Persuasive Writing
A few things you should
know
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asive%20Writing.ppt
Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing is writing
that tries to convince a
reader about a certain topic.
For or Against something.
Persuasive Writing can be used to…
Purpose
• Support a cause
• Urge people to action
• Make a change
• Prove something wrong
Persuasive Statement
• “Please support my football
team by buying discount
coupons.”
• “Vote for Sarah!”
• “The principal should let us
wear hats.”
• “Cell phones don’t cause
brain cancer.”
Persuasive Writing can be used to…
Purpose
• Stir up sympathy
Persuasive Statement
• “If you don’t adopt this dog, it
could have to live in a shelter.”
• “Better grades get you a
better job and more money.”
• Create interest
• “I am sure you’ll agree that
Snickers is the best chocolate
bar.”
• Get people to agree with
you
Persuasive Essay Format:
Persuasive essays follow a
very similar format to
expository essays:
Introduction
Body
Counter-argument(s)
Conclusion
This additional part is
added in good
persuasive essays
First: Pick a Topic
• Think about things that tick-you-off, annoy
you, bother you, or that you just plain think
are wrong.
• You can also consider topics that are generally
considered controversial by people, such as:
Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
Should cell phones be banned in schools?
Is society too dependent on computers?
Is fast food really that unhealthy?
• Good persuasive topics will have two
opposing sides
Second… Pick a side.
• What’s your opinion on
your topic?
• You should have a strong
opinion about which side
you support.
• You must clearly state your
position on your topic and
stick with that position
• this will be your thesis
statement
Three: Consider your reasons
• Once you’ve picked your topic and decided on your
opinion, consider the reasons for your opinion.
• These reasons, or points, will become the focus of the
body of your paper.
• If your topic was fast food and your opinion is that it is
unhealthy, your reasons/arguments for your opinion
might be that fast food:
• rapidly increases weight
• causes high blood pressure
• leads to sluggishness
Four: Create your Thesis Statement
• As reviewed previously, a thesis statement is one sentence
that states your opinion. It is usually found at the end of the
introductory paragraph. It needs to be strong.
You can follow this formula to create your thesis:
Topic + opinion = thesis
• If we consider the reasons/arguments we came up with
regarding fast food being unhealthy and summarize those
ideas, your thesis statement could be:
Fast food has several negative health effects.
Topic
opinion
Five: Do Your Research…
In order to convince the
reader, you need more
than just an opinion; you
need facts or examples
(arguments) to back your
opinion. Research to find
information that will
support your opinion.
Walsh Publishing Co. 2009
Six: Make a Plan
Persuasive essay:
1. Introduction/Hook/Thesis
2. Argument 1 with support
3. Argument 2 with support
4. Argument 3 with support
5. Show the counter-argument(s)
and make an argument against
it/them
6. Conclusion
Sample Introductory Paragraph:
CATCHY TITLE
Fast Food Is Killing Canadians!
HOOK
Did you know that a typical child needs 2,000 calories
for an entire day and Burger King’s Whopper with triple
cheese has 1,230 calories? That is far more calories than
anyone needs in one meal. Fast food consumption has risen
500 percent since 1970 and today reaches nearly every part
of society, including some public school cafeterias. Fast
food is harmful because it rapidly increases weight, causes
high blood pressure, and leads to sluggishness. Eating Fast
food causes several negative heath effects.
THESIS STATEMENT
YOUR ARGUMENTS
Seven: Write the Body of Your Essay
• Use each of the main arguments/reasons you
used in your introductory paragraph and
expand on each one giving facts and reasons.
• In our example, you would write one
paragraph on how fast food increases weight,
one paragraph on how it causes high blood
pressure and one on how it leads to
sluggishness.
Walsh Publishing Co. 2009
Eight: Show “The Other Side…”
• Once you’ve presented your main arguments,
You’ll need to tell your reader what the
counter-argument(s) is/are and prove why
it/they shouldn’t matter.
• This is where you should explain why your
opposition believes what they believe but
discredit their thinking.
Example counter-argument paragraph:
Continuing with our fast food topic, here’s an example of a
possible counter-argument paragraph:
Chances are fast food companies would not agree that eating
fast food is unhealthy. After all, admitting that would
probably hurt their business. Fast food companies would likely
claim that fast food is convenient, quite tasty, and fine if eaten
in moderation, but these arguments just don’t hold up when
one considers all the serious health problems associated with
eating fast food.
The counter-argument paragraph goes after you’ve
presented the main arguments for your opinion.
Nine: Conclude or End Your Essay…
What makes a good conclusion in a persuasive essay?
 Restates your thesis in different words
 Summarizes your key ideas
 Gets the reader thinking by using one or more of the following
strategies (clincher sentences):
– Calls the reader to action
– Provides a solution
– Makes a Prediction
– Asks a question
The conclusion should wrap up the writing and give the reader
something to think about.
How to Leave Your Reader with Something to
Think about (creating a clincher sentence):
The following strategies make great last lines (clincher
sentences) for persuasive essays:
Call to Action
– Ask the reader to do something or to make something happen: Try
challenging yourself to eat more healthy and avoid fast food.
Provide a solution
– Provide an answer to the problem: Fast food doesn’t have to be ‘bad
food.’ Make better choices like salads, fruit and low fat treats.
Make a Prediction
– Explain what might be the consequences of action or inaction: If
people continue to eat lots of fast food, they put their health at risk. If
kids don’t make better choices today, they won’t grow into healthy
adults.
Ask your reader a question
– Are you willing to risk your health?
Sample Concluding Paragraph:
• Restate your thesis in different words
• Summarize your main points
• Include a clincher sentence (or two)
In closing, it is important to remember
that too much fast food can have negative
effects on your health. If not eaten in
moderation, you can gain weight, suffer from high
blood pressure and become slow and sluggish.
Is it worth the risk to your body? Try
challenging yourself to eat more healthy and
avoid fast food.
DO’S and DON’Ts of Persuasive Writing:
• Do:
• Divide into 5 or more
paragraphs
• Have a thesis statement in
your introduction
• Come up with 3 main points
to support your argument—
these will be your 3 body
paragraphs
• Show the “counter argument”
• Have a conclusion that has a
“clincher statement”
• Come up with a catchy title
• Don’t :
• Don’t begin with “Hello my
name is___ and I’m going to
write about____”
• Don’t use the word “I “
(Instead of “I think we
shouldn’t wear uniforms” say
“Uniforms shouldn’t be
required.”
• Don’t be wishy-washy. Pick a
side!
• Don’t forget to support your
opinions with facts and
examples