Persuasive Writing Assignment
1. Choose a topic. You can choose one that has been given to you by me or
one of your own as long as it is approved by me.
2. Complete the persuasive Graphic Organizer before you begin to write.
3. Write a 5 paragraph persuasive business letter to your audience. (principal,
parent, school board, etc.)
Like all kinds of five paragraph essays, there is a specific format to be followed.
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The topic sentence cannot be a fact as facts cannot be debated. It should be
a statement of position. That position must be clear and direct. This
statement directs the readers to follow along with your logic towards the
specific stated conclusion that you want them to support. Do not make it
personal so do not use personal pronouns. Make it definitive.
Then, in the same introductory paragraph, state the three best reasons
that you have to support your position as the remainder of the opening
paragraph. These reasons become the topics of each of the three
supporting paragraphs. Again, be sure they are able to be supported with
additional separate facts.
In the body of the essay, the writer uses specific evidence, examples, and
statistics and not broad generalizations or personal opinions to persuade
the reader that the stated position is a valid one. Each topic sentence for
the support paragraphs have been introduced in the beginning paragraph.
Each additional sentence must closely relate to the topic and the sentence
that came before it. This way, the logic of the argument is easy to follow.
Be sure to use adequate transitions between paragraphs as they make it
easy for the reader to follow the logic of the presentation.
As one closes the essay, it is most important to clearly redefine the topic
and restate the most compelling evidence cited in original form.
Remember, this is the last chance to remind the reader and convince
him/her to accept the writer's position.
Do not introduce new material in the conclusion.
Here is a checklist to help you.
PRESENTING THE TASK
_____ state your position on the topic.
_____ describe the points in support of your position, including examples and other
evidence.
_____ anticipate and address readers’ concerns and arguments against your position.
_____ organize your writing with a strong introduction, body and conclusion.
_____ choose specific words that are appropriate to your audience and purpose.
_____ vary your sentences to make your writing interesting to read.
_____ check for mistakes in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence formation.
FCA’s for grading
1. Introduction paragraph:
-You have presented a topic that has a counter argument. (2 point)
-You have also included your 3 logical reasons for your position. (6 points)
-You have included a counter argument. (2 point)
2. Body paragraph 1: You have included your logical reason. You have included
specific examples to support your reason. (6 points)
3. Body paragraph 2: You have included your logical reason. You have included
specific examples to support your reason. (6 points)
4. Body paragraph 3: You have included your logical reason. You have included
specific examples to support your reason. (6 points)
5. You have included a conclusion paragraph that restates your position. (2
points)
6. Capital letters, end punctuation, and commas discussed in class (items in a
series, if/when clauses, interjections, independent clauses) (5 points)
TOTAL: 35 points
Join STARS
Are you interested in space? Do you want to be an astronaut
when you grow up? Then become a member of STARS. It’s the afterschool
organization for students who want to learn about space
exploration. It can prepare you to be a professional astronaut. STARS
is very educational and fascinating. If you are interested in astronomy,
I suggest that you join STARS.
STARS has many activities related to space exploration. It is
located in Room 221 in my school. There are 20 telescopes, and if you
become a member you can use and enjoy them. Use the library at
STARS to find out more about Saturn’s 18 moons and Jupiter’s 26
moons. There are many magazines and books about space. You can
read them and find out about what is new in space. You can read about
the new planet HR 4796. Did you know that it is being compared to
Earth? You can find out more about this and other things like it in the
library at STARS.
Members of STARS can also use the planetarium. In this room
you can see the sky the way it looks in real life. You can find the Big
Dipper or see the distance between Earth and the other planets.
On Thursdays after school, members of STARS get to talk
online with real astronauts. You can ask them questions about what
they do. They will tell you how to become an astronaut too. They can
tell you about Web pages you can go to and have fun. STARS has a lot
to offer students who find astronomy exciting.
When you become a member, you will also have the chance to
visit NASA. Each year, STARS has an essay contest. Five winners are
selected, and they get to take a trip to NASA to see how things are
really done.
