Persuasive / Argumentative Essay Flow Chart
1. State the problem and background to the issue:
2. State your STAND/ THESIS:
3. State your main REASONS:
4. State the OPPOSITION:
5. Why are you still right?
6. Offer a solution:
Sample Kernal Essay: Take a position on whether people have become dependent on technology.
1.
Today’s generation more than any other generation in history depends too much on modern technology for
“survival”. In turn, this dependence has caused many serious physical and language skills problems for individuals.
2. Technology negatively impacts an individual and they should strive to limit their use of technology.
3. Because people have become accustomed to Word correcting their spelling errors, they do not bother to learn how to
spell correctly or use a dictionary. Not only do they ignore acquiring basic spelling skills, but they are so engrossed
with their social media apps that they spend hours on the phone or ipads / tablets and forget to go for a walk or
stretch.
4-5. Sure, people who value technology argue that technology has simplified life, and that is what really counts. We no
longer have to wait in line to deposit our checks, we just snap a pic from our smart phone and hit send and we have
the money in our bank account. We have fancier cars that allow us to use our cell phones and still keep our hands on
the wheel, not to mention, we have smarter television sets that allow us to sit all day and stream films from movie
apps in the comfort of our homes. Simple, yes; healthier, no.
6. The solution is simple: balance. Make it a movie night, but walk the three blocks to the nearby Redbox kiosk. Allow
for Word to mark your errors, but look up the misspellings in the dictionary. Moderation is key.