Persuasive Essay

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Persuasive Essay

• Objective
• To create a persuasive essay

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Persuasive essay is

• An essay which tries to convince a reader to
  believe what you believe about a certain topic.

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Main Structure

• Introduction
• Includes a thesis statement that states your
  opinion
• Body paragraph I
• Includes a reason supported by proof
• Body paragraph II
• Includes a reason supported by proof
• Conclusion
• Clinches the reader

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Introduction Thesis

• If the thesis is not a clear (wishy-washy)
  statement of opinion you will have trouble
  structuring an argument

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Body Paragraphs

• In a persuasive essay reasons are the whys that
  make-up your argument.
• Example
• Thesis statement Broccoli should be banned from
  the school cafeteria.
• Reasons 1. Nobody likes broccoli
• 2. Broccoli smells up the cafeteria
• 3. The school has no right to force
  students to eat broccoli
• Each reason will become the topic of a body
  paragraph. The first sentence of each paragraph
  should state the reason simply and clearly

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Appeals to the facts

• Facts, figures and statistics always look
  impressive to readers.
• Example 72 of all students in this school agree
  that broccoli smells terrible.

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Appeals to reason

• When you dont have facts at your disposal, you
  can try to sway your audience with arguments that
  will make logical sense to them.
• Example
• Reason Broccoli smells up the cafeteria.
• Detail If the cafeteria reeks of broccoli,
  aides will try to get out of lunch duty and older
  students will stop using the cafeteria
  completely. This can only hurt the school.

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Appeals to emotion

• This aims straight at peoples desires, fears and
  prejudices.
• Use only if you do not have facts or the facts
  are against you
• Detail It is child abuse to force children
  against their will to eat and smell disgusting
  food that they hate.

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Once you have a topic

• You need to think it over and decide
• Purpose Why am I writing this? This is a
  persuasive essay so you are getting someone else
  to think like you do.
• Audience You are writing to your English/farmer
  teacher so you need to use proper mechanics.
• Structure What structure should my essay have?
  (4 paragraph format)

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Please do not slaughter me!

• Give two great reasons why one should not eat
  turkey on Thanksgiving
• examples
• fattening
• Turkeys are injected with growth hormones
• Tryptophan

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Evidence

• Using resources around you determine factual
  reasons
• Examples
• High in fat
• Growth hormones
• Tryptophan

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Some DOS

• Do
• Divide into 4 paragraphs
• Have a thesis in your intro
• Come up with two main points to support your
  argument
• Have a conclusion that contains a clincher
  sentence
• Come up with a catchy title

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And DONTs

• Dont
• Begin with hello my name is__ and I am going to
  write about _____.
• Take out the word I
• Be wishy washy. Pick a side
• Forget to support your opinions with facts and
  examples
• Include dialogue

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The wrap up

• As a general guideline, when writing a persuasive
  essay
• Have a firm opinion that you want your reader to
  accept.
• Begin with a grabber or hook to get the readers
  attention.
• Offer evidence to support your opinion.
• Try and think of rebuttal statements
• Conclude with a restatement of what you want the
  reader to do or believe.

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NOW

• Make an outline of what you are about to write.
• Intro with thesis statement
• Body I
• Topic sentence
• Evidence
• Closer that clenches your idea
• Body II
• Topic sentence
• Evidence
• Closer that clenches your idea
• Conclusion
• Bring it home