STARS is a good organization for helping students learn more
about space exploration. You will appreciate being a member of
STARS. It will bring you closer to the stars.
1. [Add a Club] The school has been considering adding new clubs to the
activity period. Try to persuade Mr. Sherlock to accept a proposal of the
club you want to have. Write a persuasive letter to Mr. Sherlock about why
he should accept and allow the club.
2. [Add a New Lunch to the Menu] The school wants ideas for some new
nutritious menus for lunch. Write a letter to the lunch administrator
proposing the new lunch food. Give at least 3 reasons to support your
suggestion
3. [Improve Your School] The local school committee is seeking ideas to
improve your school. These ideas will be discussed during meetings with
students, teachers, parents, administrators, and other interested parties. The
changes proposed by students will be seriously considered since students are
the reason for the schools existence. Choose one change that might improve
your school for all students. Write a persuasive essay explaining why your
suggested change is an improvement. Give at least three reasons to support
your suggestion.
4. [School Uniforms] Write a persuasive essay stating whether or not the
students at your school should be required to wear uniforms to school. Give at
least three reasons to support your position. Remember, you must argue in such
a convincing manner that others will agree with you.
5. [Locker Searches/Personal Searches] The principal at your school has
instituted random locker and backpack/bookbag searches to check for guns,
knives, and other weapons. Anyone caught with these weapons will be
immediately suspended. The principal argues that the random searches will not
only guard against illegal weapons at school but will also help students feel
safer. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter to the editor of a local
newspaper stating your position and supporting it with three convincing
reasons.
6. [Censorship] Write a persuasive essay stating whether certain television
programs that are considered to be unsuitable should be censored for children
under 16 in your community. Give at least three reasons to support your
position.
7. [Censorship] Your local public library has come under criticism for
allowing patrons under the age of 18 to check out books considered
unacceptable. The books are either explicit, describe graphic violence, or use
questionable language. What is your position on this issue? Write a letter to the
editor of your local newspaper stating your position and supporting it with three
convincing reasons.
8. [Too Much Homework] Some of the parents at your school have started a
campaign to limit the homework that teachers can assign to students. Teachers
at your school have argued that the homework is necessary. What is your
position? Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper stating your
position and supporting it with three convincing arguments.
9. [Field Trips] In order to save money, your principal is thinking about
canceling all field trips for the remainder of the year! Write a letter to your
principal persuading him or her to allow students to continue attending field
trips. Give at least three reasons to support your position.
10. [Online Schools] The state department of education has provided funding
for an experimental online school. All the classes will take place on the
Internet, using email, online chat, and the world wide web. The students taking
classes at this new online school will never meet each other face-to-face. They
will only interact online with each other and with their teachers. The state is
hoping this program will provide fairer educational access to students in
outlying, rural areas. Opponents of the program argue that because of their lack
of interaction with other students in a traditional classroom, the students who
attend this online school will not develop the social skills that should be a
component of their education. What is your position on this issue? Write a
letter to the editor of your local newspaper stating your position on this issue
and supporting it with three convincing reasons.
11. [Computers in the Classroom] As part of a new technology initiative,
your local school district is increasing the number of computers in every
school. The district plan provides for two computers in every classroom.
Teachers at your school are lobbying instead to place all the computers
together, creating two computer-based classrooms so that all students in a class
can work at the computers together, rather than only one or two students at a
time. The district is worried about the additional cost of creating and
maintaining these special classrooms and is concerned about how access to the
classrooms can be provided fairly and efficiently. What is your position on this
issue? Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper stating your point of
view and supporting it with three convincing reasons.
12. [Grade Scale Change] One of the biology teachers at your school has
decided to change from a ten-point grade scale (100 to 90 is an A, 89 to 80 is a
B, etc.) to a seven-point grade scale (100 to 93 is an A, 92 to 85 is a B, etc.).
The teacher is trying to encourage students to put more effort into their classes
by raising the requirements.