Persuasive Essay
 The persuasive essay differs from the expository
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essay in the amount of pre-writing (invention)
and research involved.
A clear, concise, and defined thesis statement
that occurs in the first paragraph of the essay.
Question of Fact, Question of Value, Question of
Policy
Clear and logical transitions between the
introduction, body, and conclusion.
Body paragraphs that include evidential support
(whether factual, logical, statistical, or
anecdotal).
Persuasive Essay
 Pathos(emotion), ethos(ethics), logos(logic)
 Authors may have to discuss the context
surrounding the topic, sources of information
and their credibility,
 Refutation of different opinions on the
issue before concluding the essay.
 A conclusion that does not simply restate the
thesis, but readdresses it in light of the
evidence provided.
Refutation
[ R E F - Y O O - T E Y- S H U H N ]
NOUN
1. The act or process of refuting or disproving, or the
state of being refuted;
2. Proof of falsehood or error;
3 . T h e o v e r t h ro w i n g o f a n a r g u m e n t , o p i n i o n ,
t e s t i m o n y, d o c t r i n e , o r t h e o r y, b y a r g u m e n t o r
c o u n t e r v a i l i n g p ro o f .
How to Write a Refutation Paragraph
1. Look at the evidence for the other point of view (con) to
your essay question.
a. Choose a strong con argument that you can
counter
b. Consider the points that will support your side
and what evidence or details you can offer.
c. Do not merely repeat the arguments you
used in the rest of your essay.
How to Write a Refutation Paragraph
2. Choose the one that best suits the evidence and support for your
refutation.
There are three methods to refute an argument:
A. Show that the other side's arguments are incorrect.
B. Show that the other arguments are irrelevant
(don't relate to the topic)
C. Show that the other side's arguments, although true and
relevant, are not enough.
(Your arguments are more significant and sufficient)
How to Write a Refutation Paragraph
 Usually hard to find incorrect facts or irrelevant
arguments in opposition
 Admit that the other side has good arguments.
 Show that the important con arguments are not as strong
as your arguments.
 This paragraph must still support your position!
How to Write a Refutation Paragraph:
Patterns
 Begin with signal words which alert the reader to the fact
that the ideas you are presenting are not yours.
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“While some supporters claim …”
“While those opposed to… argue …”
 This counter argument should be a strong one from the
other side…
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does not support your point of view
followed by the evidence or reasoning used to support it.
How to Write a Refutation Paragraph:
Patterns
 Use a signal phrase or word to tell your readers that you
are now presenting your POV (the“yeah, but …..” ):
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…”However" , "Nevertheless", "While this may be true"… "This is
outweighed by“
 Give reasons why they should not be convinced by the
other side's argument.
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Must back this up by giving reason(s) to support your POV,
specific details and support.
 should be new reason(s) that directly address the con arguments
 should not only be repetitions of the same reasons you used to support
your thesis in the body paragraphs.

How to Write a Refutation Paragraph:
Example: Yes
“Are native English speakers the best English teachers?”
 The Pro point of view is yes they do:
The refutation paragraph might begin:
 “Those who do not think that native speakers are the best teachers claim that
anyone who has learned a language as a child can not understand the difficulties in
learning it. Native speakers may know how to speak the language, but they do not
understand the grammar very well. However…” (this is the yeah, but….and is the topic
sentence of this paragraph)
- followed by reasons not to be swayed by this argument complete with supporting
details and explanations as needed.
Possible points to use to refute this argument:
 most English teachers have learned another language so understand the difficulty
of learning language from a student's point of view
 if grammar can be learned through study then native speakers who are good
English-as-another-language teachers can learn to understand grammar as well as
their non-native speaking counterparts
How to Write a Refutation Paragraph:
Example: No
“Are native English speakers the best English teachers?”
 The Pro point of view is no they do not:
The refutation paragraph might begin:
 “Some supporters of the notion that native speakers are the best
English teachers claim that only a native speaker can teach spoken
forms properly because they do not have an accent. This may be
true if accent is only regarded as the influence of a different mother
language, but this point of view does not take into account…”
Possible points to use to refute this argument:
 many accents and varieties of English
 most English-as-another-language speakers won’t be speaking with
native speakers so learning understand non-native accents is
beneficial
How to Write a Refutation Paragraph:
Summary
 “Their” argument (the con side)
 is presented
 followed by reasons that this argument(s) isn’t as valid as the writer’s
point of view on the same question.
 is the topic sentence and the paragraph is developed in the same way
that all paragraphs are.
 It does not simply present the other side.