Persuasive Essay Assignment
Name:
Period:
Persuasive Essay
Do you feel that CDs should carry warning labels about bad language? Do you think school lunch periods should be longer? Do
you believe professional athletes have a responsibility to be good role models?
You probably have strong opinions about these and many other issues. However, you opinion alone will probably not convince
anyone to agree with you. The question is, how do you make it more likely that people will agree with your opinion? One way is to
use the tools of persuasion to show your readers that your point of view is the right one.
Persuasive Essay Topics





Topic One o Many schools across the country have changed their school calendar so that they are now year-round schools. They
still have time off in the summer, but they don’t have the traditional 3-month break. What is your position? Write a
persuasive essay either in support of the year-round school calendar or in support of continuing the traditional school
calendar.
Topic Two o In many areas of the country, students in both private and public schools are required to wear school uniforms.
Suppose that the school board of your district is considering having all students wear a uniform that is to be selected by
a group of administrators, teachers, parents, and students. What is your position? Write a persuasive essay either in
support of the school uniform or against it.
Topic Three o Some individuals in the community 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 persuasive essay
in support of eliminating homework or in support of regular homework.
Topic Four o In schools across the state, government officials are challenging the established extra-curricular eligibility requirements.
They intend to change the law so that students who are participating in an extra-curricular activity need to maintain a
G.P.A. of 2.0 in order to remain an active participant in their extra-curricular activity. Thus, if the star quarterback on the
high school football team is not passing one of his classes, he cannot practice with the team or play in any games, and
he cannot begin practicing or playing for that team until he makes his way back to eligibility status. What is your
position? Write a persuasive essay either supporting this eligibility change or argue against this possible change.
Topic Five –
o In schools across the state students complain about the quality of school lunches. As a result, many schools have
decided to let fast food restaurants like Taco Bell, McDonalds, and Pizza Hut into their schools cafeteria. These fast
food chains are quite popular among the student body, but they also pose a threat to students’ health. What is your
position? Write a persuasive essay either supporting fast food restaurants in school cafeterias or argue against this
new trend in America’s schools.
Homework
Due Date
Points
Brainstorming Worksheet
_______________________________________
5
Graphic Organizer
_______________________________________
5
Introduction
_______________________________________
5
Body
_______________________________________
10
Conclusion
_______________________________________
5
Typed Rough Draft
_______________________________________
10
Typed Final Draft
_______________________________________
80
Pros – Year-Round School
Cons – Year-Round School
Pros – School Uniform
Cons – School Uniform
Pros – Homework
Cons – Homework
Pros – Eligibility
Cons – Eligibility
Pros – Fast Food Cafeteria
Cons – Fast Food Cafeteria
Introduction
Attention
Grabber
 Opinion
Statement

Attention Grabber:
Opinion Statement:
Reason #1
Reason #2
Evidence:
Reason #3
Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Evidence:
Opinion Statement:
Conclusion
 Restatement
of Opinion
 Summary of
Reasons
 Call to Action
Summary of Reasons:
Call to Action: