven years old. There are several reasons I would choose to be this age. (1)Once I am twenty seven, I will have been working a consistent job for a few years. (2) I will own my own home and be able to enjoy the freedom and privacy owning your own home brings.(3) I also would have a large portion of my bills paid off.

Introductory ParagraphIntroductory Paragraph Remember when you list your supporting details (reasons), Remember when you list your supporting details (reasons),

you need three separate sentences)you need three separate sentences) What not to do:What not to do: The reasons I would like to visit Hawaii are: to go surfing, The reasons I would like to visit Hawaii are: to go surfing,

to see the volcanoes, and to eat new and different food.to see the volcanoes, and to eat new and different food. Though the above sentence is a nice sentence, your Though the above sentence is a nice sentence, your

reasons need to be separated.reasons need to be separated. What to do:What to do: There are several reasons I would like to visit Hawaii. The There are several reasons I would like to visit Hawaii. The

first reason I would like to visit is to go surfing on the ocean first reason I would like to visit is to go surfing on the ocean waves. The second reason I would like to visit Hawaii is to waves. The second reason I would like to visit Hawaii is to see the beautiful landscape and monstrous volcanoes. The see the beautiful landscape and monstrous volcanoes. The final reason I would like to experience a vacation in Hawaii final reason I would like to experience a vacation in Hawaii would be to devour the delicious island cuisine. would be to devour the delicious island cuisine.

Tell ‘emTell ‘em(Body Paragraphs)(Body Paragraphs)

A. Supporting Detail Sentence # 1A. Supporting Detail Sentence # 1(The reason from paragraph 1)(The reason from paragraph 1)1. Supporting Sentence1. Supporting Sentence(a reason for the reason)(a reason for the reason)2. Supporting Sentence2. Supporting Sentence(another reason for your reason)(another reason for your reason)3. Supporting Sentence3. Supporting Sentence (another reason for your reason) (another reason for your reason) 3 Supporting Paragraphs3 Supporting Paragraphs

The first reason I would choose to be twenty seven would be that I will have been teaching for a few years, so I would feel comfortable in my position. (1)After teaching for a few years, I will have accumulated many of the materials I would need for teaching. (2) I will have also worked out many of the kinks in my teaching style. (3)Once I have a few years of experience under my belt, I will be able to be a far better teacher.

Next, I would like to be twenty seven because I will hopefully own my own home. (1)When I was growing up, every house my family lived in was under construction. I never lived in a finished home. (2) It was stressful and hard to live in the mess and the noise of construction. (3) I would like to buy a town home, so I have a place of my own but I don’t have to do much of the matinence myself.

Finally, I will be able to have my finances in order. My college career has been quite an expense. (1) I have accumulated student loans, and money can be a very stressful thing. (2) Hopefully, once I am twenty seven, I will have a good start on paying off my debt and have my own efficient way of managing my money. (3) I would like to be able to have enough in savings to plan for the future and travel often.

Tell ‘em What you told ‘emTell ‘em What you told ‘em(Conclusion)(Conclusion)

A. Restate (re-word) your first paragraphA. Restate (re-word) your first paragraph Find a way to re-tell exactly what you told Find a way to re-tell exactly what you told

them in the first paragraph.them in the first paragraph.

In conclusion, though being twenty two is fun, and my life is certainly taking a turn for the better, I still would like to be more financially stable. First of all, at twenty seven I will have been in my profession for four solid years and will have acquired more wisdom. Second, I will have a home to call my own and be able to host dinner parties and other occasions with friends and family. Finally, I will not have to worry about money nearly as much, which will lead me to be a far more serene person.

PPEEEE Strategy StrategyYes, we are goingPEE today!

P- State your POINT (what you are going to argue; the point you’re trying to make)

E- EVIDENCE (your evidence is what you are “quoting” from the text)

E- EXPLAIN (explain how the quote helps prove your point. How do the P and the first E connect?)

Your Body ParagraphsYour Body Paragraphs

Your 3 body paragraphs will need to be in the form of PEE paragraphs. You will use evidence from the graphic organizer to support your reasoning.

Concluding wordsConcluding words after allafter all all in allall in all all things consideredall things considered brieflybriefly by and large by and large in any casein any case in any eventin any event in briefin brief in conclusion, in conclusion,

on the wholeon the whole in shortin short in summaryin summary in the final analysisin the final analysis in the long runin the long run on balanceon balance to sum upto sum up to summarizeto summarize finally finally

Transition WordsTransition Words Using transitional Using transitional

words and phraseswords and phraseshelps papers read helps papers read more smoothly.  more smoothly. 

They provide They provide organization and organization and understandability and understandability and improve the improve the connections and connections and transitions between transitions between thoughts. thoughts.

at first at first first of allfirst of all to begin withto begin with in the first placein the first place at the same timeat the same time for nowfor now for the time beingfor the time being the next stepthe next step in timein time in turnin turn later onlater on meanwhilemeanwhile nextnext

Transition WordsTransition Words for examplefor example for instancefor instance for one thingfor one thing as an illustrationas an illustration illustrated withillustrated with as an exampleas an example in this case in this case

thenthen soonsoon the meantimethe meantime laterlater whilewhile earlierearlier simultaneouslysimultaneously afterwardafterward in conclusion in conclusion with this in mindwith this in mind

INDENTING INDENTING Remember to indent your paragraphsRemember to indent your paragraphs The place I would most like to visit is The place I would most like to visit is

Hawaii. There are several reasons I Hawaii. There are several reasons I would like to visit this place. I have would like to visit this place. I have heard it is some of the most beautiful heard it is some of the most beautiful land you will ever see. Also, I would land you will ever see. Also, I would love to learn to surf. Finally, I think it love to learn to surf. Finally, I think it would be such a great experience to try would be such a great experience to try the traditional island cuisine. the traditional island cuisine.