Persuasive Writing in Persuasive Writing in Social StudiesSocial Studies

Here are some obstacles that prevent us from writing

well…Do any of these questions apply to you???

• What do I say in the introduction?

• How do I start?• How do I word it?• When do I say it?• What do I say next?• How do I develop my

ideas?

• How do I develop my ideas?

• What can I use as proof?

• How do I get from one idea to the next?

• How do I write the concluding paragraph?

• What do I say at the end?

The result of these obstacles…

Writers can draw a blank….often referred to as

writers’ block.

• Often in Social Studies students will have a limited amount of time to write an essay like during an exam or in-class assignment.

• In that case, a systematic and organized approach to writing a clear and purposeful essay is needed.

What teachers typically say about their students’ writing…

• Topic sentences have more than one focus.

• Body paragraphs are a series of general statements without proof.

• Body paragraphs repeat the same ideas over and over.

Persuasive Essay Writing Formula

(For exams, in-class)

•Organization and structure is key. Even an otherwise mediocre piece of writing can appear more ‘academic’ if it is structured properly.

•5 paragraphs is a standard layout. Those 5 paragraphs should consist of:

Introductory ParagraphBody Paragraph #1Body Paragraph #2Rebuttal ParagraphConcluding Paragraph

Introduction ParagraphWhat an Introduction Should Do

•A combination of courtesy and strategy, the introduction "sells" the essay to the reader, compelling him or her to read the rest of it. For most assignments, it should also acquaint the audience with the subject and purpose of the essay. Specifically, essay writers have four tasks to accomplish within the first paragraph.

An Effective Introduction should: 1.Clearly state the main point of the essay

• Your readers should know from the beginning what idea you will be developing throughout the essay. A clear thesis statement is a key component of an effective introduction. The thesis is the specific issue or problem you are arguing.

2. Provide the context necessary to understand your thesis •Provide background information. When writing about Social Studies, you should name the specific event, the dates, key people, countries or issues involved.

3. "Hook" the reader

•The introduction should not only get the reader's attention, but compel him or her to keep reading. The next section examines some of the many ways to write a successful hook.

4. Set the tone for the essay•Tone refers to the mood or attitude conveyed through language, particularly through word choice and sentence structure. This is an academic paper…Your tone should be serious and formal. Do not attempt to be humorous. Avoid using “I”..

• Topic sentence• General statement• Proof • Commentary• General statement• Proof • Commentary• Concluding sentence

Pattern for Body Paragraphs

**The focus of the essay is controlled by the topic sentences and general statements.**

The Topic Sentence• States the SINGLE POINT

that the writer will prove in a body paragraph.

General Statement• States the ONE WAY that

the writer will prove that the topic sentence is true.

Proof/Evidence• F= FACTS• I= INCIDENTS • R=REASONS• E=EXAMPLES• S=STATISTICS/NUMBERS

Commentary•OPINION about the proof.

•The commentary tells the readers what to think about the proof.

Concluding Sentence

•Is one statement that is true for ALL THE PROOF.

Topic Sentence Example

• Topic Sentence:

The term for the President of the United States should be a six-year term.

**Notice the single focus.**

General Statement Example

In fact, or As a matter of fact, the current system

forces the President to spend at least two years of their four year term organizing their re-election campaign instead of implementing positive changes to improve the country.

**This is one way to prove that the topic sentence is true.**

Proof ExampleFor example, For instance,

When President Clinton was running for his second term, he spent more time on the campaign trail than he did in the White House thus, he was not fulfilling his presidential responsibilities.

Commentary ExampleThis illustrates, This shows…

how the current policy of the two four-year term limit for president actually forces the president to abandon his/her duties and concentrate on re-election. If the system called for one six-year term, the president would not be concentrating on getting re-elected.

****Notice how the writer shapes the reader’s Notice how the writer shapes the reader’s opinion of the example.**opinion of the example.**

Second General Statement

Further,Furthermore,Moreover,Also,Additionally,Likewise, a one six-year term policy for the

President would allow the president more time to implement his/her ideas for improving the country. A four year term is not enough time to implement real change.

**This statement introduces a second way to prove that the topic sentence is true. **

Second Proof• Consider this incident;: President

Carter was only elected for one term and much of his term was spent campaigning for re-election. Had he had one six-year term, he could have concentrated all of his efforts on important issues at the time, like the energy crises and the hostage crises in Iran, instead of campaigning for reelection.

Second Commentary• What an inefficient system the United

States has. Imagine how many changes Carter could have implemented during his one six-year term that might have solved important issues instead of worrying about politics and campaigning. Literally, a one six-year term could actually save lives, time, and money.

• Shape the readers’ opinion about the proof. Make the reader see it your way.

Concluding SentenceClearly, Conclusively,

A one six-year term limit for President would be better for the country as a whole.

**A concluding sentence is one statement that is true for ALL THE PROOF.**

Summary of Body Paragraph

• A topic sentence that identifies a single point worth proving

• Two general statements each identifying one way to prove that the topic sentence is true

• Proof to back up each general statement• Commentary that shapes the writer’s opinion

about the proof• A concluding sentence that adds up the proof

and distills this thought into one sentence that is true for all the proof

Second Body Paragraph

• Begin the second body paragraph by glancing back to the previous paragraph and then moving on to the next point.

• Then Repeat format:Topic sentence, general statement, proof, commentary, general statement, proof commentary, concluding sentence.

(3rd Body Paragraph)Rebuttal Paragraph

• Place the paragraph of rebuttal just before the concluding paragraph.

• Give information about why there are people who support the opposite view and explain to the reader why they should accept your view.

• What evidence would the other side use to prove their point? Explain why it is not as strong as your evidence?

Rebuttal Paragraph Example• Many people might argue against having a one

six-year term limit for president since it has been a long standing tradition, established by George Washington and supported by the 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (1951). However, they would be wrong. Just because something has been established over time and never changed, doesn’t make it the best practice or policy. This is why we are permitted to amend the Constitution.

Concluding Paragraph• In much the same way that the introduction lays out the

thesis for the reader, the conclusion of the paper should reiterate the main points—it should never introduce new ideas or things not discussed in the body of the paper!—and bring the argument home.

• Simply begin by restating the theme, then review the facts you cited in the body of the paper in support of your argument—and end with a final reiteration of the theme. Try, however, not to repeat the exact language you used elsewhere in the paper, especially the introduction.

Transitional Words & Phrases to use in an Essay

To Introduce General Statements

Indeed, In fact, As a matter of fact, ; (semi-colon)

To Introduce Proof For example, For instance, Consider the following example, Consider this fact,

To Introduce Concluding SentencesClearly,Conclusively,Certainly,Obviously,

Transition into a 2nd Paragraph Topic Sentence Further, Likewise, Not only, Also, Furthermore,Moreover,Also, Besides,Additionally, In Addition to

Rebuttal Transitions Those who hold the opposite opinion are mistaken. They assert….(clearly and accurately state their positions). However, they are wrong. In fact, (tell your reader why this is a mistake). To be certain, (one clincher statement that will “seal the deal”).

Things to Avoid in Persuasive Writing

• Do not state as a fact something you are not 100% sure of.

• Never use slang (Transnationals really “suck”..)• In a rebuttal, never attack someone or something

personally—attack the issues/ideas.• Do not misrepresent or exaggerate the opposing

position to suit your argument.• Stay out of your paper (I, we, our, us)• Avoid definitive language (Always, never, all)