Persuasive Essay
Prompt: Should the Department of Education forgive the three days
where schools across the state were closed due to inclement (bad)
weather conditions?
Purpose:
Audience:
Format:
To persuade reader to your point of view as to the closing .
Secretary of the Department of Education of Pennsylvania.
Business Letter (heading, inside address, salutation, body, closing, signature) at least
five paragraphs (intro, three body paragraphs, and a concluding paragraph)
Tone:
Formal, may not use contractions, slang, abbreviations etc.
Focus correction areas: (copy on top of page) this is your rubric
/15 three reasons with supporting details why snow days should not be made up
/15 use of at least five clauses (adjective and adverb)
/10 no spelling and punctuation errors
Procedure:
Completing the prewriting activity: (see page two if you have not already completed)

Complete thesis (indicates your point of view)

Brainstorm three strong reasons to support your point of view.

Develop research, ethos, logos, and pathos to develop your three reasons.
Constructing the rough draft
Introductory paragraph
1. Devise attention grabber: startling statement; amazing statistic; story or anecdote that would
interest the reader.
2. Provide background information—what the reason for waiving the 182 rule; what happened with
the weather;; general statement about what experts think;
3. Write your thesis—must be a clear, firm, definitive statement of your opinion; must include
elements of the prompt (department of education, exit exam, etc.)
Body paragraphs
1. Using transitional expression (First, most importantly etc) indicate your strongest reason for your
position. Write three sentences that each develops that point (Use your information gathered from
the newspaper articles or any other legitimate viewpoints that you have.)
2. Using transition from previous paragraph, write a topic sentence that indicates your second
strongest reason. Develop this point with three sentences.
3. Using transition from previous paragraph, write a topic sentence that indicates your third point.
Develop this point with three sentences.
Concluding paragraph
1. Restate your thesis.
2. Restate you major points
3. Indicate a call to action—you’ve convinced the reader of your point of view; what do you want
him/her to do?
4. Clincher—some clever, intelligent, thought to leave the reader with when this proposal comes upon
the desk of the Secretary of Education.
Persuasive essay: outline for rough draft (25 points)
Prompt: The state of Pennsylvania requires that all students complete 180 of
school each year. Failure to comply with this schedule results in fines or
money being withheld from the school districts. However, the Secretary of
Education “has the discretionary power under Section 2523, to grant
waivers to the 180 day requirement due to emergency closings, waivers will
only be granted as a measure of last resort “ (PA Dept of Education). This
means students would not have to make up the days due to emergency
conditions.
Should the Department of Education forgive the three days where schools
across the state were closed due to inclement weather conditions?
Claim: (your position on the topic, stated without I think, In my opinion, I believe, etc)
________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Backing: State four reasons why you believe this to be true
1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. _________________________________________________________________________
3. _________________________________________________________________________
4.
_______________________________________________________________________
Anticipated Objection: What are some of the opposition’s possible objections? ( What would the
Secretary of Education say in reply?) Name at least two.
1. ___________________________________________________________________________
2. ___________________________________________________________________________
Research to support your point of view: Go to the internet to find support for your reasons: statistics,
expert opinions, articles that will prove your point. (Think about looking at how days in school do not
necessarily mean better learning; when Keystones are given etc.)
Information found
Source (name of author, website)