Persuasive Essay Outline Worksheet
This is a reference sheet to accompany the Five Paragraph Essay Outline
Purpose: Writing to Persuade: A first essay on learning how to defend your beliefs.
First Paragraph: Must include THESIS STATEMENT
EVERY sentence should support your thesis statement- remember the thesis is the
‘steering wheel” of your paper. You must stay on topic and all sentences support
your thesis.
Introductory Paragraph 1ST PARAGRAPH
Your paragraph needs to start with a hook: attention grabber
A question, an anecdote (tell a story), describe, the scene, tell a joke, a startling statistic,
onomatopoeia, etc…anything that gets the audience’s attention
1. What is the topic you are writing about? Dinosaurs on the ark? Dinosaurs walking with man?
Were dragons real? Dragons were descendants of dinosaurs? The Loch Ness Monster is not real?
Or counter claim… The Loch Ness Monster is a real creature. We’ve discussed others.
Students may also choose to write about different topics similar to the one above prior to
approval.
State your claim- Your THESIS STATEMENT. It is not a QUESTION it is a
STATEMENT
Example- Due to thriving living conditions, documented evidence and several testimonies or eyewitness accounts I believe the Loch Ness monster does indeed exist.
2nd Paragraph- MUST INCLUDE A TOPIC SENTENCE
AND EVERY FACT SHOULD SUPPORT THE TOPIC SENTENCE
1. Give one reason why you feel the way you do about your topic. Remember the
reason must support the thesis.
2. Give 3 REASONS OF evidence to support your reason .For example you can use words and
phrases like according to Ken Ham…or Answers in Genesis…or just simply state
a Biblically based claim and cite Bible verses, as well as using other reliable resources
to support your thesis statement
This is the A, B, C
Second Body Paragraph- MUST INCLUDE A TOPIC SENTENCE
AND EVERY FACT SHOULD SUPPORT THE TOPIC SENTENCE
1. Give a second reason why you feel the way you do about your topic. Remember the
reason must support the thesis.
Give 3 REASONS OF evidence to support your reason (a personal story, a fact or statistic, or a
hypothetical “what if” situation) For example you can use words and phrases like according to
Ken Ham…or Answers in Genesis…or just simply state
a Biblically based claim and cite Bible verses, as using other reliable resources
to support your thesis statement
JUST BE SURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE
YOU FOUND THE INFORMATION you are stating to reinforce your THESIS statement.
This is the A, B, C part of the outline
Third Body Paragraph MUST INCLUDE A TOPIC SENTENCE
AND EVERY FACT SHOULD SUPPORT THE TOPIC SENTENCE
1. Give a third reason why you feel the way you do about your topic. Remember the
reason must support the thesis.
2. Give 3 REASONS OF evidence to support your reason (a personal story, a fact or statistic, or a
hypothetical “what if” situation) For example you can use words and phrases like according to
Ken Ham…or Answers in Genesis…or just simply state
a Biblically based claim and cite Bible verses, as using other reliable resources
to support your thesis statement
JUST BE SURE TO ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE
YOU FOUND THE INFORMATION you are stating to reinforce your THESIS statement.
This is the A, B, C part of the outline
Conclusion
1. Sum up your main idea and your strongest arguments for it here: RESTATE YOUR THESIS
IN DIFFERENT WORDS
Persuasive Essay Rubric
Name_________________
/100
___ Essay was turned in on time (10 points)
___ Essay is written neatly (10 points)
___Student stays on topic and supports thesis (10 points)
___Student used their time wisely in class (10 points)
___ Essay introduction includes an attention grabber a hook
(10 points)
___ Essay introduction includes a thesis statement that says
clearly what your opinion(claim) is on the topic (10
points)
___ Essay includes facts ( 10 points)- at minimum 9 facts
(3 from each paragraph)
___ Essay includes a conclusion that sums up your
arguments in
new words (10 points)
___ Conventions (20 points) spelling, grammar, word choice,
fluency, punctuation