Persuasive Prompt Type #1:Persuasive Stance/Claim

• Definition: The traditional AGREE/ DISAGREE persuasive essay question.

• Example: Many people believe that television violence has a negative effect on society because it promotes violence. Do you agree or disagree? Use specific reasons and examples to support your response.

Persuasive Prompt Type #2:“Persuasatory”

• Definition: The less concrete, less black/white essay question where you do not have to outright agree or disagree with an issue or position.

Example : Many students would like to volunteer in their communities during their summer breaks. Are there any volunteering opportunities in your community? Write a multi-paragraph letter to a community leader persuading them to have you as their summer volunteer.

Persuasive Stance OR Persuasatory?

1. Some people believe that personal electronic devices, such as smartphones, etc., should not be allowed in classrooms. What is your stand on this issue? Write a letter to your principal persuading him/her to agree with your position…

2. We all have favorite activities that we enjoy. Write an essay convincing readers to try the activity that you enjoy most…

Persuasive Introductions

EXAMPLES of Strategies

Persuasive Introductions• *Taking a Stand* (Making a Claim)• Scenarios & Anecdotes• Inquiry/Questioning• Preparatory Information/Overview

Taking a Stand• For ALL persuasive essays, your goal

is to include 3 Reasons Why your opinion is RIGHT or BEST in your THESIS STATEMENT (which is located in your introductory paragraph). These three supporting reasons can then transfer over one-by-one to each body paragraph.

Persuasive Intros

Taking a StandPersuasive STANCE Thesis Statement

Practice Finish the following thesis statement by filling in

something for each blank reason space on your handout:–“I agree that all school water

fountains should be filled with _____________________, because…• reason #1 ___________________________,• reason #2 ________________________, and• reason #3 ___________________________.

Persuasive Intros

Taking a StandPERSUASATORY Thesis Statement

Practice: Finish the following thesis statement by filling

in something for each blank reason space on your handout:–“You should pick ME to be in

your new reality TV show, because…• reason #1 ___________________________,• reason #2 ________________________, and• reason #3 ___________________________.

Persuasive Intros

Persuasive Body Paragraphs

EXAMPLES of Strategies

Persuasive Body Paragraphs• Persuasive Language• Expert Testimony• Cause/Effect• Concession/Rebuttal• Compromise/Problem Solving

• Facts/Statistics• Anecdotes

Persuasive Language• It’s all about VOICE:– HOW you say it—emotion words, repetition, etc.

• Think POLITICAL SPEECHES and you are on the right track!– “I have a dream…”– Any chance you remember any WORDS associated

with Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign??• HOPE• CHANGE• Yes We Can

Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address• "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this

continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting-place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these

honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth."

• HINT: Repetition in THREES is a POWERFUL persuasive AND story-telling tool!

Expert Testimony

• Voices of Authority: –“As Dr. Seuss on the board of

the National Pediatrics Foundation states…”–“The First Amendment of our

Bill of Rights declares…”

Know these and use them!!!

What does elaboration look like?

• Phrases that add information and details through the following: STATISTICS and FACTS - the numbers or data that help support your idea.

Mom, did you know that 98% of all my friends get to stay up until 1:00 AM on weekends?

Well Son, did you know that 3 out of 4 parents would have grounded you for staying out so late?

Lesson 1

Develop your point with facts and statistics.

Student Sample

Another craze to sweep America was the gluten-free diet. It was reported in the newspaper after the last holiday season that 67% of all Americans were GF dieting. Let me tell you the personal impact that has had on my family’s wheat farm here in Washington.

Lesson 1

What does elaboration look like?

• Phrases that add information and details through the following: ANECDOTE- an anecdote is a small piece of a story inserted into an essay that helps make the point. This sounds like. . .

Hey, I remember the time when I had to carry my . . .

Once when I was in middle school, the kids would

always. . .

Lesson 1

Develop your point with an anecdote.Student sample

You can’t give up, Jack. I remember one time when I played on the high school baseball team. We were losing, and it was the 8th inning. Everyone was getting discouraged, and then the coach said, “BOYS! You’ve got to RALLY here! Turn your ball caps around and GET OUT THERE!” So, son, turn your ball cap – I mean ATTITUDE -- around and get out there!

Lesson 1

Persuasive Conclusions

EXAMPLES of Strategies

Review: Conclusion Strategies

• Call to Action*************• Offer a Solution• Make a Prediction

Conclusions – *Call to Action*

• Include a final appeal to you audience to reinforce your argument.• Clearly and forcefully state your

desired action.• Give information needed to take

that recommended action.

Conclusions – Call to Actionstudent sample

Daily mandatory homework for high school students would serve no real worthwhile purpose but to unnecessarily stress out students and teachers alike. Teachers and students are busy, stressed, preoccupied, and quite frankly, strung-out enough as it is without this. Please, I urge you not to put this in effect. Not simply because I don’t want homework for all seven classes every day, but because it would truly be detrimental to everyone actively participating in the public school now and in the future.

Conclusions – *Call to Action*

• Sample phrasing:– I urge you to meet me on the steps of the

capitol building at 7:00 Thursday night…– I implore you…– I appeal to you…– I ask you…– I request you…– I demand you…

Conclusions – Offer a Solution

• Restate the problem.• Define and develop the solution.• Focus on the strengths of the solution.

• This strategy differs from a call to action.– More of a recommendation– Stresses the solution to a problem

Conclusions – Offer a Solutionstudent sample

According to high schools with the highest test scores across the country, homework is only necessary when an individual student doesn’t understand a concept or needs additional practice. Therefore, mandatory homework in every class would be meaningless. Instead, teachers should assign homework on an individual basis. This solution would provide students with needed practice without needless busywork for students and endless grading for teachers. When students work on just their own weaknesses, rather than work assigned to the whole class, they will quickly see improvement and will be more motivated to stay in school.

Conclusions – Make a Prediction

• Takes the argument a step further than a summary.• Keeps the reader thinking after reading

your essay.• Is based on the main points

(arguments), creating joy, hope, gloom, suspense, etc.• Draws reader’s attention to the

significance of the argument.

Conclusions – Make a Predictionstudent sample

Imagine an empty classroom. As students trickle in, without a word, they immediately take out a piece of paper and a pencil to start writing down today’s homework assignment. The teacher walks to the front of the class to admire her focused students as they work silently. Ring! Class is in session. We can make this longed-for dream a reality. Our high school’s motto has always been “Be the Best You Can Be” and if the required homework proposal is implemented, we really would be.

Persuasive Essay Final Notes• To receive a PASSING score on

a persuasive essay, you are required to:TAKE A STAND in your

introductory paragraph; andMake a CALL TO ACTION

in your concluding paragraph!