Persuasive Essay Instructions
DIRECTIONS: Take your organizer and turn it into an essay using the following format.
Outline
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Introduction
A. Background (Is there anything the audience needs to know to understand the topic?)
B. Position (What are you going to prove? Which side of this debate do you support?)
Reason One
A. Example One (with an explanation of how it shows your reason is correct)
B. Example Two (with an explanation of how it shows your reason is correct)
Reason Two
A. Example One (with an explanation of how it shows your reason is correct)
B. Example Two (with an explanation of how it shows your reason is correct)
Concession (Where you respond to an idea from the other side of the debate)/Conclusion
(What have you proved?)
I. Introduction
Background
If you have time, think of any background information that might make the debate easier to understand.
This is usually a broad overview of the topic. On the real SAT, you can skip the background if you fear
you will run out of time (and have a one sentence first paragraph).
Position
This is what you are going to argue. Take a side in the debate and say whether it is good or bad. This is
the last sentence in the paragraph if you have background information. If you have skipped the
background information, it is the only sentence in the paragraph.
Example Introduction (using the prompt on decision-making from class)
The position statement is in italics.
People make decisions every day – good and bad. However, what is the foundation of this
process? People can choose to look at the entire issue and reason using the facts presented, or they can
make rash assumptions predicated on the emotion at the time of the conflict. At times, emotions can
lead us astray and blind us from the truth; therefore, decisions are best made when emotions are put
aside.
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II. & III. Big Reasons Why Your Position is Right
Take your organizer and turn the reasons into paragraphs. Each big reason should have at least two
pieces of support. On the real STAAR persuasive essay(because of time constraints), you can pair this
down to one example, but understand that your score will suffer with less development.
If you did the organizer correctly, this should be easy.
Structure
(1) State your reason. This is your topic sentence. (2) State your first example. (3) Briefly discuss
how this connects to your reason. (3) Transition to your second example. (4) Briefly discuss how
this connects to your reason.
If this seems familiar, it is exactly the same format as the cross-over OER for TAKS.
Example Transition Statements to Second Example
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another way/example
this is like
similarly
in a similar fashion
along the same lines
Example Body Paragraphs (using the decision-making prompt)
in the same way
likewise
also
in addition
moreover
Topic Sentence
Reason # 1
Emotions, such as fear, can blind us from what is really important. In my second
period English class, my teacher got angry at a student for not paying attention and kicked him
Evidence/Example
out of the class because he feared that the students’ failure would reflect on his teaching. The
consequences that the teacher hoped would be placed on the student were actually placed on
the teacher. In the state of Texas, teachers are held accountable for the learning of their
students. In this instance, the teacher was scared because he knew that by not paying
attention, the student would make the teacher look bad. This fear caused the teacher to
Explanation
ironically kicks the student out for not getting the lesson, and in the end, it will be the teacher
who pays the price since he has to make sure the lesson is taught. The intended consequence
was for the student; however, it was the teacher who will suffer, and it was his fear that hid
this consequence from the teacher. Likewise, tragedies like Columbine can also create so
much fear in a society that the people are blinded from the truth. For example, after
Example
Columbine, many people blamed music stars, like Marilyn Manson, for the violence they put
Evidence #2
out there, and attempted to censor their creativity. Manson had to defend himself in a Rolling
Stone article from people who blamed him for the Columbine shootings. The idea that one
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musician is to blame for such a terrible act is ridiculous. Manson, in his article, makes it very
clear that neither of the boys listened to his music, and also made a compelling argument that
society as a whole is to blame. It is obvious that the truth is much deeper than relying on a
single scapegoat to take the blame. However, because of fear, people wanted an easy answer
so that they could feel like they were protecting their family. For most people, it is easier to
throw out all the CD’s of one musician than it is to understand how a whole society can impact
a single event. Yet fear keeps them from being honest with themselves.
Explanation
Topic Sentence
Emotions, such as anger, can also keep people from rationally solving problems. For Reason # 2
Example, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold were so angry about how their peers treated them that
they killed 11 people at Columbine High School, where the two boys attended. The two boys’
Example/Evidence
anger built up in a way that required them to deal with. The anger, however, was so great that
it did not allow them to utilize their logic. Therefore, any rational solution to the problem,
Explanation
even a less emotional outlet, such as fighting, was taken out of the decision. Instead, the two
boys followed the path that their anger created and did the unthinkable. In the end, the
Example
solution the boys chose created more problems than it solved. Another example of anger
Evidence #2
keeping people from rationally solving problems is the assassination of Martin Luther King,
which occurred as a result of hatred and anger that one black man had the audacity to stand
up to a society of racism and to promote equality among all races. The man who murdered
one of America’s heroes chose emotion over practical reasoning. He allowed his fear and
Explanation
hatred to suppress any logical approach to understanding the world and how to live peaceably.
In his short life, Martin Luther King made changes in history we will live by forever. Imagine
what he could have done if one man did not allow his judgment to be clouded by emotion.
IV. Concession
This is where you take an idea from the other side of the debate and argue against it. This
makes your essay seem more balanced and fair, like you are taking the other side into
consideration.
WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT TO DO IS ARGUE FOR THE OTHER SIDE. YOU ARGUE AGAINST IT.
On the real STAAR you can skip this if you are running out of time/space or replace it with a
third reason.
Example Language to Introduce The Claim From the Other Side of the Debate
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Some have claimed/argued
One often heard claim is
Some have supported by ___ by
claiming
Often people justify ___ by arguing
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It is often said that
One might think that
Conventional wisdom has it
___ tend to believe that ___
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Given ___, many will argue
A number of people feel
It has become common to argue
V. Conclusion
This should be one or two sentences at the most. Sum up what you proved and restate your position.
Example Language to Introduce the Conclusion
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Ultimately
Hence
To conclude
Thus
Fundamentally
Of course
Although
In brief
In closing
Therefore
As a consequence of
Example Conclusion
Emotions, such as anger and fear, need to be taken out of the decision making process. If they
are left alone to make decisions, then not only can it cause the death of other people, but it can cause
the death of certain freedoms.
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